Thanks to all who answered my previous post. Another problem that I'm having with my '05 4Runner is with this annoying rattling sound that is coming from the rear cargo door. It sounds like it's inside of it, as if something might be loose or contacting the body or it could be near the latch area. Being that I bought this used, I was thinking that the previous owner may have been slamming the rear door instead of just dropping it and letting the internal motor close it. Did anyone have a similar problem with rattling or clunking sounds coming from the rear door while going over bumps. I verified that it wasn't the license plate frame, jack or tools. I actually sat in the back while my friend drove and confirmed that the sound was coming from the middle or bottom of the rear cargo door. It didn't seem like the door was moving so that much.

I periodically get a noise from back there. The rubber stops in the door frame dry out and need to be lubed. Just open the tailgate and (IIRC) look for the four rubber stops on the frame -- they are pretty obvious. Just put some grease on them.

On mine, the noise may return in 1,000 miles, it may return in longer. But a little bit of grease does the trick.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. This sound is an actual clunking or rattling sound coming from the inside or bottom area of the rear door. Just out of curiosity, do the round rubber bumpers on the middle part of the door make an indentation in the paint? I know that the left rear area was involved in a minor accident because the inside part of the rear door has evidence of some bondo.

Maybe the dead body back there is not completely dead...

Mine don't have indentations, but they do leave a mark.

Are you sure that the jack and tool bag are securely anchored down in their compartment?
Have you checked all the other compartments in the cargo area for any items that might be rattling around?

Thanks for the reminder -- I totally forgot about the jack and handle causing noise if they are not stored properly.

You're welcome. Had it happen to me once. Thought I would pass it along...

Yeah, I double and triple checked it. The sound is coming from the door itself and I'm suspecting that it may be a faulty latch. If I go outside and thump the rear door below the license plate it sounds like the door is marginally loose at the latch. This is with the license plate removed. Anyone have a faulty latch before? The previous owner may have been slamming the door hard instead of dropping it down slowly and letting the door close automatically.

I think my 05 SE has the same issue as yours. I am wondering if you have any progress on it.

I also have the same issue.

Is there a way to tighten down that gate at all?

The dealer ended up replacing the lock mechanism in the rear door. Apparently, it had worn out due to repeated slamming. They even wanted to replace the computer (??) in the rear door but in the end said that it wasn't necessary since the sound went away.