4Runner common issues?

[east_beast]

I wont disagree they hold their value probably better than any other SUV out there, a comparable new one is $42-44k, ones I am looking at are 22-26k. Another thing I have to consider is registration costs, anything 0-4 years old around here is $1k+/ year to register, after 5 years old it drops significantly.

I think I paid $23k-ish for my 2012 SR5 with 59k on the clock last summer. But I start casually shopping around well before I "need" a vehicle. I buy when I find what I want at a good deal. Current private party value is about $21.5k with 70k on the clock

 

[DMG]

The 4.0 will start having head gasket issues when it gets 150-200k on it. I've done probably 20-25 4.0 head jobs in the past couple years, all with close to 200k. They just seem to let go fast like.

Throw a handful of GM cooling system sealer tablets in and it will make it a lot longer.


one minor issue is the left front diff output bearing is weak and causes a vibration, sometimes. ECGS makes a larger bushing to correct this.

 

[east_beast]

The only real complaint I have about the platform in general is that it's going to feel dated and basic inside and it's going to drive the same. There hasn't been a major change with the platform since '09 so you're on the right track IMO looking for older with low miles. My 2012 SR5 feels like my old '01 LS Tahoe. In refinement it honestly pales in comparison to my old '04 Z71 Tahoe. I don't think they're worth what most people want. If you want one, just be patient and you'll find a deal but if you go out and pay market value you're paying too much for what you'll be getting IMO. It drives fine after a few weeks of getting used to it, but man... coming straight out of '14 Lexus IS350 F Sport that thing drove about like my old clapped out '97 TJ in comparison.

 

[Baconator]

$1k for tags???

Yea, it sucks. 2.1% of value for new, and 0.45% for anything 5-10 years or older, after 10 years its just $3. Thats just the ownership tax on it, you still have registration fees on top of that, which are like $200 a year.

 

[east_beast]

Some specific minor things...

For some reason, there's a small cooling fan in the head unit. At some point that thing will start making a racket that sounds like static and you'll eventually get tired of hearing it and you'll have to tear into the dash to snip the wire off of that fan. For me personally, the seat kills my lower back. Nothing I can do to adjust it to where it won't. I have a dollar store lumbar support in it that's fine now.

 

[Texas97]

Test drive a Gx460. The V8 goes a good ways towards solving the power issue without much of a mileage penalty. As far as “tech” it’s enough for me. Heated/ventilated seats, heated rear seat, power 3rd row, Bluetooth, nav, and traffic. I don’t care for Apple car play so don’t care its missing that. It’s extremely comfortable, quiet on the highway, rides great, and is pretty capable off-road. I just finished a 5k mile trip out west in my 177k mile unit pulling a trailer with tools, gear, a Polaris rzr, and a few mountain bikes. It has crawl, multi terrain select, and kdss suspension like a trd runner as well. Was able to run most of the popular stuff in Moab without issue. Hells gate, top of the world, poison spider, and a few other random ones. The biggest benefit to me is it has been reliable as a damn hammer. Only wrench that’s been on it for repair other than regular maintenance was a wheel bearing after developing a slight vibration after a trip through New England and northeastern Canada last year.

was going to come in here and suggest if you want a better 4 runner, go with the Lexus gX460. Wife put 200k on her 09' SR5, no real major problems. One starter, couple of shitty windsheild spray nozzles in 11 years. Great little car, seats felt cheap and we are bigger people, so all i could ever stand was about 4 hours of a road trip.

Her 2017 Lexus gx460 is miles ahead of it and with the V8 and all-time 4 wheel drive its a GREAT car. gets better mileage than the old 4.0 but it is supposed to take Premium gas.

we bought the lexus used with under 50K on the clock at almost 3 years old, and paid 5-6k less than ANY bottom of the barrel base 4runner around on the used market of a close model year. i like the side swing tailgate and the 3rd row seat option. and we got the captain chairs in the second row. CPO and have another 20k on dealer services and warranty. In non-covid years we put 25-30k miles on the vehicles and i bought an extended warranty so we are good until the odometer reads about 175,000 miles

edit: Technology wise, its miles ahead of the 09 but miles behind my '17 Ram 3500. The Ram is very user friendly and intuitive. the Lexus feels like this was the first time toyota ever put satelite radio and climate controls on a touch screen. FWIW, i prefer the climate controls to be buttons and knobs, and put all your other apps on the TV screen. and the lexus wont stay on the screen you are on, which is annoying.

 

[rockota]

Yea, it sucks. 2.1% of value for new, and 0.45% for anything 5-10 years or older, after 10 years its just $3. Thats just the ownership tax on it, you still have registration fees on top of that, which are like $200 a year.

What kind of commie crap is that? Holy shit.

 

[mano002]

We are looking for a new SUV for my wife, she has decided that she likes the 4Runner, and it seems like it fits our needs.
We've been looking at 2012-2018's with under 75k miles.
I am wondering if there are common issues with these? I tend to work on all of our stuff, is there anything stupid on these that has to go to the dealer for?

My wife drives a 2013 limited, we bought it in 2014. It has ~65,000miles on it. We bought the Limited because its full-time 4wd, so the wife doesn't have to think about when to engage 4x4. The limited has XREAS shock system, which ties the front left shock into the rear right shock, and vice-versa, so when the rear shocks wear out, you have to replace all 4. We are due to do that, so check the shocks for leaks.The only thing that has broken in our 6 years are the plastic latches that fold down the back seat. Very minor. The auto trans pisses me off, when you switch to manual mode, it downshifts out of Overdrive in one last defiant action and then sometimes won't upshift.

 

[Roc Doc]

I have a 2012. Disagree with the above on towing. It's not a tow vehicle by any means, but up to 5k pounds or so it's good.

It's not just that they're underpowered for towing, it's the relatively narrow track and 109" WB.

 

[Baconator]

was going to come in here and suggest if you want a better 4 runner, go with the Lexus gX460. Wife put 200k on her 09' SR5, no real major problems. One starter, couple of shitty windsheild spray nozzles in 11 years. Great little car, seats felt cheap and we are bigger people, so all i could ever stand was about 4 hours of a road trip.

Her 2017 Lexus gx460 is miles ahead of it and with the V8 and all-time 4 wheel drive its a GREAT car. gets better mileage than the old 4.0 but it is supposed to take Premium gas.

we bought the lexus used with under 50K on the clock at almost 3 years old, and paid 5-6k less than ANY bottom of the barrel base 4runner around on the used market of a close model year. i like the side swing tailgate and the 3rd row seat option. and we got the captain chairs in the second row. CPO and have another 20k on dealer services and warranty. In non-covid years we put 25-30k miles on the vehicles and i bought an extended warranty so we are good until the odometer reads about 175,000 miles

edit: Technology wise, its miles ahead of the 09 but miles behind my '17 Ram 3500. The Ram is very user friendly and intuitive. the Lexus feels like this was the first time toyota ever put satelite radio and climate controls on a touch screen. FWIW, i prefer the climate controls to be buttons and knobs, and put all your other apps on the TV screen. and the lexus wont stay on the screen you are on, which is annoying.

The Lexus looks much nicer, and are priced pretty similarly. The wife already put the brakes on it though, she says its too much of a yuppie mobile.
Im going to take her to look at one and see what she thinks, Im not a fan of owning a lexus either😂

 

[Texas97]

The Lexus looks much nicer, and are priced pretty similarly. The wife already put the brakes on it though, she says its too much of a yuppie mobile.
Im going to take her to look at one and see what she thinks, Im not a fan of owning a lexus either😂

You get over that when you tell people they're cheaper than a hoerunner. Because they are.

 

[arse_sidewards]

The Lexus looks much nicer, and are priced pretty similarly. The wife already put the brakes on it though, she says its too much of a yuppie mobile.

As if the 4Runner isn't

I hope you married for looks because you sure didn't get smarts.