4th Gen 4Runner Complaints

[Offroader]

I'm in love with this vehicle. It's extremely well designed, sturdy, and my TurboDiesel is unbelievably fuel-efficient and powerful.

However, there are very few details I think they should improve (add your own).

1. The buttons on the doors (power windows and lock) are not lighted.

2. The parking brake is not strong enough, so I usually have to apply it twice. (Second time stronger).

3. The paint in the plastic bumpers and side panels is unusually weak. (Scratches too easily).

As you can see, these are very small imperfections to an almost perfect vehicle.

 

[Fro-Runner]

I believe a lot of members on here have voiced your observations and some others about their rigs in past postings. Go to the search tab and do a search across all forums to see past results. Just remember the excuse ugly people use on internet dating sites when they are looking for a good mate: "Its what's inside that counts"! The plasticky lower side moldings might scratch and feel as if they are going to fall off; but the Toyota quality engine/drivetrain parts will keep your 4Runner going well past 200k miles with proper maintainence. BTW, every time I close my hood I feel as if my plasticky front grille and bumper assembly will one day just fall the heck off. I am very disappointed in these weak plastic 2-1/2 mph NHTSA rated safety bumpers.......especially on a 4X4 truck. But then again......I could always order off Ebay or purchase some plasticky bumpers from the "Stealership" when they fall off in about 5-8 years! The way I look at it----at least I will be able to DRIVE my 4Runner to the stealership; a Explorer or Trailblazer owner's bumper will probably outlast their engine/drivetrain components. Therefore, I'd have to taxi these owners with me to the Toyota dealer for them to purchase a new vehicle while I am ordering plastic bumpers for my 6-8 year old quality built 4Runner! Don't you just love to hear that "depreciation" sucking sound whenever you past a Ford or Chevy mid-size SUV owner's POS?

:FOS:

 

[<<<<]

I'd like to have 2 inch thick armor and 50 cal machine gun on the roof, other than that I'm happy with my truck:

 

[Bobby]

I'd like to have 2 inch thick armor and 50 cal machine gun on the roof, other than that I'm happy with my truck:

I needed that option this morning.

 

[2005 SPT V6]

I agree on the window/lock button not being able to light up. I don't like the cup holders in the center consol. Other than that I love this rig.

 

[KX316]

I love my vehicle and think it is very well made. The only complaints I have is I wish the little homelink buttons were lighted....very hard to find in the dark. Also I wish the cruise control had memory so you wouldn't have to reset it if your speed falls below 25 mph. Other than that I am very pleased.

 

[ToyotaDan]

I put glow in the dark paint on them

There is this glow in the dark paint and I put it on the homelink buttons... works great!!! I think I bought it in a hobby store...

 

[Offroader]

I agree with you all. I should have named this thread "Possible improvements to an almost perfect machine".

I would add:

4. The hood should close itself when you let it fall, like on most european cars, instead of having to force it down.

 

[Michigan_t4r]

I'd like a tire pressure monitor that tells you which SPECIFIC tire is incorrectly inflated.

 

[BenSD]

It would be nice if there was a light in the engine compartment

The seats are comfortable when you get them set right, but it seems like I'm always fiddling with them to get them to that point. The comfort seems to change based on what I'm wearing, so they're never quite right.

The white paint chips way too easially from rock chips. I believe all the other paint colors are chip resistant, but not the natural white for some reason. For this very reason, I have the front end mask on my runner nearly all the time. I take it off when it rains, and wax the front end before putting it back.

I'd love to see the sport edition become a full on TRD 4Runner with a little higher than stock ground clearance, etc..... kinda like the Tacoma TRD. Toyota probably won't do this due to increased roll-over rates though.

 

[Offroader]

5. Why don't they put the spare tire INSIDE the cargo area, under the mat?

If you ever have to change the damn tire, you'll get your hands so dirty, you'll probably have to take a cab back home.

 

[Bobby]

That's why they designed a tissue holder box under the armrest.

 

[Kanab]

I would like my 4runner to have the same Luxury as a new Lexus LX470 on the inside and look like a FZJ80 Landcruiser on the outside. Have a 2-3 inch lift and bigger tires that fill up the wheel wells a little more. Plus I want the new V8 VVTi engine with the supercharger. :arrow: Other then these small items I think my 4runner is perfect.

 

[abin]

absorbs radar wave and reflects laser beam with angle. (There is nothing we can do on license plate, that is a GFE you paid for).

 

[Atlanta_man]

Mine's a week old - only two problems so far:
going up a hill w/ cruise control on if I decide to raise the lever to attain a little faster memorized speed it downshifts and accelerates at a great rate - way way too much to be able to use this feature.

Took some folks for lunch today and one of the back seat passengers was not able to get out. Like the door was locked or maybe stuck hard - but it opened OK when he got in. Finally got it open but don't know what the trouble was. Child lock feature is not on. Tried all the remote and driver door switches to force an unlock. Have not figured this one out yet. We gave up and he slid over to the other back door.

 

[KMX3060]

I've had mine for about a month now.

My biggest complaint is that there is no real problem with the 4r.

Yeah, I know, when I had my GM and Ford vehicles and they were about this age they had already made themselves known to the dealer service department. The GM service advisor knew my voice when I called.

I'm disappointed now that with my wife having a new RX330 and my new 4r I won't be getting a ride home from town in the courtesy shuttle anymore. (The driver knew where I lived without telling him).

The neighbors won't be asking me if I got a new car like they did when they saw the Enterprise rental in my driveway.

I'm gonna miss the old forums I visited to see if anyone else was having the same problems I was having and what to do about them. I really liked the Suburban forum. The guys would say that they were having a problem, like the intake manifold leaking coolant at a certain number of miles and sure as heck mine did it too. Right on que. The gas station guy sent me a card saying he misses seeing me so often.

Yeah, I'm gonna miss the old days.

Ciao,
Brian

 

[CVsGX470]

Atlanta_man:

Mine does the same thing when I drive around my co-workers too. And, I have found out the problem.

As you will notice when the doors auto lock from shifting the car into drive they stay locked when you turn off the engine. You may also notice that you can pull on either of the front door handles and open them no matter if they are locked. However, in the back seat it doesn't work that way. You have to physically unlock the doors prior to opening them.

I have a psychotic co-worker that start tugging as soon as the damn car shuts off. SO as I hit the unlock button for her she is pulling out on the handle and thus the lock gets jammed. You have to lock and unlock the door a couple of times via the switch and then it usually works itself out.

Good luck
CV

 

[Atlanta_man]

Thanks - I believe I read in the owner's manual (and in a related thread on here) that you can program all the locks to unlock when you put it back in park. The logic matrix is a little weird and I cannot tell which options are mutualy exclusive but will play around with it some tonight.

 

[tipotex]

Okay, huge gripe, I know -- miss having a "one swipe" feature for front wipers. Can't clear mist off w/o pushing the stalk into the intermittent detent, or running the washer. Most everything I've driven over the last few years has had an independent direction you can "bump" the stalk to get just a quick swipe with the wipers...

 

[Bobby]

I had to look this up for chunderboy for the last meet.

1) Get in and close all the doors.

2) Put the key in the ignition and turn to "on" but don't crank the engine.

3) press and hold the unlock button for EXACTLY 5 seconds.

When you let go, the locks should lock and unlock to acknowledge the programming. Now all the doors will lock when you take the transmission out of park and unlock when you put it in park.