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Toyota 4Runner Vibrations

164 messages,  Last post on Jan 09, 2012 at 11:13 AM

You are in the Toyota 4Runner Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota 4Runner, Tires, Wheels, Suspension, SUV

Messages Page 12 of 17

#111 of 164 Re: My 2007 Sport V8 4Runner has big time resonant vibration! [climb14er] by bdemarco38

May 11, 2007 (8:50 am)

Replying to: climb14er (May 09, 2007 9:13 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!

#112 of 164 Re: My 2007 Sport V8 4Runner has big time resonant vibration! [climb14er] by jim58

May 11, 2007 (10:18 am)

Replying to: climb14er (May 09, 2007 9:13 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

#113 of 164 TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" by drex1

May 28, 2007 (6:35 am)

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!

#114 of 164 Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [drex1] by jim58

May 29, 2007 (8:05 am)

Replying to: drex1 (May 28, 2007 6:35 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

#115 of 164 Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [drex1] by jim58

May 29, 2007 (9:07 am)

Replying to: drex1 (May 28, 2007 6:35 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

#116 of 164 Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [jim58] by jim58

May 30, 2007 (9:59 am)

Replying to: jim58 (May 29, 2007 9:07 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 wa5tefyahoo.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

#117 of 164 Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [jim58] by jim58

May 30, 2007 (10:12 am)

Replying to: jim58 (May 30, 2007 9:59 am)
I check with the NHTSB (I think that is right), anyway the National Highway bunch and found out that if they had enough complaints filed with THEM on the same model, they would start the process to require a recall of all those models!
 
SO Folks, if you are as irritated at Toyota's irritating policy of ignoring this problem, please log on to their site and let's stir up enough complaints to cause a fleet wide recall! I would love to be the one to get to have my vehicle fixed finally after 4 years and almost 50,000 miles of driving with this steering wheel vibration. The web site for them is http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/. The lady I spoke with was very helpful and stayed on the phone with me a good 30 minutes trying to get me the information I needed.
 
Again, please log on to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and post your complaints and let's get a recall on these vehicles.
 
Jim

#118 of 164 Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [jim58] by dennisv

May 30, 2007 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: jim58 (May 30, 2007 10:12 am)
I just bought an 07 Sport Edition 4x4 V8 and of course it has the vibration at 378 miles. I guess I bought into the Toyota quality spiel. Anyway, before spending hours messing around with the dealership I thought I would check the web for a message board such as this and look what I have found....
 
Here is what I am going to do and would recommend others to do as well. First go to the NHTSA site and file a complaint, then I am going to print up fliers and leave one on every 4runner I come across in a parking lot advising them to log a complaint if they are experiencing this issue. It seems drastic, and I'm not big fan of leaving this kind of "junk" on someone's car, but the only way to get a "grass roots" movement is through information dispersion.
 
Dennis

#119 of 164 Re: TSB for Vibrations "Highway Speed Steering 'Flutter'" [dennisv] by jim58

May 31, 2007 (8:20 am)

Replying to: dennisv (May 30, 2007 4:14 pm)
Dennis, that's an unique idea, worth a try for sure. According to the NSTHA, they will start process for a recall if there are enough complaints! Also, yesterday, my wife was in another city and I had her carry the vehicle by the local Toyota dealer there. This service manager probably had already been tipped off by Toyota higher ups what to do as when he drove the vehicle, he said he could NOT feel the vibration. This is the same SM that checked my serial number against the TSB to discover that it was built before a change that was supposed to stop this steering wheel 'flutter'.
 
I asked what the breakdown of charges were and it was about $700 for a new steering wheel (yeah) and about 200 for a relief spring and all day labor totaling $1200! My intent was to have the work done and if it fixed the problem, then go back after Toyota to pay me back but after the test drive fiasco, I decided not to fool with it. I Googled for Lemon Law Attorneys and got several links to see if one would take my case. I'll post the results but I am not dropping this yet.
 
Jim

#120 of 164 Re: My 2007 Sport V8 4Runner has big time resonant vibration! [climb14er] by plippy

May 31, 2007 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: climb14er (May 09, 2007 9:13 pm)
Because of this forum I immediately went to some highway driving and, lo and behold, had the "shimmy" that you guys were talking about. I immediately emailed Toyota on Toyota.com and they emailed the local dealership who then called me to set up an appointment to check this out. They replaced the Dunlops with Bridgestones and now the problem is gone (plus the Bridgestones are much better tires according to my brother who used to work in the tire business). I will keep my eyes opened to all of this and let everyone know how this progresses in the future. It is the least I could do. It makes me wonder how many people are just dealing with the vibration instead of complaining about it. You don't spend that kind of maney everyday - Toyota needs to get it right!!

Messages Page 12 of 17

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