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Dan___
Bone Stock
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| 08/29/2003 4:55 PM |
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I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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DAVE___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 09/19/2003 8:58 PM |
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Dan, I have a similar problem that started after 12,000 miles. I have had the 4Runner back to the dealer for tire balancing. They have contacted the corporate rep who said there is no know fix at this time. Have you met with your rep yet? I plan on continuing to hound my dealer to do something rather than just say there is no fix. Please let me know what you find.
Thanks
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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Abi___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 09/23/2003 8:59 PM |
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Dave / Dan -
I have a '03 V6 Sports Edition that I bought a little over a month ago. The problem with my steering wheel shaking started right away at over 55 mph! I've taken it to the dealership twice and received multiple answers on the problem. 1st, the Service Rep. told me that it's a known issue and they don't know what to do at this time. The same day, my salesman told me that go to Dunlop without any other direction. I took it back in a couple of days later because I needed some proof that it was a Dunlop issue. At this time, I had already contacted Toyota Cust. Service so 2 different service reps looked at the truck and told me that "there is no problem, that's how the truck drives". My neighbor has the same truck and that is NOT how it drives...
I've been extremely frustrated with this problem. I've called Toyota Cust. Service 3 times and a rep from the Regional office is supposed to get in touch with me by Wednesday 9/24 so I'll let you guys know if I find anything. Please let me know if either of you are pursuing litigation on this matter.
Off subject, I found that my driver seat is a little loose so I took it in yesterday. As always, the dealers answer is "we can't find anything wrong".
Thanks,
Abi
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Dave at 9/19/2003 8:58:00 PM
Dan, I have a similar problem that started after 12,000 miles. I have had the 4Runner back to the dealer for tire balancing. They have contacted the corporate rep who said there is no know fix at this time. Have you met with your rep yet? I plan on continuing to hound my dealer to do something rather than just say there is no fix. Please let me know what you find.
Thanks
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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Alex___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 09/24/2003 10:20 PM |
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Dave, Dan, Abi
It looks like we all into the deep $$it now with our 4runners.I have a 2003 V6 sport 5700k
All my problems started on first day when I picked the car from the dealer,
driveline vibration between 50 and 55 mph, got back to dealer they rebalanced tires, it got better but not perfect. Been at the shop two times already, no progress. Couple more times I will go with Lemon law. We all paid the right price for this cars, so we should be enjoying the ride, not straggling. That is my 2 cents.
The is some complains on www.NHTSA.com site also.
Thanks,
Alex
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Abi at 9/23/2003 8:58:54 PM
Dave / Dan -
I have a '03 V6 Sports Edition that I bought a little over a month ago. The problem with my steering wheel shaking started right away at over 55 mph! I've taken it to the dealership twice and received multiple answers on the problem. 1st, the Service Rep. told me that it's a known issue and they don't know what to do at this time. The same day, my salesman told me that go to Dunlop without any other direction. I took it back in a couple of days later because I needed some proof that it was a Dunlop issue. At this time, I had already contacted Toyota Cust. Service so 2 different service reps looked at the truck and told me that "there is no problem, that's how the truck drives". My neighbor has the same truck and that is NOT how it drives...
I've been extremely frustrated with this problem. I've called Toyota Cust. Service 3 times and a rep from the Regional office is supposed to get in touch with me by Wednesday 9/24 so I'll let you guys know if I find anything. Please let me know if either of you are pursuing litigation on this matter.
Off subject, I found that my driver seat is a little loose so I took it in yesterday. As always, the dealers answer is "we can't find anything wrong".
Thanks,
Abi
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Dave at 9/19/2003 8:58:00 PM
Dan, I have a similar problem that started after 12,000 miles. I have had the 4Runner back to the dealer for tire balancing. They have contacted the corporate rep who said there is no know fix at this time. Have you met with your rep yet? I plan on continuing to hound my dealer to do something rather than just say there is no fix. Please let me know what you find.
Thanks
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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unknown___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/04/2003 9:21 AM |
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I had my 4Runner back in yesterday for another rotate and balance. The shake was still there and the service manager said he was going to check will Toyota technical to see if there were any other reported problems. I showed him some prints from this discussion board. It appears I will have to continue to work the problem. Does anyone have a address of someone higher up in Toyota that I could contact with my complaints? I have not been real impressed with the so called "quality" of Toyota. Maybe they have too much of the US market to care about their customers.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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DAVE___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/04/2003 9:23 AM |
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The previous post was from Dave in Peoria. I forgot to fill in all the blanks..
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at 10/4/2003 9:21:13 AM
I had my 4Runner back in yesterday for another rotate and balance. The shake was still there and the service manager said he was going to check will Toyota technical to see if there were any other reported problems. I showed him some prints from this discussion board. It appears I will have to continue to work the problem. Does anyone have a address of someone higher up in Toyota that I could contact with my complaints? I have not been real impressed with the so called "quality" of Toyota. Maybe they have too much of the US market to care about their customers.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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Tim___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/12/2003 11:44 PM |
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Mine is an '03 4runner with 20k miles - just started noticing a slight shimmy in the steering wheel around 70mph. Bringing it in for the 20k service tomorrow - will let the dealer know, but other than that i haven't had any other problems whatsoever
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Dave at 10/4/2003 9:23:22 AM
The previous post was from Dave in Peoria. I forgot to fill in all the blanks..
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at 10/4/2003 9:21:13 AM
I had my 4Runner back in yesterday for another rotate and balance. The shake was still there and the service manager said he was going to check will Toyota technical to see if there were any other reported problems. I showed him some prints from this discussion board. It appears I will have to continue to work the problem. Does anyone have a address of someone higher up in Toyota that I could contact with my complaints? I have not been real impressed with the so called "quality" of Toyota. Maybe they have too much of the US market to care about their customers.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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George___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/13/2003 10:01 PM |
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| Keep us posted. I think my vibration is the same issue, just not as severe. My steering does bounce a bit over bumps (more than any other car I've ever driven, but it doesn't seem extreme to me. I think my 4runner is on the verge of a shake/shimmy again but I just get a continual vibration, even at slower speeds. I hope Toyota figures it out. This is BS. |
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rob___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/14/2003 11:00 PM |
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Gents,
I just hit this page looking for an aftermarket skidplate for my 03 4runner V8. I have seen similar complaints on tirerack.com. The Dunlop and Bridgestone tires are not on the same level as the Michelin Cross Terrain tire that came on my 4runner. My truck is 5 months and 7500 miles old. No shaking so far. Only a vibration in the metal sunroof rails. Very annoying! Anyway, try to push the dealer to swap the Dunlop or Bridgestone tires out for Michelin...much higher quality, in my opinion.
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George at 10/13/2003 10:00:36 PM
Keep us posted. I think my vibration is the same issue, just not as severe. My steering does bounce a bit over bumps (more than any other car I've ever driven, but it doesn't seem extreme to me. I think my 4runner is on the verge of a shake/shimmy again but I just get a continual vibration, even at slower speeds. I hope Toyota figures it out. This is BS. |
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Ray___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/28/2003 1:54 PM |
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Folks, I just picked up my 04 Sport Edition v6 4x4 after trading my beloved 00 SR5 HighLander edition V6 5spd manual w/410 rear. I'm still not at home w/the lose handling of the 04. It seems just a click off, can put my finger on it but it's not right.
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Rob at 10/14/2003 10:59:50 PM
Gents,
I just hit this page looking for an aftermarket skidplate for my 03 4runner V8. I have seen similar complaints on tirerack.com. The Dunlop and Bridgestone tires are not on the same level as the Michelin Cross Terrain tire that came on my 4runner. My truck is 5 months and 7500 miles old. No shaking so far. Only a vibration in the metal sunroof rails. Very annoying! Anyway, try to push the dealer to swap the Dunlop or Bridgestone tires out for Michelin...much higher quality, in my opinion.
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George at 10/13/2003 10:00:36 PM
Keep us posted. I think my vibration is the same issue, just not as severe. My steering does bounce a bit over bumps (more than any other car I've ever driven, but it doesn't seem extreme to me. I think my 4runner is on the verge of a shake/shimmy again but I just get a continual vibration, even at slower speeds. I hope Toyota figures it out. This is BS. |
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g4runner___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 10/28/2003 10:21 PM |
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Firt you need to ask the people balancing if they are using the latest technology - road force variance... the new balancers apply pressure to the tire to mimic the force of the road on the tire while balancing. Secondly, have you looked at the rim when its spinning on the blancer, to make sure the rims are round, third, check into your brakes, make sure the calipers are releasing, if they are putting too much pressure on the rotors, the rotors could be warped and out of round, and may need to be turned - this is less likely, and 4th are the shocks in good shape as well as the alignment. Different problems can mainifest themselves in unusual ways. Also when a tire seperates, the layers lift from each other, that can cause a tire to do weird things, and is the tire straight, meaning when its spinning, can you see a wopple when looking down the tread? Look along the tread from the front or back and watch to see that it doesn't wobble.
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Dave at 9/19/2003 8:58:00 PM
Dan, I have a similar problem that started after 12,000 miles. I have had the 4Runner back to the dealer for tire balancing. They have contacted the corporate rep who said there is no know fix at this time. Have you met with your rep yet? I plan on continuing to hound my dealer to do something rather than just say there is no fix. Please let me know what you find.
Thanks
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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DAVE___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 11/13/2003 6:38 PM |
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Well, they tried installing a new steering rack in my 4Runner and it made no difference in the shaking. I did a test drive with the mechanic and he noticed the shake right away. We headed back to the shop and he put a call into the technicians in CA. They didn't have any real suggestions. They are going to talk with more techs in CA tomorrow and also contact the Chicago office. Who knows what they will try next.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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Abi___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 12/05/2003 1:47 PM |
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Any news on the resolution for you guys? I have taken my truck to 2 different dealerships, gotten a lot of run-around and now they're asking me to take it to Dunlop because it seems to be a "tire issue". My original dealer where I bought it rotated the tires once, the 2nd time told me that there is no issue, it's supposed to drive with a shake.
I took it to another dealer in Baltimore and they told me the tires were out of balance. They rotated the tires and replaced the front left wheet because it was bent. Now, I'm being asked to take it to Dunlop. Is anyone puruing a lawsuit under Lemon Law?
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Dave at 11/13/2003 6:37:44 PM
Well, they tried installing a new steering rack in my 4Runner and it made no difference in the shaking. I did a test drive with the mechanic and he noticed the shake right away. We headed back to the shop and he put a call into the technicians in CA. They didn't have any real suggestions. They are going to talk with more techs in CA tomorrow and also contact the Chicago office. Who knows what they will try next.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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George___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 12/05/2003 5:27 PM |
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Visit the following website:
www.gadgetonline.com/vibration.htm |
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DAVE___
Bone Stock
Posts:0
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| 12/07/2003 8:18 AM |
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My 4Runner is back in the shop for the shake. A technical expert came down from the Chicago office and spent another entire day with a mechanic trying to isolate the shake. They even went to another dealership to test drive another 4Runner to see if the shake was normal. My dealer didn't have one in stock. The new 4Runner didn't havethe shake. They talked with the tech folks in California again and are now are going to try and replace another shaft. It was backordered last week, but they hope to have one on Monday. I have considered the lemon law, but in Illinois it applies to vehicles with less than 12,000 miles. I now have almost 16,000. This fix is the last and I am going to press them for replacement options. I would be willing to spend a few dollars to replace the vehicle, but not the usual trade-in value. I will post the next results as soon as they try the next fix. I did ask the mechanic if he thought the new shaft would fix the shake. He doesn't think so.
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Abi at 12/5/2003 1:47:28 PM
Any news on the resolution for you guys? I have taken my truck to 2 different dealerships, gotten a lot of run-around and now they're asking me to take it to Dunlop because it seems to be a "tire issue". My original dealer where I bought it rotated the tires once, the 2nd time told me that there is no issue, it's supposed to drive with a shake.
I took it to another dealer in Baltimore and they told me the tires were out of balance. They rotated the tires and replaced the front left wheet because it was bent. Now, I'm being asked to take it to Dunlop. Is anyone puruing a lawsuit under Lemon Law?
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Dave at 11/13/2003 6:37:44 PM
Well, they tried installing a new steering rack in my 4Runner and it made no difference in the shaking. I did a test drive with the mechanic and he noticed the shake right away. We headed back to the shop and he put a call into the technicians in CA. They didn't have any real suggestions. They are going to talk with more techs in CA tomorrow and also contact the Chicago office. Who knows what they will try next.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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joe___
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| 12/09/2003 10:24 AM |
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| I just picked up my 04 Sport Edition and am noticing a slight vibration at about 62mph, it seems to go away when I approach 70mph. I assume it is the same issue all of you are having. What bothers me more is a click feeling I get in the brake pedal. I feel this click one time almost every time I apply the brake. It only seems to happen one time per braking operation. It feels a little like the ABS system is kicking in, but it is only single quick click or tick. Has anybody else experienced this problem? |
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jason___
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| 12/09/2003 11:26 AM |
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Joe at 12/9/2003 10:24:04 AM
I just picked up my 04 Sport Edition and am noticing a slight vibration at about 62mph, it seems to go away when I approach 70mph. I assume it is the same issue all of you are having. What bothers me more is a click feeling I get in the brake pedal. I feel this click one time almost every time I apply the brake. It only seems to happen one time per braking operation. It feels a little like the ABS system is kicking in, but it is only single quick click or tick. Has anybody else experienced this problem?
Jason at 12/09/03
I noticed much of the feedback centers on balance and rotation and tire quality. Having owned other vehicles with extreme tires, I have noticed that certain vehicles require constant balancing; the 60-60mph vibration is the indicator that this is the problem. Truck tires which have much more rubber, especially mud or gnarly tires are particularly susceptible to this--plus offroading in mud, or excessive cleaing of rims can easily remove stuck on weights on the inner side of rims. Lowered cars with large alloy rims and soft tires also require constant rebalancing.
hope this is helpful.
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DAVE___
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| 12/12/2003 9:11 PM |
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My 4Runner is back and it still has the shake. This time they replaced the steering main shaft assembly with no change in the shake. The brains in CA now want to change the shock absorbers. The mechanic doesn't think this will make any difference. I told the customer rep atthe dealership that this was the last experiment with my vehicle. I said she needed to talk to corporate and figure out plan b in the new shocks don't do it. I said she could have them fly in the boys from CA or load it on a boat and send it back to Japan for them to figure it out. The local service rep is coming down when they put on the new shocks. My local rep called back and said that she has talked with corp and they are aware of all the things they have been trying on my 4Runner. She didn't say what they planned next, but I told her if it doesn't fix it, I know it is a lemon. I definately got their attention and the next trip to the shop could be very interesting. Stay tuned.....
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jason at 12/9/2003 11:25:38 AM
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Joe at 12/9/2003 10:24:04 AM
I just picked up my 04 Sport Edition and am noticing a slight vibration at about 62mph, it seems to go away when I approach 70mph. I assume it is the same issue all of you are having. What bothers me more is a click feeling I get in the brake pedal. I feel this click one time almost every time I apply the brake. It only seems to happen one time per braking operation. It feels a little like the ABS system is kicking in, but it is only single quick click or tick. Has anybody else experienced this problem?
Jason at 12/09/03
I noticed much of the feedback centers on balance and rotation and tire quality. Having owned other vehicles with extreme tires, I have noticed that certain vehicles require constant balancing; the 60-60mph vibration is the indicator that this is the problem. Truck tires which have much more rubber, especially mud or gnarly tires are particularly susceptible to this--plus offroading in mud, or excessive cleaing of rims can easily remove stuck on weights on the inner side of rims. Lowered cars with large alloy rims and soft tires also require constant rebalancing.
hope this is helpful.
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BRIAN___
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| 12/14/2003 12:04 AM |
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I have an '03 4-Runner 2WD. I have had it since March 2003. I had vibration issues right off the show-room floor. The dealer tried several Michelin tires but the vibration persisted. The dealer then offered me a new 4-runner. I drove six different 4-Runners and all exhibited a vibration between 60 - 70 mph.
As a last ditch effort, the dealer installed Cooper Discoverer tires and the vibration went away completely. I wasn't crazy about going to a "cheaper" tire, but it worked ... at least for a while.
Fast forward to December 2003. I had a flat repaired and while that was being fixed, I had them rotate the tires. Now, the vibration is back.
Toyota has a problem with these 4-Runners. I'm going back to the dealership to pick-up where I left off when they installed the Coopers.
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Dave at 10/4/2003 9:23:22 AM
The previous post was from Dave in Peoria. I forgot to fill in all the blanks..
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at 10/4/2003 9:21:13 AM
I had my 4Runner back in yesterday for another rotate and balance. The shake was still there and the service manager said he was going to check will Toyota technical to see if there were any other reported problems. I showed him some prints from this discussion board. It appears I will have to continue to work the problem. Does anyone have a address of someone higher up in Toyota that I could contact with my complaints? I have not been real impressed with the so called "quality" of Toyota. Maybe they have too much of the US market to care about their customers.....
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Dan at 8/29/2003 4:55:15 PM
I have a 2003 4-runner limited V6. I have been having a problem starting at 9000 miles. The steering wheel starts shaking at 62mph and is driving me crazy. Also at lower speeds I feel kind of a wobble as I put torque left or right on the wheel, as I go into a turn. I have been to 2 Toyota dealers who both said the other didn't balanced the Dunlop tires right. Then they finally sent me to GoodYear to stand behind the warranty on the Dunlop tires on the vehicle. After three times there, (now 6 hours of waiting) complete 4-wheel balancing, several rotations and as of today, two brand new Dunlop replacement tires on the front...same problem. Could it be the Dunlop tires, even brand new! Goodyear thinks it is a Toyota issue now, and are through with me. You know the circle I am going in.
Might it me related or not...when I am driving at about 5 mph and I hit a bump in the road the steering wheel jumps left or right out of my hand. This is annoying.
The over-all feeling is like the wheels are loose, doing differnt things at different speeds.
All this started happening about 9000 miles. I am very disappointed and annoyed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess I am going back to the Toyota dealer tomorrow. What info. should I come armed with to minimize my ongoing inconvienence.
Just got back from the dealer. They said they would set up an appointment for the district service rep to meet with me when she comes to town (in one to three weeks). Meanwhile today I had someone video-tape my hand on the steering wheel while driving, showing the shaking and the speedometer. When I get the movie finished, I'll post it online for all to see.
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George___
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| 12/15/2003 5:29 PM |
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Don't want this thread to die. I need feedback from others who have vibration issues with their 4runners, and I will continue to offer my progress, if any. Funny thing is, those who seem to get their issues resolved (one way or another), seem to disappear and offer no added info or updates to those still stuck with a vibrating truck.
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david___
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| 12/15/2003 10:28 PM |
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I had the same problem described by others, vibration around 60 mph. I took it to the dealer, after several balances, it stopped for a while (3 mos). Started up again. I got two flats on the stock tires (Dunlops) and decided to spring for some Cross Terrains. Since the switch, the vibration has stopped. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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George at 12/15/2003 5:28:36 PM
Don't want this thread to die. I need feedback from others who have vibration issues with their 4runners, and I will continue to offer my progress, if any. Funny thing is, those who seem to get their issues resolved (one way or another), seem to disappear and offer no added info or updates to those still stuck with a vibrating truck.
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DAVE___
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| 12/17/2003 6:23 PM |
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Well I have a resolution. Today they put new shocks on the front of my 4Runner and the steering wheel shake is gone. It seems that one or both had a slow leak. There were 3 Toyota reps also on site and they were very excited that this worked. They were headed back to their office to write this one up. I had told them that this was the last chance so they were happy it worked. It drives like it did when new. If you have the steering shake on rough roads or across expansion joints, it might work for you.
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David at 12/15/2003 10:28:22 PM
I had the same problem described by others, vibration around 60 mph. I took it to the dealer, after several balances, it stopped for a while (3 mos). Started up again. I got two flats on the stock tires (Dunlops) and decided to spring for some Cross Terrains. Since the switch, the vibration has stopped. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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George at 12/15/2003 5:28:36 PM
Don't want this thread to die. I need feedback from others who have vibration issues with their 4runners, and I will continue to offer my progress, if any. Funny thing is, those who seem to get their issues resolved (one way or another), seem to disappear and offer no added info or updates to those still stuck with a vibrating truck.
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George___
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| 12/19/2003 7:48 PM |
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| Congratulations Dave,
Glad to hear you found a cure. I've traced my problem to two wheels. I don't know if it's rims or tires though. I'm going to see if my dealer will let me trade the two wheels for another two. Will keep y'all posted. |
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Brian_Trammell___
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| 12/22/2003 7:29 PM |
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An "on-car" balance did the trick for my 4-Runner.
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George at 12/15/2003 5:28:36 PM
Don't want this thread to die. I need feedback from others who have vibration issues with their 4runners, and I will continue to offer my progress, if any. Funny thing is, those who seem to get their issues resolved (one way or another), seem to disappear and offer no added info or updates to those still stuck with a vibrating truck.
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joe___
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| 12/22/2003 10:37 PM |
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Brought my '04 Sport into the dealer today to have them look at the steering wheel shimmie. They told me all 4 wheels were perfectly in balance and this shake was normal. He said "...they are big tires...you are going to feel some vibration". I can't believe that the dealer thinks it is acceptable for a $30,000 vehicle to have a shake in the steering wheel at 60 MPH.
Any suggestions other then buying new tires myself??
-Joe |
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George___
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| 12/23/2003 6:02 AM |
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| Joe,
first of all he's a moron. Go to another dealer (or see the manager) and make sure they use the GSP9700 Road Force Balancer. A shimmy indicates lateral imbalance. If that doesn't correct it, request to see the field service technician and keep pushing the issue. This is a very common issue on the 4runner but it's fixable. Mine had the shimmy but was easily fixed by the GSP9700. However, I have a vertical vibration problem (minor but annoying) that I'm still trying to get resolved. I've traced it to two wheels. |
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Dan___
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| 12/25/2003 1:28 AM |
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Hello,
I was the one that started this thread many months ago. I am back with an update.
After going through 4 tires changes, different brands, numerous balances, two Toyota dealers, two Good Year/Dunlop dealers and the Midwest Toyota technical reps visit to Milwaukee to meet with me, I decided to file for arbitration. The rep. confirmed the problem with a test drive, said it was the tires and had 4 Michelin tires orderd and put on. They were balanced by the roadforce machine (as the past 4 sets were too) and the ride was PERFECT. Just like new for two weeks and one day the vibration came right back again, all of a sudden and has been that way ever since. I took the 4Runner back to get the tires rebalanced again. They put them on the machine and said they were perfect. I gave up.
I filed for arbitration and am following Toyota's process. They had me fill out all the forms, send all the receipts etc and scheduled a hearing date for mid-January. They asked me what I wanted and I said I want a 2004, no charge. After reading some of the previous posts I am beginning to wonder if they are having the same problem also with the 2004!
My understanding is Toyota wants to settle with me instead of me filing for the lemon law. With the lemon law I can claim damages, time lost, etc and this can cost Toyota much more in the end. I think this is also a dangerous safety issue. On wet roads, or when I hit a rough road the stearing wheel feels wobbly and unsafe. So I am willing to let Toyota come up with their resolution first, being a long time, very happy Toyota owner in the past. If they acknowledge the problem, and deal with me fairly I am willing to work with them.
Has anyone else ever filed for arbitration? What was the outcome? |
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George___
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| 12/25/2003 6:09 AM |
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| Dan,
may be a "long shot" but show them Dave's last post. They finally replaced his front shocks and it cured the problem. |
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unknown___
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| 12/26/2003 12:30 PM |
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Thanks for the suggestion George. However I see from reading the posts other people have replaced tires and it worked too. Others thought it was fixed, rotated the tires and it was back. I think, as you say, a long shot. The arbitration process is in progress now, so I am going to follow through with that and see what Toyota does. That is my solution for now. I will keep you informed. I have had enough experimentation on my vehicle and time wasted again and again.
Thanks. |
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George___
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| 12/26/2003 3:40 PM |
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| Please keep us posted. I just don't get it with these 4runners and vibrations. I also have a motor vibration at idle that's annoying. |
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Dave____
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| 12/26/2003 4:56 PM |
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George, I also have the vibration from the engine/exhaust at idle and most of the time. They determined an RPM where it hit it's peak, but say there is no fix. In one of the test drives of the tech reps 04 vehicle, I also felt the vibration. In fact, the loaner Camary I had also had the same vibration. I think it must be inherent in Toyota's. My vibration gets worse as the weather gets colder so I think it is tied to the engine mounts. The shake took my mind off of the vibration so I hardly notice it anymore. I also have found by moving the tilt or telescope of the wheel can also reduce the vibration. If you find a fix for it, please let me know.
Thanks, Dave
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George at 12/26/2003 3:40:20 PM
Please keep us posted. I just don't get it with these 4runners and vibrations. I also have a motor vibration at idle that's annoying. |
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Brian_Trammell___
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| 12/28/2003 9:45 AM |
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False alarm. The vibration was better after the "on-car" balance, but after putting 500 miles on the vehicle, the vibration is back as bad as ever. I am going to file for arbitration against Toyota and also under Alabama's lemon law. I count about 10 balance attempts and 7 different tires with no effect.
As I said in my first post, when I first brought the vibration issue to the attention of my dealer, he offered to "exchange" it for a new one (2003 model). I drove 6 and they all vibrated at speeds over 60 mph. I was test-driving these with the service manager, and he had me pull four of them straight to the service area.
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Brian Trammell at 12/22/2003 7:29:08 PM
An "on-car" balance did the trick for my 4-Runner.
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George at 12/15/2003 5:28:36 PM
Don't want this thread to die. I need feedback from others who have vibration issues with their 4runners, and I will continue to offer my progress, if any. Funny thing is, those who seem to get their issues resolved (one way or another), seem to disappear and offer no added info or updates to those still stuck with a vibrating truck.
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James_Kehler___
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| 01/04/2004 9:59 AM |
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I too had the problem with vibration. I have 11500 miles on a 2003 SR5 FWD. It became noticeable after the dealer did a rotation and balance. I have the Steel Wheels and after driving to TN from FL, I had enough and took it to a Goodyear store. They found the problem on 2 wheels and adjusted the position of the tire on the rim by 90 degrees. I have an extremely smooth ride now at all speeds and am very happy with the truck.
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Brian Trammell at 12/28/2003 9:45:28 AM
False alarm. The vibration was better after the "on-car" balance, but after putting 500 miles on the vehicle, the vibration is back as bad as ever. I am going to file for arbitration against Toyota and also under Alabama's lemon law. I count about 10 balance attempts and 7 different tires with no effect.
As I said in my first post, when I first brought the vibration issue to the attention of my dealer, he offered to "exchange" it for a new one (2003 model). I drove 6 and they all vibrated at speeds over 60 mph. I was test-driving these with the service manager, and he had me pull four of them straight to the service area.
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Brian Trammell at 12/22/2003 7:29:08 PM
An "on-car" balance did the trick for my 4-Runner.
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George at 12/15/2003 5:28:36 PM
Don't want this thread to die. I need feedback from others who have vibration issues with their 4runners, and I will continue to offer my progress, if any. Funny thing is, those who seem to get their issues resolved (one way or another), seem to disappear and offer no added info or updates to those still stuck with a vibrating truck.
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joe___
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| 01/04/2004 6:21 PM |
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James,
What kind of tires do you have? I am still having the problem, been to the dealer twice, no luck. I went to a Goodyear dealer and inquired about road force balancing, $25 per tire. Kind of disapointing to have to shell out $100 on a Toyota with only 500 miles, but I guess I am going to have to do it if I want to get it fixed.
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AKA_HULK___
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| 01/04/2004 11:12 PM |
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| To get it just right with the Road Force Balancer,they will have to use a Flange Adapter to properly balance them. The 2003+ Runners come with Lug Centric Rims. If they where to balance them with a regular balancer (Hub Centric),the odds are very high that you will still have a shimmy/vibration problem. Hope this helps. |
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George___
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| 01/05/2004 9:58 AM |
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Joe,
Find a Discount Tire store that has the GSP9700 by visiting:
http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm
They charge about $35 for the whole thing. They call it "ride matching".
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Dan_Siegel___
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| 01/09/2004 4:35 PM |
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Well, I got the resulkts from the "National Center for Dispute Settlement" today. They had the hearing and found, after pages and pages of documentation and my numerous repair orders:
"The customer's request for a replacement vehicle is hereby DENIED. We have reached this conclusion because the customer failed to establish the exixtence of a Manufacturer's defect."
So Toyota refused to acknowledge that this is a probelm, or at least not theirs. They offer no compromise, no suggestions or assistance in any way. I am stuck!
I am going to file a suit with the State of Wisconsin's Lemon Law and start getting nasty about it. I am also going to investigate the legality issues of setting up a website for other people screwed by Toyota. I am a web designer and would gladly do this to help other people with this issue and to warn potential buyers that this behavior is normal for Toyota vehicles before they purchase one.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Dan |
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George___
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| 01/09/2004 6:26 PM |
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Dan,
Sorry to hear this phase didn't go in your favor. Toyota is not known for their customer service. I knew this when buying, but because of the reputation for "reliability", I wasn't too concerned. Of course, I didn't know that was a mistake til it was too late. We gambled and lost.
What exactly are the characteristics of your vibrations? At what speeds and do you feel it in the steering wheel only? Or, also in the seats, armrests, etc? When you hit a bump, does the steering wheel bounce left or right excessively? Does your engine vibrate at idle and bounce the car a little?
I'm still trying to get to the source of my vibrations and have given up on the dealers. I'll know more next week. |
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unknown___
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| 01/10/2004 3:53 PM |
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George,
I notice the shaking of the steering wheel at about 60mph and higher. Yes I feel the same shaking throughout the front end as well. I also feel a pulsating/shaking when I turn the steering wheel left and right, just to the point the car starts to turn. It almost a wobble. Also the Good Year dealer and I both noticed how when you hit a bump, the steering wheel seems to come out of your hand, as the vehicle seems to bounce a little left or right.
I am investigating taking legal action and possibly getting large consumer organizations involved in this. This is not right. We have been screwed. |
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George___
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| 01/10/2004 8:15 PM |
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Dan,
It just doesn't make any sense. Your new Michelins fixed the problem for 2 weeks and then all of a sudden...
I think you have a good case for the Lemon Law. Keep us posted with how it goes because I may be doing the same thing before long. If you do decide to try one more thing before you do file, I'd be interested to know if replacing the front shocks helped. It worked for Dave, and his issue had the same characteristics as yours, plus the mileage on the vehicle was similar. Just a thought. Maybe you can recover the cost if it doesn't work?
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DAVE___
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| 01/11/2004 11:16 AM |
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Dan, did they replace any parts on your 4Runner. They replace my steering rack and parts of steering linkage. It wasn't until they replace leaking shock absorber that the strong shake went away. It sound similar to some ofthe shake you had. Mine was very strong when I was on a rought section of concrete highway or when I hit an expansion joint on the interstate.
The vehicle has always had vibration thru the steering wheel and floorboard from the beginning whioch I don't think should be in a $40,000 vehicle. They checked on these when it only had 1,500 miles (now almost 17,000). They agreed there was a vibration, but still say there is no fix.
My dealer got real serious about fixing the problem when I talked about lemon law and lawyers. They had several areas reps on-site when they tried the shock absorber change. I told them it was the last experiment.
I can live with some vibration, but that shake was unacceptable.
Dave
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Dan Siegel at 1/9/2004 4:35:27 PM
Well, I got the resulkts from the "National Center for Dispute Settlement" today. They had the hearing and found, after pages and pages of documentation and my numerous repair orders:
"The customer's request for a replacement vehicle is hereby DENIED. We have reached this conclusion because the customer failed to establish the exixtence of a Manufacturer's defect."
So Toyota refused to acknowledge that this is a probelm, or at least not theirs. They offer no compromise, no suggestions or assistance in any way. I am stuck!
I am going to file a suit with the State of Wisconsin's Lemon Law and start getting nasty about it. I am also going to investigate the legality issues of setting up a website for other people screwed by Toyota. I am a web designer and would gladly do this to help other people with this issue and to warn potential buyers that this behavior is normal for Toyota vehicles before they purchase one.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Dan |
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pat___
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| 03/24/2004 10:22 PM |
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Well I have a 97 4runner SR5, and recently noticed the steering wheel shaking, i have had the tires balanced 2 times, rotated, check the rods and joints and everything seems to be fine...but still shakes about 65 mph...but the funny thing is, is that it shakes for a while and then stops, and does it again....it doesnt shake below 50 mph....its just the steering wheel that shakes on the car...any clue?
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George at 1/9/2004 6:25:48 PM
Dan,
Sorry to hear this phase didn't go in your favor. Toyota is not known for their customer service. I knew this when buying, but because of the reputation for "reliability", I wasn't too concerned. Of course, I didn't know that was a mistake til it was too late. We gambled and lost.
What exactly are the characteristics of your vibrations? At what speeds and do you feel it in the steering wheel only? Or, also in the seats, armrests, etc? When you hit a bump, does the steering wheel bounce left or right excessively? Does your engine vibrate at idle and bounce the car a little?
I'm still trying to get to the source of my vibrations and have given up on the dealers. I'll know more next week. |
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Jens___
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| 03/25/2004 7:27 PM |
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I just traded in my 1999 4-runner ltd, which had severe shaking since 5000 miles. I had over sized rims and tires and 1 1/2" lift, which made the problem worse. I went through 3 sets of Goodyear 285/75/16 (Goodyear honored the first two sets;), one set of high performance Bridgestone same size, and one set BFGs. Then I went with Nitto Terra Grappler, also 285/75/16 and the shaking was 50% less. I took the car to 6 Toyota dealers in Colorado and here in California. The latest I was told was the left steering rod had frozen up. I decided not to pursue it since I had 100K miles on it and it was time to trade. I now got the 2004 4-runner, which I just sent to get a 3" lift with 18s. I will keep an eye out for shaking and let you know!
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Pat at 3/24/2004 10:22:03 PM
Well I have a 97 4runner SR5, and recently noticed the steering wheel shaking, i have had the tires balanced 2 times, rotated, check the rods and joints and everything seems to be fine...but still shakes about 65 mph...but the funny thing is, is that it shakes for a while and then stops, and does it again....it doesnt shake below 50 mph....its just the steering wheel that shakes on the car...any clue?
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George at 1/9/2004 6:25:48 PM
Dan,
Sorry to hear this phase didn't go in your favor. Toyota is not known for their customer service. I knew this when buying, but because of the reputation for "reliability", I wasn't too concerned. Of course, I didn't know that was a mistake til it was too late. We gambled and lost.
What exactly are the characteristics of your vibrations? At what speeds and do you feel it in the steering wheel only? Or, also in the seats, armrests, etc? When you hit a bump, does the steering wheel bounce left or right excessively? Does your engine vibrate at idle and bounce the car a little?
I'm still trying to get to the source of my vibrations and have given up on the dealers. I'll know more next week. |
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greasygreg___
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| 10/03/2004 12:15 AM |
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yup, I feel ya buddy, If you are mechanically inclined, try this test:jack up the front of your forerunner,so that both tires are off the ground,and place firmly on jackstands.now crawl underneath with a light,and shine it on the rack unit.then, grab a tire with both hands and wiggle back and forth firmly,while looking at the c- cup on your rack&pinion unit.do this on Both sides,also look for black rubber powder in this vicinity.I believe that the manufacturing tolerances do not allow the cups to hold the rack unit in place with enough force for it to hold firmly.If the c-cup were just a little tighter,(hint:smaller..bench grinder?)i feel that it would squeeze the bushing tighter and not allow movment to occur.
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Pat at 3/24/2004 10:22:03 PM
Well I have a 97 4runner SR5, and recently noticed the steering wheel shaking, i have had the tires balanced 2 times, rotated, check the rods and joints and everything seems to be fine...but still shakes about 65 mph...but the funny thing is, is that it shakes for a while and then stops, and does it again....it doesnt shake below 50 mph....its just the steering wheel that shakes on the car...any clue?
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George at 1/9/2004 6:25:48 PM
Dan,
Sorry to hear this phase didn't go in your favor. Toyota is not known for their customer service. I knew this when buying, but because of the reputation for "reliability", I wasn't too concerned. Of course, I didn't know that was a mistake til it was too late. We gambled and lost.
What exactly are the characteristics of your vibrations? At what speeds and do you feel it in the steering wheel only? Or, also in the seats, armrests, etc? When you hit a bump, does the steering wheel bounce left or right excessively? Does your engine vibrate at idle and bounce the car a little?
I'm still trying to get to the source of my vibrations and have given up on the dealers. I'll know more next week. |
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