2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Complaints

Noticed the frame on the passenger side of the vehicle is rusting and I’m concerned about a safety issue. I know there was a rust-related class action on earlier model Toyota’s. The rust is most prevalent on the solder joints, which has me concerned about driving safety.

'The "KDSS" (kinetic dynamic suspension system) valve located on the frame under the driver's door had corroded to the point where the oil in the system had begun to leak out. The warning light did come on the dashboard days prior to the leak. Vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership, where they assessed there was low pressure in the system. The service advisor advised that if the system loses all the fluid, the suspension and handling may be affected when steering or braking at high speeds or when making sharp turns.

Steering wheel shake and vibration at approximately 55-65mph. Alignment and multiple wheel balancing appointments have not fixed this problem.

This is our third Toyota 4Runner with the "X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension System". There has been some type of failure of this system on all 3 of the 4Runners we have owned. The latest problem with this suspension system on our 2015 4Runner was discovered during a Toyota dealership service appointment at 42,091 miles. It was recommended the full X-REAS system, front and rear shocks with lines and actuators be completely replaced since both front shocks are leaking fluid at a cost of $4,000. Since this is our third 4Runner with this suspension and related problems it is our fear that this suspension system might fail when driving and possibly cause an incident with who knows what could happen. We have brought this to the attention of the Toyota Customer Experience Center and in communication with them they offered to minimally assist financially with repairs, but provided no acknowledgement as to our experience with three 4Runners and this problem plagued suspension system we have encountered. We declined their assistance since we felt repairing this system and possibly in two or three years being faced with similar repair bills it would be a waste of money on their part as well as ours. In the meantime we continue to drive this vehicle as we need it and we are hopeful that our safety will not be compromised.

Toyota 4 runner had a recall for the fuel pump. I have been having starting issues with it ever since. The power is good and the starter tries to turn the vehicle over. But the vehicle won't start. I have taken it to multiple locations for service through out the chicago land area. Also once the vehicle finally does start. The R.P.M.s will suddenly increase and decrease to the point that the vehicle turns off while in drive. I can provide print outs when the vehicle gets fixed, if ever. I purchased the vehicle as CPO.

THE FUEL PUMP FAILED DURING DRIVING WHICH WAS DESCRIBED IN A RECALL BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX OR REIMBURSE THE REPAIR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED KERRY TOYOTA SERVICE FLORENCE (6050 HOPEFUL CHURCH RD, FLORENCE, KY 41042; (859) 371-1518) AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER'S SIDE LOCK ACTUATOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

MY CHILDREN AND I ALMOST DIED TWICE! 4 RUNNER ALMOST CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. 9/24/20, 6:15 PMISH, VEHICLE IN MOTION FOR APPROXIMATELY OVER AN HOUR, 70MPH CRUISE CONTROL SET, BEGINNING TO CLIMB UP A LARGE MOUNTAIN WESTBOUND INTERSTATE 8. ENGINE HESITATES/STALLS BRIEFLY, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT, CAR SHUDDERED, WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ONLY LASTED SECONDS. AT A SLOWER SPEED ENGINE BACK UP AND ALL WAS FINE, ASSUMED IT WAS NOT A MAJOR ISSUE. CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS AT SAME HIGHER SPEEDS AND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. 9/26/20, AROUND 6:30 PM, VEHICLE IN MOTION FOR OVER AN HOUR, ABOUT 70MPH FLOW OF TRAFFIC, NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL, FLAT ROAD, EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 8, LEFT LANE OF 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC. ENGINE STALLS/HESITATES FOR ABOUT 10 LONG SECONDS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALMOST RAN INTO BARRICADE ON LEFT, ALMOST RAN INTO CAR ON RIGHT, LUCKILY NO ONE BEHIND US. SAW BLACKISH SMOKE OUT REARVIEW MIRROR. LOUD SOUNDS, SHAKING AND GRINDING. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND CRYING/SCREAMING KIDS, ENGINE NO LONGER STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE TO TURN ON HAZARDS. WE ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE! SAFETY EXITED, CONTACTED TOYOTA SERVICE TO INFORM THEM. VEHICLE TOWED 161 MILES TO DEALERSHIP, THEY SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND WERE READY TO RELEASE IT TO US. BACK STORY, MOST ALL SERVICE PERFORMED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DID WHAT WAS SUGGESTED. 8/31/20 TOYOTA POWAY INSTALLED FUEL PUMP SAFETY RECALL (PRIOR TO THIS I HAD NO ISSUE, THIS WAS PREVENTATIVE) A WEEK LATER ENGINE LIGHT ON, ALEXANDER TOYOTA, FINDS MY SAFETY RECALLED PART WAS INCORRECTLY SECURED/INSTALLED. THEY FIXED IT AND RETURNED THE CAR. SINCE THE FUEL PUMP SAFETY RECALL PART WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING ENGINE HESITATION/STALLS, OUR VEHICLE IS UNSAFE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OF DEATH.

I HAVE HAD 3 SETS OF TIRES ON MY 4RUNNER AND EACH SET HAS WORN DOWN PREMATURLY DESPITE PURCHASING GOOD QUALITY TIRES WITH A 60K MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED AT THE REQUIRED SERVICE INTERVALS AND AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY ALIGNED VERY LONG. I EVEN WENT TO MULTIPLE TIRE SHOPS TO GET DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE TIRE SHOPS THAT THE 4RUNNERS ARE DIFFICULT TO ADJUST AND DO NOT HOLD AN ALIGNMENT. EACH SET OF 60K WARRANTY TIRES ONLY LASTED 30K MILES AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN OVERALL ROUGH RIDE. WHEN I DRIVE OVER 6OK MILES PER HOUR THE SHAKE AND ROUGH RIDE IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND DISAPPOINTING IN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE THE COMPUTER SCREEN REAR VIEW CAMERA IMAGE BECOMES BLURY, THE IMAGE SHAKES RAPIDLY AND STATIC WITH NEON LINES WOULD APPEAR DISTORTING THE CAMERA FOOTAGE. IT MADE THE REAR CAMERA SCREEN VIEW UNUSABLE AND UNRELIABLE. THIS HAPPENED OFF AND ON FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND DURING EACH SERVICE I WOULD ASK TOYOTA OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY WOULD TELL ME THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER CHIP AND IT "SHOULD BE GOOD". THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO VIDEO TAPE THE PROBLEM AND SHOWED THE VIDEO TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE HAD ME SEND HIM MY VIDEO AND SAID HE NEEDED TO TALK TO CORPORATE. AFTER 2 MONTHS AND MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS TO HIM HE SAID THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER VEHICLES AT OTHER DEALERSHIPS AND CORPORATE APPROVED HIM TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER FREE OF CHARGE SINCE MY CONCERNS HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED AT MANY SERVICE INTERVALS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW LONG IT TOOK TOYOTA OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND AGREE TO DO THE REPAIR. I HAD TO GET VERY ASSERTIVE AND PERSISTENT IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO LISTEN TO MY CONCERNS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I WANTED TO DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM IN CASE ANYONE ELSE MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.