I feel the vibration through the steering wheel when I am accelerating at all speeds. It is more of a cylical vibration at different "torque"/rpm levels, and the only place I feel it is in the steering wheel. I felt it on a Lexus GX470 I drove and on the other 2 - 4runners I drove before I bought mine. I am sure everyone has this condition. Just wondering if anyone has gotten Toyota to address it or is it just normal and you need to live with it? I'm not saying that your hands would get numb from the vibration, but it is noticable and it seems like the steering is not isolated from the engine as much as it should be???
Steering Vibration does everyone have it?
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Mark said:
All of the fourth generations that I drove including the Lexus had it. All had different tire brands and all were V8's one of the 4runners was a SR5 one was a limited and my sport. This vibration in noticed while excelerating through 1700-1800 rpm's I don't notice anything if I am cruising at any rpm. It seems like more of a harmonic at that rpm. Hard to explain but I'm trying. So Mark you don't get any harmonic/vibration at 1700-1800 rpm when you are excelerating?
Mine developed the "1700 RPM" vibration at about 400 miles. Things have since gotten worse - there's now another vibration mode around 1200 RPM. I also now have the 60-65 mph cyclical vibration that some GX470 owners complain about. It is sort of like a twin engined light plane when the engines aren't synchronized properly. This started after about 6000 miles.
The dealership implied that Toyotal was working on a fix. I have sent a complaint to Toyota but got no response of value. (There was once talk of a TSB being done by the end of May.)
There is a TSB for the GX470. One would think that Toyota couldn't get away with fixing it only for the Lexus version.
I am considering how to escalate my compaints. It has been in the shop twice for the "1700 RPM" vibration, but the dealer can't fix it if Toyota won't tell them how. Sometimes these things take a while. I'd be willing to wait if I knew for sure they were going to fix it. It took about a year for Lexus to stop the glove box door rattle in my 99 RX300. It was so annoying I drove with the door open.
The dealership implied that Toyotal was working on a fix. I have sent a complaint to Toyota but got no response of value. (There was once talk of a TSB being done by the end of May.)
There is a TSB for the GX470. One would think that Toyota couldn't get away with fixing it only for the Lexus version.
I am considering how to escalate my compaints. It has been in the shop twice for the "1700 RPM" vibration, but the dealer can't fix it if Toyota won't tell them how. Sometimes these things take a while. I'd be willing to wait if I knew for sure they were going to fix it. It took about a year for Lexus to stop the glove box door rattle in my 99 RX300. It was so annoying I drove with the door open.
Welcome to our world. It's the only drawback on an otherwise exceptional vehicle. I know Lexus has a fix, and I have begun the arbitration process with Toyota trying to convince them 4Runner owners aren't less important just because we were smart enough not to drop 55K for the same drivetrain!
There is a fix, and the upcoming '05's will have it. That's what I'll be driving, on Toyota's dime, if they won't step up and fix my truck...
Let us know if you hear first about a TSB.
There is a fix, and the upcoming '05's will have it. That's what I'll be driving, on Toyota's dime, if they won't step up and fix my truck...
Let us know if you hear first about a TSB.
This must not be a big deal, since there has been at this point 83 members that has viewed this thread and only two guys that have noticed the vibration and only one guy that is really having a problem with vibration. I am sure that Lexus did the TSB because it is a Lexus. I bet we get the "that is normal" its a truck response. What do you bet. I doubt I will even bring the problem up to the dealer unless it gets as bad as Brewster's 
04bkrunner
New member
Pitbull said:This must not be a big deal, since there has been at this point 83 members that has viewed this thread and only two guys that have noticed the vibration and only one guy that is really having a problem with vibration. I am sure that Lexus did the TSB because it is a Lexus. I bet we get the "that is normal" its a truck response. What do you bet. I doubt I will even bring the problem up to the dealer unless it gets as bad as Brewster's
I got the 60-65 acc. vibration, but only noticed it after i lifted. I don't think the dealership will work with me
My '03 V8 has the "1700 rpm" buzzy steering wheel vibration, as did both of the demos I drove before purchasing.
It is very mild and I no longer notice it at all. I wish I could say the same about the seat squeaks and headliner rattle, both of which I have and both of which are intensely annoying!
It is very mild and I no longer notice it at all. I wish I could say the same about the seat squeaks and headliner rattle, both of which I have and both of which are intensely annoying!
Ghost Rider
New member
3 weeks, 1100 miles on mine, no vibration at any speed up to 90MPH...
i've got the vibration too. an '04 model. have it at 1800-2000 rpms. started at 4000 or so miles. dealer put this issue through to toyota, and i haven't heard back. they tried to blame it on my bfg at kos, but those went on some 3500 miles before. i have the tsb and repair process on paper from lexus, as my uncle-in-law is a lexus service manager and got me the lexus tsb. i plan on heading back to toyota to have this issue addressed until they fix it. i figure once the '05s come out and no longer have it, that they will fix ours. i agree, it is not as annoying as the numerous rattles i have had in various places.
I fixed mine
What I did was adjust the tilt steering wheel angle. Some others with the problem might also try this. I just adjusted mine up one click and it made the problem disappear (new angle works great/ better than the old angle for driving comfort). I'm sure it has something to do with angles and harmonics. Don't really care why it worked it did work and I didn't have to have Toyota touch it.
What I did was adjust the tilt steering wheel angle. Some others with the problem might also try this. I just adjusted mine up one click and it made the problem disappear (new angle works great/ better than the old angle for driving comfort). I'm sure it has something to do with angles and harmonics. Don't really care why it worked it did work and I didn't have to have Toyota touch it.
Steering vibration------V8 FWD 2003-4
Can't wait to try it!! The TSB was to be issued by June 1st.
I'll believe it when I see it!! I also agree that the problem is worse during the cold months. You ought to feel my a car when I haul a small Pop-up trailer. I'll be calling the Customer Relations
Dept. again this week. My claim is now 10 month's old now. I'll report. dick13
Can't wait to try it!! The TSB was to be issued by June 1st.
I'll believe it when I see it!! I also agree that the problem is worse during the cold months. You ought to feel my a car when I haul a small Pop-up trailer. I'll be calling the Customer Relations
Dept. again this week. My claim is now 10 month's old now. I'll report. dick13
Front end vibrations.
This I do know. When Toyota Engineering told my dealer to remove the front axels the problem disappeared!!! They also mentioned to the dealer that there was a front axel angle problem. If you look at the axels from the front--you'll notice a
15-20 degree angle upward from the engine to the wheel assy.
I looked at a new 04 Limited the other day and the axel was almost straight! I would think running with the axel a such an angle on normal level travel would put the universals at work all the time an who knows how unstable the front suspension might be with the axels at the attitude. Toyota mentioned the axel angle problem---not me! The Technical rep. was in contact with the Engineering Department last October and the were trying different thrust washers and shims in the spider gear-Differential assy. I still think they wanted to fix the cars on the production line first--maybe they will get to us yet. dick13
This I do know. When Toyota Engineering told my dealer to remove the front axels the problem disappeared!!! They also mentioned to the dealer that there was a front axel angle problem. If you look at the axels from the front--you'll notice a
15-20 degree angle upward from the engine to the wheel assy.
I looked at a new 04 Limited the other day and the axel was almost straight! I would think running with the axel a such an angle on normal level travel would put the universals at work all the time an who knows how unstable the front suspension might be with the axels at the attitude. Toyota mentioned the axel angle problem---not me! The Technical rep. was in contact with the Engineering Department last October and the were trying different thrust washers and shims in the spider gear-Differential assy. I still think they wanted to fix the cars on the production line first--maybe they will get to us yet. dick13
MAC4Runner
New member
hre814 said:
I apologize for the thread hi-jack, but how do you like your BFGs HRE814?
ToolmanJohn
New member
No Vibration on mine
Either my 4runner doesn't exhibit the problem, or I can't feel it. But I am a nitpick about small issues like noises and vibrations so I'm pretty sure my truck doesn't do it. I have rotated the tires once so far and no noticeable difference in ride quality.
Either my 4runner doesn't exhibit the problem, or I can't feel it. But I am a nitpick about small issues like noises and vibrations so I'm pretty sure my truck doesn't do it. I have rotated the tires once so far and no noticeable difference in ride quality.
04bkrunner
New member
Re: Front end vibrations.
Yep, I saw that wierd reverse angel too, however I was hoping Toyota was just thinking ahead for those who will lift:bouncy2:
With the 3 inch revteck, my angles are still about the same, but instead of the driveshaft making an uphill connection to the wheel its now going downhill to the wheel, if that makes sense.
dick13 said:
Yep, I saw that wierd reverse angel too, however I was hoping Toyota was just thinking ahead for those who will lift:bouncy2:
With the 3 inch revteck, my angles are still about the same, but instead of the driveshaft making an uphill connection to the wheel its now going downhill to the wheel, if that makes sense.
I tried the steering wheel adjustment suggested earlier, and the vibration persisted. You're lucky if that took care of your problems.
MAC4Runner, the BFGs are great! Don't do tons of off roading therefore wanted something that was more road friendly. Expensive, but great!
Herman
MAC4Runner, the BFGs are great! Don't do tons of off roading therefore wanted something that was more road friendly. Expensive, but great!
Herman
