Problems with 2001 Toyota 4Runner POWER TRAIN

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that while exiting out of a parking space, there was an oil stain on the ground. the contact noticed that the oil was leaking from the rear differential. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 98,528.

Eccesive rust on the frame and body makes it unsafe to drive as intended

On october 11th 2014, i was driving my 2001 4runner, on my way to work. had just turned off a road with a speed limit of 55. as i hit 35mph, my car comes to a jolting stop with a loud bang and drag on the tires. the car still ran, but the car wouldn't move. i had to finish walking to my job, as i was cellphone-less at the time. i had to pay to have my car towed home, missing an entire day's work, which was a loss of 120$. the guy who towed me told me it was definitely something to do with my rear end. so i had a family friend who is a retired mechanic look it over to see if he could spot what the problem was. first thing noticed was my emergency break was on and frozen. they remove it, clean it, put it back on. i start the car, go to move it and theres a continuous loud bang and the car again comes to the stop. the emergency break froze again. they once again take it off, and so far it hasn't refroze. however, my car is still making the loud ...

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that the differential housing corroded and caused fluid to leak. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

When driving at 70 mph, the vehicle vibrates on the highway. i have taken the vehicle constantly to the dealership for over two years complaining about this problem and they always told me that nothing was wrong. today (5/10/14), the mechanic at the dealership put the truck on a rack and ran the car at 45 mph and there was visible vibration coming from the drive shaft and a loud noise that i could never hear from within the vehicle. all this time, i have been driving a vehicle that i was unaware could have snapped apart. the sound cannot be heard in the cabin, so i could not even report that as a problem until today. i purchased three sets of new tires, had shocks and struts replaced, and brake pads to no avail. finally, after searching the web yesterday, i realized that this is a common problem with other vehicles of the same make and model. i'm not sure if this problem has caused injury to others, but there should be a recall. this could cause a potentially fatal accident if that shaft breaks. i read that for similar models (toyota and lexus), the manufacturer replaced the parts ...

Driving down the highway in 2001 toyota 4-runner going about 60 and all of a sudden the rear end/tires locked up and got it to the side of highway barely and then it started smoking really bad. very lucky that it didn't cause a wreck or no one got hurt. can't drive it or nothing, makes a loud knocking noise in the rear end and also when you turn the key on inside the vehicle all lights are on and its making a terrible buzzing noise. so had to have it towed and that cost me also and i need the whole rear differential and that's a lot of money. i've seen other problems/complaints about the same thing that happened to mine. i really think something should be done about it, toyota should be fixing the problem and we shouldn't have to pay for it. hopefully something gets done about this. *tr

The back of the rear differential housing started leaking about one drop per second. the vehicle has 113,800 miles. we bought the car with about 20,000 miles. it has received the recommended maintenance. the source of the leak is severe corrosion that has removed much of the structural metal of the differential housing. the leak is coming through several cracks that have passed through the remaining metal. the only available repair is to replace the entire rear axle housing to the tune of between $2000 and $3000. this type of corrosion is unusual. i have not experienced this sort of malfunction in nearly 50 years of driving. *tr

Rear differential has had normal wear up until recently when i noticed a section of the rear diff leaking and rotting. the way the rear axle housing is build it does not have a rear cover like most. but that is the section that has flaked and begun to leak. the fill plug is in the same area which also is rusted. making it not possible to check the fluid level. if your in a spot were you don't have the finances take care of the problem it leaves you in a spot of drive it till the rear end detonates. being as this is a common problem for toyota and it being a one part fix. i feel toyota needs to look into covering it under warranty or at least good willing parts prices than leaving myself and others in the spot of a $3,000.00 bill due a known problem. *tr

On the rear end differential housing, the back cover area (non replaceable) has become so porous because of heavy rust scaling and flaking that differential fluid seeps from it. the rest of the differential housing is made of thicker, heavier gauge metal and seems ok. this issue will cause the gear oil to drop below the required level causing differential failure or lock up and at highway speeds could be disastrous. when i realized i had this problem, i searched the toyota forums online and it appears to be a very common issue with these vehicles and toyota is aware but will do nothing about it. they will replace entire rusted out frames on trucks under recall, but refuse to address this issue? to add insult to injury they want $3000 to replace a known inferior/defective part. i have had to resort to makeshift repairs using brush on bed liner to stem the leaking and check the fluid to keep it full. but what about people who are not mechanically inclined or who are completely unaware?

After i my mechanic replaced the catalytic converter for $1500.00, this problem began. the vehicle began to buck (jerk violently) as i was accelerating to 45 mph. it always happens at about 20 mph as i try to accelerate to 30, 35 or 40 mph. the engine revs up to 3 of 4k before the transmissions engages forcefully. this has been going on for now 3 months. *tr

My vehicle has very little rust except for the rear differential. large flakes of rust have formed. the differential recently began leaking. after searching online i see this is a common problem with 4runners. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 toyota 4runner. while the contact was at an independent mechanic for a muffler replacement, he was informed that the vehicle frame was severely rusted. the mechanic stated that the muffler could not be replaced and a leak was present. the dealer (mcgee toyota of hanover, 860 washington st, hanover, ma 02339, (866) 942-1756) informed the contact that the frame and differential housing needed to be replaced. the differential housing was repaired, but the frame was not. the manufacturer was made aware of the failures. the failure mileage was 170,000.

The rear differential on my toyota 4runner rusted so badly in 9 years of ownership that the structural steel frame that supports the differential gears (the housing) cracked and oil spilled out on the road. i discovered the rust during the yearly state inspection and consequently had the differential inspected by my toyota dealer (berlin city portland, me) a few months back and they said it was structurally sound but rusty. i am an engineer and clearly it was not structurally sound or it would not have failed in short order as it did.... this failure could have caused the rear wheels to lock up resulting in a severe accident. this rust problem is common on most toyota truck frames and drive trains owned in the north east. toyota has elected to repair the trucks at no cost but not the 4runners with the same frame and differentials. this is dangerous as [xxx]... they put me and my family at grave risk.... information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

toyota 2001 4-runner, the vehicle has an excessive amount of underbody,frame,drive train rust specifically the rear differential housing unit. the problem first encountered was the rr. differential housing rusted through and is leaking oil from it.so i called toyota executive office and spoke with an executive analyst, i explained in detail what the problem was , she arranged for the vehicle to be taken to a toyota dealer and inspected by their mechanics and the report reads as follows. inspected rear differential , inspected housing -found fluid leaking from housing at yoke through rear cover ;metal porous and thin. recommended replacement of housing and associated hardware repair estimate $1491.28 plus tax. they also noted several other issues that i cannot be sure if it was caused by excessive rust or normal wear. then under miscellaneous a general inspection, by technician reads as follows vehicle undercarriage has heavy corrosion - - found perforation at front shackle on right rear of frame. second problem, at the end of the inspection report under the comments section ...