Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Toyota 4Runner submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Front Coil Spring Cracking (TRD Pro Models) I observed cracking of the front coil spring, a design defect in the spring's termination and how it sits on the top hat and bottom perch. This can lead to a sudden loss of control and a crash. Furthermore, pieces of the broken spring coil can fly out underneath the vehicle and cause serious injury to person and/or damage property, when vehicle is driven at highway speeds.
'The "KDSS" (kinetic dynamic suspension system) valve located on the frame under the driver's door had corroded to the point where the oil in the system had begun to leak out. The warning light did come on the dashboard days prior to the leak. Vehicle was taken to a Toyota dealership, where they assessed there was low pressure in the system. The service advisor advised that if the system loses all the fluid, the suspension and handling may be affected when steering or braking at high speeds or when making sharp turns.
This is our third Toyota 4Runner with the "X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension System". There has been some type of failure of this system on all 3 of the 4Runners we have owned. The latest problem with this suspension system on our 2015 4Runner was discovered during a Toyota dealership service appointment at 42,091 miles. It was recommended the full X-REAS system, front and rear shocks with lines and actuators be completely replaced since both front shocks are leaking fluid at a cost of $4,000. Since this is our third 4Runner with this suspension and related problems it is our fear that this suspension system might fail when driving and possibly cause an incident with who knows what could happen. We have brought this to the attention of the Toyota Customer Experience Center and in communication with them they offered to minimally assist financially with repairs, but provided no acknowledgement as to our experience with three 4Runners and this problem plagued suspension system we have encountered. We declined their assistance since we felt repairing this system and possibly in two or three years being faced with similar repair bills it would be a waste of money on their part as well as ours. In the meantime we continue to drive this vehicle as we need it and we are hopeful that our safety will not be compromised.
I HAVE HAD 3 SETS OF TIRES ON MY 4RUNNER AND EACH SET HAS WORN DOWN PREMATURLY DESPITE PURCHASING GOOD QUALITY TIRES WITH A 60K MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED AT THE REQUIRED SERVICE INTERVALS AND AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY ALIGNED VERY LONG. I EVEN WENT TO MULTIPLE TIRE SHOPS TO GET DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE TIRE SHOPS THAT THE 4RUNNERS ARE DIFFICULT TO ADJUST AND DO NOT HOLD AN ALIGNMENT. EACH SET OF 60K WARRANTY TIRES ONLY LASTED 30K MILES AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN OVERALL ROUGH RIDE. WHEN I DRIVE OVER 6OK MILES PER HOUR THE SHAKE AND ROUGH RIDE IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND DISAPPOINTING IN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE.
THIS IS A TOYOTA LIMITED MODEL THAT HAS A PROPRIETARY XREAS SUSPENSION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE INTERVALS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES THE SERVICE TECH FOUND THAT ALL FOUR STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND REQUIRED $4,500 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. A VISIT TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSTIC OUTCOME PROVIDED BY THE FIRST DEALER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO STATED THE WARRANTY HAD LAPSED AND EXPRESSED NO DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE WHY AT 55,000 THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM SEALS AT ALL FOUR WHEELS WOULD FAIL. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OUTLINED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. THE SUSPENSION BECAME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT BECAME SO SOFT CERTAIN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN I HAD THE SYSTEM REPLACED I DIRECTED THAT ALL THE REMOVED PARTS BE RETURNED TO ME AND I HAVE THEM SAVED FOR POSSIBLE INSPECTION. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE STRUTS TAKEN DURING THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION. I BELIEVE THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA SEEMED TO POSSIBLY ADDRESS THIS IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0145-11. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR DESIGN AND PROVIDE FREE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT TO ITS PRODUCT OWNERS.
I'M WRITING YOU TODAY IN THE HOPES THAT YOU CAN INVESTIGATE AND CREATE A RECALL FOR TOYOTA'S X-REAS SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 LIMITED 4RUNNER FOUR YEARS AGO. ON NOVEMBER 29TH, 2019 I HAD MY 4RUNNER SERVICED AT A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER FOR A 40,000 MILE CHECK UP. AFTER THE CHECK UP I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND DUE TO THE DESIGN (BOTH FRONT STRUTS BEING CONNECTED TO BOTH REAR SHOCKS) THE ENTIRE X-REAS SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. (TOTAL COST BEFORE REALIGNMENT AND TAX = $2,468.00.) X-REAS COMES STANDARD ON THE LIMITED TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND IS A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM THAT CANNOT BE SERVICED. THE X-REAS SYSTEM ON MY 4RUNNER STARTED LEAKING WITH ONLY 38,977 MILES OF CITY AND FREEWAY DRIVING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO OFF ROADING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLY PREMATURE AND A DEFECTIVE DESIGN FOR A SUSPENSION THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY BUILT TO WITHSTAND RUGGED OFF ROADING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN FACED WITH X-REAS SUSPENSION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS A 4RUNNER FORUM WITH TRUCK OWNERS SEARCHING FOR ADVICE AND HELP ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A TREND. HTTPS://WWW.4RUNNERS.COM/THREADS/4RUNNER-LIMITED-BUYER-BEWARE-X-REAS-SUSPENSION-FAILS.7894/ THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT REP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR X-REAS SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WILL NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING A NEW X-REAS SYSTEM INSTALLED. I ASKED ABOUT HAVING TOYOTA'S STANDARD COIL SUSPENSION INSTALLED INSTEAD BUT MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED PARTS. WHEN MY WARRANTY EXPIRES IN 2 YEARS I WILL BE LIABLE FOR ALL FUTURE SUSPENSION FAILURES. MY TRUCK IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I AM WORRIED THAT IN 4 YEARS (OR SOONER) THE X-REAS SYSTEM WILL FAIL AGAIN. PLEASE HELP!
HAS A STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY BETWEEN 60-70 MPH, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR ON TIRES. JUST BOUGHT 80K MILE WARRANTY TIRES ARE THEY ARE COMPLETELY BALD AT 20K MILES EVEN AFTER BEING ROTATED EVERY 5K MILES, BALANCES, AND ALIGNMENTS. UNABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE ALIGNED AND IN BALANCE NO MATTER HOW SOON I HAVE IT DONE AFTER JUST HAVING IT DONE (ONCE IN AUGUST AND THEN AGAIN IMMEDIATELY IN SEPTEMBER. BODY SHOP ADVISING THAT THE WELD ON THE REAR AXLE IS INCORRECT CAUSING THIS ISSUE. ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK WITH TOYOTA WARSAW, THEY AREN'T GETTING BACK TO ME AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD, CALLED CORPORATE 800 NUMBER AND SPOKE TO A RUDE FEMALE WHO WAS UNWILLING TO HELP ME. WAS TOLD THAT I HAD ALREADY BEEN DRIVING ON UNSAFE TREAD, THAT WHAT WOULD ANOTHER WEEK HURT? CAN'T BUY NEW TIRES UNTIL ISSUE IS FIXED BECAUSE THE TIRES WILL JUST PREMATURELY WEAR AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND MADE A CHATTERING NOISE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CONTACT THOUGHT THEY WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SOUNDS LIKE SUSPENSION... I MENTIONED IT TO THE TECH AT THE 5000 MILE CHECK, AND THE 15000 MILE CHECK. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. IT IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE TEMPS ARE BELOW ABOUT 40 F OR SO. IT IS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER SMALL BUMPS AT A LOW SPEED. EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED ON A GRAVEL ROAD.
I HAVE A NEW 4RUNNER THAT I WAS NOT PLEASED WITH HOW IT WAS HANDLING. I TOOK IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP TO GET AN OBJECTIVE OPINION. THE RESULTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT. 10 OUT OF 14 OF THE SETTINGS WERE OUT OF SPECIFICATION. I PAID TO HAVE THESE ITEMS FIXED. MY CAR NOW TRACKS BETTER. CORNERS BETTER AND HAS A MORE STABLE RIDE. THESE SETTINGS WERE SO BAD I NOW REALIZE THAT I WAS IN CAR THAT WAS NOT AS SAFE AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I HAVE SUBMITTED THIS ATTACHMENT TO TOYOTA USA AND THE DEALER AND THE ONLY RESPONSE HAS BEEN THEY WILL FILE MY COMPLAINT. I AM AMAZED THAT TOYOTA DID NOT CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD REMEDY AS PART OF A NEW CAR SALE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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