A bad dealership can just ruin your whole buying experience. Love your truck.

My inlaws had issues with their VW Toureg some years back. It was all said to be normal under warranty. As soon as warranty ran out, they miraculously diagnosed the problems and asked for thousands for the fix even though we complained about the same issue many times under warranty. I emailed VW USA and they just said pay up. So, I then emailed VW in Germany. They immediately apologized and contacted VW USA telling them to take care of it free of charge. They did and the problem never came back. Sometimes, you have to escalate the problem directly to the factory. That’s my 2 cents. Btw, the army green looks great.

You’re being way to generous not disclosing dealers and reps. As another 2020 4RORP owner I appreciate all the info.

I bought a 2020 4runner SR5 premium four years ago. 33,000 miles currently. I am a mechanic. I have zero issues. It has never been back to the dealer since I bought it with 17 miles. I do my own maintenance.

Yikes, your dealership sounds terrible!! I just tried to switch to a closer dealership for my 2020 Tundra for oil changes, while there I asked them to drop the spare tire and check it because I will be taking a long road trip in a couple months. I waited for the vehicle in their waiting room and the service guy comes out and says "your spare tires has some sort of weird keyed hole to drop it, we haven't seen that before, and we cannot find any of the tools Toyota usually provides to get the spare tire down". Then he offered to charge me 1200 to cut the bed off or something like that to force the tire down, or he said I could pay 300.00 for a new tool kit (you can get them for 60 bucks online). I said no, I'll research things at home and figure it out. Took me 30 seconds with a flashlight to find the bag of tools right where Toyota placed them, and another 2 minutes of online searching to figure out that my spare just has a security key SOLD BY TOYOTA, and it was in the bag of tools the dip shits didn't look hard enough for!! Needless to say I will be driving farther just to go back to the other dealership that has competent staff!! I hope you find a better dealership to help you!!

I see that you are in Surrey. I visited many Toyota dealerships in the Lower Mainland before I made a purchase for a 2023 4R TRD OR and I learned that all these dealerships are ran by people who should be in jail.

4Runner is built in Japan, they spray an undercoating on the vehicle to protect it from sea moisture on the voyage over. Yes, it will burn off within a 1K miles and smells like burnt plastic and it smokes.

I'm so sorry to hear about all the issues you've had. Sadly, this is becoming all too common. I've had such bad experiences at my dealership with oil changes and tire rotations that I finally just went out and bought about $500.00 worth of tools and do all my maintenance myself. In the last month I have changed the engine oil, air filter, cabin air filter, rotated the tires, cleaned the throttle body, changed oil in both differentials, changed oil in transfer case, and installed new front brake pads. Next up is a transmission fluid change. The dealership missed out big.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I bought limited last December as retirement gift by myself. I noticed tire pressure 10 PSI above as recommended 2K miles. Called the dealer they don't care about it. Finally went to dealer, they damaged my running boards both sides while lifting. I found at my driveway..

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’ve been fortunate with zero issues with my 2022 4Runner Limited.

Had a neighbor once tell me, Toyotas were trouble free; however he could never explain why they needed a service area. A few weeks afterward, I saw his car being towed. I asked him if it was being repossessed and he got all hot and said no, it would not start. So much for the trouble free statement. Not knocking Toyota, but there is not an object manufactured by any company that cannot have a problem or more. Dealer does not sound like a winner, bump shop, I assume NOT Owned by Toyota, needed a sudden adjustment to correct very poor customer assistance. However, hate to say it, not unusual for any vehicle manufacture. As for Honda's. They are well noted to have fuel migration into the crankcase causing the oil to dilute and diluted oil is far from good for the engine. In some cases that requires oil changes every 2-3K miles. So do not believe Honda's are perfect...they are not.

Thank you for producing this video. It’s important to share experiences even if it’s a Toyota. I am in the same province and had paint / rust issues on the hatch of my Rav4. Dealer installed the plates on the hatch metal to metal. No foam protective strips or pieces. And guess what the plate rubbed the paint down and formed rust. Went through the same process as you and even had over spray on both sides of my vehicle near the hatch. ICBC Dealer approved repair shop. And then they couldn’t even re attach the awd rav4 badges in the correct position on the hatch. I am sorry to hear that you experienced these issues especially from the dealership that you dealt with. I figured out which dealer you used and sad given their size. One should not have to deal with these kinds of issues on a brand new vehicle. Doesn’t appear that Toyota Canada and Toyota Japan are taking quality seriously for the 4Runners. May as well have purchased a Ford. Good luck in the future with the TRD Pro

That’s really disappointing how that dealership trashed the interior and exterior addressing the tailgate. I heard about the garnish problem before taking delivery of my ‘23 Off Road last March. Upon inspection I noticed it had a very thin rubber gasket for protection. I believe I had read a gasket was added to address this very recently. Incredible they waited so long to add the gasket. I wasn’t crazy about the electric brake booster. But in my research it appeared failures were very rare. And, if they did occur it’s usually the electric motor and that it’s possible to do some diy repair if the motor is at fault. That’s, amazing both the original and first replacement failed. I hope time will heal some of that disappointment. I still continue to have a big grin on my face when I’m behind the wheel of mine.

In 1988, I bought a new GMC 3500, and took exceptional care of it for 32 years. I finally sold it in 2021, and it still looked nearly new, except for the damage caused by the dealer many years prior. They needed to lift it to do some service underneth, but lifted with the bumpers instead of the frame, where it should have been. Of course, the front bumper was tweeked, and the rear bumper was bent outward very noticeably. I took it back and they did their best to fix them, but it never looked the same. After that incident, they lost my business for good. I've had quality control issues with many auto shops over the years, so do as much as I can in my own garage. It's even more frustrating when they damage a new vehicle.

Sorry for your situation. But thank you for your real life experience. It’s not always unicorns and rainbows. Thank you for sticking up not only for yourself, but the rest of us customers. I own a 2022 TRD PRO 4Runner. 21,000 miles and so far so good. BUT, I like to hear from those that have had any issues to look out for. Thanks again my fellow 4Runner owner.

I have the same hydraulic brake system in my 06 4Runner. It’s all kinds of problematic but it still works mostly. I also have a 24 TRD off road , so I’m glad your posting this

A calm and detailed explanation of your unfortunate ownership experience. No vehicle is 100% perfect and you of course have had a run of rotten luck in what should have been an enjoyable experience. Thanks for the warning.

Ive had three 4Runners in a row -- 2nd generation (by far the best), 3rd gen, and 5th gen -- and I have a 4th reserved with a refundable 500.00 deposit (2024 TRD Off Road Premium). You're video, and my own experience with my 2016 SR5 Premium has me reconsidering. The 2016 4Runner, BY A WIDE MARGIN, is the worst 4Runner Ive owned (the other 2 were varying degrees of great); a gasket seal leak at the transfer case (neither the gen2 or gen3 ever leaked a drop of anything); weather stripping under the roof rack that comes dislodged after every wash; black paint (yes, Ive owned black trucks before and I know how hard they are to aesthetically maintain) that was either poorly engineered or improperly applied, because if you even so much as brush a microfiber cloth on it there will be new swirls, scratches, and chips; a moonroof that jerks and stutters when opening and has required regular applications of lithium grease in the tracks for years; rubbing of the passenger side front tire on the mudflap when making a full turn to the right after a TRD wheel and tire package was purchased from and installed by the Toyota dealership (the service manager insists it's because the tires are too aggressive, but the tires weren't too aggressive before Toyota installed the TRD wheels, and they aren't too aggressive on the driver's side); and a vibration in my dash that appeared in year 5 at 50MPH... the Toyota dealership says it's a broken 'clip inside the dash,' and that they need a $1,000.00 parts and labor commitment before they can tear the dash apart and start replacing clips, and then they would need to test drive the truck after each new clip is installed to listen for the vibration, so the labor costs will certainly go up exponentially. I asked if they were certain it wasn't something hanging up in the brake assembly or a tire imbalance. They said, "we don't think so." Toyota, imo, is like Apple... they were once the STANDARD by which all competitors were measured, but now they're just the most expensive products in their respective areas with no reason anymore for being so. Steve Jobs was once asked what set Apple apart... he thought for a few seconds and replied, "We don't ship JUNK like the competitors do," and Jobs was right... way back then. Toyota has that same smugness and arrogance, but their products, like Apple products, no longer seem to have that same standard of quality they once had. The problem for me is that the 4Runner, imo, is the best looking truck in its class and it has the best resale value by far. Im not sure what to do now... on one hand Im happy I stumbled upon your video, and on the other hand I wish I'd never seen it.

Purchased a 2024 SR5 Premium about a week ago. Encountered the smoke smell you referenced. Possibly labels on exhaust pipes burning off. Next day i really didnt notice it any further. By the sound of it you've had your hands full with yours. I can understand the discouragement. I did opt for the extended warranty on mine. Hopefully it'll cover anything that goes awol. Thanks for the review 👍

Wow, what a series of unfortunate events. We own a 2017 limited w/125,000 miles and have been fortunate to only have to change tires, brakes and fluids. We love ours so much we just purchased a 2024 TRD off-road, and gave the 2017 to our daughter. If we have a different experience with this one I will be sure to look this video up again and leave an update.

I am so sorry to hear about your experience with Toyota Canada! I have had my issues over the past 2 decades with them as well! Greetings from Ontario and cheers

I am so sorry that you had to go through all that trouble. I own a 2020 TRD Offroad. I might be a lucky owner because there isn't a single thing wrong with mine. Every Toyota Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner that I've owned had no issues whatsoever. I installed a hood wind deflector from the "Weather-Tech" brand. I'm completely satisfied with it. It leaves about an inch and a quarter gap. Again, so sorry for your bad experience with a crappy dealer, the service manager, the body shop, and the poor-quality wind deflector. I hope you have a good day!

Thank you for sharing this, and sorry that you have to deal with all the hassle. I own a 2022 Tacoma TRD Pro- love the truck, but have had some issues as well. Haven’t had much luck with the dealer, but thankfully I haven’t had as many issues as you….

Glad to see your post, hopefully that is the last of your issues. Make sure you rust proof the undercarriage (Woolwax or some yearly treatment) for rust prevention. I used to sell cars way back when, and always tell folks to avoid the bug / stone deflector due to risk of paint rubbing off. I have a 2022 TRD Off Road (Toronto area) that just hit 16K kms. I plan to tackle the hatch rust logo area myself as I have a ladder installed on the hatch. I haven’t experienced any brake issues, and that is with doing some true off-roading, added weight (skid plates, front bumper/winch, roof rack) and bigger tires (285/70s) … so additional rotational mass. There have been a couple of guys in the local group that have had lengthy braking experiences which start out with bite and then almost let off to 20% of the initial … dragging out there stopping distance.

Thanks for sharing!

Sorry you had all these issues with your 4Runner, thank you for sharing. I’ve owned 5 and zero issues (two 5th gen’s). I’ll forward your video to my son and son in-law who both have 5th gen’s. Thank you

Pretty sure the dealership is Toyota Open Road Peace Arch in Surrey, BC. It says on the license plate holder when the truck was brand new in the dealers lot at 6:04 😬.

I have a 2023 TRDORP, and so far so good. Thanks for the information, and best wishes.

So sorry you’ve had to deal with all of that. You are surely an exception regarding the brake-system, for sure, but as for the rest (paint repair damage, the mess left behind, denial of things/help, etc) sorry to say you’re not alone. That said, I have a ‘17 ORP which just turned 100k mi and I’ve had zero issues. I hope things get better for you and your truck. There is a reason it’s rated so well and is legendary but there are always exceptions, as you demonstrate here.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm glad you're pointing this out to us.

A very important video, thank you for taking the time to help people be aware, knowing what to look for is sometimes half the battle. Well done

Your video just happened to pop up and im glad it did. Im searching for my first new car in quite some time and recently decided on a new 4 Runner. This definitely gives me more to think about before buying. Gteat information in your video!

Man, this video is like a documentary. I really enjoyed watching it and also learnt a lot from it. Thanks!

I really appreciate you making this video. Without going into all the details I had a very similar experience with Honda. Many common strands between our two experiences - strange early failures in a supposedly reliable, naturally aspirated (not turbo charged), manual transmission Honda (that I purchased new). Trouble getting the dealership to the address the problems, ensuing further damage once work was actually carried out in a shoddy fashion. Zero help from Honda in extending good will. My conclusion is that every time a vehicle goes into the dealership for service, there is a good chance it is getting fucked up in some way. Unfortunately for the two of us, even very reliable models have a few lemons and you have little to chance of getting help from unscrupulous dealers or the manufacturer. Not sure if it will make you feel any better but if you browse some of the Chevy Colorado / GMC Canyon forums you’ll run across lots of premature failures in those vehicles where a computer issue de facto bricks the vehicle. The stuff of nightmares for a new vehicle owner. Again thanks for the video.

Thanks for the reply so sorry for what you went through yes this will be helpful knowing what to look for its just sad the trust to have any work done right Toyota or others I do my best on repairs myself what I can handle your 4-Runner looks awesome

I really appreciate this video. I put a deposit on the new TRD Pro - Terra( new color). I was excited to pick it up. Anyways, I drove off without purchasing it tonight because they jacked up the price $10,000 over sticker price! I am still planning on getting another 4runner, keeping my current 2014 Limited( giving it to my kid). I never had a TRD Pro. I am on my 3rd Limited and have never had so many problems like you! What a nightmare! Thank you for your very informative video! So happy I came across your video. Did they jack up your price over sticker? The dealership treated me like a stupid old lady. After hearing about your crappy dealership experience, happy I walked away from them. I am thinking I may get a certified preowned w/ low mileage with a clean car fax record. Your rig is gorgeous. I am your age and I was prepared to pay full price because this may be my last new car purchase, but not $10,000 over sticker ringing up over $70,000! They stopped making your green color which is my favorite color. Anyways, thanks for the info. I am going out to my garage right now to see if my 2014 Limited has rust on it, lol. 25:26

Well made value added video. Thank you. My friend took his Corolla in for routine service. The next day he noticed he no longer had cruise control. Older model, the control was on a stalk on the steering wheel. They took the stalk, replaced the cover with one that had no stalk hole and told him his car never had the optional cruise. He had over 150k miles, bought it new, still had the window sticker, used the cruise often but they held firm. Best guess is the tech had the same model and wanted the option on his car.

Part of the reason Toyotas have supposedly high reliability is because their owners tend to take care of their vehicles more . That’s really never consodered

Wow… I can feel all of your pain…. Thanks for the video thou

When I bought my 2023 TRD Offroad, I paid special attention to the rear gate garnish, it looks like mine has a gasket that provides a 1.5mm gap between the sharp plastic edge and paint. The most common area of contact are the two end lower corners and my theory is that when lifting open the gate while holding the center portion of the garnish, the whole thing bend outward following the force, that causes he two ends to deflect down and dig into the paint. So first thing I did was installing a circular PpF under the corners, due to the gasket, I can’t insert the PPF too deep, just about 2mm maybe, but should be enough to prevent contact.

For not being a KZfaqr that video was awesome. It really sucks that you had to deal with all that but thank you for sharing your experiences. I was looking at 4runners and you have me a lot to consider.

Toyota sure doesn't have a problem charging an insane amount of money for these trucks. Sad that Toyota didn't step up and own this

I feel like the bad thing are behind you now. The best of luck down the road for you.

Knock on wood I have a 2014 4Runner w/140K miles and have had zero issues. We did upgrade the suspension ditching their very expensive system for a nice off road suspension with minor lift that’s east and cheap to service. No rust, smoke, nothing. I change oil every 5K no matter what and do brakes and fluids myself. It’s been a very reliable ride I’ll never part with.

Smoking from a brand new car is usually from oil residue on the manifold, exhaust pipes, and brake rotors. It does happen from 0-50 miles depending on the brake compound. My 2018 Jeep Cherokee, 2022 Nissan Frontier, 2023 4Runner all smoked from fresh brakes and smelled like burning plastic on the way home, this is normal. After 75 miles and you still see smoke then there is a problem. I need to emphasize my Jeep had 14 miles on the ODO and 4Runner only had 5 miles when I drove them off the lot. Water based paint was introduced due to EPA regulations, Toyota with flat base color were the most problematic (white, army green, cement), very prone to chipping. Your brake failure however, is unique. My experience on higher level trim is complexity = more problems. Your trim level with KDSS suspension, crawl control, fox shocks = complexity. Although tons of TRD Pros were manufactured, defect does slip thru especially on high level trims. Fox performance shocks (search forums) have a much shorter service life than stock Toyota, lots of problems. Your stealership experience can't be at a worse time. 2020-2023 has hit hard on dealerships and mechanics, experienced ones are leaving by the droves (due to poor treatment and low pay). Experienced master mechanics are practically non-existent in dealerships now.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I wonder if car built in the 2020 and 2021 model year have a higher than "normal" defects. I can't imagine those assembling cars and trucks are doing it with their usual focus on quality during a time of global turmoil. It might "just be a 4Runner", but you deserve a 4Runner on your terms, that you paid for.

So sorry to hear about your 4runner. I was considering buying a 4runner but now I'm not to sure. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Ive had the opposite experience with my TRD-Pro. Dealer has been amazing. Fixed my garnish under as soon as i pointed it out. 73000km now. Shout out to the staff at Lagley Toyota!

Frustrating to say the least. I had a cracked windshield replaced at a national brand specialty place and found dirty fingerprints on the ceiling lining. Went back in right away and told them that I had brought them a clean interior truck. They corrected the mess right away but I realized that my expectations of quality work should be kept low nowadays

I have a 2020 4R TRD ORP W/KDSS Absolutely zero issues, most reliable vehicle I ever owned. Traded a 2013 Honda Accord that was one of the worse vehicles I ever owned, burned oil like crazy and Honda said that was normal oil consumption for the Earth Dreams engine. Refused to do anything about it. No more crappy Honda vehicles

I have a 2020 ORP, thanks for the info. Sorry you had to go through all that, sounds like a nightmare. Now I’m gonna go check the back for rust. Fingers crossed.

You are absolutely justified in keeping this vehicle as immaculate as you desire, it is YOUR vehicle. Do not let anyone tell you that you should “let it slide, it’s just a 4Runner”. It is your vehicle, and I can tell you take pride in it and are doing an amazing job taking care of it. Sorry to hear of the substandard customer care, we can only hope Toyota and other manufacturers do what is right by their customer. Your Honda experience is refreshing to hear and a model for the others.

We did have trouble with brake grab at times. We just unplugged the active brake system.

Man you have a good story telling voice. I enjoyed listening to this episode and fall asleep like a baby after the episode. And I don't even own a 4runner 😂

I had the same rig as your’s, and I loved it. had the same issue with the suspension. Both front shock assemblies replaced with updated design at 1,200mi. A few weeks later, my RF Shock failed and was again replaced. Fought steering wheel shimmy from day 1. Other than those two items, it was perfect at 22,000mi, and sold it to a friend.

This really sucks to hear. These dealerships really need to stand behind there customers. Good luck going forward.

I am currently considering a 2024 4Runner to replace my 2008 Subaru Outback… bought the OB w 28k miles and have had to put that purchase price back into the car for repairs over the years. Your truth is a huge help in weighing the pros and cons of moving to Toyota, albeit the “reliable” flagship of their line . Thank you.

Sorry to hear you're having these issues; I have a '16 T4R SR5 Premium (bought new), 160K on it and no issues. Stick with it; I think you'll be happy in the long run. Where I noticed the difference is when the truck turned 100K, then 125K and so on, I noticed it was still driving like new, seats were like new, engine still running like new, no squeaks, suspension still like new, no oil seepage, etc. When other cars are heading to the junk yard, the 4Runner will still be going strong.

Thanks to share this. It definitely stopped me from buying this track.

2019 trd off road here ....nothing short of stellar..no such issues, sorry you had these problems...........

Bro! I got a 2021 4Runner on December 2020. Say your video about the paint when the rear 4 Runner sign is. Went to check and what do you know. Past the 3 year mark this past December.

The dealership should be mentioned because other s may go through the same troubles. That’s bad customer service , bad techs and shop service. You should bring to light the dealer. They should be put on notice for other customers to avoid them. That’s really bad. I a, sorry you had to go through that.

I had the tailgate rust. I removed the garnish. Sanded it all down and did some home made paint. Put some 3M abrasion tape on it and put in some small plastic washers on the attachment points to raise the garnish about 1/16 inch away from the tail gate. I also have the fuel pump issue -recall on 2018/2019- but amazingly my 2018 VIN doesn’t “apply”. Even tho it’s the exact same issue and the exact same year.

Hello from Edmonton. I can't thank you enough for posting this video. Like you, I was about to buy one of these 4Runners as a retirement present to myself. I was just about to visit my Toyota dealer for a test drive this week when I saw your video. You just saved me 70k and I can't thank you enough. Like most people I was high & drunk on the "Toyota Legendary Reliability cool-aid", until I saw your video. Thank you for turning on a light bulb in Edmonton, Alberta!

Great post. I’ve not heard anything bad about 4Runners until now. 😮

Thank you for sharing. Like you I am nearing retirement and wanted a vehicle that would last as they are known for providing that you maintain them. So in 2023 I bought a TRD Off Road trim as you I do not plan on any rough trail balzing, just peridocally some moutain (forest road) drives and wanted the confidence that if I get into a situation I have the right options . I elected to have Toyota do the rust protection on the under body as the forums talked about of frames rusting out. When I got my truck back I was shocked at the sloppy job. There was many places that the was totally bare and the fenders had rust proofing spray on them. I contacted the dealership and they had it redone. Again when I got it back there was over spray on the body pannels. I have heard about the tailgate rust issues as well beneath the garnish and will keep a close eye on it as I purchased the extended warranty. It was alittle unsettling to hear about the barking issues that you encountered, so again I will be mindfull of this while it is still under warranty.

First of all, beautiful truck and I hope you have better luck with her moving forward. Thanks for sharing your very detailed and comprehensive review of your experience with it. This is very timely as I have been considering the purchase of a 4-Runner before the new generation comes out this year. This is the first I have heard of any ABS issues with this but I have heard of the rust issues on the tailgate and especially on the frames underneath if you live in areas with snow. And, I have also heard of the Toyota paint easily chipping on these so if I do buy one, and after watching this review, it is unlikely, I would certainly get the bottom hit with some fluid film or other protectant and also get some paint protection. Thank you for the time and attention you have put into this video and I will say that you are a gentleman considering you didn't throw anyone under the bus on this. Believe me, they certainly deserved to be.

Just bought a brand new 2024 4runner trd orp. Keep us uodated you got my subscription. Ill go do a walk around now.

Shame that a few bad apples can ruin what should have been a flawless ownership experience.

I was the proud owner of a 2007 4Runner SR5 AWD, I did have rust issues with my hatch door in back, but the reliability and durability of the overall vehicle after 16 yrs of use gave me the long term assurances to buy my new 2023 Toyota 4Runner limited. Hopefully, the issues you experienced with your 2020 4Runner have been cleared up on my 2023. I have my 2023 4Runner in a rust proofing program for additional backup on that hatch. All in all, I still feel the 4Runner is a better quality vehicle than the American SUV'S.

Excellent video thank you so very much.

Great video. Thanks for making it and warning others.

Sorry about your troubles.

Very sorry to hear about your 4Runner TRD Pro experience. I also picked up an April 2020 4Runner Limited in Pearl white in July 2020, when the dealer visits were appointment only. Only issues I have are very very slightly misaligned rear bumper to fender cladding, which should actually be perfect given how tight the parts fit together, and 1-2 door card panels which weren't fully sonically welded together on their pins, so you get a panel 'tapping noise' when going around bends in cold weather (which I'll eventually fix). I just checked my chrome painted rear finisher seam and it appears there is a rubber pad or similar waterproof padding material to keep it from rubbing the paint- I also never liked how that rear tailgate closes, especially with the window down, so I close it from about 10" from the close position rather than slamming it. Maybe the unfinished versions don't have any padding? Given your truck's issues, you probably would be a good candidate to trade the truck in for another 2024 or 2025 4Runner before the new one arrives if you still like the drive and power- or trade it for a 2023 GX460? That was one of the options the 2nd gen Tacoma owners considered to get a final,k perfected 2015 version, for like $10k-$12k. Just cut the losses and buyers remorse I suppose with a fresh copy.

Before I bought my 4Runner, I researched different dealerships. I heard some horror stories about a few bad ones. I'm very happy with the dealership I went with. So far I haven't had any issues (knock on wood). But thanks for the tips on what to look out for! 👍

Shocking treatment. Always check your car very well before you sign anything when picking up a vehicle. Companies will often try to get to sign paperwork before you see the vehicle. Dont, inspect it first.

Great storytelling… like an audio book 😊

I bought a 2023 TRD OR Premium and I have 21000 miles on it, and I love the vehicle. I change the oil every 5000 miles, my dealership has been amazing to be honest. I’ve done a lot of research before I decided on the 4 Runner, I’m sorry for your frustrating experience.

Wow, that's the kind of luck I usually have. Sorry to hear about your troubles. I've got a 2023 ORP I've superchargedm Eibach lift and aftermarket wheels and tires. So far mine has been perfect and what you would expect from the reputation of a 4Runner. I do however, need to do the tailgate garnish fix before it rusts. I do all of my own work because I know my dealer can't be trusted to even change the oil properly i.e. insanely over tighten the drain plug and filter housing with an impact gun. I also installed my supercharger so they surely wouldn't honor any warranty. Hopefully you've got everything sorted out and will finally get to enjoy it for many years to come. I also hope you did the Krown or Fluid Film and follow up every year. That's the other major issue with rusting frames.

Thank you for sharing your experience. After listening to all your points, I think the dealing is same everywhere in Canada. Yesterday, I drove in my Wife's Honda for service and got it back with the interiors all messed up with dust. Looked like the driver kicked the door panel to open the door. What could we do? Just clean it yourself. This is normal for some people but not for people like me who give an extra attention to the details. It is simply unacceptable. From your video I have learned that it is good to quickly video tape your vehicle exteriors and interiors before you send it in for any kinda work. Cuz if they F up, you might have the video to prove it wasnt there before. I also heard a lot of good stuff about Toyota. But nah man, they all the same. Thanks for the video and I hope the brakes work well on your machine now. 😅

I’ve owned 3 4Runners including 2 Pros. An 02’, 15 Pro, and 21’ Pro. My 02’ was the least problematic, owned for 120k (from 100k to 220k) and had zero issues. My 15’ Pro had several issues, all fixed under warranty/extended warranty including transmission at 4700 miles, front shock, and upper control arms. My 21’ just had its drivers front shock replaced under extended warranty. That’s all the trouble I’ve had with my 21’. My point is, no manufacturer is perfect, none. Sorry for your troubles.

Sorry for your experience. My 2010 has been flawless.

Man, I totally feel your pain. I just got a new Tacoma trail edition last year. After my first service they managed to chip paint off of one of the rims during tire rotation. Luckily I did a walk around the vehicle before I left their lot and asked for the manager. After some back and forth negotiations ( they wanted a wheel repair guy to fix it ) I got them to agree to replace my wheel if they expect me to continue coming to them for service. Well, its been 5 months and I'm still waiting for the wheel to come in. they tell me its on backorder and I should have it this month.... I also had PPF installed on the front clip of my truck 2 times now. The first shop, 5 star reviews, did a complete butcher job and even cut into the paint on almost every panel with PPF. I had a second shop remove that PPF and re-install. Feels like you have to be very careful where you bring your truck for service these days. I cant really remember getting damage after any service with all the other vehicles I owned. Now, whenever I take my vehicle in for any service, I record a walk around video on their lot before I hand over the keys.

Are your shackles connected to the tie downs? Not sure they're rated for a pull

Thanks for sharing. I was looking to purchase a 4Runner later this year because of the “Toyota reliability” but the rust and master cylinder are headaches I do not want to deal with. Sorry for experience you had with this PRO.

Thanks for this video!

My 2015 Mazda 3 is not an expensive car. It was barely expensive new. But to this day I still park at the back of grocery stores and away from any direct path where carts could roll out of their bays, and always drop off my wife before parking far away from other people at events. People say I’m crazy but it’s my car and I want it to look good for what I hope is a long ownership period. It’s nice to look at your car 9 years later and it doesn’t look 9 years old. Don’t let anyone tell you what your car should look like. I would’ve fought that body shop who made that dent even harder. And the people who fixed it and dirtied it up? Same deal. Thank you for making this video. Very well put-together and well-spoken. It appears you are in the minority with regards to the ownership experience with these but nonetheless, it’s terrible and I hope things improve from here on out if you plan on keeping the vehicle. You’re certainly one master cylinder away from exercising your lemon law rights if Canada is similar to how it is here in the US. Unfortunately a large majority of companies since Covid are not what they used to be. Employees no longer take pride in their work and companies no longer stand behind their products. Especially during the first couple years of Covid, I myself noticed many service-oriented businesses I dealt with were using their “Plan C” crew, a skeleton crew of newly-hired, still-working-on-tutorials type of folk who have no business dealing with customers until they are more trained and better exhibit the ability to do good work. Things haven’t fully recovered even now unfortunately. A lot of businesses used Covid to skyrocket their bottom line at the expense of hiring weak, cheaper workforces after mistreating and underpaying the veterans and laying them off to the point where talent is low and everyone is just trying to get to quitting time. Even on the white-collar side, a lot of us were/are quiet-quitting because we don’t feel our companies are loyal to us anymore as many companies may have once been where you had people working 30+ years for the same company.

I bought a 4Runner brand new in 2017, best vehicle I've ever owned. 95k miles. No issues except hood latch cable. Sorry to hear about your issues with the Runner. Thats pretty crazy. About the trunk gate, we had a 2007 4Runner and we did replace the rear gate with a southern one as ours did rust through.

Since the 1980's, 98% of the vehicles I have owned have been new and used Toyotas, including two 4Runners, one new and one used. I have never encountered any of the issues you have experienced with the Toyotas I have owned and all of the three dealerships I've bought from in Houston, TX have provided excellent service. Seems like your dealer in Canada, Canada Toyota and the approval body shop frankly speaking, just honestly suck and they could care less about customer service and repeat customers. If Honda provides better service and vehicles, trade your 4Runner in for a Honda Passport Trailsport. It's somewhat off-roadish.

Hey thanks for the video. Very informative. Question for ya. Where did you find that rear window skull tint, thanks

Have a ‘21 Highlander Platinum. 40,000 miles on it, so far so good. I have a Jeep too. It’s in the shop for the oil cooler at 85,000 miles but I have a lifetime warranty on it… thank God! lol. I bought the Toyota extended warranty too. 125,000/10 years.

Good video, this was a learning experience, I do like the green color of the 4Runner too. Time and chance with all auto manufactures it seems

Sorry for your pain with the dealership. Once the dealership nick up my matte black pro wheel. I will never go back there again and will file a complaint report.

Thanks for posting this. Valuable info to the next guy. I own a Canadian "22 4Runner ORP. My thoughts. Most dealerships really suck for service. I'm a retired dealer auto mechanic (not Toyota) and have seen it all. My 4Runner has never been back so far. No one touches it but me unless warranty. Smoke from exhaust could be classed as normal on a new vehicle. But if it had had a proper Pre Delivery Inspection which includes a test drive smoke should been gone. I am glad I insisted on no accessories like bug deflector. Don't get me started the B***S*** electronic rust protection module. No pro suspension to worry about. I love my KDSS. I have the same non vacuum brake booster set up as you do. Takes a bit to get used to from vacuum boosters but so far it has been flawless. But your experience concerns me as I have about 6 months of the 3 year warranty left and like you said the unit is stupid money. My biggest immediate concern for my 4Runner is the rust on the hatch or frame. I live in a salt belt. Checked my hatch after seeing your video and it's ok. So I pulled the license plate lights and sprayed the whole inside area with Krown. Rest of the truck has been Krowned annually since new with special attention to the frame. Fingers crossed on the brake booster but today its hard to do better than a 5th gen 4Runner.

Thanks for your very detailed video. I'm definitely not getting a 4 runner.

Man! I can hear the frustration in your voice. I sympathize with all of it. You search long and hard for the right vehicle that ticks off the most boxes in the “I need,” “I want,” and the “nice to have” columns. Then you realize that it’s so nice that you went over budget. You stretch your finances and drive it home after spending four and a half hours at the stealership. But it’s frigging awesome, and it’s yours! That’s when the problems start. That’s when you get to know the service people way more than you ever wanted to. You have to keep calling and chasing them just to get a status on your damn truck! Ask me how I know.

Same problem happened with the tale gate latch on my 2022 TRD pro. But if you’re looking for new springs and bottom collar I have two for sale as I switch out my springs and bottom collars out.

Modern Hondas ain’t what they used to be. My family had 3 new Honda SUV’s in the last decade. All 3 had dead batteries within the first couple weeks to 6 months of ownership. I’d still trust a made in Japan Toyota/lexus over anything else made today. YMMV ❤

Thank you for your detailed information. I'm going to buy a 2024 4Runner in the next couple months. I am also, looking at a video on the 2025. I have always had a Chevrolet, but I so, like the 4Runner. I will be getting the extended warranty. That's from your video. THANKS!

Dr. Color Chip will fix those paint chips. Sorry to hear about all this. My understanding is that 4Runners are converted to TRD Pros at the Atlanta Port, I heard this years ago. Once you buy a vehicle you are stuck and dealers do not care. Who ever installed the brake master cylinder the second time did something wrong. We have had yearly polishes on our 2022 TRD ORP, zero rust around the tailgate garnish. You made a great video! I wish we had spoken before you took it in for painting. I work in automotive coatings. Finding a good painter is literally impossible. 4Runners are painted in Glasurit by BASF, if they did not use this no paint match. Most paint shops, especially dealer paint shops are high turn over low quality work, with inexperienced bump and paint people. So sorry this happened to you. Your problems are due to a crappy dealer, Toyota Brass in Japan should be involved. Can I reference your video in a new video. @ToyotaUSA @Toyota