KDSS Long term reliability?
- Thread starter Vizguy
- Start date
fishingguy
New member
2014 trail premium KDSS failure
Hi,
I am new to this forum. My KDSS light came on at 47,000 miles. Mine looks like the photo you posted. And the fluid is leaking also on the driver's left side.
I returned the vehicle to the dealer who said it had rusted through and the cost to replace it would be $2,800. The Toyota rep that I met with said it corroded through due to driving it on salted roads in the winter [I live in Maine]. He said it would have been covered before 36,000 but now I am out of luck.
I had the vehicle in at 30,000 because of a loud thud in the front end while going over bumps in the cold weather. The service department could find nothing wrong with the suspension and added pressure to my tires as a solution. The thud returned again just before the KDSS light came on.
I also asked if the two were related and the rep said there was no way to prove that the two were related.
Have any of you had a similar situation? And come up with any other solutions other than paying to have it replaced?
Hi,
I am new to this forum. My KDSS light came on at 47,000 miles. Mine looks like the photo you posted. And the fluid is leaking also on the driver's left side.
I returned the vehicle to the dealer who said it had rusted through and the cost to replace it would be $2,800. The Toyota rep that I met with said it corroded through due to driving it on salted roads in the winter [I live in Maine]. He said it would have been covered before 36,000 but now I am out of luck.
I had the vehicle in at 30,000 because of a loud thud in the front end while going over bumps in the cold weather. The service department could find nothing wrong with the suspension and added pressure to my tires as a solution. The thud returned again just before the KDSS light came on.
I also asked if the two were related and the rep said there was no way to prove that the two were related.
Have any of you had a similar situation? And come up with any other solutions other than paying to have it replaced?
wfo9
New member
Here is a fix that some people are going with.... Getting real popular in the GX community... The 470s are at an age where people are starting to turn them into more extreme rigs. Really are a lot of those folks ripping it out.. so might start calling some Toyota focused shops like metal Tech... looking for take off parts. Will still cost you quite a bit to fix though since so many special tools... required In the end I would want a warranty on such an expensive repair.
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jrandom
New member
That is BS, serious design flaw, I guess they don't salt roads in Australia?
LOL Like your not supposed to drive an SUV on salted roads in the winter? WTF :frusty:
If I were you (and I may be at some point in time) I would keep complaining, even better the more people that report the same issue.
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jrandom
New member
I was curious so I crawled under my truck to check, I have zero corrosion (knock on wood), and my appears at least to be machined from aluminum and is not painted or coated, also my unions appear to be a different material than yours, no indications of surface corrosion on those either. There is some however an the body of the solenoid cab forward, assuming from rock chips exposing the casing.
[MENTION=163708]fishingguy[/MENTION] what year is your truck? [MENTION=164365]SummitBid[/MENTION]s' is a 2011. Mine (as in my sig) is a 2013. I wonder if this is something they changed.
[MENTION=163708]fishingguy[/MENTION] what year is your truck? [MENTION=164365]SummitBid[/MENTION]s' is a 2011. Mine (as in my sig) is a 2013. I wonder if this is something they changed.
Terra Firma
New member
Checked under mine today (2016) and after cleaning mud away, noticed corrosion in the form of the upper part being discolored from the rests, and a distinct ridge where the border of the corrosion is. What could this be? Looks very similar in hue to the above picture, obviously not to that extent damage-wise.
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I'm in Denver, but I recently purchased it from a dealer in Milwaukee, WI (April 2017). The carfax indicate that it was was originally purchased in Grand Junction CO, but then spent 2013 to April 2017 in Milwaukee. Something like 60K miles were put on it in WI and they reportedly use cheese brine among other things to de-ice roads.
The body is perfect...beautiful actually. No signs of corrosion at all. Many people think it's brand new it looks so good. Looks and except for the KDSS issue, it runs like a dream. It has a 4 month/5K mile warrantee, but doubt the KDSS is covered on that.
However, as you all indicate, the underside shows considerable corrosion. I think got a great deal on it, but I'll be putting it up on a jack and taking a close look at it and I'll update with what I find out.
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EEEliminator
Member
Is this from the Magnesium Chloride Colorado uses for de-icing?
I'm glad California uses sand...
I'm glad California uses sand...
Terra Firma
New member
Ive got aluminum RCI skids and they have gone through the same winter with no corrosion anywhere inside where stuff would pool.
Wish they just used sand here.
mcox522
New member
Thought I'd post here instead of starting another thread. I didn't notice anything when I changed the oil at 10,000 and am changing it at 15,000 today and noticed this. What do you all think? Normal or a leak? This is the front two bushings. I didn't notice anything coming from either front boot. Also the black stuff is gunky, not thin like fluid?
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DeepSea
New member
Thought I'd post here instead of starting another thread. I didn't notice anything when I changed the oil at 10,000 and am changing it at 15,000 today and noticed this. What do you all think? Normal or a leak? This is the front two bushings. I didn't notice anything coming from either front boot. Also the black stuff is gunky, not thin like fluid?
Have you been flexing the suspension more lately? KDSS allows 5 more inches of down travel compared to SR5, TRDP and the Limited. I'd say just continue to monitor it and if it gets worse bring it the dealer. There is a KDSS maintenance light as well that should let you know something isn't right.
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mcox522
New member
I did recently go camping with a roof top tent and the back loaded. It got some good flexing down a road to get to the camp spot. I was going to wipe off the skid plate and check it again in a couple weeks. If I notice any more I'll definitely take it in. Thanks for the feedback.
DeepSea
New member
I shot a video using a GoPro mounted on the side of the skid plate showing how KDSS flexes. Fast forward to 1:50 for the KDSS part
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PaUOahy7S8s?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
DeepSea
New member
Also this is an awesome article about KDSS from 4x4 Australia:
https://www.4x4australia.com.au/reviews/road-tests/1606/toyota-prado-kdss-test
mcox522
New member
Great video, and thanks for the help!
Jetboy
New member
Doing it for the gram! LOL
