Do you have a vibration in your 4R? Dealer having issues diagnosing? (Blaming tires?)

[s3lekta]

How aggressive are these vibrations? Sorry you guys are having these issues.

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[127.0.0.1]

Can you expand on what lift or phasing is? Mine feels like the engine is missing or there is a loose motor mount, but that is not the issue. I put it in manual shift and changed rpm, I also tried 4wd, and tried neutral at high speed. Same vibration. This is why I also suspect the driveshaft and/or U-joint.

here is basic overview. there is more to it, and various other examples and tutorials you can search for, but prop shaft angles and joints have specific positions which are optimal, and very slight deviations from spec can cause vibrations

https://www.gtsparkplugs.com/driveshaft-angles.html deviations introduce vibrations

my 2013 tacoma trd brand new vibrated so bady on acceleration it caused wheel hop
turns out they used the wrong part number leaf packs and shim (there are about 6 different
leaf packs depending on all the measured angles once it gets down the assembly line)
....got the correct ones installed, zero vibrations

on mine the difference in leaf pack shim was 1 degree



obvious phasing problems are caused by bolting up ujoints and cardans incorrectly,
but propshaft angles matter too.

 

[markusSR5]

Don't know if anyone is even still watching this thread but long story short: my Toyota dealer could not fix my vibration issues. They swapped rims, tires, front and rear driveshafts, and all the U-joints. It still vibrated so they said they are actually sending it back to Toyota for some engineers to try and figure it out. My dealer shop foreman thinks it may be in the transmission. In the meantime, Toyota swapped me out into another new 4runner at no extra cost that drives smoothly, at least so far. Only thing I don't like is that they did not have an sr5 4wd with third row available in grey, so I had to take one without third row. Now the floor is not at all flat when the 2nd row is down, and there is zero storage in the back. I liked having a semi flat floor and storage both in the floor behind the third row, and a decent storage space on the floor in front of the third row when it was folded down. At least they swapped out my problem 4runner, so that's the story.

 

[brumey]

Is this issue only on some 4R’s or are we saying its on all? My SR5 does not have the vibration described at 2000 miles. Should I be looking for it?

We never have folk in the back seat, is it detectable in front seats?

my SR5 was the first or second delivered to the dealer in late March. Is this happening on models that are newer or older?

is it only certain models?

sorry you folk are experiencing this. Its my first Toyota and not sure I’ll get another. I was looking at a Tundra but thats on hold. Looking at an F150 5.0 v8 now.

 

[Imp]

Don't know if anyone is even still watching this thread but long story short: my Toyota dealer could not fix my vibration issues. They swapped rims, tires, front and rear driveshafts, and all the U-joints. It still vibrated so they said they are actually sending it back to Toyota for some engineers to try and figure it out. My dealer shop foreman thinks it may be in the transmission. In the meantime, Toyota swapped me out into another new 4runner at no extra cost that drives smoothly, at least so far. Only thing I don't like is that they did not have an sr5 4wd with third row available in grey, so I had to take one without third row. Now the floor is not at all flat when the 2nd row is down, and there is zero storage in the back. I liked having a semi flat floor and storage both in the floor behind the third row, and a decent storage space on the floor in front of the third row when it was folded down. At least they swapped out my problem 4runner, so that's the story.

Happy to hear you got your case settled to some kind of decent resolution. The NOT a Toyota I bought performed perfectly for my trip from New England to South Carolina and back. I test drove 3 more down in SC and all three vibrated, with the limited hybrid more than the others. They have a big problem if sales KEEPS TELLING PATRONS IT'S JUST TIRES and they're under warranty.

 

[127.0.0.1]

Toyota will figure it out, then issue TSB's. it just takes time
to set up the logistics...I am pretty sure Toyota knows what
is happening already.

 

[markusSR5]

I have no idea what trim levels, or what months of production might be effected. Just curious Brumey, are you looking to trade the 4runner for the F150? I am also not feeling all that excited about keeping this second 4runner they gave me. I waited almost 5 months to get the configuration I wanted, which I now do not have, and this whole experience has been disappointing to say the least. I test drove a different manufacturer mid size SUV with a V6, and the throttle response seems much better despite this 4runner new I-4 claiming to have more torque. The v6 also does not sound like some sort of raspy turbo diesel sewing machine, so that was nice also. My 4runner also could not get anywhere near the rated mpg unless I found a long 50mph road with no stops. On our 70mph highways, it got 21 and in town with me feathering the gas it got 16. That is not any better than the real v6 mid size SUVs get IMO.

 

[xp0nex]

Wonder if it's the dreaded needle bearing. Still present on the 4th gen Tacoma so I would assume it's still present on 6th gen 4Runners also.

 

[nandrian6]

I'm in a very similar boat here - TRD ORP with michenlin LTX stock (no mods at all on the car). Purchased Monday 10/20/2025, and first long highway trip that Friday and noticed a light vibration through both the wheel, bottom/butt of my seat, both pedals. Clearly visible via the visor shade, hood shake. Noticeable at 65+, but definitely more pronounced 76-79MPH. If I had to describe it - it feels like a very very low setting on a massage gun, almost like a light, continual 'jiggle' - look, i'm not a skinny guy, and the way I truly feel it is in my meaty thighs, calfs, and lovehandles sort of continually vibrating - good luck 'measuring' that lol

Left if back with the dealer the following Tuesday, they claimed they did not notice any abornmal vibration, but claimed couldt not drive at the speeds I experienced for liability (Understandable). So, I went back to drive it with the tech in ride-along, and to what extent I could with moderate traffic, got up to speed and I felt it, but he placed his hand on wheel and he said he didn't really feel it, but it's hard to explain the seat/pedal shake. So... had to come back in the next day to do a ride-along with the foreman. he said he felt some minor shake on the wheel. At this point, feeling like I'm losing my mind, they decided to test each tire via Road Force.

Lo and behold - 1 out of balance (RF, added a 0.5oz weight), 1 out of round (RR, via 2nd Harmonic test 21lbs). They replaced the out of round tire with a new, and placed a 1.5oz weight after a new road force.

This weekend, went on a long drive... and the vibration seems to be no different even after the new tire & balancing weights - still through the wheel, pedals, and most noticeably in the butt of my seat. It still feels like the lowest of low settings on a theragun/massage gun, at a high frequency.

I plan to call the dealership tomorrow, but when I picked it up last Thursday, they told me if it wasn't resolved, I could take a like-vehicle out for a test drive to see if it compares & it's 'just you.' Maybe it is, maybe i'm just getting used to the new ride, but i feel like a persistent jiggle. Frustrated that a $60K+ car is causing me CONSTANT headache and I'll have spent 10+ hours hassling with the dealership. Hoping for the best and will report back.

 

[markusSR5]

Your describing exactly what I said. I even told the foreman that it feels a little like I got a massaging seat for no extra charge. Only problem is that I can't turn it off and on a seven hour road trip, it gets annoying even if it is mild. I had to fight to get the dealer to swap me into another 4 runner. I lost my 3rd row seat on the swap, and if I am being honest, the new one still does the same thing a little. Not as bad as the first, but it still does it. I tried multiple tire balances and even new tires on the first 4runner. Nothing changed it and the techs will say that it's not bad enough to warrant any sort of further analysis, which is of course because they don't take long road trips in it. This is the 6th Toyota I have had including 2 Tacomas. I have never had this issue before. I am trying to decide on just living with the mild shaking in the new one or trading for something else. I love everything else about the truck and waited a long time to get it. It's also the first new Toyota I ever purchased, the rest were all used. I just hate the thought of this kind of money spent and not getting a smooth ride at least on smooth roads.

 

[xp0nex]

Put it into 4WD. Do the vibrations go away?

 

[6thGen1419]

Maybe you should get rid of the 4Runner and get a different model that's designed for ride quality?

 

[nandrian6]

Maybe you should get rid of the 4Runner and get a different model that's designed for ride quality?

Do you have this persistent low/dull vibration at highway speeds? if so, then that course of action you recommended may be worthwhile. If not, then I'm not sure why we should be expected to deal with this?

 

[6thGen1419]

I have no low/dull vibration at highway speeds that I've noticed. But perhaps I'm less sensitive than you?

 

[xp0nex]

Do you have this persistent low/dull vibration at highway speeds? if so, then that course of action you recommended may be worthwhile. If not, then I'm not sure why we should be expected to deal with this?

Put it into 4WD and see you still those vibrations. If you do, at least you can rule out the needle bearing.

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