2004 Toyota 4runner Transmission Problems

Your 2004 4Runner's frame has severely rusted and broken, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. When you press the brake or gas pedal, the truck pulls to one side and fishtails uncontrollably, especially at highway speeds, and you have no control over the rear end. Multiple mechanics have inspected it and found the rust too extensive to safely repair by welding, and even routine service shops won't work on it while the vehicle is lifted due to the frame damage. Addressing this will likely require complete frame repair or replacement, which is a major structural repair.

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT IN MOTION LEAVING FROM A STOP SIGN. I LATER FOUND OUT MY TRANSMISSION LINES HAD CORRODED AWAY LEAKING A LARGE AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. AFTER REPLACING BRAKES AND ADDING BRAKE FLUID I NOTICED THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM BOTTOM. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES AND FITTINGS DUE TO CORROSION.

RUMBLE WHEN OVER 20 MPH AND TURNING SLIGHTLY RIGHT ON ANY SURFACE.

OIL LEAKING FROM TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY POWERTRAIN TRANSFER CASE. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUR 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. IT STARTED ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WHEN THE MARYLAND STATE EMMISSION TEST FACILITY PLUGGED INTO MY ODBI2 PORT. ALL THE DASH LIGHTS WERE ON AND I WENT IN TO THE OFFICE AND COMPLAINED. I FILED A FORM WITH EMISSIONS. I WORK OUT OF TOWN, MY WIFE IS A TEACHER AND WE HAVE TWO SMALL KIDS. GOING TO THE DEALER WAS NOT AN OPTION UNTIL SCHOOL WAS OUR. IN THE MEAN TIME THE TRUCK DROVE FINE OTHER THAN NO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE TIRES SPINNING IF YOU HIT THE PEDDLE TO HARD (NO TRACTION CONTROL OR STABILITY CONTROL. TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER OVER THE SUMMER AND THEY HAD TO RESET THE VALUES FOR $110.00 THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID ALL THE VALUES BEING ERASED WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR AND MVA CHEEP SCANNERS. MARYLAND SAID THEY CALLED TOYOTA AND NO ONE HAD EVER HAD THAT PROBLEM. HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AGAIN LAST EMISSION TEST. BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. THE ACTUATOR DOESN'T ENGAGE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. THIS WAS APPARENT WHEN MY WIFE LOST CONTROL AND NEARLY FLIPPED THE TRICK OVER AFTER PICKING UP THE KIDS IN A SNOW STORM. I CLIMBED UNDER THE TRUCK IN THE SNOW AND PULLED THE COVER OFF THE ACTUATOR, PULLED OUT THE PLASTIC GEARS AND MANUALLY SHIFTED IT INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE TO GET IT HOME. THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WAS ALWAYS USED AT LEAST EVERY MONTH UNTIL THE EMISSION TEST PROBLEMS JUST TO KEEP IT LUBERICATED. THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR LACK THERE OF, COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO MY WIFE AND KIDS. THIS ACTUATOR IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, IF THEY CAN'T DESIGN A ACTUATOR THAT OPERATES WHEN YOU NEED FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY THAN GO BACK TO THE OLD STICK AND LINKAGE. 55 PEOPLE DIED IN THE BLIZZARD OF 2016 AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN 3 MORE JUST BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW! P.S. MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT IT NEW, NEVER OFF ROAD!

DRIVING DOWN THE LOCAL HIGHWAY, SMELLED TRANSMISSION FLUID BURNING. PULLED OVER TO FIND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE RADIATOR AREA. I WAS NEAR THE GARAGE THAT WORKS ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THERE. SKID PLATE WAS REMOVED AND THE TRANSMISSION LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE RADIATOR SUPPORT FRAME RUSTED THROUGH. THE MECHANIC SERVICING THE VEHICLE SAID I WAS LUCKY, THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND OR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING. TOYOTA DEALER WAS CONTACTED, SAID, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, BUT NO RECALL OR NOTIFICATIONS SENT THE OWNERS TO INSPECT THIS ITEM FOR RUST THROUGH. WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS FOUND, THE FRAME UNDER THE RADIATOR WAS FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH ALSO. ( LISTED IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT.) *TR

FRONT SUPPORT FRAME UNDER RADIATOR RUSTED THROUGH. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO FIX. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE QUESTION IS HOW WOULD THIS HOLD UP IN A FRONTAL CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 85,000 MILES AND THIS HAPPENS. IT IS IN A AREA WHERE SALT IS USED. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD, MANY LIKE ME WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN OF A BROKEN FRAME UNLESS THE SKID PLATE WAS REMOVED.THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION LINES RUNNING ALONG THE FRAME LISTED IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT. *TR

I OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TO PLACE MY BAG DOWN. THE CAR ROLLED OUT OF GEAR DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THEN I HAD TO JUMP INTO THE ROLLING CAR TO PUT IT BACK INTO PARK AND THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. *TR

DRIVE SHAFT IS CLANGING, BANGING, CAUSING SLAMMING WITH THE BRAKING ACTION SURGING FORWARD SEVERAL FEET BEFORE STOPPING. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORTS EDITION. I ALWAYS HEAR RATTLING NOISE WHEN I AM DRIVING 40 MPH. RECENTLY, I TOOK MY CAR TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THIS ISSUE SERVICED. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE. I WAS GOING DRIVE IT OUT OF STATE WITH MY WIFE FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY, BUT THEY RECOMMENDED I NOT TO DRIVE IT. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE. IT WAS GOING TO COST ME OVER $1300, BUT LUCKILY I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.I HAVE HEARD ABOUT POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL OF TOYOTA THAT LED TO IT BEING RECALLED. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS WHEN I COME TO A STOP I HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS ISSUE, TOYOTA SAID ITS THE 4WHEEL DRIVE, BUT I WASN'T USING THE 4W DRIVE WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURRED FOR ME. EVEN NOW ITS STILL A PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT I SHOULD DO BEFORE SOMETHING GOES WRONG. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH AND TAPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IT BECAME STUCK AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED THE CAR. I HAD TO SHIFT THE CAR TO NEUTRAL AND TAP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK. THE CAR HAD BEEN ON CRUISE CONTROL EARLIER BUT AT THE TIME THAT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. HITTING THE BRAKE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL AS WOULD BE EXPECTED IF IT WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

WHEN COMING TO A STOP MY 4RUNNER WILL MAKE A CLUNK NOISE AS IF I WAS REAR ENDED. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE TRUNK. TAKING IT TO DEALER, THEY SAID THAT IT IS NORMAL, JUST THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING. *TR

FOUR MONTHS AGO I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED WITH APPROX. 82,000 MILES. A MONTH OR SO LATER, I APPROACHED A STOP SIGN AND AS I BRAKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I STEPPED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE AND FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AT THE TIME, I WAS SCARED BUT THOUGHT THAT MAYBE BY MISTAKE, MY FOOT WAS SPANNING BOTH PEDALS (I DIDN'T THINK SO BUT COULDN'T BE 100% POSITIVE). YESTERDAY, I APPROACHED ANOTHER INTERSECTION WITH MY FOOT CLEARLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I WAS COMING TO A CONTROLLED STOP WHEN, SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AGGRESSIVELY. AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BY ALMOST STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THOUGH NOT ENOUGH TO STOP ME FROM GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT STOPPING. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO DOUBT - THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE PEDAL DID NOT STICK AS MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AS I WAS COASTING TO A STOP. THIS VEHICLE DEFINITELY HAS A DEFECT AND IT WAS VERY SCARY. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AND I ONLY WILL NOW IF I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL, AND FOOT COMPLETELY OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SURGE AHEAD IN WHAT FEELS LIKE GOING INTO PASSING GEAR. IT DOES THIS AT VARIOUS TIMES. AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE SEEMS TO STOP IT. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOY 4-RUNNER, V-8 ALL WHEEL DRIVE THAT I AM GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH, BUT THERE IS ONE ISSUE THAT IS FRIGHTENING. WHEN I COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP THERE IS A FORWARD LUNGE THAT FEELS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS CONTAIN THIS FORWARD MOTION. I HAVE NARROWLY ADVERTED HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FRANKLY SCARES THE '!@#$% OUT OF ME. *TR

1. THERE IS A SERIOUS "CLUNK" NOISE WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE FROM A STOP. 2. MY VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION COMBINED WITH A SURGING FORWARD AS IF BEING REAR ENDED. 3. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS, IT SHAKES AND BANGS EXTREMELY VIOLENTLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 LIMITED 4RUNNER TOYOTA, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WITH V8. AFTER ABOUT 20 THOUSAND MILES, MY VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SURGING FORWARD LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED. THIS NOISE ALSO HAS A DISTINCT METALLIC SOUND AND JARRING VIBRATION EACH AND EVERY TIME. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT PRESSES FIRMLY, THE CAR WILL LOUNGE FORWARD. THIS NOISE AND "CLANKING" ALSO OCCURS WHEN LIFTING MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND NOT IN NEUTRAL. I FIRST REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE ISSUE. THE TRIED TO CHARGE ME 500 DOLLARS FOR A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SERVICE. WHEN I PROTESTED THAT THIS WAS NOT IN THE MANUAL, THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY LUBRICATED THE PROPELLER SHAFT AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T CHARGE THIS TIME. TOYOTA INVOICE # W55722. WELL, THAT ELIMINATED ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE "CLANK" CAME BACK IN ABOUT A MONTH. I HAVE RECENTLY READ THAT ALL LIMITED EDITION 4RUNNERS FROM 03-06 HAVE THIS CLANKING PROBLEM, IN ADDITION TO THE LEXUS GX-470, THAT SHARES THE SAME DRIVESHAFT. HOWEVER, LEXUS IS FIXING THE PROBLEM WHILE TOYOTA IS PLAYING STUPID AND SAYING THAT IT IS NORMAL. CAN YOU PLEASE FORCE TOYOTA TO FIX MY VEHICLE IN THE SAME MANNER THAT LEXUS IS? PLEASE SEE THIS INTERNET LINK TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/4RUNNER/53302-4RUNNER-V8-CLUNK-IN-DRIVETRAIN/. *JB

I EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK AT THE TRANSFER CASE. IT WAS DETERMINED THE "O" RING ON THE TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE NEW "O" RING COST $10, BUT LABOR WAS $900. *JB

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 4X4..ON SNOW,ICE AN WET ROADS THE FRONT END VIBRATES AN BUCKS. ITS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE, AN TWICE WERE TOLD THE TRUCK CHECKS OUT FINE(OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THAT, BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN WEATHER MENTIONED ABOVE) AN THEY HAVE NOT TEST DRIVEN IT IN SUCH WEATHER. *JB

VIBRATION ABOVE 70 MPH, FELT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL, PEDAL AND FLOORBOARD. *JB

RESONANCE THROUGH STEERING WHEEL DURING LIGHT TO HEAVY ACCELERATION WHEN TRANS WAS SHIFTING. DEALER, AT THIS TIME SAYS IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE. 1000'S RPMS AND UP SOMETIMES WORSE THEN OTHERS. *JB

MY 2004 TOYOTA V8 4WD SR5 4RUNNER WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN FEB/2004. AT SPEED 71-73 MPH, IT GENERATES ANNOYING HARMONIC HUMMING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION AND/OR DRIVELINE. THE NOISE IS MORE NOTICEABLE IN COLD WEATHER THAN IN HOT ONE. IT BECOME LESS NOTICEABLE AT SPEED ABOVE 78 MPH. A TOYOTA DEALER MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE CAR AND CONFIRMED THE NOISE, BUT OFFERED NO HELP TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO. *AK

PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. NOTICED "WOBBLE" OR "VIBRATIONS" IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN ACCELERATING AND AT SPEEDS AROUND 70-75 MPH. TOOK IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TECHNICIAN BALANCED TIRES. STILL HAD PROBLEM SO TOOK IT BACK IN RESULTING IN A ROAD FORCE BALANCE AND NEW SET OF TIRES. STILL HAVE MILD VIBRATION. *JB

2004 SR5 V6 4WD EXPERIENCES DRONING VIBRATION OR RUMBLING ON FLOOR, PEDALS, AND STEERING WHEEL WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN BETWEEN 1500-2000 RPM. VIBRATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE FOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 35 DEGREES F. AND VERY BAD BELOW 15 DEGREES F. ALSO BECOMES MORE PREDOMINANT DURING ACCELERATION. VIBRATION DISSAPPEARS WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AT SAME SPEED. APPEARS PROBLEM IS IN DRIVE TRAIN/TRANSAXEL AND NOT TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VIBRATION CAME FROM THE DRIVETRAIN/FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SEEMED TO BE RELATED TO RPM AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. MOST PROMINENT AT @2000 RPMS, AND BELOW 50 DEGREES. VIBRATION FELT IN PEDALS, FLOOR AND STEERING. HEARD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. DEALER TECH TRYING, BUT NO ANSWERS. *AK

I OWN AN 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT WITH THE V8/AWD. TOOK IT ON A LONG ROAD TRIP OVER X-MAS AND NOTICED AT EXACTLY 71MPH YOU START TO HEAR A CYCLICAL NOISE (ABOUT 2-3 PER SECOND) THAT INCREASES IN FREQUENCY AS VEHICLE SPEED CLIMBS. NO VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL OR PEDALS. BUT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FEEL IT IN FLOORBOARDS AND HEAR IT. DISAPPEARS AT 82 - 85 OR SO, AND AS SOON AS FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. DEALER CLAIMS NO KNOWN ISSUES AND OFFERS NO SOLUTION. *AK