Nightmare at 10,000 miles on TRD ORP Hybrid?

[CO/ZA]

Having that diesel 2.8 here would be a dream come true! It's been in production since 2015 and so far it's bulletproof/ powerful and quite efficient.

Sorry for derailing the thread.
Hope OP's issue is just a faulty battery.

It quite nice to drive, buckets of torque with a car that's fully loaded with humans and luggage.

I rented a Toyota Fortuner (Hilux but 4runner thing) in S. Africa recently, and got to drive a 2.8 and 2.4 example in Kruger NP and Cape Town.

Great engines, albeit they suffer from lack of passing power at that 55-70mph ish area.

Will say the previous iteration D4D engine was known for injector failures and cracking pistons at exactly 300,000km.

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[NotApplicable]

For the people that are actually going to use it offroad, why would you increase the odds of failure when you're already engaging in risk seeking activities.

I think we'll see many people using 4Runner hybrids off road. Same as the several other off-road-capable models of i-FORCE hybrid that Toyota sells. And I think there's a good chance that they end up being perfectly reliable, based on Toyota's history. We'll have to wait to see the data on this, but you're entitled to your opinion until then. I don't recommend that you go around making the suggestion that real off-roaders who keep their vehicles for any length of time shouldn't choose the hybrid; I suspect this will bring into question not only your automotive chops but also your off-roading chops given the number of knowledgeable, passionate, and capable off-roaders who are clearly going for the hybrid trims.

You jumped into a thread preaching about the inherent diminished reliability of the I-FORCE MAX model, and it turns out the issue has absolutely nothing to do with the hybrid system. From this behavior alone, it's pretty clear that this is not only a personal superstition that you have, but one you proselytize. For your benefit, I'm glad Toyota still offers a vehicle that you consider simple enough to meet your theoretical reliability bar.

 

[odins_beer'd]

I think we'll see many people using 4Runner hybrids off road. Same as the several other off-road-capable models of i-FORCE hybrid that Toyota sells. And I think there's a good chance that they end up being perfectly reliable, based on Toyota's history. We'll have to wait to see the data on this, but you're entitled to your opinion until then. I don't recommend that you go around making the suggestion that real off-roaders who keep their vehicles for any length of time shouldn't choose the hybrid; I suspect this will bring into question not only your automotive chops but also your off-roading chops given the number of knowledgeable, passionate, and capable off-roaders who are clearly going for the hybrid trims.

You jumped into a thread preachin

I think we'll see many people using 4Runner hybrids off road. Same as the several other off-road-capable models of i-FORCE hybrid that Toyota sells. And I think there's a good chance that they end up being perfectly reliable, based on Toyota's history. We'll have to wait to see the data on this, but you're entitled to your opinion until then. I don't recommend that you go around making the suggestion that real off-roaders who keep their vehicles for any length of time shouldn't choose the hybrid; I suspect this will bring into question not only your automotive chops but also your off-roading chops given the number of knowledgeable, passionate, and capable off-roaders who are clearly going for the hybrid trims.

You jumped into a thread preaching about the inherent diminished reliability of the I-FORCE model, and it turns out the issue has absolutely nothing to do with the hybrid system. From this behavior alone, it's pretty clear that this is not only a personal superstition that you have, but one you proselytize. For your benefit, I'm glad Toyota still offers a vehicle that you consider simple enough to meet your theoretical reliability bar.

g about the inherent diminished reliability of the I-FORCE model, and it turns out the issue has absolutely nothing to do with the hybrid system. From this behavior alone, it's pretty clear that this is not only a personal superstition that you have, but one you proselytize. For your benefit, I'm glad Toyota still offers a vehicle that you consider simple enough to meet your theoretical reliability bar.

I never argued that Toyota hybrids are unreliable by default, nor that the I-FORCE hybrid is some ticking time bomb. The argument is and always was straightforward: more components, more interfaces, more control systems = more potential failure points, especially for vehicles that see sustained off-road use and are kept well past the warranty window. That’s not a hot take, it’s basic mechanical and electrical reality.


Toyota’s history is excellent, and yes, many hybrid 4Runners will likely be perfectly fine. That does not magically erase the added complexity of running essentially two drivetrains, additional cooling, high-voltage electronics, and software-managed torque delivery in harsh environments. Both statements can be true at the same time, no matter how inconvenient that is for the narrative.


What’s genuinely odd is the attempt to frame drivetrain simplicity as some kind of credibility failure. Plenty of very experienced off-roaders deliberately choose simpler setups because they value long-term durability, diagnosability, and not being at the mercy of layered electronic systems when things eventually go sideways. That’s not fear of technology — it’s prioritization.

If someone wants the hybrid for power, efficiency, or daily drivability, that’s a valid choice. If someone prefers the non-hybrid because fewer systems generally mean fewer compounded problems over a 10–15 year ownership horizon, that’s also a valid choice. Acting like one of those positions is unserious doesn’t make it wrong — it just makes the discussion worse.

We’ll get real world data in time, that I have no doubt. Until then, pretending complexity has no tradeoffs isn’t confidence, it’s wishful thinking.

 

[sstarrx2]

Bummer...hope they get it sorted. Soon as I saw your post I knew it was going to bring out all the anti-hybrid peeps. If a 12V goes bad is the worst thing that happens I think I would be ok with that. Bad luck...

 

[6thGen1419]

Check this out:

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...e-max-after-100k-miles-an-owners-report.7421/

 

[rforsander]

Well, for those following the original thread - the issue was indeed a bad 12v battery. It still feels a little odd that they kept the car for 3 days for a battery but I’m thankful it was nothing beyond that.
I do run a dash cam with the Dongar Pro set to record motion. Now I need to figure out if that could have contributed to it.

 

[watchbuzz]

Bummer...hope they get it sorted. Soon as I saw your post I knew it was going to bring out all the anti-hybrid peeps. If a 12V goes bad is the worst thing that happens I think I would be ok with that. Bad luck...

+
and; I just want to know what the fix was.

 

[TrdProGirl84]

I honestly think a lot of people overthink things. People need to do more research on the hybrid system. I have the Hybrid myself and I’ve never had any issues.

 

[6thGen1419]

I honestly think a lot of people overthink things. People need to do more research on the hybrid system. I have the Hybrid myself and I’ve never had any issues.

Check this out

"This Hybrid Turbo-4 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Racked Up 110,000 Miles in a Year. Here’s How It Held Up"

https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-...p-110000-miles-in-a-year-heres-how-it-held-up

 

[sstarrx2]

Well, for those following the original thread - the issue was indeed a bad 12v battery. It still feels a little odd that they kept the car for 3 days for a battery but I’m thankful it was nothing beyond that.
I do run a dash cam with the Dongar Pro set to record motion. Now I need to figure out if that could have contributed to it.

I saw a video where a guy was installing one of ithese dash cams and had to send it back because he figured out it was going to draw down his battery. That may be it!

 

[Nodak]

well in ND 12v batteries dont usually last over 5-10 yrs. the cold kills them.

ive replaced at least 3 times on my 12 yrs 2014 4R and its sits in a unheated garage at least.

the brutal cold snaps just kill them trying to crank in -20F or -30F temps outside at work.

 

[sstarrx2]

well in ND 12v batteries dont usually last over 5-10 yrs. the cold kills them.

ive replaced at least 3 times on my 12 yrs 2014 4R and its sits in a unheated garage at least.

the brutal cold snaps just kill them trying to crank in -20F or -30F temps outside at work.

If anyone can get more than 6-7 years out of a 12v in any climate they are lucky.

 

[Underground25]

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

However, these are the issues I was worried about with a hybrid. You're significantly increasing the systems that can fail. Two drivetrains, degradation, complex software, weight, complex cooling systems, etc etc. With a hybrid vehicle you get the worst of both worlds in terms of issues. All for what? To save a couple of bucks at the gas station?

I was so surprised when Toyota said they were making hybrid 4runners, even more so that the majority of people would actually be interested.

These aren’t hybrids for these sake of saving money at the pump, as is well known. These are hybrids as power adders. You’re taking ONE person’s issues and extrapolating them to be far more than is factual, as this powertrain has been used for years without systemic issues.

 

[sstarrx2]

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

However, these are the issues I was worried about with a hybrid. You're significantly increasing the systems that can fail. Two drivetrains, degradation, complex software, weight, complex cooling systems, etc etc. With a hybrid vehicle you get the worst of both worlds in terms of issues. All for what? To save a couple of bucks at the gas station?

I was so surprised when Toyota said they were making hybrid 4runners, even more so that the majority of people would actually be interested.

If it were not for the exorbitant cost and the loss of cargo space I would have purchased one. The increase in power is nothing to turn a nose up at. It is very significant and would really make towing so much better. I think MPG is the last thing that turns a 4 Runner buyer to a Hybrid.

 

[kekecarioca]

Well, for those following the original thread - the issue was indeed a bad 12v battery. It still feels a little odd that they kept the car for 3 days for a battery but I’m thankful it was nothing beyond that.
I do run a dash cam with the Dongar Pro set to record motion. Now I need to figure out if that could have contributed to it.

HOORAY! glad it was a bug! Enjoy your travels!

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