Hi All

I'm currently at 12000kms
I just checked my air filter and found it was installed wrong either from factory or from the dealer.
So the formed rubber gasket that is around the outside edge of the filter was pushed in at the upper portion of the filter leaving a 1/2" gap basically bypassing the filter element
you can see the impression of the risen part of the housing in the corner of the filter element in the wrong spot.
Most of that 12k has been offroad in very dusty conditions.
I could visibly see the dirt buildup on the secondary filter element.
Now I'm pissed as I bought a brand new vehicle that has now probably ingested a fair amount of dirt.

What should I do - opinions?
Pretend it doesn't matter or?

I have notified the dealer and waiting for a response - our family has bought many cars off them since 1990 and this is the first bad experience I have had

20190120_110228.jpg - Google Drive

20190120_105548.jpg - Google Drive

20190120_105312.jpg - Google Drive

Ok. I think you might be over reacting. It takes more than 12k miles to damage cylinder walls unless a bucket of material is dumped directly into the motor. How was air filter installed wrong. An explanation and pics would really help.

I could be overreacting but I spent alot of money on this vehicle and wanted it to last for a very very long time and I feel as though I have been robbed of some of its possible longevity all because some dumbass couldn't install an airfilter properly

For some reason I can upload pics

You've never had it off or inspected it in 12k km's?

Nope

Just changed the oil

Get it documented at a dealer. Make sure it’s on your record.

Yep I've let them know

I am looking at your pics you posted, I will directly post them in here, below:







I am confused by the complaint here. How else could this air filter have been mounted? It looks like there may be a slight bow in the middle of the filter on the side, I am guessing when you clip the top of the air filter box down that makes the seal... Maybe elaborate on what it is you are complaining about here?

Updated my post to better explain

It caught an edge when closing the filter housing, probably a dealer installed option. But by design, the seal between the filter and the upper part of the airbox assembly would still be complete. That’s why they make the seal out of soft roam rubber. Do you see any dust in your upper assembly or intake runner?

Yes there was lots of dust in the intake tube
I vacuumed the dust off of the top of the filter and wiped the intake down with a damp microfiber cloth

I'd probably try for as much as I could get. I think it's a realistic annoyance here - ingesting dirt sucks. I'm sure 5,000 miles worth won't matter much, and most of it probably just went into suspension in the oil and then got cleaned at the filter... but try telling that to anyone who waited years to get a brand new 4runner and has been obsessing over every little engineering detail of the 1GR-FE lol.

I found a super weird thing -- a dead bee wing and body INSIDE the air filter that came stock on my 2018 TRD Off Road.

I have no idea how it got in, as the filter was installed correctly. But I was pissed and worried fi any more bees (or even parts of that one) got past the filter and into the cylinders. But then I saw there was a charcoal screen filter downstream, so it'd be pretty unlikely any big things got in.

Still though.. no clue how that happened. My theory is that a bee got into the truck somewhere between where the truck came off assembly, and where the filter got put in it. And that it could possibly outside the factory where that happens. Not sure.

Took it to the dealer had them do the service 2
Got home checked the oil the next day and it was 1/2" above the full line.
Opened up the airfilter housing and found the airfilter installed wrong again.
LoL I give up

@Outinfront Sucks for sure, join the club. I will leave you with this, a solid piece of advice I was given years ago...no one cares about your truck as much as you do, do your own work.