That brake line looks like it has been deep fried!!

Wow the contrast. I live in AZ. My 4runner is 15yrs old. Not a spot of rust. Sad to see a beautiful 4runner get eaten by rust.

This under car footage reminds me of the Titanic.

I have a 98 4Runner 5 speed with some rust and I was told by a shop that it was the worst they’ve ever seen. I personally didn’t think it was too bad so I went to KZfaq to see. Seeing stuff like this makes me think I actually bought a pretty clean one funny enough because mine has a solid frame and only light surface rust on things like the rear diff and some joints. Seeing this video gives me confidence to wire brush the bottom of my car and spray it with fluid film. This makes me feel a lot better about the future for my car!

I live in Atlantic Canada and this is why I undercoat my 2001 4Runner EVERY YEAR!! The frame is STILL in mint condition! Preventive maintenance is key!

That's a fairly mint 4runner up here in north eastern canada 😂, 80% of mid-late model vehicles look like that up here, theres not a single day that we dont use the torch to heat up hardware before loosening

Dudes commute must have been to Atlantis and back.

As others have said: Krown Rustproofing. My ‘02 Camry has made it through 18 salty Michigan winters and 300k miles, and it’s essentially rust-free.

This is an excellent video, thank you! Years ago in my shop some new clients brought in their newly purchased dream VW Vanagon Syncro-Westie for an inspection. It too was beautiful on the surface, but the underneath was full of cancerous rust and petrified parts. It would have taken 10X's the labor hours to do any job on it. They asked me what they should do about it, I told them to sell it ASAP (if they could!) They left in a huff, never to be seen again. I'd never have worked on it anyway, too dangerous! Buyer beware, have cars inspected BEFORE you buy them!

I was looking for a used Toyota 4Runner, everything I looked at up here in Michigan had frame rot. Even the Lexus SUVs I looked at. The bodies were gorgeous, the frame rails, some had holes you could put your fist through. I went down to Southern Ohio and went with a 2013 HONDA PILOT EXL 4WD, rust free, and no frame to worry about. Very Happy!

Looks similar to my '06 SR5 V8 which I bought online from a nasty character in North Carolina - went to a local shop which replaced the entire exhaust with 3 cat converters, brakes, timing belt and a huge number of other repairs. I paid 10,000 for the truck and have spent another 15,000 in repairs. My new mechanic recently told me that there is little chance of getting it through another state inspection because the frame and every component underneath are totally rotted out. As with the vehicle in this video, the body, interior and engine look great. A warning to anyone shopping for an older 4Runner in the north east: run the other way.

17 years of salted New York State roads will do that to a vehicle.

Wow I'm from NJ with a 23 year old, 300k mile Lexus and it's still in great shape even though it's stored outside. That rust is incredible, not just for somebody from California. It looks like it sat in deep snow or in deep water for a very long time!

I buy cars to flip as a hobby here in the Boston area ,its almost impossible to find a clean frame up here even trucks in the 2012 and up have had the frame recalls and installed but everything that attaches to it rot away just like this truck in video..So you have great drivetrains that people love yet the money to fix frames is expensive ..

Imagine doing timing belt job on this vehicle and have to deal with every rounded bolt head.

That's Very Common Here in New York I've Been A Mechanic For 48 Years. My Tundra Is Not That Bad But Close. The Roads Are Very Bad Also All Because Of All The Salt They Put On The Roads In The Winter. Being A Mechanic In The North East A Torch Is Your Best Friend

This happened to me. Bought a 2004 SE with 170k miles from a private seller without checking out the undercarriage (was a n00b, first truck). long story short, I paid 6k for the frame to be renewed and rustproofed

The under body footage reminds me of those videos from when they first found the Titanic “Oh there’s the grand staircase! ..oh wait that’s the front diff, my bad.”

It hurts my soul to see a rare low miles V8 4runner rusted out like that 😢

My cousin lives in Utica NY, I remember he drove his 2005 4R to visit me in PA years ago, I also had a 2005 Sport 4R, his was orange with rust everywhere just like the one you have. My 4R still looked great.His 4R turned into a total rust bucket in only five years from excessive exposure to road salt. Utica gets lake effect snow and has really bad winters.

I live in Wisconsin where this condition is quite typical. We work on such vehicles by applying heat to nuts and bolts that are almost unrecognizable. Repairs can be made until the rust gets so bad that the vehicle becomes unsafe. The vehicle in your video is just about to that point but I have seen far worse. When I watch videos of people working on cars in the SouthWest and I see them easily loosen a bleeder valve or slip a nut off of a control arm, I think, "Man, you people have it made!"

I'm not surprised, I'm from Nova Scotia and I was told by a Norwegian fellow that Nova Scotia is where wold industry brings their remote heavy equipment to corrosion test it, making NS the most corrosive place on earth for anything metal. I've seen cars 2 or 3 years old with the fender wells rusted out almost completely.

I love how this channel is growing

From Pennsylvania here. That’s really quite normal around here if you don’t take care of your vehicles. It’s imperative to spray off the undersides here or this is the result. Previous owner of that truck must have never sprayed that off. My best friend has the same year 4Runner and his definitely doesn’t look like that!

Used Toyota prices have gone thru the roof. In Wisconsin, I've seen dealers list 4 year old 4Runners with 100k miles for over $30k.

I have a 4runner that had more structural rust but zero rust anywhere else. The entire underbody, engine bay, axle, bumpers, etc. were clean as a whistle and all original. Zero rust. The B pillar forward was also 100% rust free, but the spot by the rear control arm bracket on the frame was rusted out for about two feet on both sides. Never seen anything like it. Just did a frame swap and now she's completely rust free.

That's why I fluid film my truck since the very first day I bought it.

Fluid Film is the key, reapplied every fall before the snow hits. 100% a must if you plan on your car lasting here in the northeast. That salt brine they use up here eats our vehicles alive....

I'd say that the 4Runner is mechanically totaled at this point, too cost prohibitive to make it roadworthy again.

The amount of Toyota on this rust is unbelievable.

Thanks for salting the hell out of the roads now a days in the North East. I'm used to this sight living in Pa.

Makes me feel much better about the rear frame and brake lines/ engine clamps on my 2003 Toyota 😄 its pretty incredible how quick it can start taking over, it was left parked outside for 3 years after a winter driving season and no power washing afterwards. Fixing it up now! I'm gonna POR-15 the frame/axle/suspension 👍 the rust did help to bring the purchase price down so I'm not complaining yet!

When I was searching for a 4runner to buy, I looked at a 2006 that had spent most of its life in New York. Knew about the frame rust issues and immediately inspected it. It was flaking off in chunks in my hand on all parts of the frame. Toyota needs to take some responsibility for this like they did for the Tacoma’s with the same issue.

I'm from Long Island NY, not just the salt in the winter but people drive through salt water flooded streets when there is a flood tide due to full moon, Nor'easter or a hurricane. Another issue is no one washes the undercarriage, they keep the body panels clean and waxed but out of sight out of mind. My tip, run a lawn sprinkler under the vehicle a few times a year, the kind that arches back and forth. It will get fresh water in the cavities and wash away the salt.

I love your dismay in the brown growth under that Toyota. Up here in the Northeast this is typical. We get excited to see a vehicle free of rust. Check out also, Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics, and South Main Auto, to see what we ALWAYS get.

Looks like if the car hit a large pothole, it may fall apart.

Someone didn't cut corners on that initial frame repair...looked to be exceptionally well done.

I grew up in upstate NY, it wasn't uncommon to see car doors open then fall because the hinge or hings support rusted out when I was a kid. Great video! Great shop!

I'm from Ohio and I just picked up a 2006 V8 4Runner from down South. It's very clean from rust. I will be building it up & doing proper undercoating.

Here in upstate New York vehicles like this are common, around here most vehicles just disappear into rust long before they have a major mechanical failure. Older Toyotas around here have rust everywhere, often the frames are rotted to the extent that it's no longer possible to lift the vehicle using a floor lift like your shop has, the frames crumple if you try. Brake rotors? Only can be removed with a cutoff wheel or a torch. Here everything rusts out, people buying used cars here really need to buy used cars from states in the south where no salt is ever used on the roads. Someone did a nice job of welding and reinforcing that Toyota's frame, here it's a common repair and often more expensive than the car's is worth. No one in California should own a car like that one, the owner should immediately sell it.

Eric O at South Main Auto in New York sees stuff like this everyday. it's a different world up there.

I live in the northwest but in our global economy I have seen some real dangerous cars. They won't pass inspection but look good, they roll across the auction block and end up in a state without annual safety inspections. Kind of how flood cars are sometimes sneakily handled.

I have the exact same 2003 4Runner Limited in silver. And I assure you, it does not look like that. So glad I live in the Southwest.

I just bought a seemingly pristine 2003 Sequoia Limited 4x4, black, 133k. One owner with all service and maintenance done by the Toyota dealership. Up to date with all milestone repairs. Clean Carfax History with all maintenance. Interior leather looking excellent. Quiet, smooth, everything works. But spent its first 100k in Toledo, Ohio. Fortunately it doesn't have horrible rust issues, mainly behind the rear axle shows some frame rust. I'm 66 and not able to easily drop to the ground to look underneath. I just bought a couple different types of rust treatment products and a new wire brush. Face mask and latex gloves to get underneath and deal with some of the rust. Being a Texan... I admit I lost some sleep over this rust after shelling out $8,000 for this vehicle. But my oil change place got underneath and tapped around with a hammer for a couple minutes, saying it's not that bad! Now..."why am I selling my rust free 2002 Ford Excursion again?" I knew better, but I've been looking for a sweet sequoia for so long...I was blinded.

My tacoma is pretty close to looking like this - less holes but similar amount of rot. Just replaced all suspension - control arms - leaf springs - painted the whole frame and welded a few holes that poked through. Toyota frames just do this if you live anywhere even a slight amount of salt hits the roads. Its the achilles heel of a vehicle that would otherwise last forever.

I was surprised it didn’t have a California cancer warning. The pumpkin 🎃 really had the appropriate color. The welding job on the frame was really nice, the way they stacked the new steel.

I live in upstate NY and have seen 4th gens like this one that are spotless. Between doing fluid film/crc treatment and washing it underneath will keep almost all rust from forming.

i like what a pleasant guy you are. everyone is fighting today and there is just so much hostility and aggression . i am VERY guilty of this myself.

Living on the West Coast of BC Canada we learned decades ago never buy a car from the East Coast rust buckets!

With a 5th Gen 2010 Trail in Massachusetts I try to get under, wire brush and paint where I can its frame and exposed components every few years. Road salt is brutal. Though my truck has high mileage (228k), keeping it well maintained has it running fantastic. I love your videos, thank you.

I just love this channel. Almost as much fun as the Goonzquad boys.

looks normal for my neck of the woods. Whats the problem?

Eric O is giggling at this one for sure.

I have a 2004 Toyota 4runner SR5 4x4 same color and it looks just like this, just no where near as rusted as I live in Texas, and only 120,000 miles on it. I love this truck.

In NY they actually spray salt water on the road to prevent icing, and salt and sand during snow storms. You need a beater for the winters here.

I live in Vermont and any car that is over 5 years old is covered in rust. Working on that is the normal here.

Ticking time bomb is all I can say.

Nice ! Come to Minnesota...deal with this everyday .

That's incredible. I can't believe it runs or that it has any fluids left in it. Just goes to show Toyota makes crazy reliable cars.

Rust in absolutely NOT inevitable, this 4Runner has simply had essential preventative maintenance #neglected. If you live in the Rust Belt take your Toyota to Krown Rustproofing or a credible competitor for an annual application. If you live in an area where roads are heavily salted in the winter then a high quality rustproofing program is as ESSENTIAL to the body as high quality lubricants are to the engine/transmission. What a waste, with such low mileage this 4Runner could have had 10 more years of reliable service.

Without those metals support added. This car already already in two pieces. 😂

Conversely, as a resident of Canada I am always surprised on the lack of rust on all those late 90s and early 2000 cars that you work on.

My 2003 Tacoma’s frame makes this truck look mint. In NJ this truck not even that bad😬

That rig looks like it lived by the ocean...or maybe in it. Lol😃

looks like an artifact brought to the surface from the Titanic.

I have a 07 Toyota 4runner s45 RWD V6 and am really happy with it. It's EXTREMELY clean and thats a +!! 💪🏽

I’ll call her the RMS Toyotanic. A true museum specimen.

It’s a write off. No way it can be made roadworthy

Quess the owner never rinsed his undercarriage after driving thru the salted roads!

You would never make being a mechanic in the rust belt! Lol. Here in Minnesota we are definitely accustom to this

Living on the very far East coast of Canada, that's normal lol

My first though was the same as another, Krown treatments from the beginning would give the body of this vehicle many years of rust protection.

RIP 🙏 4runner

Holy rust buckets Batman 😮 mine is rusted but I’ve never seen one this bad, call the salvage yard!

That truck would not pass a safety inspection in the Northeast! Thanks for posting!

Just WOW! I don't think I've ever seen rust like that under a vehicle, either. If I was her mechanic, I would show the customer what you're seeing and advise him/her to sell the vehicle for parts as soon as possible. Maintaining it will be one expensive, unexpected, FREQUENT headache after another that will soon exceed the cost of a comparable replacement vehicle. Sad.

You can take the truck out of central NY..but you can't take out the rust! This is super common here.... usually only a 10 year life span before it visits the crusher 😁. The most common tool here is the smoke wrench!!🔥...lol

Mustie1 seems to have a good solution for rust prevention. And also good techniques for rusty bolt removal.

As the owner of a 2006 4runner in the Chicago area, this looks about right

That's what a one year car looks like in Buffalo.

This is why I’m treating my new 4Runner with fluid film right now before this happens.

I began my military career in Niagara Falls, NY as a mechanic in the early 90's. I also grew up just down the Road in Rochester. I've seen much worse. Exhaust, parking brake cables and many other components required to pass a state safety inspection routinely would rust out. I've replaced many brake calipers as well and forget a bout a starter. The body used to rust through in a few years, due to a rock chip that was affected by the road salt in the winter. In those days, a car would show signs of rust no later than 3 years...five if you are lucky and kept on top of cleaning it and doing touch ups. I had an 89 S10, granted it wasn't the most quality vehicle, but it had holes in it by the time I gave it to my neighbor in 1996. My Dad had several vehicles (Ford, Chevy, Chrysler) with holes in the floor boards and you could see the road when you drove. My father in law had his transmission cooler and lines rust out in his 10 year old F150. Enough Said.

i had a 2005 4Runner Sport with only 145,000 KMS that was almost as bad as this , Im from the East Coast of Canada. I took it to a shop to get some welding done on the back frame and the mechanic said that this vehicle really should have been recalled for the frame, but it wasnt. This vehicle was my 5th 4Runner and it really made me lose my loyalty to them. Im glad to say Im back in a Toyota again now ,a Venza, I love it!

oh, you dry climate states are so spoiled. "how often do you see rust like this"? you ask. it's not uncommon here in iowa. my 98 tacoma is bout half this bad. but it's getting there. you outta know , that taco's of this era were sued because they rust soo bad. I think i missed out on the getting any relief from Toyota corp. so , what do you do? weld and drive it till it falls apart, literally .. by the by, i had 04 corolla . body was ok, but underneath terrible rust. worst i've ever seen . i've had corolla's for 30 yrs. now. my current 98 in comparison as very little rust.

It's an unsafe vehicle. Tell owners to save $$$ for new vehicle.

The under side of that car looks like a scene from the Aliens movie just before a face hugger grabs you.

That’s amazing;, you need to talk to owner about seriously about condition.

In NH, my tacoma was very bad - had frame replaced - not that bad in other areas, but hate rust!!

6:54 “how often do you see something like this” Me: every time I look under my 4Runner. Thanks Michigan

I live in San Antonio but occasionally take my Taco for a beach romp at South Padre Island. There's a car wash with an undercarriage wash right after crossing the bridge leaving the island. I never head home without a couple of passes through that washer. I travel to Michigan most summers, and vehicles up there are horribly rusted even when fairly new. I'm glad I don't deal with that 4 or 5 months every year!

My question to the owner would be do you feel comfortable transporting your loved ones in this rustbucket? Personally, I would just say thanks but no thanks..

Here in Finland all cars look like this after 10 years of road salt use in winter time!

What an awesome channel! I’m so happy I discovered this! Will be helpful with my 2013 limited

My 2008 Cobalt finally failed inspection due to rusted rocker panels in Massachusetts . The fuel lines rusted out once , had them replaced . Tried to change fuel filter and had to cut lines . A ten minute job turned into a whole day of back and forth to the auto store and cost me $100 bucks for parts. The Cities buy salt not by ton but by mountain .

Refuse that customer, insist they remove it from the road. It’s a danger to all. They sell these type of cars from the NE as salvage due to rust.

Wow, and I thought my 98 had some rust issues in spots. This is just unbelievable. This truck seems incredibly unsafe to even put on the road at this point.

It's incredible the body is in such great shape considering the conditions it was subjected to

I'm a mechanic who lives in the salt belt. Very familiar sights. From all makes and models. Difference being that toyota will most likely issue a recall. I worked at Toyota during the first recalls. Other companies would just let it go. On your own type thing.... i still drive toyota eventho i haven't worked for them in 10 years. Cool video.

I’d tell the owner to take it somewhere else , liability issues tbh, a simple job would end up up taking 2 hours 😂

That's terrible. I've seen cars laying in a meadow on their frames for 50 years that aren't that bad..