First road trip with my 2006 4 Runner ... Not happy at all

[Pepi]

My wife and I took a short vacation of 600 miles. I'm sorry to say that I'm not at all impressed with my 4 runner Between fighting it to say on the road, vibration in the front and back and the transmission doesn't know how to work in hilly country I will say this was the most tried I've ever been on a small trip. I can't say I felt save driving it ! I will be fair and say that I've not returned it to the Toyota dealer ... but this will happen real soon

What I really hate is knowing I have to live with this thing for the next 3 years on a lease. I just wish I could have test drove it move than a few miles :bash:

Sorry for venting but I'm pissed :upset:

 

[sketch1]

Sounds to me like something is out of whack... I have taken mine on numerous road trips in the 4 months I have owned it and I have to see it perfomed flawlessly. Many hills and turns, as well as lots of highway driving....No complaints at all.

I would get the dealer to take a look....

 

[Fourty-four]

Sorry to hear that you're disappointed.

The day after I picked up my new 4Runner from the dealership, we hopped in and drove from New York to Pittsburgh, which is about an 8 hour drive.

We drove non-stop, except to gas up and get a bite to eat. I found the 4Runner a very comfortable cruiser. I didn't experience any wandering and the transmission shifted flawlessly (although I wasn't driving hills) throughout the trip. Everything considered, the 4Runner is one of the most comfortable cruising SUVs that I've experienced. Deep down, it's still a truck, so I don't expect it to feel like German touring sedan, but I still thought it was great for an SUV.

Go take the same trip in a Nissan Xterra, and I'll bet you'll appreciate the 4Runner.

By the way, if your tranny was hunting, you should take it out of overdrive to lessen the shifting.

 

[pipspeak]

First question... are you used to an SUV and the way they handle differently (like less stability in cross-winds etc.)? If yes, then what stock tires do you have on it and are they inflated correctly? I find the stock Dunlops wander a bit more than I'd like, something that would be worse if they were over or underinflated (I have mine at 35psi). I also have heard from others that the 4runner steering is not the most precise in the world to begin with. I got used to it.

The hill issue in a V6 (not sure if you have V6 or V8) is certainly an issue, especially if you use cruise control. The tranny goes ape up hills sometimes, so I usually turn off cruise in hilly freeway areas. But again, it's a heavy car and, although the V6 is a capable engine, the power to weight ratio is not perfect by any means. The V8 sounds much better in that respect.

The vibration is just plain weird, and a reason to go back to the dealer IMO. Mine is smooth as butter on the open road. Far more so than my last Jeep. Could be an alignment issue causing it or a tire balance issue. The alignment issue could also explain the wandering part, too.

So don't give up just yet. I went on a 1200 mile road trip shortly after getting my 2004 and it performed flawlessly. I even found the seat comfortable (unlike many).

 

[mikestang]

Yup, you got something else going on, it's not the 'runner. Have your dealer look at it.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I'm surprised to hear that. I have an '04 Runner & when a family member drives it, they can't get over how it handles/rides like a car. I've driven many, many other SUV's out there & they seem to control the driver; & you're swerving/wandering/bouncing all over the road. With my Runner I'm in charge. Perhaps you should get it looked at.

 

[AZ4R06]

I just got my 06 and have taken it up and down mountain roads and find that it handles well and is really comfortable. My previous vehicle was a Lexus IS300. I even enjoyed the way the 4runner handled.

 

[Q-V]

I felt disappointed as well until I turfed the Dunlops and got some decent tires. It was like night and day. With the Dunlops I was constantly adjusting and it was a very tiring vehicle to drive (like trying to balance a ruler for hours). Now, it's smooth sailing.

Unfortunately, I feel your pain regarding the transmission. Hills are a pain and the cruise control is all over the place. My crappy old 3-speed Jeep TJ would go up and down hills with no effort and practically no change in RPM. The 4runner is very harsh in this respect. I especially hate when I have to temporarily slow down then hit resume on the cruise control. It might only have 5 mph to go to cruising speed but the truck rockets very harshly as if I've floored the accelerator then abruptly lets off the gas when the desired speed is reached. Perhaps this behavior could be softened with some kind of software update if enough people complained.

OTOH, I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent gas mileage on the highway and I find the ride very comfortable (perhaps it's the X-Reas at work).

 

[dwulffusa]

I too find the high way stability too twitchy and the steering vague, like you constantly have to give it inputs left and right to feel where it is, in corners I am never able to turn and sit in the bend, but have to adjust the wheel by small amounts as it over and under steers its way through. That said I do believe the ride comfort is of the best in the midsize/economy brand category. (I would expect more from a Lexus GX for example). I often get comments from passengers on the smooth ride it has.

I also have an intermittent vibration issue, not a shake or wobble but more like a vibe fealt on the throttle and gear lever as you cruise along, I cannot seem to isolate the conditions that cause it.

Despite the niggles, I love it. It makes me feel good to drive it, there always enough grunt for an aggressive pass or jump for the gap and I look forward to my drive home everyday.

I guess its the point of reference that effects your judgement, which for the most part is usually clouded, subjective and not comparing apples with apples.

 

[Mark86]

I had a 2003 and now a 2005 and I never had those complaints. I have taken my 2005 on 2 road trips and it was smooth as anything. Maybe there is something wrong with your vehicle. To fix your vibration problem and not being able to keep it on the road, I would check your air pressure, balance the tires, and check the alignment. As for the shifting, are you sure that you are in drive and not 4? Once accidental flick of the shifter can shift you to 4, which is a different ride!

 

[Falls]

Pepi , I have not had those problem's with my 06. I'm sorry you are having those problems, please keep us posted on the outcome at the dealer.

 

[xUSNavy]

I too have an 06, but haven't had any problems like you mentioned. I just came back from a 600 mile trip through the mountains of lake tahoe ( 0 - 5000 ft). The truck never wandered nor did it have any problems shifting up the hill. The ride was smooth and comfortable. Maybe you should have the dealer check it out?

 

[Koz]

No wandering/vibration at any speed and rock solid in the twisties. You may have tire issues. The trans is one of the smoothest I've ever owned. I can cruise with a 3K lb trailer in overdrive on most highways without downshifting. Without the trailer it takes a good sized upgrade to even disengage the locking torque converter. Any vehicle that weighs 4500lbs. is going to downshift when going up steep hills. If you are experiencing these problems there must be issues with your vehicle. I suggest you test drive another new vehicle and compare.

Didn't you get your vehicle with 190 miles on it? Something may be wrong with this vehicle. There is no reason to get it with those miles. I would have taken an extended test drive before taking ownership. With those miles I would have considered it used and would have insisted on some kind of discounted price.

Koz

 

[Thai]

Check air pressure in your tires. You have one free alignment from Toyota within the first 12000 miles...good time to use it. Make them re-balance your tires if needed (should be free if you complain in a nice way).

Good luck.

 

[Pepi]

My 4 runner had 19 miles on it when I leased it. The tires are Bridgestone and have 33 pounds of air in them. I will say that our trip was a very windy one. This is my first SUV so maybe I'm comparing the drive to my car. The vehicle just doesn't seem happy going straight down the road. It either wants to go to the left or right and not center. The vibration I feel is in my seat. One of the most annoying things about the vehicle is the drop out feeling I get. It almost feels like the engine hesitated but I know its not that. It does this with or without the cruise. Its the strangest feeling because you think the engine is stalling? What really is strange about the transmission is it seems to get confused. There will be times when I'm stopped and then it will shift down to 1st gear? Maybe that will go away after it gets broke in.

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to call the dealer today. I will say this is the first new vehicle I've bought in the last 30 years that I had to take back. Guess I've had good luck :biggrin2:

 

[Sac State]

Your transmission is adaptive. During the first few thousand miles it learns your driving style and characteristics. I remember when my truck was new it seemed the tranny was often in the wrong gear for the position of my throttle foot. As time goes by the tranny learned my habits and now it is very responsive. Just my $.02.

Also, you may have a tire out of round. The stock Dunflops are horrible. Check your pressure as mentioned, I run the recommended 32 PSI, and have the dealer rebalance your tires.

 

[blindside]

i have an 06 as well, the first thing i noticed was the wandering of the steering wheel specially at high speeds scared the **** out of me and my wife, it feels a little better nowadays 900 miles after, i might have had gotten used to it, i also felt some kind of vibration on the steering wheel but i kept thinking it was just the road or maybe the tires. I had an SUV before as well and i know that when it's windy i get that feeling like the car is gonna get blown by the wind, but the steering doesn't wander as much as my 4runner. Overall i still love it, it's a great SUV.

 

[Falls]

The downshift/clunk in the rear end to first gear after being stopped is very common. There are ton's of post about that rear end clunk ect.. on here. Mine does it too , I don't like it but that's the way it is. Toyota does not have a TSB/fix out on this yet but do complain about it. I just did when my vehicle was in the shop in Wed.

 

[Fourty-four]

The downshift/clunk in the rear end to first gear after being stopped is very common. There are ton's of post about that rear end clunk ect.. on here. Mine does it too , I don't like it but that's the way it is. Toyota does not have a TSB/fix out on this yet but do complain about it. I just did when my vehicle was in the shop in Wed.

I think most people solve that issue by greasing the driveshaft slip joints, which should be part of the regular maintenance. I lube mine every other oil change.

 

[Thai]

I think most people solve that issue by greasing the driveshaft slip joints, which should be part of the regular maintenance. I lube mine every other oil change.

The Lexus TSB for GX470 has solved this problem once and for all...at least, according to GX owners. No more lubing needed. Therefore, this leads me to think that it is indeed a design flaw from the very beginning. It is a small flaw...and luckily, does not result in damage to vehicle (thus far).

If you don't believe that it is a design flaw, then why doesn't the Lexus LX470 or Land Cruiser have this problem?