5th Gen Official Complaint Thread to Toyota and Some Solutions

[Whiplash Willy]

With almost a year of ownership, and 14k miles, here are the things I am having problems with on my 2013 SR5.

-Rough shifts between 1-2 at slow speeds
-When flooring it, the trans doesn't know what to do and mis-shifts
-One of my door seals came loose, on further inspection, those seals are sparsely attached to the door with partial channels, and widely spaced clips. In some places they just hang there.
-AIP makes a loud click noise at the end of the reverse spin when shutting down the engine. (Hopefully it blows up within warranty!)
-Brakes squeak when coming to a stop
-Both auto seats make a grinding noise when moving them back and fourth
-Seat cloth is wearing badly
-Rear seats shake and rattle over bumps

 

[philsey]

With almost a year of ownership, and 14k miles, here are the things I am having problems with on my 2013 SR5.

-Rough shifts between 1-2 at slow speeds

WW - there's a TSB for this, it's to reprogram the trans. I had your same problem and the TSB helped quite a bit. I'll look for it ....

EDIT: Here's a link with more detail. I can't find a copy of the TSB.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/133411-how-many-us-have-had-their-transmission-fixed.html


*** ANYONE????? I thought the 5G TSBs were in the 5G stickies. Can't find. Am I being stoopid?

 

[Sgt. Rock]

I gotta say, the brake pedal going lower than the gas is a problem! Dealers says its OK, but he isn't the one pressing both at the same time and not stopping!

Headlight lenses on the 2011 SR5 were polished twice by the dealer. Didn't work. They were both replaced a year ago and are now fine. I think I saw a TSB somewhere on the lenses.

I'd rather have more comfortable leather seats than having heated seats.

Remote start is great...if I'm standing ten feet from the truck and the running boards are a total waste (both were on the truck when I bought it).

The radio display is the absolute worst...can't see it in the daylight especially with sun glasses, and scrolling info would be nice. I like to see full titles, performers and all the other stuff my friends after-market satelite radio head has.

It would be nice to have ALL the switches lit, and dimable!

I don't mind the ride or acceleration, but a quieter cabin would be very nice. Better carpet and some sound deadening in the doors, roof and under the hood would help (and it wouldn't add much to the manufacturing cost). I picked the 4Runner for durability, body on frame construction and reliability that will go anywhere.

I haven't trailered yet. Might buy a motorcycle trailer for the HD...even looked at small campers.

Over-all I feel like I can go anywhere in the SR5... AND GET HOME...but once in a while, I miss my '99 Tahoe...a lot more room, tons more comfort and only 3 MPG less. The Tahoe was the base model with comfortable cloth seats and a V-8. (Every time I've replaced a truck I really liked, I've thought that I should have spent a few thousand for a engine / transmission rebuild and paint job giving me a NOS truck.)

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[limeyjag]

Rear diff replacement complaint changed to 4th gen

I loved my 2010 5th gen Ltd AWD until the rear diff started making a noise at 81K at 70mph and I made the warranty claim . After 2 months the toyota field rep agreed to make "good faith" rebuild on it but would not admit liability . However it didn't fix all the problem and I was concerned that it would go again ,so i wrote to the president in california about this . They refused to attack the problem again claiming normal wear and tear . After 30 years and trusting toyota warranties I was a little annoyed but could not get them to move .I refused arbitration and eventually the local dealer bought it back from me and gave me a good price against a new Highlander for my wife .
This month I found a one owner local 4 gen 2008 AWD V8 Ltd Runner that has memory seats and all the bells apart from the third row seats which are a PITA anyway . I'm in love again with 4 runner .......but will not buy anymore Toyota warranties ever .
Has anyone else had rear diff problems with the 5th gen ? maybe I just got a bad diff but it seems that the 5th gen is maybe tuned too much and they are pushing the V6 engine and the Gearbox /Transfer case and rear diff too much and wonder if the 5th gens drive train will hold up as good as the 4th gens ? My 2008 is built like tank and looks more robust to me .It has 87K on it but looks and drives great .maybe when they stretched the 5th gen size ,lost the V8 and increased the mpg they went to far with their engineering development ? my 2010 was te hfirst model year so maybe the drive train problems I had were one offs or they have worked out the problems now ?

 

[Sputnik]

Rust on tailgate on a 2011 blizzard pearl with 61k miles

 

[jeffroski]

I have a 2011 TE, I will agree with most of the posts here, squeaks in the front end, driveshaft bind/pop when braking hard or accelerating from stop, low power, mushy brakes, hood flex, thin tinny sheet metal, hazed headlights, but I have a new one to add. I have three windows with dry-rotted window trim. The rubber trim between the window and door are torn; rear window and passenger windows. I live in Arizona, but I park in a parking garage. I just noticed this today and the build date was August 2011, so the truck isn't even three years old. I also recently reattached one of the nuts for the lift handle of the hatch and tightened the other three.(reducing the stereo rattle) This truck has 59900 miles on it, it is mechanically reliable like a Toyota so far, but build/material quality sucks.

Although on a side note, this little SUV can get out of some deep mud that I accidently got stuck in. I will be going back to a full size truck though as my needs have changed.

Jeffro

 

[gecko0]

I loved my 2010 5th gen Ltd AWD until the rear diff started making a noise at 81K at 70mph and I made the warranty claim . After 2 months the toyota field rep agreed to make "good faith" rebuild on it but would not admit liability . However it didn't fix all the problem and I was concerned that it would go again ,so i wrote to the president in california about this . They refused to attack the problem again claiming normal wear and tear . After 30 years and trusting toyota warranties I was a little annoyed but could not get them to move .I refused arbitration and eventually the local dealer bought it back from me and gave me a good price against a new Highlander for my wife .
This month I found a one owner local 4 gen 2008 AWD V8 Ltd Runner that has memory seats and all the bells apart from the third row seats which are a PITA anyway . I'm in love again with 4 runner .......but will not buy anymore Toyota warranties ever .
Has anyone else had rear diff problems with the 5th gen ? maybe I just got a bad diff but it seems that the 5th gen is maybe tuned too much and they are pushing the V6 engine and the Gearbox /Transfer case and rear diff too much and wonder if the 5th gens drive train will hold up as good as the 4th gens ? My 2008 is built like tank and looks more robust to me .It has 87K on it but looks and drives great .maybe when they stretched the 5th gen size ,lost the V8 and increased the mpg they went to far with their engineering development ? my 2010 was te hfirst model year so maybe the drive train problems I had were one offs or they have worked out the problems now ?

My 2013 is at the dealer now (going on a week...) and they are replacing the entire rear differential. They said there was another identical 4R there for the same thing, so they were doing mine right after that one. Mine only has 2K miles on it. I'm waiting for pics of mine, but they showed me a pic of the other customer's and the teeth were shredded. They said the diff fluid was a nice gray color from all the metal shavings. Ugh.

They are also replacing both front wheel well body moldings, as the adhesive was defective and already coming off on both sides. It hasn't seen anything but winter weather, so not a good sign so far for longevity of the molding. Hopefully they get it all worked out.

 

[Kkworcester]

2014 Limited Complaints

No automatic lift gate
Memory option only saves seat position (no mirror memory)
Thin Hood and Doors
Back Doors have no unlock sensor (have to unlock front door sensor first)
DVD only plays when car is stationary
Windows & Back window wont roll back up with key (will only roll them down)
When running ALL lights during **the daytime** the clock can not be seen

 

[1engineer]

No automatic lift gate
Memory option only saves seat position (no mirror memory)
Thin Hood and Doors
Back Doors have no unlock sensor (have to unlock front door sensor first)
DVD only plays when car is stationary
Windows & Back window wont roll back up with key (will only roll them down)
When running ALL lights during **the daytime** the clock can not be seen

Did you buy it sight unseen without reading anything about it first?

 

[Kkworcester]

Guess I'm in the same boat as the other complainers who have the same wish list as myself.. I knew it didnt come with those things... still wonder why Toyota did not add some of those options on the current 4runner Limited.

 

[Dad's Toy]

Rear side windows

I would like to see the cargo area/3rd row side windows with power flip out on the side closest the tailgate like I had on my Navigator.

 

[Kennyr44]

I'm a 4Gen owner but I'm not here to compare. My biggest problem with the 5Gen 4Runner is no full time AWD on the SR5 (like there is on the Limited). I don't want the Limited and all the additional options that come with it but I do want a 4WD system that I can have on in any condition/surface. If that option was available on the SR5 we'd probably have the 5Gen by now.

Boy I feel like I wrote this. My exact thoughts.

 

[Monkeymenno]

I have a TE on order and I will say this - one of the biggest reasons I chose the TE is the manual 4wd lever. I have yet to drive an auto 4wd system that can hold a candle to an awd system for functionality and predictability in icy conditions. The manual 4wd gives me absolute control of what my transfer case is doing, maybe not everyone's preference but if you want a good auto system the highlander might be a better vehicle for you. Or maybe a Subaru's full time system. There is something old school about the TE's lever that I love. Probably the best solution to for a 4wd system would be to make the front wheels clutch controlled like an awd but leave the rear as it is. The interesting thing about that is that the front axle could be lockable instantaneously at the push of a button while in motion, even automatically. Sorry, I don't mean to high jack but I get carried away.

The only other things I would change would be a 3rd row option on the TE, and for the up/down change on the sport setting of the shift lever be reversed. It's personal preference, but I have always felt it should be pull back to shift up as the acceleration is pulling your body weight that way anyway.

 

[Bilbo]

I have a TE on order and I will say this - one of the biggest reasons I chose the TE is the manual 4wd lever. I have yet to drive an auto 4wd system that can hold a candle to an awd system for functionality and predictability in icy conditions. The manual 4wd gives me absolute control of what my transfer case is doing, maybe not everyone's preference but if you want a good auto system the highlander might be a better vehicle for you. Or maybe a Subaru's full time system. There is something old school about the TE's lever that I love. Probably the best solution to for a 4wd system would be to make the front wheels clutch controlled like an awd but leave the rear as it is. The interesting thing about that is that the front axle could be lockable instantaneously at the push of a button while in motion, even automatically. Sorry, I don't mean to high jack but I get carried away.

This makes no sense to me. There is no difference in the performance or mechanics of a Trail in 4WD vs. an SR5 in 4WD or a Limited in locked center diff 4WD. The only difference is the manual vs. electronic transfer case shifter that put you there.

Why talk about Subarus or Highlanders?

 

[Monkeymenno]

This makes no sense to me. There is no difference in the performance or mechanics of a Trail in 4WD vs. an SR5 in 4WD or a Limited in locked center diff 4WD. The only difference is the manual vs. electronic transfer case shifter that put you there.

Why talk about Subarus or Highlanders?

I should have quoted the quote in the post above me, that is why I was talking about the Subaru and Highlander for their different approaches to driving 4 wheels. and you are right, the only difference between the SR5 and the TE is the mechanical vs electrical engagement of the transfer case. The reason why I prefer the mechanical is that one can feel to a degree what is going on inside the transfer case and there is less to go wrong on it. Granted, it's a relatively new truck, but I can speak from experience about losing various functions on vehicles I have driven due to a ground becoming loose. It's one thing to lose an instrument cluster, or a blower motor, but to lose 4x4 when you need it because of an electrical glitch is not something I want to deal with in the bush. The other difference with an automatic 4x4 is when it choses to engage the front axle. Maybe the 4runner limited system works differently but I have had scary moments in an f150 going around an icy corner when the transfer case engaged and completely changed the way it was cornering. I hope the limited doesn't do this kind of thing, I don't know I haven't driven one in those conditions. I hope that makes some sense, I guess I just want my suv to act like an suv and not just another crossover. The 4runner is a rare and special thing to me and i would hate to have Toyota change the very things that define it and make it special.

 

[1engineer]

I should have quoted the quote in the post above me, that is why I was talking about the Subaru and Highlander for their different approaches to driving 4 wheels. and you are right, the only difference between the SR5 and the TE is the mechanical vs electrical engagement of the transfer case. The reason why I prefer the mechanical is that one can feel to a degree what is going on inside the transfer case and there is less to go wrong on it. Granted, it's a relatively new truck, but I can speak from experience about losing various functions on vehicles I have driven due to a ground becoming loose. It's one thing to lose an instrument cluster, or a blower motor, but to lose 4x4 when you need it because of an electrical glitch is not something I want to deal with in the bush. The other difference with an automatic 4x4 is when it choses to engage the front axle. Maybe the 4runner limited system works differently but I have had scary moments in an f150 going around an icy corner when the transfer case engaged and completely changed the way it was cornering. I hope the limited doesn't do this kind of thing, I don't know I haven't driven one in those conditions. I hope that makes some sense, I guess I just want my suv to act like an suv and not just another crossover. The 4runner is a rare and special thing to me and i would hate to have Toyota change the very things that define it and make it special.

You do realize that all your shift lever does is engage a solenoid in the ADD right?

 

[harper7]

I should have quoted the quote in the post above me, that is why I was talking about the Subaru and Highlander for their different approaches to driving 4 wheels. and you are right, the only difference between the SR5 and the TE is the mechanical vs electrical engagement of the transfer case. The reason why I prefer the mechanical is that one can feel to a degree what is going on inside the transfer case and there is less to go wrong on it. Granted, it's a relatively new truck, but I can speak from experience about losing various functions on vehicles I have driven due to a ground becoming loose. It's one thing to lose an instrument cluster, or a blower motor, but to lose 4x4 when you need it because of an electrical glitch is not something I want to deal with in the bush. The other difference with an automatic 4x4 is when it choses to engage the front axle. Maybe the 4runner limited system works differently but I have had scary moments in an f150 going around an icy corner when the transfer case engaged and completely changed the way it was cornering. I hope the limited doesn't do this kind of thing, I don't know I haven't driven one in those conditions. I hope that makes some sense, I guess I just want my suv to act like an suv and not just another crossover. The 4runner is a rare and special thing to me and i would hate to have Toyota change the very things that define it and make it special.

TE's and SR5's still have an electric actuator called the A.D.D. located down on the front axle that locks the front diff in.The same one used for the part time transfer case on FJ's.Front Differential Actuator Repair / Replacement - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

The LE's don't have this and have a solid tube/axle always locked in,thus Full Time 4x4 not AWD,with electric nannies you keep mentioning.The electric actuator on the transfer case itself and the switch on LE's and SR5's has been around for for at least 15 years,using full time 4x4 with the Torsen center diff and used throughout the world on Toyota's, Landcruisers and Lexus and are known to be bulletproof and nearly instant locking in.Turn my switch and the light flashes one time and it's locked and the same for unlocking.They had some leaking seal problems years ago that was fixed with a TSB and new seal design.They still worked,just leaked gear oil.They are more reliable IMO then the A.D.D. located down on the front axle in the elements and wires going to it.

 

[Monkeymenno]

I stand corrected. :embarassed:

edit: maybe not
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/transmissions-transfer-cases-traction-aids/90975-front-differential-actuator-repair-replacement.html

The article says that the transfer case is operated by manual linkage and then it engages the front half shafts through the ADD. This is done to lessen wear by allowing the front diff to not rotate when in 4x2. Probably benefits fuel consumption as well. There is still a mechanical connection between the transfer case and the lever that the little knob doesn't have. I really like to feel what's going on, even if I have to live with an electric switch engaging the front half shafts.

Back on topic. I don't like the little knob for transfer case shifting. I like the lever.

 

[Orlyg1521]

Wind noise

Am I the only that has noticeable wind noise above 40 MPH? I'll probably get a wind deflector for the sunroof to see if it might help

 

[stir_fry_boy]

I think they should put in an automatic lift gate (powered).

My complaints:
Nuts inside radiator support not welded very well. Only small tiny tack welds hold these in. One has already come off on mine, and I'm not the only one.