I have a pronounced whine at around 70-75 mph in my 2010 LE 4WD (74K) baby . it dissapears if you take your foot off the gas and reappears if you put the foot down again.
Its a whine , .....could be hormonic vibration or similar, so took it to the dealer .He drove it and told me he compared it to another two used 2010's and they sound the same now they have 46K and 56K on thme so its "normal"....Duh?

I insisted he let me drive a new one (2013 LE) and when I did he agreed with me its not there in the new model .So my response was Ok so they fixed this problem maybe or maybe the two used ones have the same probelm as mine ? I didnt drive his used ones , we ran out of time .

I know the early ones like mine had a TSB on the cluncking but its not that I'm hearing but could be related I guess ?

I have a EW and await the toyota reps visit to see what he says but does anyone have similar ?

thanks guys

Order of things to check:

1. Shop has not been lubing the propeller shafts
2. Try running in a different gear to see if it changes - if the sound does not change, it's more likely the transmission output shaft or rear diff.
3. Another thing to look at is up front, like the steering rack, ps pump, a/c, belt tensioner, or alternator. Their whine will change depending on engine rpms.
4. To eliminate the transfer case, go on a gravely gravel road and engage 4-HI (as in, lock your center differential). If you can safely get up to whining speed, and it changes when you switch back and forth, it's the transfer case.

You can also have the front and rear differentials serviced and have them look at the magnetic drain plug. That should be pretty inexpensive. The transfer case also does not cost much. Transmission ... costs lots to get serviced, and dealers will generally tell you it's a "lifetime fluid" but there really is no such thing.

I made a post about this. It'a a deep whine. Normal behavior.

how often have you serviced the rear diff? what gear oil did you use? the description sounds like classic gear whine, but is unusual to be able to hear on a 4runner. a thicker gear oil might help quiet the whine, but won't help if the gears are too far gone.

I started notice it on my 11 TE at about 10K. Whining sound only appears from 70mph to 75mph range. Only when gas pedal applied, release pedal, sound is gone. The sound is not obvious sometimes at night driving.
It did not get worse or better since then and I am now at 25K. I have the propeller shaft greased couple times at dealership. No improvement after that.

There are similar issues in 4th Gen runners that seems a common problem.
Please see the following link

07 Sport V8 Drivetrain noise

Harmonic Droning Noise

I'd suggest going back when there is time

Mine doesn't make this noise, curious how you determined it was "normal"

Good advice

Yeah I have trouble hearing in the dark too.

Because I know that I'm a bit paranoid about my cars,
the sound is not something someone would perceive at ''first glance'',
I've checked the fluid level,
It didn't get any different with many more miles put on the truck,
because two other trucks his dealer tried had the same ''sound''
and also because some other people experience the same humming noise
and even some lexus got it.

I'm just trying to avoid the guy some unnecessary ''new vehicle'' fears, please both you and OP read this thread. If the noise is the same as mine, it's definitely normal, it's just that most people won't perceive it (I'm the only one who heard it in my truck).

humming noise experienced while highway driving