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2006 4Runner 81,000 Miles Excellent Condition/Unrepairable frame RUST!

Discussion in '4th Gen 4Runners (2003-2009)' started by Spinning4, May 29, 2018.

  1. May 29, 2018 at 9:50 PM
    #1
    Spinning4

    Spinning4 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    Member:
    #6136
    Messages:
    1
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 Gray Limited 4Runner
    3" Lift Kit, Custom Wheels, 33" Tires
    Was seeing my truck rust just after year or 2. More and more. Dont even say
    I didnt take care of it. Undercarraige washed and coated both differentials,most of
    frame, mounts and crossmembers and stabilizers with POR 15 a few times. Rust
    was not normal rust. This flaked off in large chunks. Never seen anything like it.
    Ive been a mechanic and body person my whole life. The rear end and stabilizers were
    the worst, along with rear of frame. Was literally rusting from inside out under the POR15
    coating which is basically an epoxy coating! AT least last year nothing failed, until now!
    Left rear small stabilizer cracked at the differential. Rt rear small stabilizer broke completely
    off of upper fame crossmember! Also frame holes broke through and are crumbling! Brought
    in for brakes and Service shop would not touch it and deemed it a road hazard and told not
    to drive it! Brought to Toyota dealer and they would not even put on lift for fear of rear
    end falling out. My Wife and kid was driving this. This truck was meticulously taken care of.
    Did average about 6500 miles a year. So that is only about 3200 miles in a winter. Not much
    use at all. The Blue Book value is $13-15,000. You have got to be kidding Toyota! Was personally told by Dealer that Tacomas, Seqoias were recalled.But 4Rrunners around 2006
    were hit and miss with rust. He seen many people devastated that there trucks are unrepairable.
    Everywhere under truck is badly rusted and frame is too widespread to repair. Brought to
    2 excellent body shops and told patching is not an option because whole frame is falling apart.
    Toyota has 800 number for complaints and NHTSA has website for complaints for faulty cars
    and trucks. They help getting recalls started! There are many other 4th Generation 4Runner
    owners with same problem! Complain! Be heard. Dont get ripped off. Ive had many cars and
    trucks that did not excessively rust from a year or 2 old. My Accord was 14 years old with almost no
    rust. This is a known documented Toyota problem for years with other recalls. They need
    to expand to 2006 4Ruunner and similar years. I would of got another 10 years out of this
    truck and I am mad as hell. Own up to it Toyota. Take care of loyal customers!
     
    xdelmar likes this.
  2. May 30, 2018 at 10:41 AM
    #2
    danno1948

    danno1948 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2017
    Member:
    #3882
    Messages:
    52
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dan
    Vehicle:
    1999 grey 4wh dr
    pretty much stock except wheels /tires
    I agree hold heartly, toyota frame are made of shit.... no other vehicle has had as much problem as Toyota with there frame. and I've own a bunch of them
     
  3. Jun 2, 2018 at 9:15 PM
    #3
    xdelmar

    xdelmar New Member

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    Bob
    Currently San Felipe, Baja.
    Vehicle:
    Prospective buyer of 4th gen
    I want to travel and camp and will do Mod's necessary to do this with a 4runner.
    hmmmm, does anyone know what happened to my post on this topic?
     
  4. Sep 4, 2018 at 1:53 PM
    #4
    Foreigner;)

    Foreigner;) New Member

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    Vehicle:
    Chili Pepper
    ME TOO!
    2005, 80,000 mi. Frame is just going away.
    I bought a new '18 Camry last week, going to ziebart next week, first to ziebart in over 30 yrs.

    Dealer said Toyota will warantee 4 runners on case by case basis. What ever that means . Will find out tomorrow 09/06/18
     
  5. Dec 9, 2018 at 4:49 PM
    #5
    toyron

    toyron New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2018
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    First Name:
    ron
    illinois
    Vehicle:
    03 v8 4runner ltd
    suspension, tires
    I have an '03 with a 10" x 2" hole rusted through on bottom of PS frame under front door, patched it for now, have advised Toyota.
    I agree the frame rust is from inside out, have removed a bunch from both sides of frame. Should not happen!
     
  6. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:09 PM
    #6
    bambamsr

    bambamsr New Member

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    Dec 13, 2018
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    #8036
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    Male
    Vehicle:
    2004 4Runner V8
    Has anyone had success preventing rust? If so what have you used
     
  7. Dec 13, 2018 at 8:33 PM
    #7
    sfmayer

    sfmayer New Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
    #8035
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    2
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2005 Silver 4Runner
    I was merging on to the freeway today, got to about 65 and my 2006 4Runner (well cared for,175k miles) began shaking violently. Put on the flashers and drove on the shoulder and went directly to my mechanic. Got a call later and was informed my frame had rusted through and that I was lucky I wasn't in a bad accident (this is the car I bought 11 years ago to replace the ill designed Jeep Cherokee with the gas tank placed behind the rear axle - my 19 year old daughter died in a rear end collision in that car). Last week I put in a new timing belt ($1,000) thinking I would be putting another 75k miles in this truck. Has anybody had any luck getting funds from Toyota?
     
  8. Jan 5, 2022 at 7:05 AM
    #8
    toyota girl

    toyota girl New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2022
    Member:
    #24969
    Messages:
    1
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Lynnette
    Vehicle:
    2006 4 runner
    Sports Edition
    My daughter has a 2006 4 runner and it is in like new condition except for the frame. I took it to the garage today and had the same experience, frame rusted through and now it is unsafe to drive despite looking like new everywhere else. Called, Toyota and they said "if it was a Tacoma we would fix it, but the recall does not apply to 4 runners." Really?!?!?!?!? Shame on you Toyota, this is sheer negligence on your part!
     
  9. Jan 5, 2022 at 7:56 AM
    #9
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2020
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    527
    Gender:
    Male
    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    Youll probably find most people talk up Fluid film. Also Eastwood Extreme underbody protection, Rustoleum underbody paint, and lastly Ziebart. Or if youre a little goofy you could LineX it.
    At any rate something is better than nothing.
     
  10. Jan 5, 2022 at 8:00 AM
    #10
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2021
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    Messages:
    1,526
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    East Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    5th Gen OG TE
    Don’t expect the manufacturer to do anything until the Feds get involved, and I doubt they’re even showing up to work right now.
     
  11. Jan 5, 2022 at 8:20 AM
    #11
    Spare Parts

    Spare Parts New Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2020
    Member:
    #14274
    Messages:
    2,316
    Gender:
    Male
    Southern Maine
    Vehicle:
    22 LR ORP
    Sherpa Crestone. 4X Innovations Sliders
    JUST SAY NO TO ZIEBART rubber coatings.

    once they crack a little, they let in water and it gets trapped under the rubber coating.

    Use products such as wool wax, Fluid Film, and PB blaster is just put out a new one. Oh, NH oil, or crown (i think it's called)
     
    negusm likes this.
  12. Jan 5, 2022 at 8:23 AM
    #12
    4wheelgreg

    4wheelgreg New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2021
    Member:
    #24855
    Messages:
    81
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Bensalem Pa
    Vehicle:
    2022 4Runner TRD Pro
    If your in a salt or brime area and don’t hose off your vehicle top and bottom every manufacture vehicle will rust and corrode .
    Had a service guy say if you don’t drive it in salt it would not have rusted , I have seen year old vehicles look like rust buckets underneath after 1 season of not cleaning off or washing / hosing off there vehicles .
    I went out yesterday , roads were all slop with slush and mush mixed with salt , shame you pay all the money for your new vehicle and gets destroyed .
    I am lucky to have a shop and hosed off the new TRD pro , I have a lawn garden wand with adjustable head and the 3ft extension and does a good job reaching in the wheel wells and underside to keep it cleaner than just parking it and corroding .
     
    Dabigono and LandCruiser like this.

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