2009 Toyota 4runner

2009 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. w/SAB

Overall

Not Rated

Front Crash

Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Rollover

★★★☆☆

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Campaign: 14V743000

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Campaign: 16V396000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Campaign: 13V014000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Campaign: 11V113000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Campaign: 10V035000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Campaign: 10V036000

STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while pulling out of a driveway, the contact observed a grinding noise coming from the front end of the vehicle and the steering wheel violently yanked to the right. Additionally, the contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle pulled to the left inadvertently. The vehicle was stopped and inspected. The contact observed that the front passenger’s side tire was dangling by the rocker arm and the subframe. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side subframe and the rocker arms needed to be replaced due to extreme corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On 4/8/22, the rear window of our 2009 Toyota 4runner just shattered and fell apart for no reason. We took it to get replaced at Safelite on 4/13/22 and one of their techs asked if we knew what caused the glass to break and we told him we had no idea. We told him it just broke out of nowhere from some strange reason, and he told us that it looks like the window breaking was caused by the overheating of the rear defroster and that it was a common issue with 2009 4runners. We were in shock to find this out and are grateful that our son or dog was not in the back seat when this happened. I found out online that Toyota issued a recall for this issue (Warranty Program ZG7) and I spoke with a Toyota customer service rep to see if we could be reimbursed the $100 we paid out of pocket for this manufacturer's defect and they said the warranty program ended in 2018 so they couldn't help us. We were very disappointed to be told this because this is obviously still happening with these 4runners and it's a major safety issue as well.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THEY CRASHED INTO A COW WHICH CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. *LN

STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

LESS THAN 80K MILES AND FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTING APART. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH I LOST CONTROL BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME! COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND DEATH TRAPS

STEERING

STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO DO AND REALLY JERKY.TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PIN NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. YET ANOTHER PART I HAVE TO EAT THE COST DUE TO CORROSION. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE?

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME WITH JEOPARDIZED INTEGRITY AT JOINS CONNECTING BRAKES, FUEL LINES AND SUSPENSIONS SYSTEM.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

UPON ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE HESITATES FOR 2-3 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS ON STARTING OFF, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 15-20 TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE. THEY SAID IT HAD TO FAIL FOR AT LEAST 5 SECONDS FOR IT TO REGISTER ON THE COMPUTER MODULE. IT NEVER LASTS MORE THAN 2-3 SECONDS AND, I CONSIDER IT 'VERY DANGEROUS'. DATES ABOVE ARE APPX. IT DOES IT EVERY DAY. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

DRIVING ALONG A TWO LANE U.S. HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED, I NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING FULLY EMPTY, AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING. PUSHING THE ODOMETER TRIP BUTTON, I NOTICED THAT I HAD NOT YET REACHED THE MILEAGE FOR A "NORMAL" FILL UP, WHERE I ROUTINELY GET 20-21 MPG. AT THE END OF THAT TRIP,WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED HALF FULL. USING THE TRIP ODOMETER, I DROVE AN ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED 30 MILES TO HOME. THE FUEL GAUGE CONTINUED TO DISPLAY HALF FULL. THE NEXT MORNING, I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES TO THE GAS STATION, AND WAS SURPRISED WHEN IT TOOK ALMOST 15 GALLONS TO FILL THE TANK. THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE THEN WENT TO FULL. SINCE THEN IT HAS ONLY COME DOWN TO ONE HALF, YET MY MILEAGE NOW IS AT THE POINT (261-270) WHERE I NORMALLY FILL UP WHEN THE NEEDLE NEAR THE EMPTY LINE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS NO DOUBT WIDESPREAD. *TR

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT/FAST LANE ON A TOLL ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO WAS SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF 55MPH ENTERING THE TOLL ROAD CROSSING AND CUTTING OFF THE OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC RUNNING INTO ME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FORCING ME INTO THE CONCRETE WALL/BARRIER HEAD ON. HIS VEHICLE SWUNG INTO AGAIN INTO MY PASSENGER REAR SIDE THEN BOUNCED OFF. I WAS STUNNED, IN SHOCK, UNABLE TO EXIT ON MY SIDE AND DIDN'T SEE IT COMING. I WAS THROWN LEFT INTO THE FRAME AND WINDOW AND JERKED AROUND EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY SEAT BELT FASTENED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD FRONT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND HAD ONLY JUST PURCHASED THE 4RUNNER A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. IT WAS DECLARED TO BE TOTALED. I PERMANENTLY INJURED MY NECK, BACK AND BROKE MY NOSE. IN ADDITION, I HAVE ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS ABOUT DRIVING. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS CITED AT FAULT FOR FAILURE TO CONTROL SPEED AND UNSAFE LANE CHANGES AND HIS INSURANCE PAID FOR MY TOTALED VEHICLE AND WHAT LITTLE INSURANCE COVERAGE HE HAD FOR MY PERSONAL INJURIES. I WAS JUST NOW NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS AND SENSORS (A RECALL), NOW THAT IT IS ALMOST EXACTLY 4 YEARS FROM THE ACCIDENT, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN APPARENTLY DO TO HOLD TOYOTA AT FAULT DUE TO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. THIS VERY UPSETTING. I AM FULLY DISABLED NOW AND WILL BE ON PAIN MANAGEMENT AND PERIODIC PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, AND CAN NO LONGER EVEN PERFORM SIMPLE CHORES. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

WHEN MY WIFE STEPPED ON THE GAS TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT,THE 4RUNNER JUST LURCHED FORWARD INTO A FENCE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE 4RUNNER. THE BUMPER AND FENCE WAS DAMAGED. SHE IS NOW VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THE 4RUNNER. *TR