2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Unknown Or Other Problems

Frame rot

frame rust saftey hazardous? midas mechanic pointed out to me while work being done on exhaust march 2022

Frame rusted through from the inside out. There isnt even any surface rust where the hole started. Its just a hole in the middle of clean metal. The rest of the frame rail is solid. Rear suspension arm mount is also rusted out and starting to come off. The entire structural integrity of the frame is in question, even though externally, theres only slight surface rust. The frame should not be rusting this way.

Had vehicle inspected on Oct. 1 ,2021 for road trip to North Carolina from Washington, DC. Was informed that my vehicle is unsafe by the automotive shop (name withheld) due to [rusting] frame front suspension components' threads rusted off on bolts that hold suspension, control arms, and shocks on both front and rear areas + body of vehicle located where shocks bolt to the body. I also had two other shops (names withheld) assess the state of the frame and suspension + and was told that the vehicle has maybe 1 year or so until the frame falls apart. Given I am the original owner, have gargage-kept my vehicle, have very low-mileage - 74,000 miles, and have maintained the vehicle immaculately and am aware of rusting problems with other Toyota [truck] frames, etc. this seems to be a defect in the manufacturing process. I know there have been recalls on Toyota's other trucks due to Toyota's failure to add [enough?] rust inhibitor/preventative to the molten steel when forming the frame for many models of their trucks.

After having my 4 runner in for routine maintenance, my mechanic informed me that my frame was in bad condition and rusting through. Doubtful it has a year left and he advised me to junk it as fast as I can. 180;000 miles - so much for Toyota’s lasting a long time.

THE FRAME HAS RUSTED AT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT TO THE POINT OF NOT PASSING INSPECTION.

Mileage: 116,000

THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT AND IS MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS FRAME, IT'S ALREADY BEEN RECALLED ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA AND IT'S THE SAME IDENTICAL FRAME. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. JUST MAKING A NORMAL TURN ON A BEND IN THE ROAD MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL.

Mileage: 202,000

EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. HAVE HEARD OF OTHER TOYOTAS FROM THE SAME TIME THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NOT THE 4RUNNER EVEN THOUGH IT SUFFERS THE SAME ISSUES.

Mileage: 149,000

HAD THE 4RUNNER WV STATE INSPECTED. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE MUFFLER. NOTICED THE FRAME CRACKED ON FRAME RAIL NEAR MUFFLER LOCATION.

Mileage: 191,000

I FOUND FRAME RUST WITH PERFORATION ON MY 02 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

Mileage: 166,000

FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND TRUCK WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT OF BEING A DANGER TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. FRAME DID NOT EASILY APPEAR RUSTED WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 4 YEARS AGO. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THE COATING CONCEALED THE DAMAGE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE TO REPAIR. MY VEHICLE DRIVES PERFECTLY BUT IS NOT SAFE DUE TO THE FRAME DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 151,000

WHEN I HAD MY STATE INSPECTION IN JANUARY OF 2020, THE MACHANIC TOLD ME THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AGAIN. IT IS SEVERELY RUSTED THROUGH AND IN HIS OPINION IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I WAS TRAVELLING TO MY FATHER'S RESIDENCE AND THE BRAKES GAVE OUT. THE TECHNICIAN THAT REPAIRED MY BRAKE LINE ALSO TOLD ME AND DOCUMENTED ON THE BILL THAT THE TRUCK IS REALLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 18 YEARS, AND ONLY DRIVEN IT FIVE WINTERS. I WASH THE TRUCK NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE WINTER TO REMOVE SALT. IT IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, AND I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW ONE. WHY WASN'T THIS INCLUDED IN THE FRAME RECALL FROM TOYOTA?!? NOW I'M NERVOUS ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THOSE ON THE ROADWAYS.

Mileage: 146,000

RIGHT FRAME RAIL IS VERY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF NON REPAIR. UNABLE TO REPAIR SUSPENSION DUE TO UNABLE TO REMOVE BOLTS THAT HOLD SUSPENSION TO FRAME.

WE PURCHASED A 4RUNNER FOR OUR 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THINKING IT WOULD BE SAFE, ESP IN MN. SHE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE (130 MILES) AND NOTICED IT HAD A BAD VIBRATION, ESPECIALLY OVER 40 MPH. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN AND WHEN WE GOT BACK, BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP, ONLY TO BE TOLD THE FRAME WAS RESPONDED BEYOND REPAIR (SEE PHOTOS). NOT ONLY DOES THAT SCARE ME FOR MY DAUGHTER, BUT SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING IT A FEW YEARS AND HAD FRIENDS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES FOR IT'S AGE AND BASED ON TOYOTAS REPUTATION OF LONGEVITY, WE NEVER EXPECTED THIS SORT OF ISSUE. WE'RE THANKFUL SHE WASN'T HURT, BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS DRIVING A VEHICLE AND NOT KNOWING IT COULD LITERALLY BREAK IN HALF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD!

Mileage: 140,000

FRAME RUST THROUGH! WITH 150.000 MILES ON IT. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY COMPROMISED. BODY AND DRIVE TRAIN STILL OPERABLE.

Mileage: 150,000

FRAME RUSTED OUT IN THE REAR SUSPENSION

FRAME RUSTED OUT, SIMILAR TO TACOMA PICK UP TRUCKS RECALL. ADDITIONALLY CLIMATE CONTROL HEATING, COOLING, FAN DEFECTIVE, POWER ANTENNA IN-OPERABLE.

Mileage: 124,530

FRAME IS PERFORATED BY RUST WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT MEETS THE FRAME RAIL.

Mileage: 130,000

FRAME RUST. ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT AND MY MECHANIC RECENTLY NOTICED HEAVY SCALING AND RUST, ALSO A FEW HOLES/ROTTED SECTIONS. TOYOTA NEEDS A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, OR RECALL THESE FRAMES, AS THEY DID WITH THE TACOMA. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT'S OUR PROBLEM WHEN THIS IS A CLEAR COMMON ISSUE. THE OTHER COMMON ISSUE ON THESE FRAMES, IS AT THE BACK SHACKLE, THAT ATTACHES THE CONTROL ARM TO THE REAR END, ROTS RIGHT OFF. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY THAT SOMETHING WILL FAIL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT IS VERY DISCONCERTING THAT WITH ONLY 63,000 MILES MY FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING QUICKLY.

THE FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Mileage: 224

THE FRAME OF MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS COMPLETE RUSTED AND IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING. THE RUST HAS RECENTLY ACCELERATED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRAME AND STAND BY THERE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED INCLUDING THE UNDER CARRIAGE. PHOTO'S CAN BE SUBMITTED AT YOUR REQUEST.

THE FRAME ON MY 4 RUNNER HAS RUSTED AND BROKE IN HALF THEY RECALLED MY 2005 AND 1996 TACOMA AND PUT A NEW FRAME UNDER IT AND IT WAS NOT AS BAD AS MY 4 RUNNER DONT UNDERSTAND

Mileage: 226,000

MY 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME IS ROTTED IN FRONT OF THE REAR PASSANGER WHEEL WELL MEASURING ABOUT 31' INSIDE NEXT TO THE MUFFLER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR BODY MOUNT IT'S STARTING TO RUST THROUGH NOW THE REST IS IN GREAT SHAPE BODY WISE

Mileage: 226,528

RUST THROUGH ON THE FRAME.

Mileage: 120,231

FRAME AND SOME SUSPENSION PARTS ARE VERY RUSTED, FRAME HAS HOLES AND IS BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, ONLY 100100 MILES. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION POP'S WHEN STRESSED IN CORNERING. WHEN AT IDLE, YOU CAN HEAR THE VIBRATION FROM RUST CHUNKS IN THE FRAME. ALL HEAT SHIELDS RUSTED. SKID PLATES ON FRONT AND FUEL TANK SO RUSTED MUST REMOVE. NOW NOTHING IS PROTECTING THE FUEL TANK.

Mileage: 100,500

AFTER BUYING THIS VEHICLE I WAS UNDERNEATH VEHICLE TO REPAIR A AXLE SEAL LEAKING AND FOUND EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST ON PASSENGER REAR OF FRAME. BY EXTENSIVE I MEAN THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH! I HAVE LIVED IN OHIO ALL OF MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH THIS MILEAGE AND OF THIS YEAR HAVE SUCH SEVERE FRAME RUST! AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED REAR END HOUSING WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE RUST ON THE FRAME IS SEVERELY PERFORATED AT POINT WHERE TRAILING ARM FOR THE REAR END ATTACHES TO THE FRAME! I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE BUYING VEHICLE BUT AFTER SOME RESEARCH HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF SOME SORT! THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE FRAMES IN THIS CONDITION AND TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS!

Mileage: 102,000

TOOK VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION, WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE WELDED. TOOK IT TOOK A WELDING SHOP, THAT DOES THIS TYPE OF WORK. WE WERE THEN TOLD BY THE GENTLEMEN DOING THE WORK THAT IT WAS THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD OF ISSUES WITH 4RUNNER RUSTING ISSUES AND SAID IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. HE KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO SPEND THAT KIND OF MONEY. WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAW A PHOTO OF IT AND STATED JUST FROM THE PICTURES IT WOULD BE OVER $2,000 TO FIX IT. WE FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS. JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES THEN IN JAPAN. NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.

Mileage: 92,000

FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HAS HOLES IN PARTS OF IT. THE REST OF THE BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. ENGINE RUNS WELL AND THERE ARE OTHERWISE NO MAJOR MECHANICAL ISSUES. UPON HAVING A MINOR REPAIR DONE, INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE FRAME IN THAT CONDITION AS IT IS ABOUT TO CRACK IN HALF. THIS SEEMS TO BE PREMATURELY FAILING COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 180,000

THE ENTIRE FRAME AND OTHER PARTS OF THE UNDERBODY ARE RUSTED. THE BRAKES BOTH FRONT AND BACK WERE ALSO RUSTED. I PULLED OFF FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED TO PICKUP MY DOGS. WHEN I TRIED TO LEAVE MY BRAKES WERE GONE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC HE SAID BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR

Mileage: 142,059