IllustrationWHILE CHANGING MY OIL, I NOTICED A FEW NICE SIZE HOLES IN THE FRAME, IN FRONT AND BESIDES THE MUFFLER. I WONDERING IS IT SAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY TO DRIVE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
2001 Toyota 4RUNNER
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most 4RUNNER years
Owner complaints for the 2001 Toyota 4RUNNER are substantially higher than the model-year median of 58.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4RUNNER years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
50–25K
325–50K
250–75K
1675–100K
62100–150K
46150K+
134 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
154 reportsMASSIVE RUST AND DETERIORATION ALONG INSIDE PANEL OF FRAME ON PASSENGER SIDE REVEALED ONCE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT. DETERIORATED SECTION WAS ABOUT 24" LONG FROM REAR AXLE MOUNT TO CENTER STABILIZER BAR. UNKNOWN DETERIORATION ON DRIVER SIDE DUE TO LOCATION OF FUEL TANK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD TO EITHER BE RE-WELDED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD TO EITHER BE RE-WELDED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
MASSIVE RUST CORROSION AND PIECES BREAKING AWAY LOCATED UNDERNEATH ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE RUST WITH BREAKAGE HAS INTENSIFIED GREATLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND REQUIRED WELDING THIS YEAR TO PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. THE WELDING CONSISTED OF WELDING THE FRAME RAIL WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS AND A N…
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MASSIVE RUST CORROSION AND PIECES BREAKING AWAY LOCATED UNDERNEATH ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE RUST WITH BREAKAGE HAS INTENSIFIED GREATLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND REQUIRED WELDING THIS YEAR TO PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. THE WELDING CONSISTED OF WELDING THE FRAME RAIL WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION MOUNTS AND A NEW BRACKET HAD TO BE WELDED ON THE AXLE HOUSING THAT HOLDS AN UPPER REAR STRUT ROD BECAUSE IT RUSTED OFF. BOTH WERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 101,000 MILES AND IS WASHED AND WAXED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE GRAM HAS RUST PERFORATION IN WHICH THE LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. WHILE I WAS DRIVING A HEARD A POP AND STARTED TO LOSE PROPER CONTROL IN STEERING VEHICLE.
SINCE I GOT THE CAR, THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT GET IN PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT START THE CAR. THE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL HELPS SOMETIMES. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN LEAKING ENGINE COVERS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STRUCTURE GETS RUSTY AND THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.
IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING ON AND OFF SINCE ABOUT ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
MY 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WAS UP ON THE LIFT FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE. A SERVICE TECH BROUGHT ME TO THE SERVICE BAY AND INFORMED ME OF A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUST FAILURE OF THE FRAME. NOT SURFACE RUST, BUT RUST THAT IS CAUSING THE FRAME TO SEPARATE CAUSING VISIBLE CRACKS TO APPEAR. HE ADVISED ME OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. HE ADVISE…
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MY 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WAS UP ON THE LIFT FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE. A SERVICE TECH BROUGHT ME TO THE SERVICE BAY AND INFORMED ME OF A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUST FAILURE OF THE FRAME. NOT SURFACE RUST, BUT RUST THAT IS CAUSING THE FRAME TO SEPARATE CAUSING VISIBLE CRACKS TO APPEAR. HE ADVISED ME OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. HE ADVISED ME THAT TOYOTA HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE ON TUNDRA'S, TACOMA'S AND SEQUOIA'S BUT OFFERS NO RELIEF FOR 4RUNNER OWNERS. THE VEHICLE HAS 137,000 MILES ON IT. MY GUESS WAS THAT I HAD ANOTHER 20-30,000 MORE TO GO AS IT DOESN'T TRAVEL MANY MILES ON A DAILY BASIS. SEEMS HARD TO REASON THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD REPLACEMENT PLANS IN PLACE FOR OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR THE 4RUNNER.
VEHICLE WAS IN FOR AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE AND DURING INSPECTION THE SERVICE TECH NOTED RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICES BY THE SAME TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SINCE 2002 AND HAS PERFORMED THE SAME INSPECTION DURING EACH VISIT, WHY WAS IT JUST IDENTIFIED DURING THIS VISIT A…
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VEHICLE WAS IN FOR AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE AND DURING INSPECTION THE SERVICE TECH NOTED RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICES BY THE SAME TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SINCE 2002 AND HAS PERFORMED THE SAME INSPECTION DURING EACH VISIT, WHY WAS IT JUST IDENTIFIED DURING THIS VISIT AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE? IS IT MORE PROFITABLE TO NOT IDENTIFY THE RUSH TO CUSTOMERS AND BECAUSE FIX THE RUST ISSUE OR TO SELL MORE EXPENSIVE CARS. THE DEALERSHIP DEEMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE IN A COMPLAINT FILED THROUGH THE BBB BUT WOULD OFFER A CREDIT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE!! THIS FURTHER SUPPORTS THE PREMISE THAT TOYOTA INTENTIONALLY OVERLOOKS SOME ISSUES IF THEY CAN REALIZE A GREATER VALUE. RUST IDENTIFIED IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR FRAME. SERVICE TECH SAID ABOUT $7,500 TO REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP.
MUFFLER FELL OFF GOT PARTS AND WHILE CHANGING MUFFLER FOUND OUT THAT MY FRAME IS RUSTED CLEAR THROUGH!! WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS I SEE A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM THIS IS THE SECOND TOYOTA THAT I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO REALLY STARTING TO WONDER ABOUT THE BUYING TOYOTAS ANYMORE
Official recalls
105V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
May 17, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.