1997 Toyota 4 Runner

FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKES EXCESSIVELY AT SPEEDS OVER 65. AT 80 MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE IS CLOSE TO BEING UNCONTROLLABLE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF TRUCK SHAKES VIOLENTLY. REPORTED TO DEALER DURING FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP (PENSKE TOYOTA, DOWNEY). DEALER TESTED VEHICLE AND STATED THAT ALL HIGH VEHICLES SHAKE AT HIGH SPEEDS. VEHICLE STILL SHAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO LONGO TOYOTA FOR 15,000 MILE CHECKUP. NEEDED TWO NEW FRONT TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. LONGO REPLACED TIRES FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE I HAD PROOF OF MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AND PROOF THAT PENSKE DID NOTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM. PROBLEM CORRECTED FOR A FEW MILES THEN STARTED AGAIN. RETURNED TO LONGO TOYOTA IN EL MONTE AND REPORTED PROBLEM AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TIRES NEEDED AIR PRESSURE CHANGED. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND ON NEXT VISIT WAS TOLD TIRES NEEDED ROTATING THAT THEY ARE WEARING UNEVENLY. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND REPORTED AGAIN TO LONGO TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE ALIGNMENT CHECKED EVERY THOUSAND MILES. THIS ANSWER ANGERED ME AND I GAVE UP ON TRYING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. AT PRESENT, THE TIRES ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY ON ONE SIDE AND DEALER TELLS ME THAT I NEED NEW TIRES. I KNOW I NEED NEW TIRES BUT WHAT I NEED FIRST IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT CORRECTED TO PREVENT THE SHAKING AND UNEVEN WEAR.

SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HER. AIRBAG DEPLOYED TO SOON. SHE WENT FACE FIRST INTO THE DASH & WINDSHIELD WAS KNOCKED UNCONSIOUS. SHE HAS NECK & BACK INJURIES STILL TODAY. THE SEATBELT IS STILL LAYING ON THE SEAT. LAP PART HELD HER NOT THE SHOULDER STRAPE HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD & BROKE WINDSHIELD. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFOMATION. *AK

TRIED TO MAKE A U TURN FROM A PAVED ROADWAY INTO SOMEONE'S PACKED GRAVEL DRIVEWAY. SLOWED TO 25 MPH AND STARTED THE TURN AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO CONTINUE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO LESS THAN 12MPH. SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO NO FURTHER (FELT A HARD STOP), BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT MOVING. COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY ANYMORE AND VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING. THERE NO SKIDDING SOUNDS OR SLIDING SOUNDS. VEHICLE MOVED AS IF BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED. FINALLY AT ABOUT 10MPH HIT A POST THAT ULTIMATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. FELT A HARD BANG ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SOME VIBRATING JUST AS THE VEHICLE CRASHED AND ALSO AFTER IT STOPPED. ONCE IT STOPPED THERE WAS A LOUD KLANG AND A SPRING RECOIL NOISE (VERY LOUD). FRONT PLASTIC SKIRT BROKEN, BUMPER CRUSHED AND BUMPER RE-INFORCEMENT BAR BENT. DEALER CONTACTED. NO PROBLEM FOUND WITH ABS AND THEY CLAIM THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD FUNCTION (ALL THE NOISE). HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH PRIOR VEHICLES (WITHOUT ABS) IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAS OFF AND ON DISPLAYED SOME PECULIAR ABS BEHAVIOUR. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ONCE BEFORE AND WAS TOLD THE KLANGING CAME FROM THE SKID PLATES RATTLING. THIS TIME THE NOISE WAS THE ABS ITSELF ... WHAT NEXT? *AK