Quick News About Toyota 4Runner Problems

A lawsuit wonders how Toyota can keep calling their bluetooth implementation "hands-free" when owners very much need to use their hands to prevent echos on each and every call.

For years owners have complained about this issue, but Toyota's only suggestion has been to pickup the phone and turn it's volume all the way up after the call has been initiated. Oh, and also make sure the radio volume is below level 45. Sorta defeats the point, don't you think?…

A lawsuit says 2005-2011 4Runners weren’t properly treated to protect against corrosion.

In May 2018, the plaintiff was driving his car on the highway when the steering wheel allegedly started vibrating so violently the 4Runner went off the road. A mechanic said the right front control arm fractured because of excessive corrosion and rust. Toyota may deny knowing about rust problems in court, but that argument should crumble even faster than their frames.

In 2016 the automaker settled a massive corrosion lawsuit for similar model years of the Tacoma, Tundra, and Sequoia vehicles. That was the same year as a recall for 690,000 trucks with corroding rear suspension leaf springs.

Toyota has blamed a musty A/C smell on microbes [i.e., mold] growing o the evaporator surface and now a lawsuit wants them to do something about it.

The plaintiffs claim the vehicles have defective heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that cause smells and health problems from mold that collects on the evaporators. Numerous complaints have allegedly been filed with the government, Toyota and Lexus dealerships nationwide since at least 1999.

This isn't the first time Toyota has been sued for musty A/C units.

Owners who have been hoping to see Toyota pay for damaged to the electrical system by rodents may want to look away.

A judge in California has ruled in favor of dismissing a soy-wiring lawsuit because, in the court's eyes, the problems don't violate the terms of Toyota's express warranty.…

Damage from rodents plus the extra cost of renting a car while waiting for repairs, led to about $16,800 in costs assosciate with soy-based wiring.

While an insurance company paid the bulk, a new lawsuit filed in Massachusetts wants to know when Toyota is going to pay for the decision to go with soy?…

When Toyota switched away from using plastic or glass-based inulation in favor of soy, it invited in some very unwelcome Toyota loyalisits.

According to the plaintiff, she learned the hard way about the soy wiring when her Avalon wouldn't start and a look under the hood showed wires chewed, so she had the car towed to a dealer. Toyota told her rodents had caused the damage and it would be no problem to repair the problems as long as she could cough up $6,000 to cover the bill.

The soy-based wiring is allegedly attracting in rodents, who love to chew it up and use it for nesting material. The lawsuit, Heidi Browder vs. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al. follows a similar lawsuit filed against Honda earlier this year.

It's been a while since Toyota announced their extended warranty program for melting dashbord in 3.5 million vehicles.

So, how are things going? According to [a] lawsuit, when Toyota first announced the warranty program the automaker notified customers and said it could take months to gather the replacement parts. However, Toyota then sent a second notice that removed the information about a timeline for repairs.

Oh, well it can't be too long before everyone gets their replacement dash, right?…

Is there a design flaw in the 2005 4Runner's automatic door locks?

The SUV has been involved in multiple carjackings and now the victims are suing the automaker. The Toyota 4Runner lawsuit alleges the owner of the SUV had no idea the doors would automatically unlock when the SUV was shifted into PARK. The plaintiff blames Toyota for not informing consumers about how the door locks work and the dangers of doors automatically unlocking, especially in urban areas.

Yes, you can argue the merits of the case, but the carjackings have all resulted in terrible stories --- from sexual assault to the death of an entire family. No matter what the judge decides, your heart have to be with those affected.