2004 Toyota 4runner Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the ABS and the brake warning lights illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal humming sound coming from the dash. The contact stated while approaching another vehicle, he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond, nearly causing a crash into another vehicle. The contact immediately shifted into neutral(N) and veered to the side of the road while continuously depressing the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the ABS pump had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 350,325.

Seized front right brake caliper caused vehicle to slide off road during sudden stop to avoid debris in roadway. Took vehicle to a brake shop and they found that right front wheel was locked. This is the third time I have had the EXACT same problem with the brake system. The previous times, the problem occurred during nice weather and with windows open I smelled the burning brake pads and was able to get the problem fixed before it became a hazard. On the first previous incident, the repair required replacement of both front brake caliper, rotors, and pads. On the second previous occasion less than 20,000 miles ago BOTH front and rear calipers, rotors and pads were replaced. This is apparently a known defect in the 2004 Toyota 4Runner, yet Toyota has not conducted a recall to fix an extremely dangerous and ongoing problem. NOTE: I originally purchased the vehicle in New Jersey in 2004 and a Virginia Toyota dealer (Koons Toyota) worked on the brake system multiple times (2005-2006) and finally replaced the entire system.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG ISLAND TOYOTA KAILUA-KONA (808-329-8517, LOCATED AT 74-5504 KAIWI ST, KAILUA, HI 96740) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WAS ABOVE NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *BF*JB

BRAKE CALIPERS KEEP SEIZING & NEED TO BE REPLACED. 09/10/2018 07/24/2014 04/17/2013 04/13/2013 06/18/2012

AFTER TRAVELING AT SPEEDS CLOSE TO 75 MILES AN HOUR. I EXITED HIGHWAY TO PARKING LOT. BACKED OUT AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP CAR FROM ROLLING. MOVED CAR TO NEW PARKING AREA AND HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. SHUT DOWN CAR CHECK FUILDS. RESTARTED CAR TO LOUD BUZZER AND ABS LIGHTS. VERY CONCERNED IF HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL TO MYSELF AND OTHERS AROUND.

WHILE DRIVING, AN ALARM BEGAN SOUNDING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT, ASB LIGHT AND VSC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON, WE STOPPED AND CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND FOUND IT WAS FULL. WE THEN CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME. WITHIN 2 MILES THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THERE HAD BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG UP TO THAT POINT. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 30 MPH, VSC, ABS AND TRAC DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND CABIN ALARM SOUNDED. THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND EVASIVE DRIVING TO AVOID REAR ENDING A SCHOOL BUS. AFTER BRINGING TO MY MECHANIC I LEARNED THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THE PART IS $3,100 FROM TOYOTA. SPENDING MONEY ON CAR PARTS AND REPAIR IS ALL A PART OF OWNING A VEHICLE, BUT NO CAR SHOULD BE DESIGNED WHERE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY STOP OPERATING BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. IT IS INSANELY DANGEROUS AND THIS WILL CAUSE DEATHS FOR SURE, HOW CAN IT NOT? I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A VERY COMMON AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE. A LOT OF DRIVERS HAVE BEEN VERY FRIGHTENED BY THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING MYSELF.

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING WITH 3 YEAR OLD IN BACK SEAT. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER TO REPLACE FAULTY ABS ACTUATOR PUMP. LUCKILY NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN BRAKES WENT OUT. OVER $2,000 TO REPLACE PART. *TR

DRIVING (SLOWLY), EVERY LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE LIT UP DEALING WITH, ABS, TRACTION ETC...ACCOMPANIED WITH A HIGH PITCH WARNING TONE, DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP...ONLY NO BRAKES, USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SUCCESSFULLY STOP, NO INCIDENT. CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP.TOYOTA DEALER SAID CODES C1223 (ABS CONTROL MALFUNCTION), C1252 (HYDRO-BOOSTER PUMP MOTOR) AND C1256 (ACCUMULATOR LOW PRESSURE) APPEARED. WHEN HE CHECKING THE CODES, THERE WAS ALREADY A SERVICE BULLETIN SHOWING PREVIOUS (KNOWN) ISSUES WITH THIS. I CALL THIS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW, NO COMPONENT SHOULD RENDER THE BRAKING SYSTEM USELESS AND NOT BE A RECALL. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING ON AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS AND SUCH. WE WERE QUOTED $3000.00(ISH) TO REPAIR. WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO NOT BE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC. REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE/REGIONAL SUPPORT.

REAR BREAKS - LEFT AND RIGHT (BOTH) SIDES CEASED UP.

THE BRAKE GET HARD AND ABS, BRAKE VSC AND TRAC SIGN CAME ON WITH ALERT WHISTLE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBOTHOOD LUCKILY.. MECHANIC SAID IT IS RARE TO GO BAD BUT IT IS BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY GOES BAD. IS THIS THE SAME ISSUE AS PRIUS?

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET, WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE, BREAKS FAILED AND LOUD CABIN ALARM SOUND AND ABS, VSC AND TRAC DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD TO PULL INTO A GRASSY SWALE, APPLY EMERGENCY BREAK AND DOWN SHIFT IN ORDER TO STOP AND AVOID CRASHING INTO TRAFFIC. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ABS PUMP BREAK MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $3,300. I HAVE READ MANY POSTS IN BLOGS FROM TOYOTA OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE, AND SOME THAT CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I HAD JUST COME OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT JUST MINUTES EARLIER. MERITS AN INVESTIGATION.

WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOME AND PULLED INTO MY GARAGE, AN ALARM SOUND WENT OFF IN THE DASHBOARD AND ALL OF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WAS DRIVING FINE JUST PRIOR. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO TRY TO DRIVE IT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER AND NOTICED THAT MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD TO PUSH AND HAD VIRTUALLY NO BRAKING ABILITY. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW ABS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY (AKA AN ABS MODULE). THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE REPLACED WITHIN 2 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. ON THE DAY THAT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE ALARM AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE INDICATIVE OF. I SAW THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE MOST OF WHICH HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND WERE THEREFORE LEFT WITH THE INABILITY TO BRAKE. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A SERIOUS, IF NOT FATAL, ACCIDENT.

DRIVING HOME AND MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. HE SAID THAT ONLY MY FRONT BRAKES ARE WORKING. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR. *TR

I STARTED MY VEHICLE @ 3PM WHEN I GOT OFF WORK AS SOON AS IT STARTED THE VSC, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS A ALARM IN THE DASH. I ALSO NOTICED THE CLOCK IN THE DASH SAID 1:00 INSTEAD OF 3:00. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE I HAD VIRTUALLY NO BRAKES. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS AND FOUND THAT A BAD GROUND CABLE ON THE BATTERY CAN SEND A LOW VOLTAGE SIGNAL TO THE CARS COMPUTER AND SHUT DOWN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS RECALL! *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 4RUNNERAND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKESAND LET OFF OF THE BRAKES I KEPT ON MAKING A THUD SOUND AS THE FASTER I DRIVE THE LOUDER IT WOULD MAKE THAT SOUND AND IT HAD A BURNING SMELL TO IT SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THEY TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE PADS WHERE COMPLETELY GONE I HAD TO GET THE ROTORS REPLACED THE MECHANIC SAID THE PISTONS IN THE CALIBER FROZE IN THE OPEN POSITION SO THAT IS WHY MY BRAKES FAILED ME. *TR

I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF BRAKE CALIPERS FAILURE. UNDER 50K I HAD A FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER FAIL. THEN AGAIN AT 99K THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER FAILURE. TOYOTA HAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THEIR BRAKE CALIPER DESIGN ON 4-RUNNERS. TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THEIR WARRANTY, I ALWAYS BOUGHT TOYOTA'S, BUT NEVER AGAIN AFTER THIS LAST INCIDENT. TOYOTA DOES NOT BUILD CARS LIKE THEY USE TO. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUT RATHER ABOUT A REPLACEMENT PARTS MADE/SOLD BY THE FOLLOWING OUTFIT: PH: (954) 970-8820 FAX: (954) 970-8819 BRIAN@FEBESTPANAMERICA.COM WWW.FINESTAUTOPARTS.COM THE CALIPER (NEW) I PURCHASED FROM THEM WAS NOT ONLY IMPORTED FROM CHINA CONTRARY TO THE COMPANY DESCRIPTION "GERMAN EFFICIENCY FOR JAPANESE CARS" AS IT APPEARS ON THEIR SITE WHICH MAY NOT CONSTITUTE A CRIME THESE DAYS BUT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT (MISSING BRAKE FLUID SUPPLY CHANNEL IN THE CASTING) IS A CLEAR HAZARD AND AN OBVIOUS INDICATION OF TOTAL ABSENCE OF QUALITY CONTROL. SAFETY-RELATED ITEMS MUST BE CERTIFIED FOR FOR IMPORT INTO THE US, AND IF THEY ARE NOT, THE PUBLIC IS NOT PROTECTED. *JS

WHEN I WENT TO CHANGE MY BRAKE PADS, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT HAD HARDLY BEEN WORN DOWN. I HAD PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT I NEEDED MORE ROOM TO STOP, AND MY RATE OF DECELERATION HAD LESSENED. I DISCOVERED THAT MY INNER LOWER PISTONS ON MY FRONT CALIPERS HAD RUSTED AND FROZEN. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE AND ON A FORUM I AM PART OF (T4R.ORG) SHOWED THAT THIS HAS AFFECTED NUMEROUS OTHERS. THE DESIGN OF THE CALIPERS CAUSED THE INNER LOWER PISTONS TO FREEZE UP. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS ISSUE WITH THE AFTERMARKET CALIPERS THAT WERE INSTALLED BY MY LOCAL SHOP. *TR

MY WIFE WAS AT THE SCHOOL ZONE TAKING OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE AND AN ALARM START TO SOUND, THE ABS AND TRACK OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, FORTUNATELY SHE WAS ON SCHOOL SPEED ZONE AND NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF HER AND THE VEHICLE STOP BY IT SELF BECAUSE THE LOW SPEED, SHE WAS ABOUT TO ENTER ON THE FREEWAY TO TAKE OUR SON TO OTHER SCHOOL AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAD HAPPEN IF THE BRAKES WOULD FAILED WHILE SHE WAS AT HIGH SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. WE BEEN SEARCHING ONLINE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS BEEN HAPPENING TO OTHER 4 RUNNERS OWNERS AND OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THAT THIS CAN END UP TAKING OTHERS PEOPLES LIVES, BECAUSE A MALFUNCTIONS IN THIS VEHICLE, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND CERTAINLY EXIST AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND SINCE THEN OUR VEHICLE HAS BEEN USELESS IN STORAGE. *TR

ON 8/22/2011, PHIL BACHMAN TOYOTA IN JOHNSON CITY, TN REPLACED A LEAKING LEFT FRONT CALIPER ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE LEAK WAS SO BAD THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE SATURATED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. BRAKE FLUID COVERED MY TIRE AND WHEEL, AND THE WHEEL HAD SEVERAL KNICKS FROM SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED RELATED TO THE BRAKES AND THIS ISSUE. ON 3/16/12, THE VERY SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITH THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER; THE BRAKE PADS AGAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED BUT PHIL BACHMAN DID THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY. ON 1/31/13, THE VERY SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED BUT THIS TIME IT WAS WITH THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER, AND IT WILL COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY 2003 AND 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY WAS THERE NOT A RECALL BY TOYOTA FOR THIS PROBLEM? IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE--BY THE TIME I REALIZED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS EACH TIME, MY LIFE WAS AT RISK IN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND PRESSING THE BRAKES FOR A SUDDEN STOP, THE 4-RUNNER LURCHES TO THE LEFT, AND THEN, WHEN THE BRAKE IS RELEASED, BACK TO THE RIGHT. I WAS ON A TRIP AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IN TO A TOYOTA DEALER ON SATURDAY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME I HAD TWO FROZEN PISTONS IN THE BRAKE CALIPERS, AND THE REAR SLIDES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS, PADS AND ROTORS ON ALL FOUR WHEELS 2 YEARS AGO FOR FROZEN CALIPERS. THE WARRANTY FOR THAT REPAIR WAS 1 YEAR, SO I HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $1200 TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE ONCE AGAIN, AFTER HAVING SPENT $2000 2 YEARS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM IS WIDELY KNOWN AND TOYOTA SHOULD EITHER EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS, OR FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY AND ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE CAR LURCHES FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN OR WHEN TOWING A TRAILER, IS QUITE DANGEROUS. *TR

THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 04 4RUNNER. THE BRAKE CALIPERS RUST OUT, AND FREEZE, SIEZE, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED ANY TIME THE BRAKE PADS NEED TO REPLACED. THIS ALSO DAMAGES THE ROTORS. TODAY, I HAD TO OVERHAUL THE ENTIRE FRONT END BRAKING SYSTEM, INCLUDING PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH THE VEHICLE, AND HAD ALL NEW PARTS INSTALLED 2 YEARS AGO, AND THE TOTAL MILES ON THE VEHICLE IS 56K. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, AS AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS TURNED UP MANY POSTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

I HAD A NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR'S INSTALLED AT 50,000 MILES,AT 70,000 MILES I DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BRAKE CALIPER PISTON HAD FROZEN. IT WAS THE SAME FOR BOTH SIDES. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. HAD TO HAVE THE CALIPER, BRAKE PADS, AND ROTORS, REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES FOR A TOTAL OF $724. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON WWW.T4R.ORG. *TR

BOTH FRONT (LEFT AND RIGHT) CALIPER SEIZED. LOWER INSIDE PISTON SEIZED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS WITH RE-MANUFACTURED PARTS FROM A1 CARDONE AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR AND 5000 MILES LATER BOTH CALIPERS HAVE SEIZED AGAIN CREATING WHEEL SHAKE WHEN BRAKING ABOVE 40 MPH. I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND AM NOT SURE HOW MANY TIMES IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR 4TH GENERATION 4RUNNERS. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A DEIGN FLAW THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AS I CAN FIND NO "UPGRADED" REPLACEMENT. *TR

THE EVENING OF 8/10/11 AS I WAS LEAVING WORK, I TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND A HIGH PITCHED ALARM-TYPE SOUND STARTED; VSC LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. AT THIS POINT, I ASKED A NEAR BY SUPERVISOR TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE; UPON INSPECTION HE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING OUT OF PLACE. HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND A COUPLE OF PARKING SPACES AS I WATCHED. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND ASKED IF I HAD BEEN HAVING BRAKE ISSUES. HE THEN ASKED ME TO TEST IT TO SEE IF MY BRAKES NORMALLY RESPONDED AS THEY DID WITH HIM. WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO TEST DRIVE, I ALSO WENT ACROSS A FEW PARKING SPACES BUT WHEN I GOT READY TO BRAKE, THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. THE CURB OF THE END PARKING SPACE STOPPED THE VEHICLE, IT CAME TO REST AND THE TRUCK WAS LATER TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ON 8/11/11, TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE SKID CONTROL ACTUATOR/ECU ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST $3,000.

FROZEN FRONT BRAKE CALIPER RESULTING IN BRAKE PART FAILURE AND BRAKE PEDAL PULSATING. OCCURRED AGAIN MAY 2010. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH MANY TOYOTA TRUCKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CALIPER ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS LOCKED AND EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CALIPER AND BRAKE PAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER AT 55,000 MILES AFTER IT FROZE UP AFTER NEW PADS WERE INSTALLED--IT WAS DONE BY A LOCAL GARAGE BY A FORMER TOYOTA TECH.--HAD IT CHECKED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT 57,000 MILES AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALL GOOD--STILL DID NOT FEEL RIGHT--HAD IT CHECKED AGAIN BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT 66,000 MILES AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALL GOOD AGAIN--AT 94,000 MILES STILL NOT WORKING VERY WELL AND HAD IT SERVICE BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHICH SAID IT WAS FINE--AT 105,0000 MILES BOTH FRONT CALIPERS ARE FROZEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THAT MY FRONT ABS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. BRAKING DISTANCES BECAME A LOT LONGER. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE MY FRONT BRAKES, I DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BRAKE PISTON HAD FROZEN. IT WAS THE SAME FOR BOTH SIDES. TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. HAD TO HAVE THE CALIPER REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES FOR A TOTAL OF $750. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON WWW.T4R.ORG. *TR

TOOK MY 4RUNNER TO BE SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS HAD FROZEN PISTONS. BECAUSE ONLY ONE PISTON WORKED, THEY DAMAGED THE ROTORS AND WORN OUT THE PADS UNEVENLY. THIS IS A CAR THAT ALWAYS SERVICED BY DEALER ACCORDING TO TOYOTA SPECIFICATIONS WITH 67K MILES. THE JOB REPAIR COST ME $2000. NOT ONLY THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BUT ALSO A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION ON HER BRAKES AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE RUSTED.THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, WHICH COST THE CONTACT $1116. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,364.

2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BRAKE CALIPERS SEEM TO SEIZE AT 10K MILES. THE BOOTS ON THE PISTONS HOLD WATER, AND DURING WINTER GATHER SIGNIFICANT CORROSION FROM ROAD SALT. TOYOTA REPLACES WITH THE SAME PART, BUT THESE FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER. *TR

BRAKE PEDAL SPONGY, NOT STOPPING LIKE IT SHOULD ( EXTENDED STOPPING RANGE) UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR SMELL OF HOT BRAKES WHEN USED HARD. *TR

2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, WITH JUST UNDER 74K MILES ON IT, HAS A FRAME WITH SEVERE CORROSION, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FRONT CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE A CEASED LOWER PISTON. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALER ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I GOT THE SAME STORY FROM THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE HOT LINE. THEY BLAME THE SALT, BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY ITS WORSE ON THE 4RUNNER THAN OTHER VEHICLES. I SHOULD MENTION THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALER AND ON THE HOT LINE WERE VERY FRIENDLY. THEY SAID THEY NOTED THE ISSUE AND WOULD MONITOR THE CALLS FOR TRENDS. I FELT UNSATISFIED WITH THIS, SO I AM FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. I'M A LITTLE ANNOYED BY THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES WITHOUT A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR CONSUMER REPORT RATING. *TR

FROZEN PISTONS ON INSIDE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. *TR

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

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35MPH AND HAD TO START BRAKING FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS SIGNALING A LEFT TURN. I NOTICE THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL NORMAL AND THAT THE PADS WERE NOT CATCHING ON THE ROTORS. SO I JAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AND AS FAR AS THEY COULD GO AND AVOIDED HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE BY INCHES. I CAME HOME AND DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS INNER 4 PISTONS WERE SEIZED. I JUST CHANGED THE BRAKES LAST YEAR AND THEY WERE FINE. BUT NOTICED A SURGE OR SLIPPAGE FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AFTER A COMPLETE STOP WAITING FOR RIGHT OF WAY. I AM NOW LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR NOW UNTIL I CAN REPLACE THE CALIPERS. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ON FORUMS JUST LOOK UP 03-09 4RUNNER CALIPER SEIZE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IN AN AVOIDANCE SITUATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED QUICKLY WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR. RETURNED HOME AND AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE FOUND FLAMES IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT, FRONT WHEEL. THE BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WERE GLOWING RED HOT. ROOT CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE A YAW RATE SENSOR FAILURE CAUSED A COMPUTER TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND LEAVE THEM APPLIED WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AND PULSATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

WHEN COMING TO A STOP & BRAKING, CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT WITH MUCH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR. THIS CAUSED ME TO HIT THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING. IT WAS AMAZING PART OF THE BUILDING DID NOT FALL DOWN ON THE TOP OF MY CAR WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME SERIOUS INJURY.*AK

ON SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2004, I WAS PULLING FROM A DRIVEWAY TO A TAR ROAD AND WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND MADE A VERY LOUD TICKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. I ASSUMED IT WAS MY ABS SYSTEM MAKING THE NOISE. I WAS NOT GOING MORE THAN 2 MILES AN HOUR AND WAS ABLE TO JUST ACCELERATE AND GO ON MY WAY. I USED THE BRAKES IN MY VEHICLE AT LEAST 5-10 TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PARKED MY VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS LATER, MY HUSBAND GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IT IN THE DRIVEWAY ABOUT 10 YARDS FORWARD. I WAS IN THE HOUSE. IN THE HOUSE I HEARD THAT VERY SAME TICKING NOISE AND THEN A LOUD NOISE AND I KNEW THAT MY HUSBAND HAD CRASHED MY CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SMASHED THRU OUR GARAGE. I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT AGAIN WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR. I CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY AGREED TO COME PICK IT UP. BEFORE THE CAR LEFT THE YARD MY FATHER IN -LAW CAME OVER AND WATCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR. TOYOTA CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND WANT ME TO TAKE IT BACK AND DRIVE IT. I WILL NOT DRIVE THAT VEHICLE UNLESS THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE 4 OTHER WITNESSES WHO HEARD THE TICKING NOISE IN THE CAR BEFORE IT HIT OUR GARAGE. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG AND I NEED SOME HELP. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTAA FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEY REFUSE. MY CAR HAS 4000 MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE IT IS UNSAFE AND COULD POSE DANGER TO OTHER OWNERS.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TRACKING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE STALLED, AND SOMETIMES WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE GOT NO POWER AND STOPPED IN MID STREAM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. SINCE PROBLEM OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNLESS IT HAPPENED WHEN THEY WERE EVALUATING IT.*AK

THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE BRAKES AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED REPLACING BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED. *PH *CB *JB

BREAK PEDAL VIBRATES EVERY OTHER TIME IT IS PRESSED DOWN. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW HARD YOU PRESS. IT GOES AWAY AFTER FEW SECONDS. IT IS NOT AN ABS RELATED VIBRATION. *LA