Long time lurker first time poster, I also have this issue… I have a 2012 4x2 Limited that has been problematic since the purchase. Here my story and some of the things that I am currently doing in attempt to resolve this once and for all.
I bought by truck with 8 miles in October of 2012. During the test drive when I took it onto the freeway, there was a vibration. Sale guy said it was due to the truck sitting on the lot for an extended period of time and that it would go away once the tires warmed up. Not wanting to break anything I got off the freeway and accept the answer. Ended up purchasing the truck with the stipulation that the vibration needed to be fixed. 6 hours in the “detail” department, I took it home. The vibration was still there, the intensity had been reduced. I was so excited that I accepted it and moved on with my life.
During the “Toyota Care” phase, each time I brought it in I mentioned the steering wheel vibration. Each time the root cause was “nature of the vehicle”. Fast forward to 30k and I bought it in specifically for the issue as it was getting worse. The conclusion was that a serial tag sticker on some part was causing the issue and by remove the sticker the issue was “fixed”. Took it home and still had the issue.
Fast forward to 40k miles and I was in Austin, TX on one of the toll roads doing 85 mph (legal speed limit). Got into a cross wind situation with the wagon wheels that the Limiteds have and decided that 245s were not going to cut it anymore. Upgraded to new wheels and Michelin MS/2 275s. Even after the upgrade, the same vibration.
Fast forward to now, 53k and I am sick and tired of it. What I am experiencing is a “flutter” that occurs between 55 and 70 and it intermittent. It does not change the ride of the vehicle, but the steering wheel shakes. It feels like the old Microsoft Sidewinder force feedback steering wheels…
In the last 6 months I have had the wheels/tires balanced 13 times, 4 road force balances on GSP9700s, used the Haweka adapter,… Each time the wheels balance beautifully, but still the vibration. Discount Tire, Goodyear Tire and Toyota have been involved in this process as well. Discount Tire is the one who sold me the wheels/tires and they replace the M/S2s with brand new Defender LTX MS tires just to make sure it was not the tires. Still the vibration continues...
Last Friday I took the truck into my local Toyota dealer and asked to speak to the head mechanic. We took a test drive together and he was surprised to hear the history of the truck. He first gave the default answer of “it is the wheels/tires because they are after market”. He offered to put stock limited wheels on and see if that would solve the issue. I agreed and told him that if it fixed the issue I would buy the rims/tires. He pulls around a brand new 2017 Limited and swaps the wheels/tires on to my truck. Off we go on the test drive… still vibrates. We concluded that a case with Toyota “engineering” was needed to see if this is a known problem. I mentioned the TSB for the GX460 2010-2012 and got nothing.
Come back the next day and drop the truck off so that the case can be opened. Usual song and dance… it is the after market wheels/tires. Reminded him of yesterday (stock wheels/tires) and the default answer comes back from “engineering”… not a known issue, “nature of the vehicle”.
This really pisses me off. I asked him to hook up the techstream and pull the live telemetry from the vehicle when the issue is occurring. Since “engineering” didn't recommend that it was going to cost me $149 to do that. I immediately called Toyota Customer Care and had them open a case before the truck left the dealer. Once the case was opened, got in and drove off.
My suspicion was that there was something in the software of the truck that was causing the issue. Mechanically the truck is sound and does not ride rough at all when the steering wheel is vibrating. The “flutter” feels forced, manufactured and can disappear.
So that is my story… here is what I am doing now.
I got my hands on a techstream and was able to get the data that I was looking for. What I am noticing is that if there is a difference between the steering rack sensor (Steering Angle Value) and the actual steering wheel (Steering Angle Sensor) of more than 1.2-1.5* the vibration occurs between 55 and 70mph. After 70mph the alignment specs seem to kick in and help to center the wheels. I can also correct the issue while driving if I am able to get the differential between these two values to below 1.5*.
Note the speed values are km/h not mph. 88=55mph
Vibration occurring
No vibration
To me this seems to be software related within the vehicle itself. Looking at the GX460 TSB, I suspect that Toyota is placing a mechanical fix to reduce the differential between these two sensors when the vehicle is between 55 and 70, helping steering rack center. I am not sure if there is a US Federal mandate for electronic steering feedback in the event that the steering wheel angle does not match the rack position. My thought is that the computer is trying to nudge the rack to align with the steering wheel position.
Here are my alignment specs.
Waiting to see what Toyota comes back with from the customer care case. To their defense they don't have this data yet, but will provide it to them when they call. Work for Toyota? PM me and lets talk.
Any thoughts?
