I have a 2010 SR5 that has a pronounced hesitation when driving around town. It seems more pronunced after slowing down from say, 45mph and applying the break down to about 10mph and then re-accelerating. There is an annoying lag in the engine response. I can feel the accelerator go down but it takes a second for the engine to come to life. All other engine/tranny performance seems normal.

Has anyone else had this problem? It is subtle, but annoying after driving around town all day.

P.S. I am very happwy with all other aspects of the 4Runner (except for the rediculous iPod menu interface controls

Thanks for your input.

Not a problem with my T4R Limited! However, I did have this problem with my VW Touareg V6 and it was annoying. It improved some after it was reflashed.

Its called drive by wire.

Unfortunately car companies have decided to use a computer module instead of a mechanical mechanism from the pedal to the motor to regulate the throttle response. So just like your computer at home it takes a second for it to process what you want and respond accordingly. If you look get down and look at your pedals you will see your gas pedal with a wire harness hooked up to it. Its all computers now.

Thank you for your replies...

The "drive by wire" is supposed to be an improvement?? If that is the issue, then everyone would be expierencing similar issues. Maybe I am just hypersensitve, but I really noticed it when I was a passenger for the first time. I am coming from a Ford Ranger which is very low tech, but direct.

It feels like those modified torque converters in old muscle cars that dont engage until a higher RPM. Pretty annoying and borderline dangerous in slippery conditions.

Oh, and by the way... what does "reflashed" mean.

No issues here on my Limited also. Wonder if disconnecting and reconnecting the battery to reset the ECU will make a difference?

"Flash" could mean an eraseable programable memory. Me, flashes cellphone software to correct "hanging" it means i will rewrite the system version software of a cellphone or upgrade to a version with known flaws corrected.

Same idea could apply to car ECU's. The dealer can flash your car's computer. But I will try disconnecting the battery first for minutes to allow the ECU to reboot and reset it might correct your hesitation problem supporting their ideas above about computer controlled...

Mine is actually very responsive. I drive an 06' F-150 at work and that has a HORRIBLE delay!

Mine is very responsive maybe even more so after switching over to premium fuel.

You gotta live with it. Mine does it and the new tundra does it bigtime. Electron driven throttles. Not perfect.

On my V6 Rav4, everytime I slow down but not to a complete stop, then I downshift to 2. It makes it so much better cause the Rav will be in 2nd gear before I gas it again. When I don't do that, then there's the hesitation as the transmission decides that it should go down to 2nd, but cause I'm stepping on the gas, then the tranny slips into 2nd so it gives me the delay.

No problem here. Just wanted to confirm , is it engine response or transmission lag? My 08 tundra seems to have a brain cramp when it comes to selecting a gear under the conditions which you describe. Hope this isn't a warning sign of potential accelerator problems.

I posted a similar question for my 10 SR5, here is the link, I received some great feedback on it from fellow forum members:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-ge...ion-issue.html

Wow... after reading the responses and other threads, this sounds like a widespread issue that most people are happy to just live with. The hesitation is mostly annoying, but I can see how it can be a safety issue on slick roads... and yes, I too notice it more on right hand turns (not scientific).

I will try and have the system "reflashed" by the dealer and reply back here with the results (gonna do the battery disconnect first), but I am concerned the hesitation is considered "normal". I really hope this isn't the case, because I do a lot of around town driving and waiting for the transmission to make up its mind 100 times a day is unacceptable.

Thanks for your responses.

This is why I really hate automatics. It takes too long to downshift when you need the sudden power. Unfortunately, we can afford one vehicle and my wife doesn't drive manual so I have to live with the auto until I can afford a second vehicle.

I dont mean to beat a dead horse, but I isolated the hesitation issue and am still curious if others have the same problem. It IS NOT a transmission issue at all and it may be just characteristic of the "fly by wire" accelerator. I also disconnected battery to try and reset, but nothing changed.

Scenario:
I held the transmission in 2nd and drove up and down the street "gunning" it by depressing the accelerator down 1/2 to 3/4 fairly quickly. There is a MAJOR delay between depressing the accelerator and getting a response from the engine. When I say "major", I mean about a half second before engine gets signal.

Before I take the 4Runner in for service, I wanted to see if other owners have this delay. I don't notice it off the line or at freeway speeds. I really hope its just a problem with my 4Runner and not widespread.

I used to be into old muscle cars and if they had a delay this pronounced, we would consider it a major issue (carb lag)...

Thanks again for your responses.