My 2011 does it too. It was fine until about 9K miles, then the brake pedal travels further down and makes a squish/squirt 'sound'. Drove me nuts. I have 3 cars and when I go back to the 4runner, the deep pedal travel makes my heart jump sometimes on a mild emergency braking as I thought I didn't have any brakes. I think the "squishy" that people refer to is a sound, not a feeling. And again the pedal travel is deeper / more than most cars. We had the 2 previous 4runner generations and the brakes on those seem more in line with other cars. Anyways, I just want to mention that I have this issue too.

I'm kinda used to reminding myself that my 4 runner has deeper / more brake pedal travel so I don't get off guard on some mild emergency braking. Also, my co-worker heard that squirt/squish sound every time I braked, so i know it's not just me, plus some of you guys too hear it too.

I noticed too that when some auto-brake activation happens (clicking, pulsation, etc.), the issue tends to go away for few miles, then it comes back.

I hope somebody find a way to remedy this.

Is it a pwisssh or a pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.....?

I am no fan of the 5th Gen 4Runner "soft pedal", but will skip the science.

Here's what I know.

My better half drives a 2014 SR5 4Runner round trip everyday - about 66 miles. Loads of stop-n-go. Not a peep from her.

And...no collision(s)

I reckon that's just how it is.

My 2015 Tacoma PreRunner V6 has a much more solid pedal. So be it.

I just sold a 2013 trail and it had the spongy brakes , my 2015 trail feels firmer and also has less creep when stopped. It still could be better imho

I bought my 2011 4 Runner Limited new and it took me a few years (I'm a slow learner apparently) to learn how to use the spongy brakes properly without having the nannies kick in and put everyone and everything through the windshield. However, I just had the pads changed as part of normal maintenance and voila, the brakes are now "normal"!! I can now stop smoothly just using heel and toe with very little pedal travel. Now I have to ask the garage guys if they did anything else besides just change the pads. Anyway,after nearly 5 years I suddenly have brakes that work like I always thought they should work-it's like having a new vehicle again! So maybe there's hope for all out there with spongy brake concerns.

After reading this I finally realized what the brakes feel like, air brakes on a dual trailer road tractor. Soft and spongy but extremely able to stop.

The 4Runner brake feel is the worst I have ever encountered on a modern vehicle. Push the pedal half way down and nothing, nothing and then bam they engage and the nose dives like crazy. It's ridiculous and you really have to work at it to be able to brake smoothly without giving people whiplash. The brakes have excellent stopping power, but the feel and engagement is absolutely awful.
As is the amount of nose dive, factory front springs are way too soft in my opinion.

So, just thought I'd check and see if you still have what you would consider "normal" brakes (i.e. no more excessive pedal travel)? Did you ever find out if the garage did anything besides changing the pads? Were they OEM pads, or anything special?

Just a follow-up for what it's worth. I also recently replaced my pads in front and rear, using Advance Auto premium pads, and I also now have "normal" brakes again. It is like getting a new vehicle! Hope this helps ....

If Norman thinks his brakes aren't normal but Norm thinks his brakes break everytime he brakes then Norm tells Norman that his brakes are not normal but Norman tries to convince Norm that his brakes don't break everytime he brakes. Norm and Norman continue to bicker about normal and not normal brakes that Norm thinks breaks each time he brakes but Norman is confident his brakes won't break on him.

Newer vehicle w/ possibly fresher brake fluid? Did you flush brake fluid prior to swapping vehicles?

Newbie 4Runner owner here (well, it's my girlfriend's truck lol).....and I thank you for this post. Our 2012 Limited also has the "spongy pedal", and compared to my Z28 and her Saturn Sky Redline it's a little unnerving. Just checked the pads today and there is plenty of meat left on both the front and rear (truck has 91k on it)....but the pedal seems to suggest otherwise. It WILL stop on a dime when you want it to, but I guess it's just something we have to get used to.