2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Power Train Problems

The hole underneath frame is rusted into and there is a bunch of wielding done to it and it's very unsafe to drive and the car lot guy keeps saying he wants it back on the road

The frame is rusted thru in many places that hold the rearend in the frame and along the side rails of this 4 Runner Toyota 2000, the suspionsion arm rusted and broke free from the frame.

WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING AND MY FRAME BROKE AND CAUSE MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO SHIFT CAUSE ME TO HAVE TO TOW MY VEHICLE.

Mileage: 275,000

MY 2000 4RUNNER IS RUSTING OUT NEXT TO THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. I TAKE IT FOR REGULAR WASHES--AND THIS STILL HAPPENED. I PURCHASED MY 2000 4RUNNER BRAND NEW WITH AN ADDITIONAL UNDERCOATING PROTECTION--BUT YOU WOULD NOT KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT THE RUST DAMAGE. THIS IS THE TELLTALE SPOT, IT SEEMS, FOR 4RUNNERS RUSTING OUT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TOYOTA!!

Mileage: 175,000

DRIVING IN MILD WINTER CONDITION (LIGHT WET SLUSH) ON A MAINTAINED HIGHWAY MY 4RUNNER BEGAN TO FISH TALE. WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CORRECT THE FISH TALE NO CONTROL INPUT FROM THE DRIVE WOULD CORRECT THE SLIDING MOTION. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE TOWARD THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW TO ALMOST A STOP, HOWEVER, THE REAR END WAS FAR ENOUGH OFF THE SHOULDER THAT IT BEGAN TO BE PULLED BY GRAVITY DOWN HILL. WHILE IT SLID DOWN HILL THE REAR WHEEL HIT A ROCK CAUSING THE AXLE TO SNAP NEAR THE CONTACT POINT OF THE WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ONE AND A HALF TIMES ENDANGERING FOUR LIVES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY HOWEVER NONE WERE INJURED. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED AND NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN.

Mileage: 63,000

VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE WELD JOINT WHICH JOINS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT POINT TO THE FRAME HAD SEPARATED ALLOWING TO CONTROL ARM TO MOVE FORWARD AN BACK. THIS IN TURN ALLOWED THE REAR AXLE TO TURN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ON INSPECTION THE FRAME IS HEAVILY RUSTED IN THIS AREA AND THE WELD HAS GIVEN WAY AND IS TEARING APART FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ALSO RUSTED, BUT THE JOINT HAS NOT YET SEPARATED.

Mileage: 175,000

SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OF MY VEHICLE. RUST HAS COMPLETELY PERFORATED AND SEPARATED STRUCTURAL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS (REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CONTROL ARM MOUNT). VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL MAJOR REPAIRS OR COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT IS PERFORMED. *TR

Mileage: 163,000

THE REAR AXLE HOUSING HAS RUSTED THROUGH SUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS LEAKING THROUGH A HOLE IN THE METAL AND DRIPPING ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE METAL WAS SO THIN, LIKE PAPER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ALL OF THE REAR AXLE FLUID COULD LEAK OUT, ALLOWING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO FREEZE OR SEIZE UP, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CREATING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE OTHER VEHICLES TO LOSE TRACTION ON ROAD DUE TO GEAR OIL LEAKING ONTO ROADWAY. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE AXLE HOUSING. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUPPORTS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I THINK THE NHTSA NEEDS TO STEP IN AND MAKE TOYOTA ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE FAULTY DIFFERENTIALS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT TOYOTA USED INFERIOR METAL TO MANUFACTURER THESE PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 84,183

WHEN GETTING THE LEFT/REAR WHEEL BEARING REPAIRED (DUE TO HEAVY RUSTING OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, CAUSING FLUID LOSS), THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED EXTENSIVE FRAME LOSS ALSO DUE TO CORROSION. AFFECTED VEHICLE (OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION) WAS/HAD TO BE JUNKED FOR SAFETY REASONS, THUS FORCING ME TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED. IN N.E. (NORTH EAST) USA, TOYOTA TACOMAS (FRAMES MANUFACTURED IN THE USA) WERE RECALLED FOR THIS CONDITION BUT NOT TOYOTA 4RUNNERS (FRAMES MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN). BOTH MY 4RUNNER CORROSION CONDITIONS ARE NOT UNUSUAL IN N.E. USA! (PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). SHOULD TOYOTA BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION? *TR

Mileage: 195,562

EXPERIENCED SOFT HUM LIKE NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. REAR END HOUSING FOUND TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE INTERNAL FLUID IS SEEPING OUT THRU THE REAR OF THAT HOUSING. NON REPARABLE, NEEDS REPLACED MINIMUM $3000. DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM & HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA OF THIS SITUATION. DEALER WAS TOLD IT HAPPENS & TOYOTA WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HAS BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE OTHERWISE. DISHEARTENED & FINANCIALLY STRESSED! *TR

Mileage: 159,000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS RUSTED VERY BADLY LEAKING GEAR OIL. RUST IS EXTREMELY THICK. HUGE FLAKES MORE LIKE CHUNKS. LEAKING FROM REAR OF HOUSING WHERE RUST HAS PENETRATED FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE A SLOW LEAK. REST OF 4RUNNER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. *TR

Mileage: 108,500

REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKING GEAR OIL FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL INTO REAR BRAKE DRUM HOUSING COVERING BRAKE SHOES, DRUMS, AND BRAKING COMPONENTS IN GEAR OIL. LOSS OF GEAR OIL IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAN CAUSE DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AS WELL AS FAILURE IN REAR BRAKING. A NOTORIOUS ISSUE WITH 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA 4RUNNERS DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF REAR AXLE SEALS AND RETAINERS, THEREFORE FAILING TO PROPERLY SEAL COMPONENTS. SEALS BEGIN TO LEAK AGAIN SOON AFTER; EVEN WHEN REPAIRED, DUE TO POOR MATING OF SEAL AND RETAINER ON AXLE WITHIN THE AXLE HOUSING. *TT

Mileage: 130,000

I DISCOVERED THIS MORNING THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING COVER IS LEAKING OIL THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SOME MAJOR RUST ISSUES WHICH HAVE AFFECTED THE STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL WELL BEING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 126,547

SEVERE FRAME ROT ON OTHERWISE VERY WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE. WILL CERTAINLY RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,130 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 144,133. UPDATED 11/27/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONATACTED A CLAIM WAS FILED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLED WAS SOLD AS SALVAGE. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START LAEVING THE CONSUMER STRANDED. IT WOULD STALL IN TRAFFIC. A NEW CLUTCH AND SAFETY CLUTCH WERE INSTALLED, NEW STARTER ALSO. THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME WITH AN ALARM BUT THE LOCKS WOULD FAIL AS WELL, LOCKING THE CONSUMER EITHER IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. UPDATED 12/10/2012 *JS

Mileage: 142,130

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED THROUGH, LEAKS FLUID, AND IS IRREPARABLE. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH SUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IS LEACHING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE METAL AND DRIPPING ONTO THE ROADWAY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL SEIZING UP AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OR OTHER VEHICLES TO LOSE TRACTION ON ROAD DUE TO GEAR OIL LEAKING ONTO ROADWAY. TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND INSISTS ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. RUST PROBLEM FIRST OBSERVED IN 2005 AND STEADILY BECOMING WORSE EACH MONTH. NO REPAIRS YET MADE BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE COST. OWNER IS EXPECTING AND WAITING FOR A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH SUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IS LEACHING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE METAL AND DRIPPING ONTO THE ROADWAY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL SEIZING UP AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OR OTHER VEHICLES TO LOSE TRACTION ON ROAD DUE TO GEAR OIL LEAKING ONTO ROADWAY. TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND INSISTS ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. RUST PROBLEM FIRST OBSERVED IN 2005 AND STEADILY BECOMING WORSE EACH MONTH. NO REPAIRS YET MADE BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE COST. OWNER IS EXPECTING AND WAITING FOR A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASING IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. IT IS BEYOND REPAIR AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE UNIT. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER IS RUSTED AND FLUID LEACHES RIGHT THROUGH THE METAL SPRAYING FLUID ON TO SPARE WHEEL AND REAR BUMPER AND ANYTHING IN TOW. COVER IS EVIDENTIALLY CHEAP METAL AND IS POORLY DESIGNED AS THE COVER IS WELDED ON AND CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE. THERE IS NO OTHER SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE REMAINDER OF THE AXLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION THEREFORE I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1500-$2000 FOR A REPLACEMENT AXLE WHICH IS 1/4 OF THE VEHICLE'S VALUE. TOYOTA CHOSE A POOR DESIGN AND MATERIAL FOR THIS PART AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AS IT IS THE ONLY WEAK LINK ON THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, UNFORTUNATELY THE REAR AXLE IS NOT AN OPTIONAL PART FOR ITS OPERATION. I HAVE REVIEWED SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS IN THE RANGE FROM '99 TO '02 WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND ALL REPORT NO OTHER RUST ON THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE LOCATION. MY MECHANIC ADVISES THE ONLY REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE IS THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR AXLE WHEN ONLY A SMALL PLATE HAS FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 6CYL 78000 MILES. NOTICED REAR END DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING OIL. DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE I PARK IT ON DIRT DRIVEWAY. NOT LEAKING AT SEAL OR NORMAL CONNECTION POINT. IS COMING THROUGH THE METAL ITSELF. THEY SAID THE METAL HAS BECOME ' POROUS '. LAST 4 RUNNER HAD 340,000 MILES ON IT AND NEVER HAD A DROP COME THROUGH THE METAL AND WAS USED EXTENSIVELY OFF ROAD. THIS VEHICLE MINIMALLY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART THROUGH SUBSTANDARD MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR INFERIOR METAL. I AM GETTING NO HELP FROM DEALER IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE ON LINE AND WAS REFERRED TO THIS SITE THROUGH A LINK. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

2000 SPORT EDITION 4 RUNNER, ALL WORKING COMPONENTS AND FRAME ARE BADLY RUSTED. NOTHING CAN BE WORKED ON WITHOUT BREAKAGE OF PARTS AND BOLTS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS FROM THE EAST COAST WHERE SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS. CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN REPLACEMENT FRAMES OR THEIR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BACK FROM TOYOTA. OUR CAR IS FROM VERMONT AND NEW YORK WHERE I AM SURE THEY USED ROAD SALT AND THIS IS WHY THE UNTREATED FRAMES OF THESE VEHICLES CORRODED SO BADLY LIKE OUR 4 RUNNER. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD GIVE THE SAME OFFER FOR THE 2000 4 RUNNER. MY SON WORKED FOR TWO YEARS AND AT 18 YEARS OLD PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR $9000.00. WE WERE CRUSHED WHEN WE REALIZED THE EXTENT OF RUST DAMAGE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE. NOTHING CAN BE REPAIRED WITHOUT HUGE EXPENSE, AND EVERY THING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THIS CAR NEEDS REPLACED. WHERE IS TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND SATISFACTION NOW? *TR

Mileage: 120,000

NO INJURY OR CRASH . . . REPORTING WHAT I BELIEVE MAY BE A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SAFETY DANGER. --- THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IN THE 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER I OWN SEEMS TO BE RUSTING UNUSUALLY QUICKLY. THIS IS A 10-YEAR OLD VEHICLE, BUT IT ONLY HAS 113,715 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN IT SUSTAINED A LEAK DUE TO CORROSION. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS BOTH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THEY ARE SEEING THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTAS. THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT IT SEEMS TO BE DUE TO TOYOTA HAVING THINNER METAL IN THE HOUSING. *TR

Mileage: 113,715

RUSTED & LEAKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ON 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF HOUSING IN GEAR CARRIER AREA. *TR

Mileage: 147,031

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF HOUSING IN GEAR CARRIER AREA. *TR

Mileage: 147,031

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER DIED AND BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY ON US 68, A VERY BUSY SIX LANE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SERVICE IN MORGANTOWN WV. DIFFERENTIAL WAS FIXED ON 18 NOV. BY AFTERNOON A PINHOLE LEAK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE DIFFERENTIAL COVER. MOST OIL HAD LEAKED OUT IN APPROXIMATELY 2 HRS. MECHANIC SAYS PINION WAS CRACKED IN HALF - NEW PARTS WERE OEM FROM TOYOTA,. BUT A NEW DIFFERENTIAL COVER IS NOT AVAILABLE. APPARENTLY ONLY AS A NEW AXLE. MECHANIC WILL MIG WELD THE COVER. APPROXIMATE COST FOR EVERYTHING $2000. SEEMS WEIRD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT SUPPORT ITS CUSTOMERS BY MAKING NEW COVERS AVAILABLE. ESPECIALLY SINCE MANY CUSTOMERS IN CANADA AND UPPER US HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER HAD CORROSION, AND THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS LEAKING. AS A CONSEQUENCE THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD FREEZE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT SELL A COVER FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL, BUT THE WHOLE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUST THROUGH ISSUE RELEASING GEAR OIL ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING MY REAR END TO SEIZE POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 120,912

MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUST THROUGH ISSUE RELEASING GEAR OIL ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING MY REAR END TO SEIZE POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 120,912

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120912. UPDATED 03/10/10 *BF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD RUSTED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, WHICH ALLOWED GEAR OIL TO BE RELEASED ONTO THE ROAD. UPDATED 05/17/10

Mileage: 120,912

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER - SR5 4WD - MANUAL TRANSMISSION: REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING RUST-OUT WITH PINHOLE LEAKS CAUSING GEAR OIL TO LEAK. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SHAKES AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHILE BRAKING. IT IS VISIBLY NOTICEABLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT ALL PASSENGERS IN THE CAR CAN FEEL THE SHAKING AND VIBRATION. IT BECOMES ALMOST VIOLENT AND ALARMING AROUND 70MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND NO ONE CAN FIND A SOLUTION. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT RANGES FROM 96-08 MODELS. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

A CONTROL VALVE WITHIN THE RADIATOR BURST, CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO GET INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND SEIZE IT. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS TO BE REMOVED, SYSTEM FLUSHED, NEW RADIATOR INSTALLED, TRANSMISSION EITHER REBUILT OR REPLACED AND FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO BE ROAD TESTED. APPROXIMATE COSTS VARY FROM $1700.00 TO OVER $3000.00. *TR

Mileage: 142,000