Steering Issues - New Trail 4Runner

J

Jokulsarlon

New member
Hello,

I bought a new Trail version 4Runner back in August. I have been looking for one for a very long time, and was very fortunate to find a new one. On the way home from the dealer, I noticed that at speeds from around to 62MPH to 70MPH, the steering wheel would shake now and then. The shake was not consistent, and did not happen all the time. So I decided to take it to the dealer to have them look at it.

To make a long story short, I have taken my Trail back to the dealer 4 times for the same steering problems. The dealer has been very good in trying to help. Two different Toyota Reps on different occasions have also worked with the dealer to solve the issues. So far, they have replaced the tires (each time, they have taken my trail to a shop with a Road Force machine), wheels (swapped wheels from another 4Runner with no issues), installed a completely new entire steering rack, re-calibrated all sensors, and compared the old with new steering rack specs. Toyota also told my dealer that there are complaints coming in similar to mine with other Trail versions, certain Lexus models, and FJ Cruisers (with similar options).

I also have other issues such as a pulsating/vibrating feel in the steering wheel during turns at highway speeds, and sometimes at very low speeds (parking lot). But the issues are not consistent, and a couple of days may go by, before the issues appear again.

Has anyone else experienced steering issues? At this point, I have absolutely no idea what they plan to try next. I wish I also knew how the steering assist computers/electronics worked, as it sure seems to be the problem.

Sorry for long email.....thanks for your time.
 
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Hmmm, very strange. I thought it could be KDSS related if it were a Lexus SUV that has it, but I don't think the FJ offers that. I have run on 265 Duratracs since I got the truck, and have never felt what you described. I waited a year to do a suspension lift, and part of my hesitation was not wanting to give up how smooth it drove. Well even now the truck is as smooth as before, with zero feedback in the steering wheel. Much of my commute is at 80-85mph, and I still feel no vibrations.

Keep us posted, hope they find the problem.
 
Well since the KDSS was quite a bit more money, I did not get that option on my Trail. It is very strange. Besides the steering issues, I really love the truck and hope they can figure it out.

My Trail came with Dunlops, but then they put on Michelins. I drove a Jeep for 12 years and always had BF Goodrich All-Terrains and never any issues.
 
Jokulsarlon said:
Well since the KDSS was quite a bit more money, I did not get that option on my Trail. It is very strange. Besides the steering issues, I really love the truck and hope they can figure it out.

My Trail came with Dunlops, but then they put on Michelins. I drove a Jeep for 12 years and always had BF Goodrich All-Terrains and never any issues.
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I have the occasional shake usually within the speeds of 40mph to 60mph. I put 2500 miles on my 2011 4runner sr5 before I did anything to it and everything was perfect. Then I put on 265 duratracs on new wheels and bilsteins... then the shaking started, only occasionally. I had the tires rebalanced (road force) and only one was some small amount off. I then checked tire pressure and my e-rated duratracs were only at 35lbs, so I bumped them up to 45 and that helped the issue get better. It is less frequent now and to less of a degree and a narrower speed band. Its most promenent usually at about 50mph and most obvious if you let go of the wheel. I also have noticed that I live off of a short gravel road and have gravel driveways and the duratracs love to bring some of the rocks with them in the tread. I think this throws the balance off and is cause for the shake at least some of the time. I also think that if the tires sit long enough they flat spot. These are just hunches, but one thing is for sure...this toyota sure is sensitive to these things, but I love it anyway.
 
Hey, I appreciate the replies you guys have had to my steering issues with my Trail. I agree that the 4Runner sure seems sensitive to any changes in the wheels. My Trail rides very differently when the original Dunlops were replaced with the Michelins. I expected some road feedback in the steering wheel and don't mind it. But when the mechanic and I went for a ride, even he was surprised by the intermittent vibrations in the steering wheel. I'm glad to hear the feedback on the SR5 too.
 
I have some shaking around 62 and 67 mph in my '10 TE with 17K. Nothing severe, nothing I haven't experienced in every vehicle I've owned. It is more noticeable after the TE has been sitting, a change in the weather or a tire rotation.
 
Sometimes the shaking is not bad and only slight. But there are times where you can see the steering wheel moving. At other times, during turns at 60 MPH and higher, I get a constant vibration/pulsating feel in steering wheel. It goes away when I get on a straight part of the highway. Even making lane changes at highway speeds, you can feel the steering wheel vibrate/pulsate until you straighten out your turn.

I don't really know how the variable flow rack pinion steering works. But it just seems as though there is something not right with the electronics/hydraulics that control the steering. Especially since they have installed a new steering rack, wheels, and tires.

Thanks much for the reply and help.
 
sounds like a lemon law issue. 4 times? depends on your state, but maybe they need to give you another car.

I've got 10K on my '11 TE, no shake at all.
 
on the 120 Toyota vehicles, there is a known issue with the torque converter causing a shake when going in and out of overdrive. one way to test if this may be your issue....when the vehicle does it again, shift out of OD...if it stops you may have Torque Converter Shutter. It is very common for it to be blamed on steering, and is seldom figured out quickly.

this may not be your issue at all, however we have seen it time and time again over the last several years and it takes good luck to find the problem. Most common fix is to add a friction agent to your transmission...in your case I would not let them off that easy.

The AW transmission is a great tranny, however, some things do slip throught the cracks and you have to take action.

hope this helps...FYI my limited had this problem, it was out of warrant so i setteled for the additive and it is fixed...
 
Jokulsarlon said:
Sometimes the shaking is not bad and only slight. But there are times where you can see the steering wheel moving. At other times, during turns at 60 MPH and higher, I get a constant vibration/pulsating feel in steering wheel. It goes away when I get on a straight part of the highway. Even making lane changes at highway speeds, you can feel the steering wheel vibrate/pulsate until you straighten out your turn.

I don't really know how the variable flow rack pinion steering works. But it just seems as though there is something not right with the electronics/hydraulics that control the steering. Especially since they have installed a new steering rack, wheels, and tires.

Thanks much for the reply and help.
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hmmm, mine has never vibrated or pulsed...just a little shake and you can see it if you arent touching the wheel. It never does it while turning though...I do know that.
 
The steering wheel on my Trail shakes/pulsates, but then so did every SR5 I test drove. The 4R is definitely more of a loose truck-like feel rather than a tight/firm unibody car-like feel.
 
Agreed. I'm in a TE as well and am running BFG KO's @ 43 psi. The feedback from the steering wheel on the highway is basically ZERO. No vibrations, shimmies, or shakes.

OP, I feel your pain! My last vehicle had a vibration between 67 and 73 - that was annoying!


westwind77 said:
Guess I am one of the lucky ones. Mine is so smooth on the highway, not even the slightest tremble.
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Could it be the engine mount problem?
I have a Honda Odyssey which had steering wheel vibration only at some certain range of highway speed. Later it turned out to be the rear engine mount is bad. The vibration is gone after dealer replaced the rear engine mount.
 
My experience so far: I am in a 2011 TE w/ KDSS, 7500 miles, stock Bridgestones (passenger tires) at 42 lb. No steering problems, just the brake dive issue. I am still trying to rationalize spending $1,110 + labor for Bilsteins to fix a problem I consider to be a Toyota safety issue.

I hope to get 20K miles out of the stock tires then go to Michelins as I have never had a bad one in 25 years on many vehicles. Soft sidewalls probably no good for off road use, but they are great on road esp. rain and snow.

I hope you get your problem solved. Vibration issues a vexing.
 
Hey, thanks much for all your replies and help. It sounds as though no one is really having steering issues with their Trail's. I expect some sort of road feel when I am driving, but this causes the wheel to visibly shake. I'll just keep trying to work with my dealer.....they have been really trying to help best they can. As for the dealer I bought the truck from, they have not even called me back (I had to buy the truck in a different state, as its really hard to find the Trail version here in the midwest).
 
bluebullet said:
My experience so far: I am in a 2011 TE w/ KDSS, 7500 miles, stock Bridgestones (passenger tires) at 42 lb. No steering problems, just the brake dive issue. I am still trying to rationalize spending $1,110 + labor for Bilsteins to fix a problem I consider to be a Toyota safety issue.
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It seems a lot of owners experience this on a regular basis. I guess I was lucky to only smash my brakes once in the first 12 months of ownership, and that was to stop at a yellow light with a patrol car sitting at the intersection. Yes the nose went down, but the truck stayed perfectly straight and in control. I was very impressed with the stopping distance.

What exactly do you consider unsafe about the nose dive?

Reality is most of us are well over 5,000 pounds at all times, and this truck should not be driven like a car. Nobody ever leaves safe following distance on a highway, and the problem gets magnified in a vehicle like this.
 
trail shake

Jokulsarlon said:
Hey, thanks much for all your replies and help. It sounds as though no one is really having steering issues with their Trail's. I expect some sort of road feel when I am driving, but this causes the wheel to visibly shake. I'll just keep trying to work with my dealer.....they have been really trying to help best they can. As for the dealer I bought the truck from, they have not even called me back (I had to buy the truck in a different state, as its really hard to find the Trail version here in the midwest).
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Where did you end up finding the Trail you bought? Just curious

I had lifted and put larger/heavier M/T tires on mine almost immediately. I definitely noticed a shake between 60 -70 so I pulled them off and rebalanced them myself and it is MUCH better, but there is still a slight shimmy occasionally. M/T tires do wear in and occasionally need to be rebalanced. I only have about 4500 miles on them now.
 
As you stated, there are several threads about this on the FJ Cruiser forums where they mention a steering wheel shake at around 60 - 65 mph.

They all seem to suggest that it's a wheel balancing issue and suggest road force balancing using the Hunter wheel balancing machine.

However, on the FJ forums, it doesn't seem like there is a true "fix" as many people still have the shake after wheel balancing.

I'm curious to hear more about this...but hopefully you can resolve this issue.
 
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