2018 4Runner Front Differential issues

I have a new 2018 4Runner that started making a humming noise at around 4,000 miles primarily when it was cold and went away after warming up. Finally got the dealership to replicate the noise and they identified it as being the front differential needs to be replaced. Is that normal for a vehicle with now 5,000 miles? Do I a lemon on my hands? Is there another problem causing this, what I would call major component to go? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

It’s not normal, that’s why they need to replace it. Stuff happens in the real world. Let them fix it.

Lemon Law applies to a problem they can’t fix

 

Do you have it lifted or anything ?

 

Need more details. Does it make the noise when standing still? Or only when driving? Only in 2wd? Does it go away in 4wd?

If the dealer says it needs a new diff, it probably needs a new diff.

 

Absolutely normal. We all change out our differential at least every 5k miles. It is a real pain, but it's part of it...

~Not serious

 

Agreed. Not normal. But weird stuff happens sometimes.

Unlikely a lemon candidate unless they make three repair attempts and fail to fix the problem. At that point you can be more aggressive with your desires for a replacement vehicle.

 

For a vehicle that new with that few miles, many times a manufacturer wants the unit back so they can have their engineers involved with disassembly and diagnostics and find if there is something that went wrong in manufacturing or during build or installation to try to combat problems in the manufacturing process or a problem on the assembly line. That could be why they don't want the dealer to repair the diff. in your vehicle. They would rather send the dealer a whole unit and get yours back whole. I have seen this happen many times with different assemblies like transmissions, engines, rear ends and so forth. I would not read too much into it. like said before, a lemon law problem gets 3 chances for a dealer to fix a recurring problem, then the manufacturer gets one chance. Then the owner has the right to file for lemon law if they don't want to give them anymore chances.

 

possible the front diff did not have the proper amount of gear oil . another item is the diff casting has had issues on some runners ..
bearings have failed .

you should be good ,most have posted back that , the replacement was good. not all that common as others have mentioned .

 

You have a 4Runner, not sure the word lemon is in it's vocabulary.

 

2018 20k and a new diff was ordered by the dealer today. Apparently i am number 26 on the waiting list

 

this issue is a bit odd in the past. 2018 could be a casting issue .

 

Why a new diff for you? Rear??

 

2018 with 26k on it. It dont, and it wont even make me bat an eye...

 

Oh that's just wonderful....NOT....

 

DAMN.! at least it sounds like they're fixing it... PITA tho

 

Sounds like it might be the needle bearing.

This is a known issue with 4Runners, Tacoma's and FJ's.......especially after a lift.

Here is the TSB on it: The problem is Toyota just puts a replacement needle bearing in there that will develop the same issue all over again. For this reason, many replace that needle bearing with an ECGS bushing that is supposed to last the life of the truck.

Edit: Forgot to add that the TSB says up to 2015 vehicles. They will most likely accommodate 2016's and up since it's a known issue in the past.

 

Have a 2019 4Runner with 3" lift installed by the dealer. Same issue described in this thread, started at 5,000 miles. Replaced front end differential, vibration and noise went away that we experienced between 38-50 mph. Issue returned again at approx. 13,000 miles. Now the dealer says the tires need balanced, this did not solve the issue. Purchased a new Toyota for the reliability, not impressed so far.