Hi all, Our local Toyota dealer quoted me $10,000 to fix the KDSS system on my 2010 4R Trail, with 220K miles. The KDSS light comes on now and then, and they said it was very rusty (salty upper Midwest roads) and leaking slightly from the unit. The $10K is to replace the unit and all four lines. Does this sound right to you? Many thanks for sharing your insights!!
$10K KDSS Repair!!
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DannyLlama
Elite Member
Is insurance claim an option?
honda250xtitan
New member
source your own used parts and replace whats failed. thats ridiculous.
salsanacho
New member
For that age of vehicle and that quoted cost of repair, I'd just pull the connector and turn off KDSS. That said, it'd be worth getting a quote from a non-dealer repair shop.
Brandonium
Member
Reach out to Dr. KDSS and get his take on your situation.
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jasxn
Member
are you running stock suspension?
another option is to take out the kdss system and upgrade your spring coils to a heavier weighted version to negate the loss of the sway bar.
this is my plan once my system fails.
or like others have stated, just replace the parts that need to be replaced.
I4CUTigers
Member
Second this.
Also, take it to a Lexus dealer and see what they say. They see KDSS on every LC and GX, so they likely have more experience with the system.
honda250xtitan
New member
x4 reach out to dom aka DR.Kdss. this isnt voodoo, its just a hydraulic system, and he's repaired them.
you can unplug the white connector under the dash by the gas pedal area and the kdss light will always be on
you can unplug the white connector under the dash by the gas pedal area and the kdss light will always be on
salsanacho
New member
yeah, with the stock suspension, kdss vs no kdss was night and day. After upgrading the suspension, the difference is lot less noticeable. If you're running a stock suspension, can just spend the money on a new suspension and just unplug the kdss wire by the module.
CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
KDSS is definitely off the list of options on the next 4Runner.
wcjeep
Member
We really like our Kdss. OP has 220k miles in the rust belt. Probably not many of the competition vehicles from 2010 still on the road in high salt use areas.
Mark Linkous
New member
How bad is the rest of the frame? It really is a bummer how 5G’s are so susceptible to rust and if l lived in the rust belt, I would not own one.
It really might be time to beat it on down the line as even a $3-$4000 repair would be tough to swallow if the rest of the frame is rusting badly as well.
$10k is absolute insanity. KDSS is really nothing high tech and shouldn't be that hard to replace. Hell, it's a $1750 option from Toyota.
If it were me, I'd just buy new suspension for about $1000. I have a Dr. KDSS switch in mine with Fox 2.0 suspension. You can definitely feel the difference with it off, but it's certainly tolerable on the road. I'm sure it's still better than a stock SR5 or TRDOR without KDSS based on what everyone says about nose dive and body roll on them.
If it were me, I'd just buy new suspension for about $1000. I have a Dr. KDSS switch in mine with Fox 2.0 suspension. You can definitely feel the difference with it off, but it's certainly tolerable on the road. I'm sure it's still better than a stock SR5 or TRDOR without KDSS based on what everyone says about nose dive and body roll on them.
Jetboy
New member
Like everyone else has said, it shouldn't be that complicated to fix. And it shouldn't be that expensive. It's unlikely that it needs new lines. Unless stainless steel lines are rusting now. KDSS failures are very few and far between. I wish my fox suspension lasted as long as KDSS.
A complete control actuator/accumulator from a low mile GX 460 will run you about $5-600. Lexus GX460 Stabilizer Control Actuator w/ Accumulator 2010-2020 OEM | eBay
New ones are only about 1500.
The hardlines are stainless. Seems pretty unlikely that they are rusted.
I think you may need to find a new dealer.
A complete control actuator/accumulator from a low mile GX 460 will run you about $5-600. Lexus GX460 Stabilizer Control Actuator w/ Accumulator 2010-2020 OEM | eBay
New ones are only about 1500.
The hardlines are stainless. Seems pretty unlikely that they are rusted.
I think you may need to find a new dealer.
2021nightshade4x4
New member
If braided steel lines can fail on my water heater in 12 years (lines that do not flex daily, and are only subject to line pressures of 60 PSI) I imagine they can fail in automobiles a lot sooner. Rust was not even a factor. Pinholes in the underlying rubber.
For hard pipe, ask any plumber why do pipes leak in the middle where there’s not even a joint? Corrosion from the inside. No visible rust may be present upon observation. I’m thinking some sort of galvanic reaction?
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A 10k quote is that dealer basically saying that they don't know how to, or simply don't want to work on it.
A ridiculously high quote so you'll go away. In other words.
I worked at some places back in the day that used that tactic. That and other examples of poor customer service is why I walked away from consumer car repair, in disgust.
Good luck OP.
A ridiculously high quote so you'll go away. In other words.
I worked at some places back in the day that used that tactic. That and other examples of poor customer service is why I walked away from consumer car repair, in disgust.
Good luck OP.
