'IT ROLLED ON A GRAVEL ROAD AT 60KM/H'

+ Click to Enlarge TOYOTA FORTUNER: The maker has admitted that it can become unstable on corrugated gravel roads with the original Continental tyres.

August 20, 2008
By Michelle Jones

Toyota SA has acknowledged that its popular Fortuner SUVs may experience handling problems on gravel surfaces and will fit different tyres to new models from September 2008.

This follows intense debate on the SA 4x4 Community Forum by members who experienced handling problems with their Fortuners while driving on corrugated surfaces.

The forum has more than 4500 members, including more than 130 registered Fortuner owners.

Toyota SA spokesperson Ferdi de Vos said various people had complained on the forum and in the August/September issue of Drive Out magazine about the handling of the vehicle on gravel surfaces.

One reader wrote in and said a friend's two-week-old Fortuner had rolled on a gravel surface at 60km/h and was written off. Luckily, the passengers had not been seriously injured. The driver was experienced on gravel surfaces.

De Vos said Toyota SA wasn't sure who to believe and was trying to contact the owners who were experiencing problems with the vehicle so that they could be resolved.

A common consensus on the forum seemed to be that solutions could be found in the suspension and tyres. Some claimed that their vehicle had experienced handling problems but, once the tyres and suspension were changed, these problems went away.

Other 4x4 enthusiasts debated whether the handling difficulties could be explained by tyre pressure, vehicle load and the vehicle's speed.

De Vos said no official complaint about the handling of the vehicle had been received by Toyota but it had informed the technical department of the concerns and it had carried out its own investigation.

"It was found that the perceived problem revolves around certain specified tyres for the Fortuner. These tyres were initially chosen for their favourable noise, vibration and harshness properties, but will be replaced from September 2008 with different tyres to address any possible handling concerns."

The original specification tyres fitted on the Fortuner were Continental General Grabber 265/70 R16. De Vos said the tyre would have a revised band angle from September.

'Contact your dealer'

"In the meantime all Toyota dealers have been informed about this tyre change and owners with any concern in regard to the handling capabilities of their Fortuner can contact their nearest Toyota dealer, who will inform one of our technical field teams to deal with the matter."

If a Fortuner owner would like to replace the tyres Toyota SA would work out who was liable for the cost according to a formula taking account of factors such as tyre wear at the time of replacement, De Vos said. This would be negotiated between the dealer and owner.

Gauteng members of the online forum have arranged to meet near Pretoria on Saturday (Augus 23). They will drive each other's vehicles, some of which will be standard and others with modified suspension and tyres. In this way they hope to ascertain whether the handling errors were a matter of driver perception or a problem involving all Fortuners.

Toyota can be reached at 0800 139 111.

We are asking Continental Tyres for their comments.