1999 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A LARGE TREE IN WHICH THE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE. THE CONTACT IS UNSURE IF THIS IS THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A CONTINUOUS KNOCKING SOUND, AND A INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION WHEN IT IS ACCELERATING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR.

Mileage: 111,000

THE FOG LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NEW LAMPS REPLACED AND THEY GO OUT IN A FEW WEEKS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN '99. *NM

(1) HIGH PITCHED ENGINE SQUEAK; ASSUMED WORN BELT. (2) MAIN PULLEY KEY LOCKING MAIN PULLEY TO CRANK SHAFT HAD SHEARED INTO TWO PIECES. ONE PIECE LOST. PULLEY MOVED OUT OF POSITION, STRESSING BELT AND CAUSING NOISE. REMAINING PIECE OF THE KEY WAS EMBEDDED AND FUSED INTO THE CRANK SHAFT. PULLEY KEY IS $ PART. OBVIOUSLY, NOT DURABLE ENOUGH FOR CRITICAL ENGINE PART, WHICH WHEN FAILS CAN RUIN THE ENTIRE ENGINE. EVEN 500 X THE $ COST WOULD BE WORTH HAVING TITANIUM OR TUNGSTEN STEEL PART THAT WOULD NEVER FAIL. TOYOTA IS CUTTING CORNERS, SACRIFICING QUALITY IN THE NAME OF PROFIT. I RISKED HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE -- A $9,000 CONSIDERATION. (3) FORTUNATELY OLD MILL TOYOTA (OMAHA, NEBRASKA. WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FUSED PART AND SAVE THE ENGINE. A PROPERLY ENGINEERED PART, EVEN AT MUCH GREATER COST, WOULD HAVE PROTECTED ME FROM THIS RISK.*AK

Mileage: 83,500

REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LEAKING REAR AXLE GREASE SEALS WHICH THROW GREASE ONTO REAR BRAKE SHOES. CAUSING INCONSISTENT AND UNSAFE BRAKING. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA OF AUBURN CALIFORNIA, REPAIRS SIMILAR TO THIS ARE BEING PERFORMED ON SIMILAR VINTAGE TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER MODELS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST IS $850. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT NOT A STANDARD MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN INJURIES OR DEATH. *JB *NM

1999-TOYOTA 4-RUNNER STARTED TO CONVULSE,SEIZE, AND SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY, OIL WAS POURING OUT ALL OVER THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR WAS PERFECTLY MAINTAINED. TOYOTA REFUSED TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. INDEPENDENT EXPERT DIAGNOSED A "HOLE IN THE BLOCK FROM A DEFECTIVE CONNECTING ROD WHICH HAD SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE WALL" TOYOTA REFUSES ANY RESPONSIBILITY!! *JB

Mileage: 79,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IT REVVED VERY FAST. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ON AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE , AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. A FIRE REPORT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE WATER PUMP, STARTER, AND THE BELTS WERE DESTROYED. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 112,111

I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH I HAD JUST PURCHASED WITH 104,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE FAST LANE ON I-695 WHEN THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER AND SLOWING DOWN VERY FAST. I BARELY CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE GAS GUAGE READ JUST UNDER 1/2 FULL, BUT ACCORDING TO A TSB, THE GUAGE AND SENDER UNIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAD NO WARNING FROM THE CAR TO TELL ME MY GAS TANK WAS FULL. RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL - WHY THIS ISN'T CONSIDERED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX IT, BUT I CAN'T AFFORD IT. I WAS USING MY ODOMETER TO KEEP TRACK, BUT THE OTHER DAY, I RAN OUT AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK WITH THE A/C ON, IT MUST USE MORE GAS. I'M VERY UPSET.

Mileage: 104,000

DT: CONSUMER STATED THE REAR AXLE SEAL FAILED TWICE WHICH CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED ONCE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JB....REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED FLUID. *AK *SB

Mileage: 79,733

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/3. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, BUT MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAVE 72545 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, LOTS OF TRAFFIC. I AM IN THE NAVY AND WILL BE DRIVING FROM FLORIDA TO SAN DIEGO NEXT MONTH ENROUTE TO JAPAN IN OCTOBER. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT SINCE IT'S ONLY A TSB AND NOT A RECALL, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS SINCE THE TRUCK GOT OUT OF THE TAHARA PLANT IN JAPAN FOR SALE TO THE U.S.

Mileage: 72,505

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/3. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, BUT MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAVE 72545 MILES AND OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, LOTS OF TRAFFIC. I AM IN THE NAVY AND WILL BE DRIVING FROM FLORIDA TO SAN DIEGO NEXT MONTH ENROUTE TO JAPAN IN OCTOBER. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT SINCE IT'S ONLY A TSB AND NOT A RECALL, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT MYSELF. THESE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS SINCE THE TRUCK GOT OUT OF THE TAHARA PLANT IN JAPAN FOR SALE TO THE U.S.

Mileage: 72,505

THE CONSUMER SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR COMING FROM THE VENT AREA. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FUEL RAIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE GAS GAUGE WOULD READ FULL WHEN IT WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY, AND VISA VERSA. THEN THE SKIN OF THE DASH BOARD BY THE TACHOMETER BUBBLED FROM THE HEAT OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD OVER HEATING. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO ALSO DENIED THAT A BULLETIN EXISTED CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO AN AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS WHO RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA REGARDING MY PROBLEM (REF: BULLETIN EL010-00). I CALLED TOYOTA BACK AND THEN WAS TOLD SORRY BUT YOUR OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY TIME LIMIT. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFICATION MADE TO THE CONSUMER BY TOYOTA REGARDING THIS MATTER. MY THE CIRCUIT BOARD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE BUBBLING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE HAD I CHOSE JUST IGNORE THE GAUGE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN THE IGNORE THE PROBLEM IN HOPES THAT IT WILL NOT BE REPORTED AND AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMER.

Mileage: 55,587

VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING WRECK. FIND OUT THERE IS NO FUEL IN TANK EVEN THOUGH FUEL GAUGE READS 1/2. TOYOTA SAYS TSB EL010-00 ADDRESSES KNOWN DEFECTIVE 1999 AND 2000 FUEL GAUGES AND ALSO ADDRESSES SOME GAUGES INACCURATELY READING EMPTY WHEN 4 GALLONS REMAIN, MY VECHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO TOY WILL NOT PAY FOR FIX. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, LOTS OF TRAFFIC...*AK.

RELATED TO: MOST OF THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD POWER SEATS ON THE PASSENGER SITE. LAST EVENING, I LAID MY CELL PHONE AND WALLET ON THE PASSEGER SEAT BEFOR I STARTED THE ENGINE, WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT FROM THE PARKING LOT, I MADE A SMALL TURN, THIS MOVEMENT CAUSED MY CELL PHONE AND WALLET SLIDED DOWN TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE ENDED UNDER THE RIGHT SEAT. SO I STOPED THE CAR AND BENDED OVER THE RIGHT SIDE TO GET THEM OUT WITH MY RIGHT HAND, SINCE THEY WERE UNDER THE SEAT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO EVEN REACH THEM. THEN I USED MY LEFT HAND, TRIED REACH THEM FROM UNDER THE SEAT. GUES WHAT HAPPENED? SINCE MY RIGHT HAND STILL ON THE RIGHT SITE OF THE SEAT, IT ACCIDENTLY PUSHED THE SEAT MOVE FORWARD BUTTON, THE SEAT WAS MOVING FORWARD WHILE MY LEFT HAND STILL UNDER THE SEAT. BECAUSE THERE IS A MATEL OBJECT WAS UNDER, IT HURT MY LEFT HAND BADLY, LUCKILY I REALIZED I WAS PUSHING THE BOTTON, I RELEASED IT ON TIME, SO THERE'S NO SERIOUS INJURE. HAD I NOT RELEASE MY RIGHT HAND ON TIME, I WOULD HAVE

RELATED TO: MOST OF THE VEHICLE WHICH HAD POWER SEATS ON THE PASSENGER SITE. LAST EVENING, I LAID MY CELL PHONE AND WALLET ON THE PASSEGER SEAT BEFOR I STARTED THE ENGINE, WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT FROM THE PARKING LOT, I MADE A SMALL TURN, THIS MOVEMENT CAUSED MY CELL PHONE AND WALLET SLIDED DOWN TOWARD THE RIGHT SIDE ENDED UNDER THE RIGHT SEAT. SO I STOPED THE CAR AND BENDED OVER THE RIGHT SIDE TO GET THEM OUT WITH MY RIGHT HAND, SINCE THEY WERE UNDER THE SEAT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO EVEN REACH THEM. THEN I USED MY LEFT HAND, TRIED REACH THEM FROM UNDER THE SEAT. GUES WHAT HAPPENED? SINCE MY RIGHT HAND STILL ON THE RIGHT SITE OF THE SEAT, IT ACCIDENTLY PUSHED THE SEAT MOVE FORWARD BUTTON, THE SEAT WAS MOVING FORWARD WHILE MY LEFT HAND STILL UNDER THE SEAT. BECAUSE THERE IS A MATEL OBJECT WAS UNDER, IT HURT MY LEFT HAND BADLY, LUCKILY I REALIZED I WAS PUSHING THE BOTTON, I RELEASED IT ON TIME, SO THERE'S NO SERIOUS INJURE. HAD I NOT RELEASE MY RIGHT HAND ON TIME, I WOULD HAVE

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE VIBRATING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

Mileage: 97,000

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT VEHICLE VIBRATING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS. WITHIN TWO WEEKS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

Mileage: 97,000

MY VEHICLE: 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED W/ PORT INSTALLED AUTO DIMMING MIRROR THE + AND - WIRE THAT GOES TO THE AUTO DIMMING MIRROR WERE ACCIDENTALLY SHORTED ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. HERE'S THE PROBLEM AS TO WHY IT'S A FIRE HAZARD: IT TURNS OUT THAT WHEN THE MIRROR WAS INSTALLED (EITHER PORT OPTION OR DEALER OPTION ON LIMITED'S AND SR5'S W/ SUNROOFS - NOT INSTALLED IN JAPAN), THEY JUST RAN A WIRE (ACTUALLY TWO - A GROUND AND A "HOT" WIRE MATED TOGETHER) DOWN TO THE DRIVER SIDE KICK PANEL AND "HOPPED" THE HOT WIRE ONTO A HOT LEAD OF THE POWER ACCESSORY CIRCUIT COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS CIRCUIT IS ON A 30 AMP SLOW-BURN FUSE. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE WIRES TO THE MIRROR WERE TO CROSS SOMEHOW - AS THEY DID FOR ME. THE FUSE WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY BLOW AND THE WIRES CAN GET HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE INSULATION OR SURROUNDING MATERIAL BEFORE THE SLOW-BLOW FUSE WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK THE CIRCUIT. THIS CAN TAKE AS LONG AS 10 SECONDS DEPENDING ON CURRENT AND HEA

Mileage: 107,500

GAS GAUGE GIVES A FALSE READING. I TRAVEL TO IOWA OFTEN AND I KNOW WHEN TO GET GAS SO THAT I CAN MAKE IT HOME. DURING ONE TRIP I STOPPED TO TO GET GAS AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS GAUGE INDICATE MORE GAS THAN I SHOULD HAVE. HAD I TRAVELED A DIFFERENT ROUTE AND RELIED ON THE GAUGE, I WOULD HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS AND GOT STRANDED, OR WORSE. MY CAR MIGHT HAVE DIED ON THE FREEWAY AND MIGHT HAVE CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS. SOMETIMES IT TELLS ME I HAVE 3/4 FULL TANK WHEN IT SHOULD BE ONLY 1/4.*AK