Looking at 07 V8 SportEdition ad - concern with replaced tranny?

Hi everyone, I'm in the market for a 4th Gen 4Runner, and I've stumbled upon this enticing ad:

• 07 V8 SportEdition 4x4, $15K @ 83,000 miles.

Granted I've only started looking recently, but I have not seen a 2007 4Runner with only 83K miles, at a non-inflated asking price, much less the V8 version!

So I'm digging into this as much as I can - took the VIN, plugged it into my toyota.com account to get its Toyota dealership service history record, and might have found a potential warning sign. All the service history up until 2016, look routine. But in Dec 2016 (@ 73,112 miles), there was a ton of routine stuff done, but on top of that, I see this entry:

AUTO TRANS CONCERN
AUTO TRANS CONCERN ~|~CUSTOMER STATES, NO REVERSE, TRANSMISSION NOISE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS, TRANSMISSION NOISE AND SLIPS.TOWED IN. ~|~VERIFIED CSR CONCERN. TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE. MAKES NOISE WHEN SHIFTS TO DRIVE AND REVERSE. DRAINED ATF. FOUND FLUID IS DARK AND SMELL BURNT. FOUND SOME CLUTCH PARTICLES IN THE FLUID. PERFORMED HEALTH CHECK. HIST CODE=P0456. PEND CODE=P0500. TRANSMISSI ~|~REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE INPUT SHAFT ASSEM BLIES. TORQUED TO SPECS. ADJUSTED ATF AT PROPER TEMPERATURE. ROAD TEST VEHICLE FOR 5 MILES. VERIFIED ATF AND 4WD OPERATION. RECHECK FOR LEAKS. NONE FOUND. TIRES MAKE NOISE DURING ROAD TEST. FLUSHED

Name Part # Qty​

REMAN ATM 3501035A5084 1
REMAN ATM 3501035A5084 1
SHAFT SUB-ASSY, TRAN 3620135120 1
RING, TRANSFER INPUT 3621635012 1
F.I.P.G.,TRANS. 0029501281 1
WORLD STANDARD AUTOM 00289ATFWS 4


So this 4runner got a tranny replacement at only 73K miles, right?? Is that normal?

And then something else odd... since that service, up until now, there's only been an additional 10K miles... in 4 years? I mean, sure I'll ask this guy about that.

Anyway, just wanted to get some educated thoughts about this listing. Thanks for any insight!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Did you drive this 4Runner? Check for crappy shifts, look at the trans. fluid does it smell burnt? All you can do is check it over carefully, ask the owner if there is some kind of warranty left on trans. and proceed from there. Good luck.

 

First post here. This seller sounds slimy but I like the car. I bought one like that a year ago, old guy can’t drive any more, local, 78k on the clock and full service records, my first Toyota ever, wasn’t really looking just fell into my hands. That tranny is sealed. Former race car driver? That guy probably beat on it in the mountains. A documented Toyota replacement would not bother me. You should have had timing belt done (twice based on time), mine did not so that is a $$ maintenance eventually coming up to you if not done yet. The V8 is AWESOME and makes it a different animal, power up the gazzoo, 7000 lb tow (important to me) love the full-time 4x4 and XREAS (check for leaks). Mine is all stock and I like it that way, great on the highway and awesome in the sand and snow.

 

I love how the seller equates race car drivers to perfect maintenance history... Especially with the amount of brake dust collected on the front passenger wheel, but the the drivers front wheel doesn't look as bad.

Thoroughly check it out. Take it somewhere for a pre purchase inspection (well worth the $). If it all checks out, buy it.

 

Was the trans. put in at a Toyota dealership? Maybe the trans. is sealed from Toyota, so it can't be tampered with.

 

Thanks for the responses. Okay, I guess it's a not big deal / red flag that this tranny got replaced so early then? What's the typical "life expectancy" for a 4th gen 4runner tranny?

 

Sounds to me like the original owner towed a lot and possibly towed more than allowed which would explain the bad tranny. Either that or he raced it. That said it was replaced by Toyota so it would have it's own warranty. I would definitely have it inspected to make sure all else is well. Check for rust. If the inspection comes back good, buy it.

 

It could have also just been a random transmission failure. We just don't know.

OP - typically, 4Runners are one of the most reliable vehicles available in the US. Toyota transmissions and engines are known to last longer than the vehcle they are driving with proper care and maintenance. Inspect it and buy it. Don't look back. If you think it's something that is going to bother you later, then pass on it. You can't really put a price on peace of mind. For me, if everything checks out after an inspection, or there are some minor maintenance items that would allow price negotiation, I wouldn't hesitate. But that's just my opinion.

 

I'd pass on this runner. Drive it and see how it goes on the highway at 80 mph.

I have 2005 runner with 150,000 miles
Owned since new. Never a tranny issue. Never an engine issue.

Pick up a 2016 for under $30,000

I paid $42,000 off a T Dealer's lot when it had zero miles.