1999 Toyota 4runner Brakes Problems

UPON A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ON THE FRONT BRAKES MY MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS RUSTED TO A DANGEROUS LEVEL. I WILL HAVE TO HAVE PLATES WELDED ONTO THE FRAME TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 11 YEARS OLD AND CAREFULLY MAINTAINED. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. *TR

I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ABS AS IS BEING REPORTED FOR THE 2010 PRIUS, ONLY WORSE. WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN ON SLICK OR UNEVEN SURFACES, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A FREELY-FLOATING MODE FOR 5+ SECONDS. THERE IS NO BRAKING CAPACITY AT ALL DURING THAT TIME AND STEERING IS DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL DURING THAT TIME. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE NEAR-MISSES WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS HARM TO MYSELF AND OTHERS AND A FEW INCIDENCES WHERE I ENDED UP RUNNING OFF THE ROAD (ONCE INTO A RAVINE) OR HITTING MEDIAN STRIPS W/O INVOLVING OTHER VEHICLES. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. ONCE I WAS TOLD I WAS NUTS, THAT THE ABS COULDN'T POSSIBLY BEHAVE THAT WAY; AND THE OTHER TIME I WAS TOLD THAT, "OH YEAH, THAT'S HOW ABS WORKS." NO EXAMINATION OR CORRECTION WAS OFFERED. MY STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO ALWAYS TOUCH THE BRAKES SO GENTLY THAT ABS DOESN'T KICK IN, BUT THIS WINTERS SNOWY WEATHER HAS DEFEATED THIS PLAN. WHENEVER I BRAKE ON A SLICK, SNOWY SURFACE THE ABS KICKS IN NO MATTER HOW GENTLY I TOUCH THE BRAKES. LAST WEEK, I HAD AN EXTREMELY HARROWING CLOSE CALL WHEN MY VEHICLE WENT CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING THROUGH IT. THIS WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHEN I WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY AND HAD BEGUN THE GENTLE BRAKING AT LEAST 30' BEFORE THE INTERSECTION... BUT THE ABS KICKED IN, AND I COULD NOT STOP BEFORE SLIDING INTO THE INTERSECTION. (FOR THE REQUIRED FIELD ASKING FOR THE INCIDENT DATE, I'LL GIVE THE DATE OF THIS MOST RECENT NEAR-MISS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS.) *JB

#1 STARTER STUCK TWICE-EVEN REMOVED KEY AND ENGINE KEPT CRANKING. #2 FUEL GUAGE REAES FULL WHEN EMPTY AND VISE VERSA. #3 P0171 ENGINE CODE KEEPS THROWING #4 BRAKES FADE WHEN APPLIED HARD. HAVE REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS AND STILL FADE. *TR

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

EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND CONTROL IS DIFFICULT. IDENTIFIED AS WARPED ROTOR. TOYOTA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE TO REPLACE FRONT CALIPER/ROTOR WITH LARGER DESIGN. CLAIMS THAT ITS COMMON TO HAVE IT FAIL SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTEE COVERAGE. (FAILED AT 50000, COVERAGE TO 36000) PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH 17000 MILES AND ROTORS/PADS LOOK GOOD.*AK

WHILE PULLING OUR 1999 4-RUNNER WITH 39,000 MILES INTO A PARKING STALL, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT STOPPING, RESULTING IN A MINOR ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN (NOT FROM TOYOTA) EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS OBSERVED. HOWEVER, DURING A ROAD TEST, THE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AGAIN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP. HE PUMPED THE BRAKES AND THEY "CAUGHT" AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. A TOYOTA DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. A FIELD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TODAY AFTER WHICH, WE WERE CALLED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. OTHER THAN A VISUAL INSPECTION AND ROAD TEST, TOYOTA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT TOYOTA IS TELLING ME TO DO.*AK

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. EACH FAILURE OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT THE METALLIC BRAKES MAY BE WORN TOO SMOOTH, BUT COULD NOT PINPOINT PROBLEM. *TT *JB

TIRES: THE TIRES DID NOT PHYSICALLY FAIL, HOWEVER AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES, THEY WERE PRACTICALLY BALD - ALL 4. I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE TIRES WHICH THEY REFUSED TO DO ALTHOUGHT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE TIRES WERE DANGEROUSLY WORN. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME "OFF THE RECORD" THAT THEY KNEW THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE - THAT THE TIRES WHICH CAME "STOCK" FROM THE FACTORY WERE IN FACT "TOO SMALL" TO BEAR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. IN LIGHT OF THE SAFETY ISSUES REGARDING BRIDGESTONE?FIRESTONE AT THAT TIME, I ELECTED TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES AT MY COST. TAIL LIGHTS: THE TAILLIGHTS BEGAN FAILING VERY SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHENEVER I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS JUST A BURNED OUT LAMP WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR AND NOW I DON'T EVEN BOTHER WITH THE DEALER. I HAVE NOTED NUMEROUS 4RUNNERS ON THE ROAD WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO CHECK YOUR WEB SITE. AT ONE POINT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED HIS SUPRISE THAT "THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON" WHEN THE LAMP WENT OUT. APPARENTLY THERE IS AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT SHOULD ALERT THE DRIVER TO A BLOWN BULB...I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE AND MINE HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES. NOW IT IS HABIT FOR ME TO CHECK MY TAIL LIGHTS WHENEVER I DRIVE AT NIGHT. BRAKES: ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE "SHUDDERING" OF THE CAR AND A LOUD "CLANKING" NOISE WHEN GOING FROM HIGH SPEED TO LOWER SPEED (NOT SUDDEN BRAKING) AS IN EXITING THE HIGHWAY . ONE TIME, THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT JERKED INTO ANOTHER LANE. THE DEALER BASICALLY TOLD ME I WAS IMAGINING THINGS. THIS SHUDDERING HAS OCCURRED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND EACH TIME I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. ONE TIME, THEY AGREED TO MANUALLY CHECK ALL 4 BRAKES - AT MY COST AND DECLARED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HESITATE TO DRIVE IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. TS

THE TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKES THAT WHEN BEING DRIVEN IN SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMS ERRATIC. THE OWNER STATES THAT HE WOULD HEAR SOME SORT OF HUMMING SOUND BUT THE TRUCK CONTINUES FORWARD. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DID EVALUATE THE BRAKES BUT NO CAUSE OF PERFORMANCE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HAD EXTENDED STOPPING AND BRAKES VIBRATED WHEN APPLIED. *MR FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS THIS HAPPENED PREMATURELY. *TT

FRONT WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A SUDDEN STOP ON WET CONDITION ROAD. APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT BECAME NECESSARY TO TAKE EVASIVE MANEUVERS. WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES I DID NOT FEEL THE ABS ENGAGE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE ROLLED FRONT OVER BACK AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS CONCERNED ME. HOW CAN A VEHICLE ROLL OVER AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOY?*AK

THE ENTIRE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERE SHAKING/VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *YD

THE ENTIRE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERE SHAKING/VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THE PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY PRONOUNCED WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *YD

DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE FRONT DISC BRAKE PARTS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS AVAILABILITY FROM TOYOTA. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED DOWNHILL. *AK

PREMATURE WARE OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE PADS AND THE ROTORS.*AK

BRAKES VIBRATE BADLY BUT ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE REAR AXLE OR REAR END CLUNKS BADLY WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKES, TIRE HAVE CUPPED PREMATURELY EVEN THOUGH BALANCED AND ALIGNED, GAS GAUGE WORKS MOST OF THE TIME BUT SOMETIMES IS INCORRECT BY AS MUCH AS 50%. ABS KICKS IN EVEN WHEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W@HH TIRE SIZE: P225/75R15 )

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT DURING BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON VARYING ROADS SURFACES AND HILLS THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES TO THE POINT IT FEELS AS IF THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL. AUGUST 1999 TOOK TO AUBURN TOYOTA AND THEY STATED FRONT ROTORS WERE EXTREMELY WARPED AND WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED FIRST BEING NOTICED THE NEXT DAY. AGAIN IN NOVEMBER 1999 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE, THIS TIME THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AGAIN THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT--YOU COULD LITERALLY BRAKE FEEL THE VIBRATION, LET OFF, APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN AND FEEL NO VIBRATION. OTHER TIMES IT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE PERSISTENT. MOST OF THE TIME THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY, BUT AT TIMES THE FRONTEND VIBRATES SOMETHING FIERCE. THAT ALSO VARIES. SOMETIMES IT IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION, AND OTHER TIMES IT VIBRATES UP THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL QUITE SEVERELY. THE SIMPLE ANSWER FROM TOYOTA IS IT MUST BE THE ROTORS OR WE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE ARRIVE AT A MORE UNDERSTANDABLE EXPLANATION AND HOPEFULLY A SOLUTION. CAN ABS CREATE A VIBRATION IF THE SYSTEM IS NOT PULSATING LIKE IT SHOULD? *AK