What 96 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota 4RUNNER Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 51 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISON, HE SWERVED, LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SLIDING INTO A TREE IN THE SNOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT 18 MPH PER THE ELECTRONIC DATA RECORDER (EDR). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER DISLOCATED HIS LEFT SHOULDER AS WELL AS LEG INJURIES DUE TO HITTING THE DASHBOARD. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE AND THE PASSENGER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION SEVERAL DAYS LATER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER AN AIR BAGS RECALL AT TOYOTA OF PORTLAND (55 NE BROADWAY ST, PORTLAND, OR 97232) IN 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AS THE EDR INFORMATION WAS RETRIEVED BY THEM AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11308584

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, WHILE IT WAS RAINING, WITH A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE ONCOMING LANE, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROADWAY NOT TO PREVENT A CRASH WITH THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE TIRE HIT A PATCH OF SNOW, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEFT HAND, SHOULDER, AND WHIPLASH INJURIES WHILE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED SHOULDER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FLOOR SPACE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD SHIFTED FORWARD SIX TO EIGHT INCHES INJURING THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT LEG. BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT COLLISION CENTER AND LATER TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11306773

APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM ON 9/18/19, MY SON WHILE COMING HOME FROM WORK, HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT WITH HIM AT THE TIME. WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE EXPLAINED HOW HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. HE ARTICULATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, IT WAS AS IF HE VEHICLE SPED UP. REMEMBERING YEARS BACK DURING A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH SOME OTHER TOYOTA'S. THE VERDICT WAS THE PLACE MATS INTERFERED WITH THE PEDALS. WHEN I RELEASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE TOW LOT, I CHECKED AND THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AS THE FLOOR MAT WAS SECURE. I HAVE DRIVEN TOYOTA VEHICLES SINCE THE EARLY NINETY'S AND HAVE OWNED FIVE. CHECKING FOR RECALLS AS A RESULT OF THIS I FOUND MULTIPLE INCIDENTS ON RECORD. THE PANIC BRAKING SYSTEM SURPRISED ME THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED IT. LOW SPEEDS (25MPH OR LESS) I THOUGHT A TRUE ASSET BUT BECAUSE OF THE QUICK STOPPING, HIGHER SPEEDS WORRIED ME. NEVER NEEDED THE PANIC BRAKE BUT ONCE. SOME HOW, I BELIEVE THE COMMUNICATION (AI) WITH THE PANIC, ANTI-LOCK, BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE WAY IT COMMUNICATES SPEED AND CONDITIONS IS THE CULPRIT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS IN POSSESSION OF THE 4RUNNER AND I STILL HAVE THE TITLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME TO ADVISE HOW TO PROCEED. THEY SEEM ANXIOUS TO GET THE TITLE BUT I AM ANIMATE TO KNOW IF CONDITIONS OR VEHICLE DEFECTS PLAYED A PART IN THE ACCIDENT. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY AVOIDED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11268551

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. I CHECKED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR PREPARING TO BRAKE IN TRAFFIC. BEFORE MY EYES RETURNED TO THE FRONT I WAS CRASHING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME PUSHING HIM INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I GOT SO CLOSE SO FAST I BELIEVE WHEN I WENT TO BREAK THE GAS PEDDLE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PEDDLE ALSO ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDDLE. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH I WAS IN SHOCK.AND I COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. NOW I BELIEVE THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY RIGHT FOOT AS I WENT TO BREAK MY FOOT HIT THE GAS FIRST CAUSING MY CAR TO GO FORWARD AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT I ONLY HAVE A SIZE 10 1/2 SHOE THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY ST. AN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION APPROX 25 MPH. THE RENTAL I WAS PROVIDED HAS THE BRAKE HIGHER THEN THE GAS AND A NORMAL DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER. BEFORE THE CRASH MY SPACING WAS GOOD. I JUST GLANCED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS I WAS PREPARING TO BREAK BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT BEFORE APPLYING THE BREAK IS WHEN I GLANCED INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE MY EYES CAME BACK TO THE FRONT THE AIR BAG WENT OFF BECAUSE OF THE CRASH. I ALSO THOUGHT THE CAR IN FRONT MAY HAVE HAD HIS ABS GO OFF BECAUSE HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM.BUT I DO NOT TO POINT THE FINGER AT ANYONE IT ALL HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS I NEVER EXPERIENCED SO FRIGHTENING EXCEPT FOR FLYING AS A GUNNER IN A UH1E IN THE WAR. AGAIN I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN BUT THE ABOVE IS THE ONLY WAY IT MUST HAVE HAPPENED. THE WEATHER WAS DRY AND CLEAR IS THERE ANY OTHER REPORTS OF OTHER PEOPLE FEELING THE GAS AN BREAK PEDDLE ARE TOO CLOSE OR IF THE BRAKE SHOULD BE SET HIGHER THAN THE GAS?

NHTSA ODI 11033294

LIFTGATE STRUTS ON HATCH FAILED YESTERDAY. WHILE I WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE BACK OF MY 2012 4 RUNNER ONE OF THE LIFTGATE STRUTS GAVE OUT AND THE HATCH CAME DOWN ON ME AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD. I HAVE KNOT AND A SORE NECK FROM THIS. MY CONCERN IS WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF MY CHILDREN BACK THERE GETTING SOMETHING FROM THE CAR WHEN IT GAVE WAY, THEY WOULD OF BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE READ SEVERAL FORUMS ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON THING FOR THE LIFT GATE STRUTS TO GO OUT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10711953

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL SMELL EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND IT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT AROUND HIS FEET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POP NOISE AND AFTER MERGING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 10672541

I WAS FIRST ONE WAITING AT THE LIGHT, TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON BUTLER/AIRPORT RD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. WHEN I WAS ABOUT HALFWAY TO THREE-QUARTERS THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, I NOTICED A MINI COOPER APPROACHING RAPIDLY, HEADING NORTHBOUND ON SHUTE RD. I KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO HIT ME, SO I ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE LEFT TO AVOID A HIGH IMPACT COLLISION. I DIDN'T HEAR HER BRAKES UNTIL THE POINT OF IMPACT, SHE T-BONED MY 4RUNNER HITTING ME IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE WHEEL WELL. MY 4RUNNER THAN TIPPED AND ROLLED UPSIDE DOWN. I WAITED UNTIL THE 4RUNNER STOPPED MOVING, UNBUCKLED THE SEAT BELT AND FLIPPED OVER TO THE GROUND (NOW THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE). I LOOKED AT THE WINDOW AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL/PUSH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG OUT OF THE WAY, I EVEN TRIED KICKING IT A FEW TIMES, BUT IT WAS STILL INFLATED AND WOULDN'T BUDGE. I REMEMBERED THAT I KEPT A POCKETKNIFE IN THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED FOR IT, AND SAW IT ON THE GROUND. I GOT THE NAIL FILE SECTION OPEN, BUT THAT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO THE AIRBAG. I THEN HEARD SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE SHOUT 'HELP IS ON THE WAY, THEY'LL GET YOU OUT'. I ASKED HER IF SHE COULD HELP ME CUT THE AIRBAG, AND HANDED HER THE KNIFE THROUGH THE GAP BETWEEN THE AIRBAG AND THE CAR FRAME. SHE TRIED TO CUT THE CORD THAT CONNECTED THE AIRBAG TO THE CAR BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK, SO I TOLD HER JUST TO SLIT THE BAG ITSELF. SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT, AND HELPED ME GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED A FEW MINUTES LATER, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS STILL INFLATED. I CAN PROVIDE THIS PICTURE UPON REQUEST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND IS NOW PROPERTY OF STATE FARM, CLAIM #[XXX]. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF THERE WAS A VEHICLE FIRE AND I DID NOT HAVE A POCKET KNIFE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10619067