2022 needle bearing issues

Mine was noticed within 10 miles on the odometer.

 

Really, it’s at a point that toyota should include a welcome kit with with a Q&A on how to talk to your service advisor.

 

The needle bearing failed. The bushing is supposedly good for a half a million miles. That is 9K miles of lifted and diff. drop.

 

If they are a CarFax participating dealership, CarFax sends a "survey" after service work, and if you reply with anything less than a stellar report, after a period of time the dealership sends an E-mail as to why they got less than a A+, and they ask if you want to call them and discuss the problem.

 

Dealing with the same issue. 22 ORP. Dealer checked balance and alignment and told me that is normal. I knew about the needle bearing and mentioned it and they played dumb. Frustrating.

 

I still haven't dealt with my SR5 yet. I have basically been watching/reading all the posts for any more tips on dealing with the service guys. Seems like it is all over the place. In my case, I have a bit of drive just to get to a dealer so I am hoping not to have to do it too many times.

 

When I had issues with my brand new 4 runner, at this point of my life and knowing how service people could be I automatically went and dealt with the general manager. So far every problem that has came up has been dealt with.

 

Yeah, we noticed ours the second day of owning it. Probably a little over 100 miles on it. Just was trying to get a sense of an actual failure point for the part. I would assume after some time of making the grinding noise, the needle bearing will eventually fall apart.

In any event, I don't want to wait for that to happen. The noise is annoying, and we want it gone!

 

A bad bearing shouldn’t exist in a new vehicle. Period.

 

Thanks. Yeah, still kind of toying with the ECGS idea rather than jumping through dealership hoops.

It's not really the cost of the part / having it installed (I think my buddy and I could do it), its more the principal that Toyota should make this right which leads my wife and I back to the dealership route. I realize that any new vehicle / brand can have issues, but this drivetrain has been around for years and years. It's silly (and disappointing) that Toyota is allowing this tiny flaw to be a chink in the armor. And even more disappointing that there isn't a current TSB covering an issue that is still occurring.

Apologies for the rant - the more I think it through the more frustrated I become! haha!

 

In my case, I don't really have the time or the tools to do much DIY on my rigs. Can't say honestly that I have much interest at this point either. Main point for me is that I don't feel like I should have to after paying 50k and only having 800 miles on it. Great for those that have the time, interest, resources ... I just want a good reliable truck. I have owned 4runners for 20 years so I know they are it ... once you get thru the baloney

 

That's exactly where I'm at. I'm sacrificing technology and features because I want a truck that just works.

 

How about a class for service advisors on how to listen to customers who know more than they do?

 

I really wonder how prevalent this needle bearing problem is? Maybe it's like the oil consumption problems I read about when I was looking into buying a new Subaru several years ago. If you went on a Subaru forum, they made it look like just about every Subaru was a oil burner. I think it was just the tiny percentage of Subaru owners that tended to frequent forums and the fraction of those forum people that had the problem made it look inevitable. Just thinking out aloud ...............

 

Yeah, forums can amplify problems. But sometimes, it’s just as likely that real problems that exist and occur very predictably/regularly (because of an actual design fault) aren’t actually noticed or cared about my most consumers.

My bearing makes a sound, but it’s not very loud. I honestly doubt most people would notice if they have it how I have it.

I would venture a guess that many more 4runners than we hear about on the forums have this problem to one degree or another. But most don’t notice.

Just like Subarus. I bet every one of them is an oil burner , but most owners are busy, go to jiffy lube, and have no idea what their oil state is, or dont drive enough miles to notice.

I bet these are the things that go into toyotas decision to not do anything about the bearing. Much cheaper apparently to just give the “complainers” like us a new bearing.

 

Although some dealerships are replacing the whole differential (and charging Toyota)...

 

Yeah, that is the procedure spelled out in the last TSB toyota issued.

Replacing whole diff, almost adds to the argument that not many people complain about it. But from what I understand is the cause, I just cant see how this is a rare problem. Although, I’ll grant it may show to varying degrees from vehicle to vehicle.

 

I agree with your sentiment, but in my opinion, taking it to the dealer to have them replace it with the same part having the same probability of failure, rather than upgrading to something more reliable, seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face. While it seems free on the surface to have the dealership take care of it, your time and patience comes at a cost, too. Just .02 from somebody who thankfully hasn't had to deal with this... Yet.

 

The replacement differential is apparently a different style or something because the part #’s are different on the TSB. Also there are people here on replacement front differentials with success over thousands of miles.

 

As for loudness ... mine seems to vary somewhat. I haven't found what triggers that but there are times when it is very loud. Loud enough that my usually unobservant 15 year old asked "what is that terrible noise" one night as we were coasting down a hill to a stop. I first thought it was just part of the break-in process, then thought it was my tires but they got switched out to snows with no difference, and then I found out about this issue.

 

From my understanding the front diffs were revised at some point, which is why the 2019 TSB no longer applies. Supposedly our 4Runner has the updated diff, hence the service manager not agreeing that it was the source of the noise.

Once they verify this is indeed the source of the noise, I think it is worthwhile to roll the dice on replacing it. Not all of them can sound like this, ours is very noticeable. Intermittent, but noticeable (sound and feel). Quiets up immediately when placed in 4hi.

If the replacement diff still makes the noise, or certainly if it appears again closer to end of warranty, then ECGS all the way.

 

Ours is exactly the way you describe, not much rhyme or reason to it other than slowing down from around 35mph to zero. Sometimes does it, sometimes not. Sometimes very loud and quieter other times. Almost always does it on smoother, new pavement.

We thought those things too, break-in, a tire out of balance. Never would have thought, bad bearing.

 

EXACTLY!! When just replacing the problem starts to cost more than a part revision, they will fix it. Until then, the same (or similar part) will keep going in.

Tacoma's have a couple frequent problems that are super annoying Toyota hasn’t fixed it yet. Lol, they are on part# 3 for the 3rd brake light! Finally are replacing them for free. I spent the $180 and did it myself before the recall. Timing chain cover is another big one, and frame obviously.

I’ll be honest, most of the vehicles I’ve owned have had some major/expensive flaw that the company refused to address. Subaru for example is still running the EJ engine in their STI’s. That engine, even in it’s current form, has been around for A LONG time. Still a gamble on how long it will last. 15k miles or 200k miles. No rhyme or reason as to why. I sold my WRX because of this.

my e46m3’s were plagued with problems.

cobras, same. The TOB on them would go bad all the time. Dropping that transmission so often sucked. I had a friends go out 2 times in a month. The heads had an issue building up a hot pocket on cylinder 8. It would cause the valves to go bad, kill the cylinder, blow the head gasket.

All that to say, I’m thankful that the needle bearing in the 4Runner is relatively cheap and easy to replace with a part that is KNOWN to fix it AND LAST.

 

Update after yesterday’s dealer trip, they want me to leave the vehicle for a day + to deal with it and have to call Toyota to see what they say about diagnosing & repairing the problem. Said they test drove another 2022 that was there and the noise was a lot worse then mine...& conclusion is they said right now it’s just characteristics of the vehicle! General manager said he would make it right. GRR!

 

Not promising for my trip in on the 2nd next week ...

 

Not a "characteristic" I'm willing to live with, I'm sure you're not either. My dealership called yesterday (left a message) and said they had another 22 come in that they agreed to replace the front diff on and would like to listen to our 4Runner noise again. We've been playing phone tag ever since but hopefully this will be resolved soon.

 

Good luck, hopefully your experience goes more smoothly!

 

Well that is good to know. I am just north of you above the notch up I93. I am headed to Berlin for mine but could just as easily have headed south to Irwin. Are you using Irwin's or McGee's ?

 

So far my '22 has been OK but it only has 700 km on it. Personally I would rather install the ECGS bushing fix than have the whole diff replaced by the the dealer without knowing the technical differences that justify their logic on diff replacement since this is a decade old problem that Toyota just can't seem to get a handle on. Granted I've never heard of a catastrophic failure due to this issue. My thinking is just put the bushing in and forget about the problem. I would hard pressed to be believe that any dealer would even notice the ECGS repair down the road for warranty purposes let alone blame a warranty issue on the bushing