1997 Toyota 4runner Transmission Problems

MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE SAME MODEL CAR AS MINE 1997 4RUNNER AND HIS FRAME SNAPPED FROM RUST. HE SAID HE COULD BARELY KEEP IT ON THE ROAD BUT MANAGED TO SLOWLY CREEP FORWARD UNTIL HE GOT HOME. THIS STORY SCARED ME BECAUSE I HAVE THE SAME EXACT CAR, SO I GO TO CHECK MY FRAME AND SURE ENOUGH, IT IS ALSO QUITE RUSTED. I'M AFRAID THAT IF I KEEP DRIVING ON IT THAT IT WILL SNAP AND COULD CAUSE INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR

RUST THROUGH ON REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER TO THE POINT OF LEAKING APPROX 6 OZ PER WEEK OF GEAR OIL. THIS COVER IS WELDED ON TO THE REAR AXLE AND THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF REPLACING SEPARATELY. *TR

1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUST THROUGH. I HAVE JUST NOTICED THAT MY 1997 4RUNNER IS LEAKING DIFFERENTIAL OIL AND AM CONCERNED THAT RUST OR FOREIGN DEBRIS WILL GET INTO THE DIFFERENTIAL AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I HAVE REMOVED THE 4RUNNER FROM OPERATION UNTIL THE DEFECT IS CORRECTED. THE RUST IS ON THE REAR TOP OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THERE ARE VERY LARGE FLAKES OF RUST ON THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THE OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH SOME OF THE RUST HOLES. IT APPEARS THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS NOT MANUFACTURED WITH ADEQUATE THICKNESS IN THE METAL HOUSING AND HAD INADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUST OUT, TOYOTA USING INFERIOR METAL IN PRODUCTION RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF REPAIR FOR FLUID LEAKAGE. *TR

NO CRASH OR INJURY,BUT 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER DIFFERENTIAL IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKS OIL THROUGH NUMEROUS PINHOLES. IT CAN'T BE PATCHED AND REPLACEMENT IS IN THE $1500 RANGE. I CAN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE ON TRIPS. I HAVE FOUND MANY INSTANCES OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ON THE WEB - IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

REAR AXEL HOUSING RUSTED OFF OF CHASSIS REQUIRING NEW AXEL HOUSING. VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH RUST OTHERWISE. *TR

MY REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING ON THE BRAKE SHOES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED IT TWICE. ONCE IN THE WINTER OF 2002 AND AGAIN IN THE SPRING OF 2003. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY BRAKES FAILED AND I REAR ENDED SOMEBODY. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES WERE SATURATED WITH AXLE GREASE. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT A DEALER. THEY THINK I MIGHT HAVE TO GO AS FAR AS REPLACING THE AXLE IN ORDER TO STOP THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. *JB

DRIVING IN #1 LANE OF FREEWAY WHEN A STOPPED VEHICLE PROTRUDING INTO THE LANE NECESSITATED ME TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND AVOIDED THE CAR AND THEN SWERVED BACK TO THE LEFT TO AVOID CAR IN LANE TO MY RIGHT. AT THIS POINT I FELT THE CAR GET BUMPY AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER FORWARD AND WAS PULLED TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HAD SNAPPED OFF THE AXLE AND THE CAR WAS DRAGGING ON THE PAVEMENT I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND MY LEFT FOOT WAS BROKEN.*AK

ON FEB 24 2004 I WAS ADVISED BY ANDREW TOYOTA (GLENDALE WI) THAT I AGAIN NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS AND REAR BRAKES (DUE TO LEAKAGE) ON MY 1997 4RUNNER. THREE PRIOR TIMES, I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR AXLE SEALS AND REAR BRAKES ON THIS 4RUNNER SINCE 2001: 1. MAR 7, 2001-MILEAGE 71,411. 2. DEC 18, 2001-MILEAGE 83,044. 3. NOV 14, 2002-MILEAGE 90303 I PROVIDED DEALER WITH COPIES OF NHTSA PRINTOUTS SHOWING OTHERS' IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL 4RUNNER, BUT , OF COURSE, SERVICE MAGAGER AT DEALER DUANE DOMAGALSKI SAID HE AND TOYOTA REP (BEAUMONT) DO NOT THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM. AND, SINCE IT'S OUT THE WARRANTY PERIOD THERE WASNT ANYTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. THEY GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION, REPEATEDLY, THAT TOYOTA COULD NOT CARE LESS ABOUT THE NHTSA OR ABOUT PEOPLES' COMPLAINTS, AND THAT IF THE DOT THOUGHT THERE WAS A PROBLEM DOT WOULD ISSUE A RECALL! LEAKING AXLE SEALS MAKE MY REAR BRAKES LESS EFFICIENT AND THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER AND TOYOTA SEEMED ANNOYED THAT I WOULD DARE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE 4RUNNER REAR AXLE SEALS. *AK

BOTH OF THE SEALS ON THE REAR AXLE BLEW OUT, SATURATING THE REAR BRAKES WITH DIFFERENTIAL FLUID, RENDERING THEM USELESS. *JB

INITIALLY, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR AXLE SEALS LEAKED. AXLE FLUID SOAKED REAR BRAKES, CAUSING DANGEROUS BRAKING AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE FRONT BRAKES. AFTER 11 REPAIR VISITS, INCLUDING NUMEROUS AXLE SEAL REPLACEMENTS, BRAKE REPLACEMENTS, AND AXLE REPLACEMENT, THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT PERSISTS. I.E. FLUID STILL VISIBLY LEAKING ONTO REAR BRAKE (PASSENGER SIDE), CAUSING CAR TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING, CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEATING OF FRONT BRAKES, AND CAUSING VIBRATION.

LOSS OF AUTO TRANSMISSION FLUID RESULTING IN FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION, POSSIBLY DUE TO LACK OF CARE IN VERIFYING SUFFICIENT FLUID SUPPLIED AT POINT OF SALE. OWNER POINTS OUT THAT FILLER NECK VERY SMALL AND NEXT TO IMPOSIBLE TO RE-INSERT DIPSTICK, MAKING RE-FILLING A SEVERE CHORE AND ENCOURAGING WHOEVER RESPONSIBLE TO AVOID CHECKING THAT SUFFICIENT FLUID HAS NBEEN PROVIDED.

MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-395, EXITING OFF AT D STREET WHEN THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. THE 4-RUNNER BOUNCED OFF THE MEDIAN GUARD RAIL, FLIPPED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE THEN RIGHTED ITSELF THEN CAME TO A STOP. MY WIFE SUSTAINED TISSUE DAMAGE, BUT NO BROKEN BONES. THIS VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN TAKEN OFF ROAD IN ANY CAPACITY. *AK