OT - Toyota 4 Runner
- Thread starter Ridgeland Dog
- Start date
I've got a 2000 that's still going strong with 190k miles on it. MPG is ****, but I imagine the new ones are at least average for SUVs.
Just bought one in April. Obviously havent had it long enough to say for sure but so far it has met all expectations. My wife and I both love it.
We bought the wife a new one with 4 wheel drive 2005 and haven't had a single problem. I do the oil/filter changes and brake pads myself. Everything else is original but the tires, she loves it so much she doesn't even want to look at anything else. It has right at 180k miles on it and gets 18 city 20hwy.
A friend has a '95 that he bought new. He doesn't take particularly good care of a vehicle, but the 4-Runner is still going strong. He's never had any major issues with it.
Owner of a 2010 4Runner here. Bought it with 60k miles about 4 years ago. Now at 125k and has not had a single major hiccup. Only issue has been that the windshield washer pump motor went out (actually found out it didn't work before I even bought it). Was quoted about a $250 repair which isn't bad by any stretch, but its something used so infrequently that I just let it ride and let rain and the occasional gas station squeegee take care of it.
One word of caution is that if you buy a 2010 or newer model in Limited trim, you will have pretty expensive replacement cost for your tires. This is because they have an oddball tire size of P255 50R 20 (107H) that is not an OEM size for any other vehicle out there. As such, Yokohama (OEM manufacturer) and Bridgestone I think are the only makers of tires that will fit the OEM spec, and last time I checked they were both charging over $300 apiece for the tires. You can get an alternate size, but chances are fuel economy and ride smoothness may suffer and some drivetrain or suspension components may fail at an accelerated rate.
One word of caution is that if you buy a 2010 or newer model in Limited trim, you will have pretty expensive replacement cost for your tires. This is because they have an oddball tire size of P255 50R 20 (107H) that is not an OEM size for any other vehicle out there. As such, Yokohama (OEM manufacturer) and Bridgestone I think are the only makers of tires that will fit the OEM spec, and last time I checked they were both charging over $300 apiece for the tires. You can get an alternate size, but chances are fuel economy and ride smoothness may suffer and some drivetrain or suspension components may fail at an accelerated rate.
It's super reliable and is good off-road. It's outstanding at those two things. If those aren't two of your top priorities, then look elsewhere.
Quite honestly, the Highlander is just as reliable and does everything else better. If you want a people mover, want to tow the occasional small load, and want very light off road duty, don't buy a 4Runner. Get a Highlander. You will be more comfortable and have much better gas mileage. If you want a people mover, get a Sienna.
If you want something that is bulletproof on and off-road, get a 4Runner. I put the 4Runner in the same category as a Wrangler and Xterra in off road work. It can hang with the best of them. Oh yea. It rides like a truck.
The 95-00 4runner years may be the most reliable vehicle ever made.
Quite honestly, the Highlander is just as reliable and does everything else better. If you want a people mover, want to tow the occasional small load, and want very light off road duty, don't buy a 4Runner. Get a Highlander. You will be more comfortable and have much better gas mileage. If you want a people mover, get a Sienna.
If you want something that is bulletproof on and off-road, get a 4Runner. I put the 4Runner in the same category as a Wrangler and Xterra in off road work. It can hang with the best of them. Oh yea. It rides like a truck.
The 95-00 4runner years may be the most reliable vehicle ever made.
We had a 2009
Only thing I disliked was for me it wasn't comfortable to drive. I'm 6'2" and I always felt like I was sitting flat on the floor when driving. My wife loved it though, obviously she's shorter.
Only thing I disliked was for me it wasn't comfortable to drive. I'm 6'2" and I always felt like I was sitting flat on the floor when driving. My wife loved it though, obviously she's shorter.
I still hate that I sold mine way back in 2005. I loved that truck and wish I had it as my hunting truck and used my other as a commuter and hauler when something wouldn't fit in the 4 runner. It's one of the most reliable vehicles I will probably ever own.
I've never owned one and never will, but everybody I've ever known who's owned one has had phenomenal experiences. The 4-Runner is to SUV's what the Accord is to sedans. Do your usual maintenance, and it'll last forever.
Just bought my 5th one last week.....
just bought a 2015 last week......had 4 straight then went with a Honda Pilot.....the entire 4 years i had my pilot, i always wanted my 4runner back......
bought my 2015 last week with 15K miles on it and couldn't be happier
just bought a 2015 last week......had 4 straight then went with a Honda Pilot.....the entire 4 years i had my pilot, i always wanted my 4runner back......
bought my 2015 last week with 15K miles on it and couldn't be happier
I bought an 07 with 60k miles on it a year ago. I love it, and have had friends who had them that lasted forever. I looked at used Jeep Grand Cherokees for months before finding out that I need to pay a little more and get a 4Runner.
Question though, my national chain tire store says that I need new shocks, struts, and a sway bar (whatever the 17 that is) for $1300.
The truck drives fine, no noises, but is a little bit bumpier than a new ride.
What should I do? Wait until it gets worse or take the hit now?
I want the truck to last another 150k miles and want to take care of it
Question though, my national chain tire store says that I need new shocks, struts, and a sway bar (whatever the 17 that is) for $1300.
The truck drives fine, no noises, but is a little bit bumpier than a new ride.
What should I do? Wait until it gets worse or take the hit now?
I want the truck to last another 150k miles and want to take care of it
You need to get the sway bar. It's an anti roll & a stabilizer. It's does it's work in curves and not too safe if it doesn't work properly. Worn out shocks/struts will wear your tires out quicker. It'll cost you more money in the long run. I suggest you take care of it.
2006 with 200,000 miles on it. I don't really care for the new ones, but mine has been an absolute workhorse. No major repairs. At 175,000 miles I had to get the front hub bearings replaced. I just had a valve job done on it, because 200,000. I take it off road often, and tow stuff at least twice a year. Its not as capable off road as my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee was, but it's good enough for my needs.
The new ones don't seem as rugged to me. And they got rid of the roll down liftgate window, which is one thing that separated the 4Runner from all the other SUVs.
Toyota makes an indestructible engine. But don't get the Highlander...it's a minivan diguised as an SUV.
The new ones don't seem as rugged to me. And they got rid of the roll down liftgate window, which is one thing that separated the 4Runner from all the other SUVs.
Toyota makes an indestructible engine. But don't get the Highlander...it's a minivan diguised as an SUV.
I bought one in 1986, the first year they had independent suspension on the front wheels. It was a 2 door but that was all they offered back then. Had to get out and lock in the hubs to go into 4 wheel drive. The 22RE engine is one of the best mechanical devices ever made, a little underpowered but extremely reliable. I had over 200k miles on it and was planning on running it up until it wouldn't run any more when Katrina dropped a pine tree on it and crushed it. Damn fine vehicle
No matter what it is, somebody is going to get the lemon. My 4-Runner was just that. When going down a flat road in cruise control, or manual control, it would start downshifting into drive and then back up to overdrive. Then it started doing something else, which was downshifting from gear to gear when I took my foot off the gas, just like I was yanking the shift lever. Both problems were intermittant, and all the Toyota guys said "They had to be in the truck when it was doing it for them to know what was causing it." BS of course. I finally left it with the dealership and told them to let somebody drive it around just like it was theirs. They finally called and said one of their mechanics was driving it when it did the downshifting thing. I said "Hot dog, now your're going to fix my truck." They said "No, your engine needs a tuneup." I replied "Let me guess, then we start all over again." Silence on the other end. So I took them to arbitration and the BBB made them buy it back at a very good price. I had my son in the truck with a video camera focused on the speedometer and tach when it acted up, so the arbitrator thought that was good evidence.
Toyota supporter here. I haven't owned a 4- Runner but I'm on my 3rd Tacoma. I'll vouch for the reliability aspect of the product. Owned an 85, 98, and currently 2013. All 4x4's. I have put well over 200k on the previous trucks and will do the same with the current one. Extremely reliable with no breakdowns or stupid repairs. Resale is beyond good when the time comes.
Are you wanting it to be an actual sport utility vehicle? Or are you wanting something that will never leave blacktop? If it's never going to leave blacktop, try a Highlander before you buy a 4Runner. Got my wife one several months back, and we went in looking for a 4Runner. 4Runner is on a Tacoma chassis (or something similar) and Highlander is Camry. They're both excellent vehicles, have great resale, and will last a lifetime, I'm just giving you another option that may fit your needs as well. I'll add that I've never had anything besides a full size truck, but I really like her Highlander
I think your wrong on the roll down lift gate window
I've got a new gen 4R, and mine rolls down just fine..unless the 2016 got changed up, and if that's the case the 2015 will my model of choice for the next decade.
I've got a new gen 4R, and mine rolls down just fine..unless the 2016 got changed up, and if that's the case the 2015 will my model of choice for the next decade.
Last edited:
If I'm wrong, that's great news. A friend of mine just bought one, and she said the window does not roll down, which I found really disappointing. I could definitely see removing that feature as a cost saving measure, but it really is something the 4Runner is known for. I hope my friend is just clueless about her new car.
There used to be several SUVs that had flip-up windows, such as my old Grand Cherokee, but you cannot find those anymore. The Lexus GS series may be the last SUV to include the flip up window.
There used to be several SUVs that had flip-up windows, such as my old Grand Cherokee, but you cannot find those anymore. The Lexus GS series may be the last SUV to include the flip up window.
For more info, we got mine in 2008 with 78k miles when I was 16. It's still running for me through all of high school, college, and a few years of work.
