2001 Toyota 4runner Engine Problems

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

ON 7/7/12 I WAS DRIVING FOR A DOG RESCUE TRANSPORT AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT FIRST SINCE I HAD JUST FILLED UP THE TRUCK AND A GAS CAN. WHAT I DID NOTICE WAS MY GAS GAUGE WAS DROPPING INCREDIBLY FAST SO I LOOKED FOR A CLEAR AREA ON SHOULDER THAT SHOULD THE TRUCK CATCH FIRE. (VERY DRY IN NJ AT THE TIME) I FOUND MY AREA AND SHUT TRUCK OFF AND DRIFTED INTO THE SHOULDER. EXITED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN RUSHING TO EMPTY THE SEVEN DOG CRATES (JUST IN CASE) ON THE SHOULDER BEHIND GUARD RAIL. ONCE WE WERE ALL CLEAR, I WALKED OVER TO VEHICLE AND POPPED HOOD. THERE WAS FUEL SATURATING EVERYTHING, INCLUDING STILL DRIPPING FROM INSULATION MATERIAL UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY ONTO AND AROUND THE EXHAUST AREA. BY TOYOTA DESIGN, THERE IS A CLIP THAT RETAINS/SEPARATES TWO HOSES DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE FUEL LINE THAT HAD WORN A HOLE INTO THE FUEL LINE. ON 7/9/12 I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER TO GET THE HOSE WHICH I FIND OUT IS PART NUMBER 23801(P)-62071. IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN OF THIS LISTED PART IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $75 AND A WEEK OR MORE TO GET THE PART. I WENT HOME AND BROWSED THE NET TO FIND ONLY ONE STORE THAT STOCKS THIS ITEM AND ORDERED THROUGH THEM TO SAVE ABOUT $20 BUT STILL THE SAME TURN AROUND TIME (LOST ABOUT $67 IN FUEL AS TANK IS NOW BONE DRY PLUS A $250 FLATBED TOW FEE. I AM OUT ALMOST $400). I HAS BEEN A WEEK MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE DUE TO A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW, AND THEY WILL NOT FESS UP TO THE DESIGN FLAW OR EVEN OFFER A LOANER CAR. *TR

I INITIALLY CONTACTED MAGIC AUTO CENTER AND WAS DEALING WITH [XXX] REGARDING A 2001 TOYOTA LAND ROVER THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN. [XXX] TOLD ME HE COULD GIVE ME $1000 FOR MY TRADE AND USE THAT FOR MY DOWN PAYMENT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY THE 29TH, I SPOKE WITH [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMED ME THAT THE VEHICLE I WAS INTERESTED IN HAD BEEN SOLD BUT THEY HAD A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER PRICED SIMILARLY. AT THAT POINT, I SUBMITTED ALL OF MY CREDIT INFORMATION BY E-MAIL TO [XXX] ADDRESS ABOVE. ANTHONY CONTACTED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THE OWNER WANTED $1000 CASH AND WOULD GIVE ME $500 FOR MY TRADE. I AGREED TO THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD CAUSE ME A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BECAUSE I NEEDED A MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE THAN WHAT I HAD. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP A BIT BEFORE 8PM ON THE 29TH AND ADVISED THEM THAT I WAS IN A HURRY AS I NEEDED TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP BY 9PM. WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS THEN ASKED TO PROVIDE $750 CASH, $250 ON 11/2/2010 AND AN ADDITIONAL $500 ON 11/18/2010, PLUS MY TRADE. I HAD SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT EVERYTHING BE IN ORDER BEFORE MY ARRIVAL SINCE THEY ARE LOCATED FAR FROM MY RESIDENCE. I WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND UNTIL ALMOST 8:30 PM. I DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR (MY FAULT) BECAUSE I WAS SO RUSHED, BUT WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS IN EXCELLENT RUNNING CONDITION BY BOTH [XXX] AND[XXX]. I SIGNED THE PAPERWORK, PROVIDED THEM WITH A CHECK FOR $500 DATED 11/18/2010 AND AGREED THAT I WOULD BRING $250 ON 11/2/2010. I TRANSFERRED MY BELONGINGS FROM MY TRADE TO THE TOYOTA 4RUNNER, WITH MY SON\S HELP, TOOK THE 4RUNNER, MY SON, AND OUR DOGS AND HEADED FOR THE FREEWAY. WE GOT ON THE 170 SOUTH, TO THE 101 SOUTH, AND THE GAS LIGHT CAME ON...WE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS ALREADY AFTER 9 AT THIS POINT. WE GOT BACK ON THE FREEWAY AND INADVERTENTLY GOT ON THE 10 FREEWAY WEST, AT THAT POINT A LOUD POP CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A HUGE PUFF OF STEAM, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

HVAC ISSUE CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON FOR 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. TOOK ISSUE TO BE REPAIRED BUT STILL OCCURS. GAS LEAKS DUE TO THE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE NOTICED A NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR WAS THE ROOT OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION WHY THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER OFFERED A $5,000 REBUILT MOTOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

[XXX] JUST DRIVING ALONG A LOUD NOISE WAS FOLLOWED BY EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND A CONNECTING ROD BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON, NO CRASH OCCURRED BUT EASILY COULD HAVE AS THE OIL PAN WAS PUNCTURED AND OIL SPILLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE DISCOVERED FIVE OUT OF WARRANTY CASES IDENTICAL TO MINE IN 5VZ-FE ENGINES WHERE JUST DRIVING ALONG A LOUD NOISE WAS FOLLOWED BY EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND A CONNECTING ROD BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON AND IN EACH CASE NO OTHER SERVICE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED: 1999 4RUNNER, FAILED AT 78,000 MILES IN 2003 1999 4RUNNER, FAILED AT 98,000 MILES IN 2006 2000 4RUNNER, FAILED AT 78,000 MILES IN 2006 2001 4RUNNER, FAILED AT 103,000 MILES IN 2008 2001 TACOMA, FAILED AT 92,000 MILES IN 2007. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I DRIVE HIGHWAY 90% OF THE TIME AND THEN 10% ON CITY STREET. I WAS TOLD BY GREENVILLE TOYOTA THAT MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS QUOTED $1,070.00.00. I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, 2WD, SR5. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THESE DON'T DIE THIS SOON. IS THERE A RECALL? *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF THE CAM SHAFT FAILURE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER HAS WRITTEN 5 LETTERS, TO TOYOTA, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MD,USA (2), ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MD (1) AND SERVICE MANAGER AT TOYOTA OF GLEN BURNIE. WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED THE VEHICLE KEPT COASTING THEN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER ADDED OIL BUT IT CAME OUT ONTO THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION WHICH SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. *BF *NM

WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURNS VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND THEN T STALL OUT.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *MR THE ENGINE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED AFTER MAKING A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE APPROXIMATELY 6 MPH AND LAST ABOUT 4-10 SECONDS. NEITHER DEALER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM. SCC

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

CONSUMER STATES ATTEMPTED TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. WHEN CONSUMER SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING A COLLISION. CONSUMER ADVISED ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT FUNCTION. *AK *YH

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER WASHING AND SPRAYING THE UNDERCARRIAGE TO WASH OFF ROAD SALT, CONSUMER BACKED CAR INTO GARAGE WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE WOULDN'T START. *JG

VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHEN REAR WHEELS SPIN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WITHIN ONE WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BOG DOWN WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A DEAD STOP. A DAY LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THE REPLY WAS THAT; "WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, WHEN WE FIND OUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW...UNTIL THEN, BE CAREFUL" THAT WAS OVER A MONTH AGO AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM. I CALLED TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT WAS WRONG. THE VEHICLE IS UNPREDICTABLE WHEN TAKING OFF AND HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE GENERAL ATTITUDE IS NONCHALANT AND NOBODY HAS MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY ME OF ANYTHING. FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP. ALL THE 2001 HIGHLANDERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM.