myarrowsaim
New member
wow what a bummer
Toyota is Repurchasing my '18 4Runner TRD ORP...
- Thread starter pumacat24
- Start date
TRDORP4Runner
New member
5/6 cars you drove had steering vibration? That doesn't sound good. The ORPs were worse?
With those numbers I'm surprised they can even sell this model.
One would think that with the number of complaints on this issue Toyota would have a handle on it by now.
Wonder did OP raise this issue with the NHTSA?
I'm looking to get a '20 ORP hope this is totally resolved by then.
CavPro
Member
Anyone can file a complaint with NHTSA on-line.
NHTSA will not get you a replacement car. Over time, with enough complaints, NHTSA can force a manufacture to make some changes if warranted. IMO the OP is far too into this process to do anything except move forward as she is. Best of luck to her.
Here is NHTSA on 4runners, complaints, recall, investigations and TSB's 2018 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV AWD | NHTSA
quick checks shows that there are already some complaints posted.
NHTSA will not get you a replacement car. Over time, with enough complaints, NHTSA can force a manufacture to make some changes if warranted. IMO the OP is far too into this process to do anything except move forward as she is. Best of luck to her.
Here is NHTSA on 4runners, complaints, recall, investigations and TSB's 2018 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SUV AWD | NHTSA
quick checks shows that there are already some complaints posted.
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I agree and I’m really surprised that the issue still exists, especially as common as it appears to be. I’ve had two 4Runners and it’s been present on both. Currently I get the wobble on certain surfaces and I don’t drive above 60mph often so I accept it. But it will very likely be a factor when shopping for my next vehicle. And I worry a bit about resale.
LimeLED
New member
With these vehicles being ones that had been sitting on a dealer lot, I wonder if most of it could be due to tire flat spotting and the 4Rs having sensitive steering racks? Additionally, I wonder if the ones that felt better could have had higher tire pressure which could minimize flat spots.
When I went to pick up my 18 ORP, it had been on the lot for 4-5 days from the time it was delivered to when I drove up and bought it (it was already allocated and set aside for me; it had 3 miles on the odometer when I bought it). I did a quick test drive on the highway and don't recall ANY shimmy/vibration. I later discovered that the dealer hadn't adjusted the tire pressure from when it was shipped. All the tires were still at over 50 PSI!
I later had a great offroad shop work really hard at balancing my tires which pretty much fixed the shimmer/vibration in mine. Now I only get it a bit in the morning, but it tends to go away after some driving. I really believe that these tires seem to be really prone to developing temporary flat spots. There are the stock Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 tires.
pumacat24
New member
Yes, the ORPs were worse. I could give a tiny bit of leeway on the first ORP I drove that was embarrassingly terrible because I think it had been sitting on the lot a while, but the send one had just arrived and only had 2 miles on it when I drove it.
Yesterday I went by the dealership to see about cancelling my warranty and my sales guy told me that another sales person just had their customer come back complaining about the same issue in a brand new ORP they just bought.
It will be interesting to see if more people start coming forward, then MAYBE some Toyota engineer in Japan will find an actual fix for this.
pumacat24
New member
I will file with the NHTSA, but I already knew it wouldn't do any good.
I looked up claims on the '18 4Runners and if I recall, 5 out of 15 claims were for steering wheel vibration at 60-65mph.
I think Toyota "cares" about this issue, but they don't know how to fix it and it doesn't seem to be a massive safety hazard so they just blow it off.
thennen
New member
What's crazy in reading all this is that my 2019 TRDOR has been rock-solid since day 1. OEM tires and all, totally stock vehicle. Never a shimmy. Hope all gets resolved to your satisfaction.
This is what would makes me nervous. That someone at "T" would decide to deal with the complaints instead of making an effort to fix the issue. Could just be a minor isolated issue and no big deal or maybe much more.
I'll be searching for a '20 soon with fingers crossed.
By the way, if you don't mind mentioning which dealer did you go to?
CavPro
Member
WADR, let her get this deal done first.
I wasn't trying to imply anything negative. This dealer seamed to have been helpful. More on the positive side than negative.
pumacat24
New member
Dave Edwards Toyota and the Southeast Regional tech from Columbia, SC helped me get his issue elevated to a national status.
That being said... Good luck to the person who came back last week to DET with the same issue. I'm not sure if they will go head over heels for everyone if this is a prominent issue since they already know it can't be fixed... unless for that person it truly is a tire issue.
I would hope Toyota would stand behind every one of these cases, but I really feel quite lucky with the turnout even though I'm losing a lot of money.
I’m sure Toyota knows about the wobble. My service dept was open about it being too common on the 4Runner. But they are popular and selling well, even holding resale value. I guess it just isn’t costing Toyota dearly enough (financially or safety) to take action, which would likely be costly. I hope your new 4Runner is smooth as glass.
Hydguy
Member
There was a thread that talked about a Lexus TSB that called for replacing a spring in the steering rack, and I fixed his issue.
Why Toyota doesn't do this is beyond me. An hour of labor and a $5 spring, vs. a judgment where they could be on the hook for millions.
My '18 TRD ORP has been great. I get the vibe on a very specific part of road, but no where else. When I switch over to my FN F(x) Pro's with Flaken Wildpeaks I will be paying attention to see if it happens elsewhere.
Why Toyota doesn't do this is beyond me. An hour of labor and a $5 spring, vs. a judgment where they could be on the hook for millions.
My '18 TRD ORP has been great. I get the vibe on a very specific part of road, but no where else. When I switch over to my FN F(x) Pro's with Flaken Wildpeaks I will be paying attention to see if it happens elsewhere.
AsAkite
Member
Does anyone else with an older model 5th Gen have a history of this problem?
I ask because my 14 trail never had any steering vibration issues. I then upgraded to KO2s and TC LCAs and still no vibration (up to 100mph).
If this isn't just as prevalent an issue with older models, what changed?
Is there something different with the front end of the newer model?
I ask because my 14 trail never had any steering vibration issues. I then upgraded to KO2s and TC LCAs and still no vibration (up to 100mph).
If this isn't just as prevalent an issue with older models, what changed?
Is there something different with the front end of the newer model?
I wonder if it's KDSS related.
My 19 Off Road (non-premium non-KDSS) doesn't suffer from this either.
ElectroBoy
Banned
Nope. My 2018 ORP with KDSS does not have this problem.
CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
Per his own words the OP is “hypersensitive”. He should just drive 70 mph and enjoy life at a little faster pace.
cb1111
Member
Which "he" are you referring to?
