2025 4Runner SR5 brakes squeal like dying banshee when cold

[ibu66]

Wow! I can’t believe that! I guess I was lucky with mine! At least they did something and acknowledged that there were issues. I can’t believe that Toyota delayed the 4 Runner launch to get this issue unresolved. And the worst part is to see how different dealerships take different approaches to a common known issue. I wonder if you guys can continuously take your car to have this fixed, and after the third try you can get the Lemmon Law. After all, this is a safety concern rather than pleasing our ears. I hope Toyota will listen!

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[mikenewowner]

To fix mine, they had to cannibalize a new 4 Runner's brake parts - one just off the line - the parts the dealer ordered to fix mine did not work - so he tried w/ a new 4 Runner's parts....and worked so far.

Here is my belief about what is happening - I may be wrong - happens often - but from what I can piece together after going through everything, here is what I think is occurring:

Toyota knows about the issue - probably knew when the first ones rolled into dealerships in Dec/Jan and every dealer said what's up w/ the screaming banshee - that a new feature?

Toyota probably told dealers to sell them as is and they will figure it out later..... like the Sequoia - apparently the Sequoias a year or two ago had the same issue - I guess brakes are really tough for Toyota.

The brakes are not a safety issue so not required to recall; just a nuisance...but definitely one way to Elon Musk the 4 Runner line by selling these in the condition they are - I wouldn't advise buying a 4 Runner right now, would you?.

Also, Toyota likely can't recall right now even if they wanted to b/c they don't have enough parts to fix every shrieking 4 Runner - this is a big assumption, but then again, why wouldn't they fix everyone's now if they had parts. My bet is there are not enough replacement parts in supply system to build new 4 Runners AND fix the defective ones.

Again, my 2 cents from piecing together what i have been reading, seeing, and hearing (no pun....).

 

[FoozGrind]

To fix mine, they had to cannibalize a new 4 Runner's brake parts - one just off the line - the parts the dealer ordered to fix mine did not work - so he tried w/ a new 4 Runner's parts....and worked so far.

Here is my belief about what is happening - I may be wrong - happens often - but from what I can piece together after going through everything, here is what I think is occurring:

Toyota knows about the issue - probably knew when the first ones rolled into dealerships in Dec/Jan and every dealer said what's up w/ the screaming banshee - that a new feature?

Toyota probably told dealers to sell them as is and they will figure it out later..... like the Sequoia - apparently the Sequoias a year or two ago had the same issue - I guess brakes are really tough for Toyota.

The brakes are not a safety issue so not required to recall; just a nuisance...but definitely one way to Elon Musk the 4 Runner line by selling these in the condition they are - I wouldn't advise buying a 4 Runner right now, would you?.

Also, Toyota likely can't recall right now even if they wanted to b/c they don't have enough parts to fix every shrieking 4 Runner - this is a big assumption, but then again, why wouldn't they fix everyone's now if they had parts. My bet is there are not enough replacement parts in supply system to build new 4 Runners AND fix the defective ones.

Again, my 2 cents from piecing together what i have been reading, seeing, and hearing (no pun....).

It is a safety issue for some of us. Some of us here don’t care about the noise and don’t mind hearing it. Others like myself can’t stand the noise and when I back out as soon as the noise starts I start doing all stupid stuff without realizing it to stop the noise…. Like take my foot off the brake, or slam my foot on the brake, or tap the brake lightly regardless if the way I drive is affected then it’s a safety issue. I already requested Toyota to buy back my 4Runner and let me get one that doesnt make noise. Why can’t I have a one like everyone else’s who doesn’t make noise ?

 

[mikenewowner]

It is a safety issue for some of us. Some of us here don’t care about the noise and don’t mind hearing it. Others like myself can’t stand the noise and when I back out as soon as the noise starts I start doing all stupid stuff without realizing it to stop the noise…. Like take my foot off the brake, or slam my foot on the brake, or tap the brake lightly regardless if the way I drive is affected then it’s a safety issue. I already requested Toyota to buy back my 4Runner and let me get one that doesnt make noise. Why can’t I have a one like everyone else’s who doesn’t make noise ?

I don't disagree on the safety aspect - I was hesitant to break as hard to try to avoid the squeal. I suspect from a brake performance standpoint it is not a safety issue in that they work to stop the vehicle w/i the required standards therefore they are not required to recall -again, this is all outside my lane and not saying I agree.

 

[FoozGrind]

I don't disagree on the safety aspect - I was hesitant to break as hard to try to avoid the squeal. I suspect from a brake performance standpoint it is not a safety issue in that they work to stop the vehicle w/i the required standards therefore they are not required to recall -again, this is all outside my lane and not saying I agree.

Yea I get it. I know they told me at the dealer multiple times no safety issue but I guess they don’t care about your mental state! I don’t dislike my dealer either been using them for my last two 4Runners and probably been going for the last 16 years to the same dealership for service same service guy. It’s not their fault they can’t fix it. I find it messed up that we have had brakes on cars for about 200 years……

 

[jaymay82]

Took mine in today. 3K miles, but it's been screaming like a banshee braking in reverse probably since 1K miles. Now it's also doing it sometimes when braking going forward.

Servco Toyota (Hawaii) says almost everyone is bringing in their 4Runner for this issue, but nothing they can really do other than record the issue and collect numbers being submitted to Toyota headquarters. They hope a TSB is coming out in the coming months.

 

[IggyGFL]

We took delivery of our 6th gen 6/28. Took a few days but the squeal began.

We were gone on vacation for two weeks, but I ordered new pads for the fronts and swapped them out yesterday. Noise is gone. Carquest premium ceramic pads with a nice coating of tacky CRC brake quiet (pink/redish compound) on the back of new pads and only put the stainless directional pieces between the caliper and pad.

$60 in parts and I don’t have to deal with inept Toyota warranty telling me there’s nothing wrong.

 

[FoozGrind]

We took delivery of our 6th gen 6/28. Took a few days but the squeal began.

We were gone on vacation for two weeks, but I ordered new pads for the fronts and swapped them out yesterday. Noise is gone. Carquest premium ceramic pads with a nice coating of tacky CRC brake quiet (pink/redish compound) on the back of new pads and only put the stainless directional pieces between the caliper and pad.

$60 in parts and I don’t have to deal with inept Toyota warranty telling me there’s nothing wrong.

Let us know if it comes back. This is I think why dealers aren’t doing anything because it comes back and what happens if they try and fix it a certain amount of times…:????

 

[IggyGFL]

Let us know if it comes back. This is I think why dealers aren’t doing anything because it comes back and what happens if they try and fix it a certain amount of times…:????

If it comes back Ill let y'all know.

I did see evidence of vibrations between the two stainless plates between the caliper and pads. Thats what drove me to remove the inner one on both pad sets. She drives 10 miles 3X a week so ill take it home to the keys this weekend (350 Miles round trip) and check it Monday morning.

 

[IggyGFL]

Few hundred miles later (500 total) on the 6th Gen and no more noise. Parts in the photo and like I said I left the gold plate between the caliper and pads put this go round. Not a peep out of them yet! I’m calling it fixed.

 

[lost54]

TRDjon put out a video that there is a tsb that just rolled out for the squeaky brakes on the 4runners and Landcruisers. t-sb-0046-25. I’ll try to get hold of my dealer soon as I can to verify if they got parts on hand and schedule it

 

[jaymay82]

Servco Toyota (Hawaii) called me and scheduled my fix. Mahalo Toyota.

 

[lost54]

Servco Toyota (Hawaii) called me and scheduled my fix. Mahalo Toyota.

They did? Which one? They havent called me

 

[jaymay82]

They did? Which one? They havent called me

I took mine in exactly 1 week ago and they said they'd call back once the TSB was available, which they did real quick. Asked me which location I wanted to go to. Try calling them on your own or scheduling online since the parts are in.

 

[speedracer99]

For those in Canada, the new TSB is (TSB T-TCI-6117). Replace front Pads and Shims with designated part #s. Mine is scheduled for service. Parts are a couple weeks out.

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