5th Gen reliability
- Thread starter AudiTech
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
IAmTodd
New member
1. Front axle groaning in cold weather; TSB for front diff replacement
2. Front seat broken; TSB to replace seatback
3. Hatch rust
The list is hardly long but isn't non-existent.
scanny
Senior Member
It's been 4 years since I got my 4Runner, but I can't really say much about the issues. Hitch adapter has some rust and I have intermittent issue with driver seat lumbar support "crunching" sound. Oh, and left foot rest is squeaking when it's below zero outside. Not that it bothers me much but that's all my complains so far.
USKTog
New member
AudiTech, I can totally relate. That said, I did ~4mos of research to validate my thoughts; fact of the matter is that there are a TON of 4Runners still on the road and while there may be an issue here or there, the Toyota 4Runner is by-far, one of the very best SUV's ever made (again, my opinion).
I chose to purchase mine because they have a reputation of reliability and able to handle quite a bit of punishment stock off the dealer lot! Does this mean there won't be an issue with one? Perhaps, but we all take that risk purchasing any vehicle.
First & foremost, follow the service guidelines (as you probably well know!) and the vehicle will likely last you hundreds of thousands of (s)miles!
It's a Body-On-Frame SUV. So you're going to have more creaks/noises than a unibody type SUV like the ones Audi offers (figured I'd pick something close to your handle).
There have been minor things, like some have mentioned, but that's also been mainly the early model years (2010).TSB's are out for those items and can be readily found online (including a sticky here on the forum).
Beyond that, it's a great truck with great capability. Best road trip vehicle I have ever owned.
Okki
There have been minor things, like some have mentioned, but that's also been mainly the early model years (2010).TSB's are out for those items and can be readily found online (including a sticky here on the forum).
Beyond that, it's a great truck with great capability. Best road trip vehicle I have ever owned.
Okki
philsey
New member
2010 SR5, bought early 2010.
Live in rust belt.
46,000 +.
I've had none (zero) of the issues reported in this thread.
The drivetrain (propshaft) clunk is oft-reported (I've had that). A TSB exists, but it's not so much a failure/malfunction as an annoyance.
I often toy with getting a new vehicle (just 'cause it's what I do). I could afford what I want, but after mental masturbation, no other vehicle comes up that I'd rather have. The damned thing just works ... it suits me.
Oh, my hatch struts were replaced under wty.
Live in rust belt.
46,000 +.
I've had none (zero) of the issues reported in this thread.
The drivetrain (propshaft) clunk is oft-reported (I've had that). A TSB exists, but it's not so much a failure/malfunction as an annoyance.
I often toy with getting a new vehicle (just 'cause it's what I do). I could afford what I want, but after mental masturbation, no other vehicle comes up that I'd rather have. The damned thing just works ... it suits me.
Oh, my hatch struts were replaced under wty.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
I came into the elevator today with one of my co-workers, he says "I almost died yesterday on the freeway" I said why.
So he was driving on the free way and his Found On the Road Dead Focus dropped the transmission, jerked back and high rev'd forward and he had a hard time slowing it down and getting off the freeway. 75k miles on it.
This sort of thing will never happen on this truck, Even after you drive it in first to second gear up the mountain and back.
Long answer, but hope it somewhat answers your question!
So he was driving on the free way and his Found On the Road Dead Focus dropped the transmission, jerked back and high rev'd forward and he had a hard time slowing it down and getting off the freeway. 75k miles on it.
This sort of thing will never happen on this truck, Even after you drive it in first to second gear up the mountain and back.
Long answer, but hope it somewhat answers your question!
Ol'Baditude
New member
I've had a few small issues:
1. Lift gate struts are starting to go. Just ordered new ones from liftsuportsdepot, so easy and cheap fix.
2. The heater fan started to make some bearing noise.
3. Had a couple of pulleys replaced due to having some play and causing noise.
That's it. At the end of the day, all of this cost less that $500 to fix(less if you do the work yourself), and I even threw an new belt in for good measure. Not bad for a vehicle that I've owned since October 2010, gets stored outside year round(unplugged in winter), has been wheeled quite substantially and gets driven around all winter in salty nastiness.
I bought this vehicle because I had zero issue with my 2003 4Runner, and I have not been dissapointed. It just works the way it's supposed to and never gives me any grief.
1. Lift gate struts are starting to go. Just ordered new ones from liftsuportsdepot, so easy and cheap fix.
2. The heater fan started to make some bearing noise.
3. Had a couple of pulleys replaced due to having some play and causing noise.
That's it. At the end of the day, all of this cost less that $500 to fix(less if you do the work yourself), and I even threw an new belt in for good measure. Not bad for a vehicle that I've owned since October 2010, gets stored outside year round(unplugged in winter), has been wheeled quite substantially and gets driven around all winter in salty nastiness.
I bought this vehicle because I had zero issue with my 2003 4Runner, and I have not been dissapointed. It just works the way it's supposed to and never gives me any grief.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
I had the same issue! I couldn't replicate it at the dealer. I forgot about it since we are in summer weather. Is this a noise you heard in the cabin towards the passenger side? How did you fix it?
Ol'Baditude
New member
Yeah that's right, it's the blower motor, up under the dash on the passengers side I think it was ~$150CDN. Easy fix.
You can unhook the leads and back out the screws to have a look at the fan wheel first and to make sure the sound is not just debris in there that fell through from when the cabin air filter gets replaced. If it's actually the motor, then it's just an easy swap out. Not sure if this is true of all 4Runner blower motors nowadays, but mine came with a fan wheel installed on it, so it was a really quick swap.
DannyLlama
Elite Member
Thanks, wish they has a TSB for that.
JayceeP
New member
I find the day to day mileage quite acceptable at 17-18mpg in the summer. Winter is more like 16-16.5mpg. Highway mileage improves marginally. But, if you are on flat highway with favourable conditions you should be able to get close to 20mpg or more at 75mph on longer trips on summer gas.
Issues for me:
1) pimples in paint + couple of minor defects in paint (1 on nose of hood, and one on lift gate edge). Obviously doesn't impact the vehicle reliability per se and this has been fixed by the dealer's body shop.
2) front passenger door speaker rattle. Will be fixed at next service by installing door insulation
3) my driver door arm rest is a bit crunchy. Could not duplicate at my regular maintenance service the other day so didn't have the dealer take a look.
4) I have sliding rear seats and the back rest on the 2/3 section had some play. Dealer agreed and said a new seat frame needs to be ordered and installed at next service.
I didn't have the drivetrain clunk but sometimes shifts out of first gear are a bit poppy/rough. I have just over 30,000km on the 4Runner and it has been on the road 17 months.
I would say my issues are pretty mild overall and are easy fixes (except for the paint).
Issues for me:
1) pimples in paint + couple of minor defects in paint (1 on nose of hood, and one on lift gate edge). Obviously doesn't impact the vehicle reliability per se and this has been fixed by the dealer's body shop.
2) front passenger door speaker rattle. Will be fixed at next service by installing door insulation
3) my driver door arm rest is a bit crunchy. Could not duplicate at my regular maintenance service the other day so didn't have the dealer take a look.
4) I have sliding rear seats and the back rest on the 2/3 section had some play. Dealer agreed and said a new seat frame needs to be ordered and installed at next service.
I didn't have the drivetrain clunk but sometimes shifts out of first gear are a bit poppy/rough. I have just over 30,000km on the 4Runner and it has been on the road 17 months.
I would say my issues are pretty mild overall and are easy fixes (except for the paint).
I took it home overnight today just to get some more seat time in it, to drive it at night in the dark, and to make sure it fits in my garage.
I do like it, the only big two drawbacks for me right now is that I'd be giving up a ton of acceleration, it's painfully slow! And no factory HID's. I really don't want to give up my bi-xenons with AFS (the lights pivot around bents in the roads). Being in Colorado I spend a lot of time playing in the mountains where the power and especially the lighting on narrow mountain roads with no lights really help out. But were getting to the point where we need more room for taking a load of people plus equipment skiing and mountain biking and while I don't "offroad" the higher ground clearance and 4wd will absolutely come in handy.
I do like it, the only big two drawbacks for me right now is that I'd be giving up a ton of acceleration, it's painfully slow! And no factory HID's. I really don't want to give up my bi-xenons with AFS (the lights pivot around bents in the roads). Being in Colorado I spend a lot of time playing in the mountains where the power and especially the lighting on narrow mountain roads with no lights really help out. But were getting to the point where we need more room for taking a load of people plus equipment skiing and mountain biking and while I don't "offroad" the higher ground clearance and 4wd will absolutely come in handy.
MSinDC
New member
While not a dragster by any stretch, I had to get used to the throttle on the 5th gen myself (compared to the 3rd gen I was coming from). It has some power, you just have to stretch your foot.