NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
379 reports199,000 miles · May 29, 2019
Structure
FRAME IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTY AND SEVERELY CRACKED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT BECAME APPARENT WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SLOWING DOWN DID NOT HELP REDUCE SWAY. SWAY WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION WERE FORCEFULLY BANGING AGAINS…
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FRAME IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTY AND SEVERELY CRACKED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT BECAME APPARENT WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY DANGEROUSLY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. SLOWING DOWN DID NOT HELP REDUCE SWAY. SWAY WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION WERE FORCEFULLY BANGING AGAINST STEERING COLUMN, AND STOPPING DRIVING IMMEDIATELY WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING OVER. FRAME IS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES, ONE SIDE SEVERELY. PHOTOS INCLUDED.
NHTSA ODI #11210672
210,000 miles · May 1, 2019
SteeringStructureSuspension
"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NO…
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"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.
NHTSA ODI #11205008
200,000 miles · May 1, 2019
SteeringStructureSuspension
"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NO…
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"RUSTED FRAME", MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.
NHTSA ODI #11204965
200,000 miles · May 1, 2019
SteeringStructureSuspension
"RUSTED FRAME" MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHILE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT…
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"RUSTED FRAME" MY 2000 4RUNNER SUFFERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE REAR CONTROL LINK SUPPORT BRACKETS WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR OF THE VEHILE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL. WE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE. WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE FRAME CAN BE REPAIRED NOT. I CALLED A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY A RECALL ON PICKUP TRUCKS OF THESE YEARS AND NOT 4RUNNERS. THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WAS GARAGE KEPT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF ITS LIFE. I RELIGIOUSLY WASH MY UNDERCARRIAGE THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS IN PA. I HAVE OWNED 11 TOYOTAS IN MY DRIVING LIFE, I AM 55. SEVERAL OF MY VEHICLES WENT OVER 300,000 MILES AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A FRAME RUSTING PROBLEM UP UNTILL THIS ONE. THE BODY ON THIS TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE A SPECK OF RUST ANYWHERE BUT THE FRAME IS DISINTEGRATING. I FIND IT SAD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE AND FIX THEM.
NHTSA ODI #11204951
155,000 miles · Apr 26, 2019
Structure
THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE, MY FRAME ON MY 2000 4RUNNER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, MY SHOCK MOUNT RUSTED AND BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY CASES OF THE 3RD GEN 4RUNNERS RUSTING OUT, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YIELDS PAGES AND PAGES OF CORROSION TO FRAMES. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES IN THI…
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THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE, MY FRAME ON MY 2000 4RUNNER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, MY SHOCK MOUNT RUSTED AND BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE MANY MANY MANY CASES OF THE 3RD GEN 4RUNNERS RUSTING OUT, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YIELDS PAGES AND PAGES OF CORROSION TO FRAMES. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES IN THIS AGE GROU HAS RECALLS FOR FRAMES.
NHTSA ODI #11204058
250,000 miles · Apr 5, 2019
Unknown Or Other
THE ENTIRE FRAME OF MY TOYOTA HAS RUSTED AND IS BECOMING UNSAFE. THERE ARE GIANT HOLES IN THE FRAME WHERE RUST HAS EATEN IT AWAY. THE REST OF THE 4RUNNER IS PERFECTLY BRAND NEW AND FINE. I AM WORRIED THAT THE FRAME WILL BREAK AT ANY MOMENT CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE FRAME OR HELP IN …
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THE ENTIRE FRAME OF MY TOYOTA HAS RUSTED AND IS BECOMING UNSAFE. THERE ARE GIANT HOLES IN THE FRAME WHERE RUST HAS EATEN IT AWAY. THE REST OF THE 4RUNNER IS PERFECTLY BRAND NEW AND FINE. I AM WORRIED THAT THE FRAME WILL BREAK AT ANY MOMENT CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE FRAME OR HELP IN ANYWAY. THE FRAME NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY TOYOTA. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON MOST OF THEIR TRUCKS FROM THE 2000S. THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THIS MODEL/YEAR. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA ODI #11194090
195,000 miles · Mar 30, 2019
Structure
MAJOR RUST/CORROSION ON INSIDE RIGHT FRAME RAIL EXTENDING FROM FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE'S FRAME TO REAR FRAME. THE FRAME SUPPORTS NEAR TRANSFER CASE AND THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM POSE A SERIOUS RISK OF DETACHMENT. REAR RIGHT CONTROL ARM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS CRASH OR INJURY AT CITY OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RUST HAS E…
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MAJOR RUST/CORROSION ON INSIDE RIGHT FRAME RAIL EXTENDING FROM FRONT SECTION OF VEHICLE'S FRAME TO REAR FRAME. THE FRAME SUPPORTS NEAR TRANSFER CASE AND THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM POSE A SERIOUS RISK OF DETACHMENT. REAR RIGHT CONTROL ARM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS CRASH OR INJURY AT CITY OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. RUST HAS EATEN THROUGH MOST OF THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL WITH LARGE HOLES. NO ACTION BEING TAKEN BY TOYOTA, NO SHOP WANTS TO REPAIR.
NHTSA ODI #11192622
200,000 miles · Mar 28, 2019
Structure
THE FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUSTED OUT ON ONE SIDE OF IT, IT WAS JUST THE SIDE, BUT NOW THERE IS RUST HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF IT AS WELL. THIS IS A VERY BIG ISSUE AND COULD END UP TOTALING MY TRUCK IF I'M NOT WILLING TO SPEND THOUSANDS ON A NEW FRAME/REPAIR. THESE 4RUNNERS ARE KNOWN FOR BEING RELIABLE, BUT ALSO FOR TER…
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THE FRAME ON MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IS RUSTED OUT ON ONE SIDE OF IT, IT WAS JUST THE SIDE, BUT NOW THERE IS RUST HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF IT AS WELL. THIS IS A VERY BIG ISSUE AND COULD END UP TOTALING MY TRUCK IF I'M NOT WILLING TO SPEND THOUSANDS ON A NEW FRAME/REPAIR. THESE 4RUNNERS ARE KNOWN FOR BEING RELIABLE, BUT ALSO FOR TERRIBLY MADE FRAMES, AND I HAVE RUN INTO THAT UNFORTUNATE CASE. PLEASE ACTUALLY LOOK INTO RECALLING AND REPLACING THESE FRAMES, I KNOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHY OTHER TRUCKS EXCEPT FOR THE 4RUNNER WERE RECALLED. EVERYONE WITH ONE OF THESE MODELS WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE A RECALL ON THESE FRAMES. THANK YOU, [XXX] (DO NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC PHOTO OF THE RUST ON FRAME, BUT I DO HAVE ONE OF THE RUST ON THE BODY, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING, THE FRAME IS WAY MORE SEVERE THOUGH) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11192315
160,000 miles · Mar 24, 2019
SteeringSuspension
FRAME RUST CAUSING SUSPENSION ARM TO DROP WHILE DRIVING. IT DUG INTO ROAD SURFACE WHICH LIFTED ENTIRE REAR INTO THE AIR. KIND OF A POLE-VAULT EFFECT. VERY DANGEROUS. CHECKING FOR FRAME RUST IS NOT SOMETHING LISTED IN TOYOTAS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE NOR SHOULD IT HAVE TO BE BY OWNERS
NHTSA ODI #11191161
177,000 miles · Mar 20, 2019
Structure
FRAME RUST THERE ARE AREAS WHERE THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND IT'S BEEN TOLD TO ME IT WAS DUE TO TOYOTA NOT RUST PROOFING THE INSIDE OF THE FRAMES OR COATING THEM AT ALL.
NHTSA ODI #11190182