Uh Oh, is my frame cracked?

eskimochaos

eskimochaos

Banned
I was giving the 4R some much needed TLC today which included a wiping down under the hood. I was examining the engine as Im fascinated with things like that (mech anical engineer) and noticed a crack/split in the frame on the drivers side.

Attached are pics - can someone go and look and see if they have the same seem in the same place. I felt it best I could and it feels smooth which makes me believe that it was meant to be there and I just noticed it.










 
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The first 3 pics are not the way the seem appears when looking at it - it is the only way I could get my camera down there.

That last 2 are to identify where it is. There appears to be an additional part of the frame underneath the fuzebox that is not visible on the passenger side. At the base is where the apparent crack is.

Thanks guys!
 
havent looked at mine yet, but judging from the pics it looks completely normal, ive seen similiar things on toyota frames
 
the_josh said:
havent looked at mine yet, but judging from the pics it looks completely normal, ive seen similiar things on toyota frames
Click to expand...

Yea I suspect it is normal just because its "smooth".
 
I took a quick glance at mine and have the same "line". No rust around the area leads me to believe that the Toyota gods intended it to be there.
 
Rover+Runner said:
I took a quick glance at mine and have the same "line". No rust around the area leads me to believe that the Toyota gods intended it to be there.
Click to expand...

Word, thanks for taking the time! You found the spot OK?
 
Sure did. I admit I was thrown off by the first two pics; I found it right away though once I got out my mag lite...
 
WHEW!! got me worried for and hour .I mean minute .Was almost going to trade the runner for a Kia Sorento! :D
 
Hopefully since our (4Runner) frames were made in Japan, we won't have the weld quality issues that the 2005 Tacoma and now looks like at least 2 FJ Cruisers are having.

I am 99% sure that the faulty Tacoma frames came from a Dana plant in California.... anyone know where FJ Cruisers are assembled?

I would assume North America since they are only sold here and the Middle East.
 
Rover+Runner said:
Hopefully since our (4Runner) frames were made in Japan, we won't have the weld quality issues that the 2005 Tacoma and now looks like at least 2 FJ Cruisers are having.

I am 99% sure that the faulty Tacoma frames came from a Dana plant in California.... anyone know where FJ Cruisers are assembled?

I would assume North America since they are only sold here and the Middle East.
Click to expand...

All FJ Cruisers are built by Hino Motors in Hamura, Japan.
 
Rover+Runner said:
Hopefully since our (4Runner) frames were made in Japan, we won't have the weld quality issues that the 2005 Tacoma and now looks like at least 2 FJ Cruisers are having.

I am 99% sure that the faulty Tacoma frames came from a Dana plant in California.... anyone know where FJ Cruisers are assembled?

I would assume North America since they are only sold here and the Middle East.
Click to expand...

FJ's are made in Japan as well I think.
 
Crap. I was afraid of that. Looks like we could potentially be screwed too. From reading the extensive thread on TTORA by Cell4Soul, here's what the warning signs of this type of failure can be:

1. Starts with engine vibration (like bad engine mount)
2. Engine fan makes contact with radiator shroud under acceleration
3. The engine can eventually appear 'crooked' in the engine bay once the frame failure occurs.

I'll post pictures and links later; right now I've got to run to church for Mother's Day.
 
Rover+Runner said:
Crap. I was afraid of that. Looks like we could potentially be screwed too. From reading the extensive thread on TTORA by Cell4Soul, here's what the warning signs of this type of failure can be:

1. Starts with engine vibration (like bad engine mount)
2. Engine fan makes contact with radiator shroud under acceleration
3. The engine can eventually appear 'crooked' in the engine bay once the frame failure occurs.

I'll post pictures and links later; right now I've got to run to church for Mother's Day.
Click to expand...

I dont think that people who drive it on the street have anything to worry about.

The FJ's that these are failing on have either been dropped/airborne at one point in their life.

Furthermore, FJ's have had front quarter panel bulging/tearing since day 1 - no such symptoms on the 4runner.

There has to be something different on the FJ frame to cause this. Yes, I understand the FJ frame is a ported 4Runner frame but FJ owners have questioned the amount of flex that it does have. There must be subtle differences that we know nothing about.
 
eskimochaos said:
I dont think that people who drive it on the street have anything to worry about.

The FJ's that these are failing on have either been dropped/airborne at one point in their life.

Furthermore, FJ's have had front quarter panel bulging/tearing since day 1 - no such symptoms on the 4runner.

There has to be something different on the FJ frame to cause this. Yes, I understand the FJ frame is a ported 4Runner frame but FJ owners have questioned the amount of flex that it does have. There must be subtle differences that we know nothing about.
Click to expand...

You are probably right. However, there was a mentioned by an FJ owner that his friend's 4th gen 4runner had the fender bulge too. I have not seen any widespread complaint of this on the 4runner...but you guys need to be on the lookout for sure.
 
eskimochaos said:
The FJ's that these are failing on have either been dropped/airborne at one point in their life.
Click to expand...

This is highly debatable because the FJ owners who had this happened denied every jumping their FJ.
 
4 Runner Cracked Frame

Hi All!
I am a new member and have been trying to get Toyota to recall the 1997-2002 4 Runners for cracked frames as they did the Tacoma Tundra and Sequoia which share the same frame. My guess is they haven't gotten enough complaints. Do call them and let them know as they ARE keeping track for a reason. When I filed my complaint I was told they had 69 others on file but they couldn't tell me what the magic number is. I am in the process of getting an attorney involved. I was also told by a couple attorney's that since the car was no longer under warranty there was nothing they could do. I told them if the truck was under warranty I wouldn't be on the phone with you!
I contacted Toyota, National Center for Dispute Settlement, National Highway Traffic Safety Ad, and the NTSB. I will keep calling and writing until I get them to buy this truck back. We had just put over one thousand dollars worth of work in it so our son could use it at school for the harsh winters we have then we find out how dangerous it actually was. Our mechanic wouldn't even let us drive it 15 miles home! Please keep calling with me and we will get satisfaction from Toyota!
 
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