TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP AND SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE AGAIN BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSFER HOSE WAS FRACTURED AND BOTH REAR AXLES WERE LEAKING. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 1/5/12*CN
2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
22DEC12 49F ENTERED CORNER AT 50MPH, ROADS SLIGHTLY WET. 4RUNNER DECIDED THE CAR WAS SLIPPING AND THE PANIC BEEPS WENT OFF AND THE CAR APPLIED BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY THE COMPUTER STRAIGHTENED THE CAR OUT AND POINTED IT OFF THE ROAD. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO TURN THE CAR BACK INTO THE CORNER AND FINALLY THE COMPUTER STOPPED THE PANIC. AFTER THIS I WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL VIA THE ENABLE/DISABLE BUTTON UNTIL I HAD TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. I WAS FOLLOWING A CAR INTO THE CORNER AND THAT CAR NAVIGATED THE CORNER FINE. ALSO, SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE, 10 TIMES IT HAS ASSUMED I WAS PANIC BRAKING. LITERALLY, THE 4RUNNER SLAMS ON THE BRAKES AND BRINGS THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. LUCKILY THERE HAS BEEN NO ONE BEHIND ME DURING THESE EVENTS. IN THE WINTER OF 2011, THE 4RUNNER LOST CONTROL ON AN ICY ROAD AT FAIRLY LOW SPEED. I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE COMPUTER WAS TRYING TO GET CONTROL BACK. I SUSPECT THE COMPUTER GOT CONFUSED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE TOTALLY GOTTEN CONTROL BACK. THE TRACTION CONTROL IS NEVER REALLY OFF. YOU CAN TURN IT OFF, BUT IT WILL KICK BACK ON WHEN IT THINKS YOU ARE NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR