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2005 to 2011 4Runner rust recall

Discussion in '4th Gen 4Runners (2003-2009)' started by austin blue, Nov 18, 2021.

  1. Nov 18, 2021 at 3:08 PM
    #1
    austin blue

    austin blue [OP] New Member

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    Belllegalgroup.com/Toyota-lawsuit please get in touch with them about your rust there are no legal fees it will help us get a recall they go into court January 2022 843-546-2408 is their number give em a call. I am new to the group purchased a 2005 4 runner for my girl the other day being as it is a Toyota and I knew nothing of rust issues had her go look at it since conveniently the guy could only meet up at night and I was at work so I told her to listen to any noises look for oil and test drive it put it in 4 high and 4 low forward reverse go over 60 mph and so she did it drove like a dream I even drove it when I got home and it was amazing until the next day I noticed the rust in the daylight I never in a million years would have thought a vehicle could accrue this much rust hell my friend has a 67 vw bug we worked on and the original frame was still intact rust is definitely a defect the titanic at the bottom of the ocean don’t look this bad so I’m out the money unless the bell law firm group gets enough people to complain about it and Toyota puts out the recall here are some pics for ya 8C7CCB41-3AA3-4313-A09D-EE961D82430A.jpg

    5ACEAE2A-C215-42C2-83B3-96F2F5AA38FA.jpg
    1A83459C-2352-4987-AACE-5FF3A84373D6.jpg
    74AA89EC-CA9A-4D17-AE26-016448B824D6.jpg
    9079E66A-4A72-4A93-89E3-90506DDC9798.jpg
     
  2. Nov 19, 2021 at 7:13 AM
    #2
    negusm

    negusm New Member

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    Those zip ties scream fraud. The seller knew it was unsafe.

    That is unless, they advertised it AS IS. Then it's on the buyer to inspect prior.
     
    Yinzer and bookooc like this.
  3. Nov 19, 2021 at 10:44 AM
    #3
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    that sucks. How much are you out? I was thinking the same thing about the zip ties…somebody knew. Although, who knows who put them on if there are multiple previous owners.

    Did the seller misrepresent the vehicle? Small claims court?

    When I was looking at used 4runners, I kinda gave up since most frame were pretty rusty…but nothing as bad as the perforated structural areas that you have here.
     
  4. Sep 21, 2022 at 5:41 PM
    #4
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    Has any one had a successful result with this? Just found out that our 2005 4Runner Sport Edition has reached the point of too much rust in the frame. Just like a lot of them I've been reading, on the sunny side the vehicle looks fantastic, on the bottom side, not so much. 2 weeks ago, random guess it was worth 10K, now.....not so much Horrible time to be buying a vehicle right now. Anyhow, I assume that we're just going to be stuck and will simply sell it to someone who needs a good engine, tranny, so on so forth. I'm willing to put forth some effort in this recall/lawsuit business, but honestly don't want to drag myself/family through a bunch of mud, heartache, stress, aggravation and expenses. If there is not a decent success rate, I'm not going to bother. I'm leaning towards assuming this will get me know where. Someone brighten my outlook (realistically) please.
     
  5. Sep 25, 2022 at 5:06 PM
    #5
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    Just FYI, I contacted:

    Belllegalgroup.com

    The lawsuit is just in formation and they are waiting to see if it will be approved to go forward. They are expecting to reach that point at approximately the New Year. Then lawsuits, etc can begin. I expect this to go on a long time before rewards, if any are handed out.

    Right now, according to my research, there is no completed Class-Action against Toyota for the 4Runners, and no settlement. So at the time, it strikes me that it would be impossible to get any immediate assistance. Just have to wait and see.

    They said right now they have information from only about 200 4Runner owners. I was expecting it to be thousands...
     
  6. Nov 23, 2022 at 5:42 PM
    #6
    Toyota2008

    Toyota2008 New Member

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    ToyoTroy-is this still a thing? I have a 2008 4 Runner-should I pursue this?
     
  7. Nov 23, 2022 at 7:19 PM
    #7
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    Seems legit, but even so, it's a process with no guarantee at the end. I would suggest to call them because they put you on a list. They collect up enough issues, put together a case, and bring it to the courts to get approval to proceed with the case. Of course discussion between lawyers begins in parallel and hopefully they settle outside of court. That's what happened with the Tacoma, Sequoia, Tundra suite. I don't know why 4Runner was not included in that. Anyhow, you just call them, send 'em a few pictures, some kind of proof of ownership of the vehicle, then you wait. No obligations at this point.

    To my understanding they were nearing the point of bringing a compiled case forward. My complete non-lawyer guess is it would take a long time....year or two before anything really happens. If they win or get a settlement, law firm takes their cut (bet it's large....) and the rest goes to the owners. They suggested to me that they felt it was a strong case. While you have no obligation right now, at some point in the process you do have to sign up. Not financially, but you would more or less be agreeing that they represent you, if they win, they get to take a cut of your win, so on so forth. I don't understand it all, I'm no lawyer. However it's minimal effort to have any chance. I'm crossing my fingers, not holding my breath. They did seem like a legit law firm. They also said at this point I could get rid of it if I wanted to. Haven't yet, but who knows what I'll do.
     
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  8. Dec 24, 2022 at 10:09 AM
    #8
    T92

    T92 New Member

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    The problem with sellers is that they can sell it on the web like Copart. No one ever takes pictures of the frame of course, so it arrives and there you got your rusted frame. Mine wasn't this bad but the rear right control arm was broken off, literally hanging down, touching the ground... The front bumper was half eaten away, holding on thin leftovers of it.

    There should be a law requiring to include of safety hazards while selling vehicles, I was lucky I paid for the transport of the car, if someone went 100 miles away and tried to drive back home, that left arm would have caused a nasty accident..

    Now I am just trying to keep it as long as I can. I don't want to sell it because well, it puts someone else in danger. I was hoping they would have done recall but I think its not even progressing anymore. This is my first car ever too, whole reason I chose Toyota was the reliability and less cost, but it turned out another way lol. Although aside from the rusted frame car is in good shape, I gave it premium oil, a good filter, and everything, runs smooth.
     
  9. Dec 24, 2022 at 6:33 PM
    #9
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    @T92 - Regarding selling, I will probably go ahead and list mine up before too long, but full disclosure. I don't need money bad enough to trick someone. Besides, even if I was a cheat it's not going to make it through a Virginia State Inspection. If I can get a good couple few thousand dollars out of it, then I figure our overall expense for the intended purpose for the vehicle - we will have come out fine. It is a rip though...I'm fully convinced that the elder gentleman who sold me the vehicle knew about it. As with many similar 4Runners it looked beautiful in pictures, body, interior...low mileage for the year. It was in Baltimore and I could only go by the pictures. I thought I saw a hint of rust on the bottom in one or two of the pictures from below, so I asked him about it. "Rust, what rust?" I asked him to give me a worst picture and he did a fantastic job of playing dumb. Kicking myself because I know not to buy cars from the North due to corrosion from road salt. I did not know that these Toyota's had a particular problem with it. I finally decided to trust this elder, well to do gentleman who was taking his wife dying of cancer back home to Poland. Besides I figured I could look at it there, but it was pouring down rain in the middle of December when I got there, and water disguises rust and it was difficult to get under it. I was had, but I should have had a shop put the vehicle on a lift and send me pictures. I later figured out he knew of other issues that he had told me did not exist. Ultimately it was my mistake. No major loss. No one has been hurt and the biggest frustration with the cost is the timing. Not a great time to buy a car.

    Ironically we have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia bought brand new and always kept down here in VA BCH. Looks almost brand new underneath.

    Regarding the recall.... Toyota's first lawsuit was for Sequoia, Tundra and Tacoma. We're lucky it did not include the 4Runner because if it had, we would get nothing because it's only good for 15 years after date of manufacture (our vehicle is 2005). I have no clue why it did not include 4Runners. Right now, as mentioned at the top of this thread, the Bell Legal Group is organizing a second class action lawsuit to cover the 4Runner. I decided to write them the other day to see the status. They have now submitted their case to a Judge. If the Judge says you have no case, I don't know , but I suppose that's it. If the Judge says sure you can proceed, then I guess.....guess....what happens is lots and lots of discussion ensues between Toyota and the law firm. On the first lawsuit, to my understanding it was not decided in court, rather settled out of court, but I think you can say Toyota lost. Is there a case now? I would suppose that the law firm wouldn't go through all this trouble if they thought they had no case. Personally I see the biggest problem as being the age. There's sort of a "statute of limitations" when it comes to product liability. I do not believe the first go 'round was a normal recall, but rather something they agreed to do. I guess maybe that's still a recall, but I think most recalls are forced by the NTSB especially when it comes to Toyota. They make great cars but appear to take zero responsibility for mistakes...which can happen to anyone.

    Anyhow, I would guess it goes on for 2 or 3 years from now before anything happens (unless the case is thrown out). It wouldn't surprise me that 2 or 3 years from now I get a check for $1,000-$2,000 so that I can go buy more Toyotas. Doesn't matter, but it would make my loss on the vehicle closer to a break even. I'm patiently waiting with about 30% hope.
     
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  10. Dec 26, 2022 at 7:17 AM
    #10
    T92

    T92 New Member

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    @ToyoTroy I am surprised that cars like these can even operate on roads. I mean that the inspection was done here in NJ, they didn't even look under the car.. Not to mention I myself had no idea until I did all the paperwork and then noticed the rust while I was changing the oil, but it's insane that inspection quality is so bad that they don't even look under it. I am sure the guy who sold it on Copart knew about rust, i am not sure if the warehouse it was parked in knew about it, but I got this for 3000$, which is cheap for this car. I assume the guy did know, that's why he dropped it so cheap. I don't blame him though, I never asked him. In your case thought the old man was kind of a scam lol, at least he could have said something. Maybe like " look man, it does have rust, I just need the money real bad " rather than lying about it. What was the cost of that 4runner?

    As for the lawsuit, I am counting on it. I can wait 2-3 years, my only concern is that now that winter is here the rust may get worse... As until now, I am currently getting a welding certificate, I am good with hands, and I can do some frame enforcement.



    This is just an example :

    IMG_20221022_172320.jpg
    IMG_20221022_172409.jpg

    The lower part of the front was long gone and was welded before me, I guess the guy did try to keep the car as long as he could. Its from PA.
     
  11. Dec 27, 2022 at 7:12 PM
    #11
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    Yeah....it is amazing the way these frames just decay. Here's our 4Runner:

    4Runner.jpg

    Purdy good looking if you ask me. New tires not long ago. Here's what it generally looks like underneath (signs of rust and corrosion, not fully gone):

    IMG_4290.jpg

    Here's the spot that our inspection guy said he would not pass:

    IMG_4318.jpg

    I believe that originally there was an oblong hole made there from the factory that grew into the mess you see. It's not going to fall apart going down the road, but the concern is that in a front end collision it will just fold in and not provide any resistance. I get the point, but I don't think it is nearly as bad as a lot of them I see online.

    You asked how much I paid....want to say it was $12K back around 2016 with 84,000 miles on it. It's the Sport Edition with V8 & All Wheel Drive. I find it terribly difficult to accept that it is worthless looking at it.
     
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  12. Jan 3, 2023 at 11:46 AM
    #12
    T92

    T92 New Member

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    Yes, it doesn't look bad. If it's just that one area, it's possible a good welder can take care of it. I assume the whole area of that part will be cut off and a new one welded.
     
  13. Jan 3, 2023 at 4:38 PM
    #13
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    Yeah, I would assume a rectangle would be cut out and then something welded over top. Here's the problem. To pass an inspection a shop has to deduce that the repair is as strong or stronger than the factory original. Most are going to avoid that liability. So I could pay someone what ever call it $1000 to weld over that. Then the exhaust manifold back has to be replaced, and a couple other small things only to worry that another rust hole shows up next year. Sometimes you gotta cut bait, this one is not a project for weekend warrior mechanics like my son and I. Gonna put 'r up for sale soon (again, full disclosure).
     
  14. Jan 16, 2023 at 9:13 PM
    #14
    delz05

    delz05 New Member

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    Just beginning!
    Interested, if you decide to sell... in the Boston MA area
     
  15. Feb 21, 2023 at 5:24 PM
    #15
    ToyoTroy

    ToyoTroy New Member

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    Just FYI everyone. The judge threw out the law suit and it is closed. According to the law firm the situation becomes a huge uphill (let's call it impossible) battle and they are closing their effort. Too bad.

    We have listed the vehicle. delz I'll send you a PM.
     
    T92 likes this.
  16. Feb 25, 2023 at 8:46 AM
    #16
    LuLu

    LuLu New Member

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    This sucks... we had a Honda 2000 Odyssey 151k miles.. no such rust.
     
  17. Feb 25, 2023 at 11:57 AM
    #17
    Blue2005

    Blue2005 New Member

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    Hi all , just had my 2005 4 runner frame fixed . All rusted medal cutting out and fabricator put new metal everywhere and welded and just got undercoating finished. It only has 100,000 miles on it . Shocked to see all the rust . So worth it . Great vehicle. Sad progress owner ignored the recall. There loss my gain . Glad I did it .
     

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