- #107 of 156
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4 Runner Steering Wheel Vibrations
by jim58
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May 02, 2007 (9:13 am)
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Well, some of you are missing the point on my problem. The vibration is not a wheel issue, as in out of balance, etc. The vibration is better described as a resonant vibration that is sensitive to the engine RPM both under load and while coasting. The vibration can be felt ONLY in the steering wheel. The "Independent Arbitrator" who rode in the vehicle would not touch the steering wheel to feel the vibration during our Lemon Law hearing. If one were to describe the problem as a buzzing in the steering wheel, then it might make more sense. I encourage anyone who has a 4 Runner to check this out because I drove two other vehicles, a 4 x 2 with a V6 engine and a 4 x 4 with the V8 like mine. The 'buzzing' is so bad that on a long trip, my hands go numb from holding to the buzzing wheel. There is no noise noticeable and the buzzing cannot be felt anywhere but the steering wheel.
I hope we can encourage Toyota to recall these vehicles since they know of the problem as a 'characteristic of that model'.
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- #108 of 156
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Re: 4 Runner Steering Wheel Vibrations [jim58]
by nedzel
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May 04, 2007 (7:08 am)
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Replying to: jim58 (May 02, 2007 9:13 am)
"Well, some of you are missing the point on my problem."
I've had no such vibrations during the 50,000+ miles I've put on my 4Runner.
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- #109 of 156
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Re: 4Runner with vibration [petematt]
by jim58
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May 04, 2007 (9:10 am)
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Replying to: petematt (Jan 13, 2007 8:34 pm)
Just a comment on the arbitration hearing. . . The "independent" arbitrator showed up at the dealer where the hearing was held. Toyota did not even bother to attend but did have two people on the speaker phone. I presented my case along with all my data and the idiot did not even remember all the details of what I said as referenced to his reply to my accusations later in letter form that he did not conduct a fair hearing. The test drive was a joke. He said that the arbitration firm did not allow them to drive the vehicles!!! If you can imagine that, that they are not allowed to DRIVE THEM? What kind of opinion can they obtain by just riding in the vehicle? During the 'test drive', he did place his hand on the top of the steering hand and then immediately removed it because he did not want us to wreck! After we lost the hearing, I appealed it to Toyota and the arbitration firm only to be ignored. The individual who made the decision, had a statement that I obtained a copy of, which was full of errors and misrepresentations which I refuted in detail with photos and written proof, all of which was refused to be made part of the file because he had made his decision and there was no appeal. They said the only appeal was through the legal system which I found out would cost about as much as the $40,000 I spent on this Lemon.
I say, don't buy a 4 Runner until Toyota recalls all of those with this problem and fixes them. I do own a Tundra which I love to drive and have over 80,000 miles on it with only a battery replacement being needed. I will not own another Toyota unless they fix this problem which they admit is "characteristic of this model". Yeah, right!
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- #110 of 156
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My 2007 Sport V8 4Runner has big time resonant vibration!
by climb14er
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May 09, 2007 (8:13 pm)
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I've got only 1500 miles after five months and at approx 900 miles, the resonant vibrations through the steering column and gas pedal began.
The basically new 4Runner sits in my garage as it's 'damaged' from the factory due to poor design.
Let me say that I've owned Toyotas for 30 years and I was under the assumption the new 4Runner for $36,000 CASH would be like all the others.
NOT!
Toyota IMHO is becoming like GM, Ford and Chrysler in that they say they're big on customer service but when it comes to handling this resonant vibration, all I got from virtually everyone at Toyota, top to middle to bottom was NOTHING!
DO NOT buy a 4Runner until they do a TSB (technical service bulletin) to fix the problem! Toyota has the means to fix it and they do so with the LX470 but they won't fix the 4Runner because it's much less expensive and less profitable than the Lexus counterpart.
This is the first time I've ever posted anything negative about Toyota but they have been running me hard, trying to b.s. their way into having me 'go away'.
But I will not!
I'm here to tell you to NOT buy the vehicle!
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- #111 of 156
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Re: My 2007 Sport V8 4Runner has big time resonant vibration! [climb14er]
by bdemarco38
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May 11, 2007 (7:50 am)
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Replying to: climb14er (May 09, 2007 8:13 pm)
I bought a Brand New 2005 4Runner Limited ($42,000)which rode smooth as glass until the 10,000 mi mark when the Toyota technicians felt the need to balance the tires. Ever since then it has been a nightmare..{{{VIBRATIONS}}}.They tried 3 times to balance...nothing. Steering wheel still vibrates. Just bought a new set of Yokohamas to replace the Dunlaps...still vibrations...worse actually. I too have always owned and loved Toyotas...NO MORE. I think it's time to switch to German automobiles!  
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- #112 of 156
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Re: My 2007 Sport V8 4Runner has big time resonant vibration! [climb14er]
by jim58
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May 11, 2007 (9:18 am)
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Replying to: climb14er (May 09, 2007 8:13 pm)
I will keep checking back here to see if you get your problem resolved and I will try the same if you are successful. As I posted, I finally filed for arbitration and got nowhere. The independent' arbitrator was so much pro Toyota that it was not worth the effort. In the 'test drive', he would/could not drive the vehicle!!! Now my question is, why is an arbitrator for a car problem not allowed to drive the car?? Does not make any sense at all but of course, that keeps in line with Toyota's policy on this problem. They all know they do have a problem and the service manager told me so at first, then after we lost the hearing, he never heard of such a problem. I am sure the Toyota district reps told him to shut up. I have a file about 4 inches thick of correspondence to and from Toyota and their so called independent arbitration company. They all seemed so eager to help solve the problem that they never heard of before until I lost the hearing. Then they completely refused to reply or take my phone calls. I tried an attorney who specialized in these type cases but he refused my case I think due to the pile of paperwork he would have had to sort through to determine how to file. Anyway, I am now approaching nearly 40,000 miles and still have the problem which is getting worse. All the posts I see on this blog seem to refer to the vibration as a wheel balance problem which IT IS NOT! The problem is more of a buzzing than a wheel shake and I cannot feel it anywhere else except in the steering wheel.
So, if anyone is successful in getting Toyota to fix this problem, please post it here.
Thanks,
Jim
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- #113 of 156
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TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'"
by drex1
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May 28, 2007 (5:35 am)
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I've read many posts on vibration issues through the steering wheel. I have the same problem in my 03 4Runner. Might want to check a Toyota TSB which addresses this issue:
"ST001R-05 050908 Steering - Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'". They list three possible fixes/causes: Flap spots on the Dunlop Tires, Increasing the Preload on the Steering Rack Assembly, or an Increased Mass Steering Wheel.
Hope this helps!
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- #114 of 156
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Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [drex1]
by jim58
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May 29, 2007 (7:05 am)
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Replying to: drex1 (May 28, 2007 5:35 am)
Thanks for that tip. What exactly is the "preload on the steering rack assembly"? Again, the problem is not a 'shaking' wheel as in a tire problem(I'm on my 3 set of tires) but a buzz of sorts, as if a grinder was held against the wheel, but only at certain engine RPM's.
Thanks,
Jim
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- #115 of 156
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Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [drex1]
by jim58
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May 29, 2007 (8:07 am)
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Replying to: drex1 (May 28, 2007 5:35 am)
I called three local dealers and asked about the TSB. No one could tell immediately what it was about but one service manager did tell me that my vehicle was made PRIOR to a production change that changed the gear box to cure "a problem with vibration". He could/would not tell me more.
Apparently Toyota DOES know about this problem and is trying to fix it without having to do a mass recall.
Jim
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- #116 of 156
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Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [jim58]
by jim58
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May 30, 2007 (8:59 am)
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Replying to: jim58 (May 29, 2007 8:07 am)
Followup: After talking to the NEW service manager at the dealership where we bought the 4 Runner, I found out that there must be something in that TSB mentioned above that they don't want the public, especially me, to know! I asked for a fax copy of it and the manager said he would have to consult with his boss first. When I called back this morning, he was very cocky and said he was NOT faxing me anything!
If anyone has a copy of this TSB Number ST001R-05 050908 Steering , please email it to me at wa5tef yahoo.com or post a reply here with phone number and I'll call you. This is beginning to look like another big coverup of something that could cost Toyota big bucks!
Thanks,
Jim
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