The worst part of a 3rd gen?

[tystaco]

My vote is the transmission dip stick. I literally take more time to pull, clean, replace, and pull again to check fluid level than I do to drain and fill the transmission. Having a transmission tube snake in multiple planes using a flat metal ribbon is a poor design.

 

[JayRolla]

My vote is the transmission dip stick. I literally take more time to pull, clean, replace, and pull again to check fluid level than I do to drain and fill the transmission. Having a transmission tube snake in multiple planes using a flat metal ribbon is a poor design.

Its more common than you think. Its been an issue on many vehicles.

I think the starter is a lot worse than the dip stick. Or even the oil filter location.

 

[I'mStock]

My vote is the transmission dip stick. I literally take more time to pull, clean, replace, and pull again to check fluid level than I do to drain and fill the transmission. Having a transmission tube snake in multiple planes using a flat metal ribbon is a poor design.

Does your dipstick not want the friggin go in the hole either!? I bought a new one because it bothered me so much but the new one does the same thing.

 

[Killer Squirrel]

I've actually gotten used to it now. When I first check my tranny fluid it took me forever to get the damn dipstick back in - I thought it was broken. Since then I have learned to just wipe it after checking and push it in with my fingers a couple inches above the top of the fill tube. Just twist it in and keep pushing it by relocating your fingers just above the fill tube so it doesn't bend on ya.

 

[RAD4Runner]

Potentially Fatal Lower Ball-Joint failure...

Potentially Fatal Lower Ball-Joint failure...
Design detail they overlooked when they transitioned from torsion bar on upper control arm to strut on lower control arm. The latter puts the LBJ under tension (forces pulling it apart), as opposed to UBJ under compression (forces pushing it together) with the torsion bar.


From Above post...

 

[LittleCaesar]

Waiting for the coolant to reach 130F before shifting into third gear.....

 

[Acorn22]

How if I have the sunroof open and it starts raining and I start to close it, it will stop halfway and I have to press it a second time for it to close fully. Or even that I still have 4.5 gallons left when the fuel light comes on

 

[Mados]

Power and fuel capacity.

 

[Moonbandit]

That it takes my money since I want to get rid of all the maintenance flaws of a 15 year old vehicle

Ugh

 

[DK327]

Leaking rear axle seals, strawberry milkshake, LBJ's, steering rack, phantom front end rattle, taco lean, bad gas mileage, lack of power, exhaust fumes in vehicle with windows open, rusty frame, bad power antenna, insufficient interior/dash lighting, having to use expensive OEM parts...

With that said, STILL love my 3rd gen!

 

[JBDaddy]

How if I have the sunroof open and it starts raining and I start to close it, it will stop halfway and I have to press it a second time for it to close fully.

I just replaced my broken sunroof motor and thought that was a quirk of my new one. Holy crap, they all do that?

 

[DK327]

I just replaced my broken sunroof motor and thought that was a quirk of my new one. Holy crap, they all do that?

I think that's intentional, somehow... Just recently got a Toyota RAV4 for the gf and it also does it.

 

[brian4t]

I just replaced my broken sunroof motor and thought that was a quirk of my new one. Holy crap, they all do that?

Yes, it's a safety feature. It sucks.

Yet the rear windows roll all the way down.....

 

[nc-grayson]

rear upper shock mounts.

albeit, there are easy work-arounds out there regarding swapping rear shocks.

but the mount's are poorly engineered in a way that promote rust and offer little to no access from the factory.

 

[nc-grayson]

or the fact that the drivers seat naturally angles the driver's legs ever so slightly laterally towards the door in this orientation: \ \

while the ergonomics of the pedals require the drivers legs, ankles, and feet to be angled ever so slightly towards the center in this orientation: / /

 

[nc-grayson]

or the fact that the center console arm rest width was designed for ten year old's arm diameters.

I could go on for days

I love my 3rd gen forever, but when you DD these things at a higher mileage rate than the average consumer, it's easy to recognize minor nuisances that just tick you off.

 

[ckramos]

front row seat belt retractor thingy. it doesn't do it's job. I bang it once a week and I gots the the dents to show for it.

 

[trailbikerider]

Rust, rust and more rust. Absolutely pathetic the way these things rust.

 

[spoonsports86]

starter location and removal

rear shock mounts in the most awkward and uncomfortable location not to mention no room to work

lowerball joints

 

[tystaco]

front row seat belt retractor thingy. it doesn't do it's job. I bang it once a week and I gots the the dents to show for it.

Dude, you can clean that mechanism and get it working again....Check the maintenance page for the write up before you break something.