2014 Lift Gate Rust through.

Hi Guys,

New to the forums but not Toyotas. This makes #15.

Yesterday I picked up a 2014 Sr5 4WD 175k I had been eyeing for a couple weeks online since it had sat at a Toyota dealership in Illinois for nearly 3 months. So my wife and I made the trip from Iowa to trade in her oddysey.

Now I had gone through the photos and noticed the rust then (Mainly thought it was surface rust) as I had done some research on 5th gens online (Here actually) and was somewhat shocked to see the amount of people experiencing the rust issue on the lift gate. Even reading and scrolling through pictures of a 2018 sr5 with rust.

I was able to get the 4Runner for $16900 (Originally listed at $19k)after trading is my wife's heavily used 07 Odyssey with 215k that needed more then a few things. This is after I pointed out the rust through issue. They offered to fix it after I pointed it out or give me a Top heavy trade in price. I went with the latter as it was a better choice since I could essentially buy a new lift gate then some afterwards. Given it's not the Sr5 premium, The previous owner bought the 3rd row option, Running boards and an extremely nice aftermarket DVD player. Interior is extremely clean

Cautious about the lift gate rust I went through everything from top to bottom. The frame looks great, Very minimal surface rust(I plan to sand and rust proof). No leaks at all from front to back. Basic maintenance had always been performed at that dealership so that was a plus to have all the notes! With 175k miles that averaged to be about 25k miles a year of driving. That scares some people but at that rate it's usually always highway miles....Usually. I travel north America for work an can attest to it most if the time.

So with that being said, Have any of you guys seen rust this bad on a 5th gen? Right above the latch is completely rusted through. I might be able to possibly repair it but at that rate I'm wondering if a new lift gate will be a better option. I really like this body style refresh after 2013 and look forward to many years of family travels with my wife and kids. My 99 4runner is also starting to show its age here in the Midwest with rust taking over, This year has been brutal with salt.

 

Yikes. For the price of the work you're talking about to repair that, you'll likely be better off finding an entire replacement in a yard. Not sure how one would get that rusty unless the rear window was often left open in poor weather or had a bad seal.

 

I agree, Hoping since the color is fairly common that there is one in a salvage yard around my area. Worse case scenario I order a new one for $650 and swap everything over then have it painted.

I do wonder if this was an issue since it was new but I'll never know.

 

Wow! I'd work on getting it fixed ASAP- that's all that's holding the hatch closed.
I wonder if there's a drain hole that was plugged so it was filling with water. Good news is that it won't be an issue now!

 

That's definitely a possibility, But the latch area is tapered down so the water would have to run down from there unless it plugged and completely filled the back with water almost 2".

 

My 2013 has a significantly rusted-out latch, also the screws to the license plate lights and the latch hook attached to the bumper are all significantly rusted out. It seems to be a common issue to have rusted rear tailgates if you are from the rust belt (Just got mine and was registered in Maryland/DC.)

I'll post some photos, the corrosion is pretty extreme. I will most likely need to get a new latch soon.

 

Not sure if the owner garage kept it. Currently doing some rust mitigation to the bottom of the passenger front door and looking to get a lineX treatment.

 

How does a vehicle get that much rust after just a few years?

Was it parked on the beach during high tide?

 

Not sure how it is in other parts of the country but totaled out Toyota trucks never make it to the salvage yard around here.

 

No clue my man, sadly there are people that don't know how to take their vehicle to a car wash in the winter and get an underbody wash. All those Northeast Corridor vehicles are all jacked up from bad roads and over-salting to keep the freeways open.

I'm a bit at a loss at how the frame could be in such great shape, but the contact areas with the front and rear absorbers can be really rusted.

 

LOL... I understand, I lived in KC for 15 years.

Give my regards to Mahomies

 

Definitely weird.

One thing I've learned from all these threads is that I'm super glad I don't live in the rust belts!

I would be going nuts.

 

For all the love I have for my Runner, this is unfortunately something that’s in the back of my mind living in Wisconsin.

I’ve taken to removing the hand hold “cups” in the bottom of hatch, and rinsing the dust that accumulates at the bottom off the hatch with low pressure water.

The back end of the 4runner really pulls some suction at highway speeds. The seals arent perfect (likely not designed to be perfect). My theory is that salt mist just gets sucked into the inside of the hatch. It mixes with the regular road grime and dust, and it just creates a constantatly moist salt cake situation in there. Salt attracts water, so if you have salt in there, it will contain moisture.

The rust in two years though…that really bothers me. Usually toyotas get a good coat of zinc before paint to keep rust at bay for a bit.

unless there is a possibility that the hatch you have is salvage, and older than the vehicle itself?

Im wondering if a yearly disassembly of the panels to clean real good in there would help.

 

If I lived in the Midwest or NE, I really am not sure I would get a 4Runner. Even with a pretty full on cleaning procedure, mighty easy to miss a few spots. Saying nothing of how miserable it must be to spray down ones car in Winter there. Worse still for those without a garage and yard.

Perhaps the move would be to beat it on down the line after 3-4 years and ride the 4Runner’s exemplary resale value.

 

Damn. Glad to be in the south...

 

I’m not used to thinking this way. I bought my 4runner as a 20 year vehicle. However, I’ve never owned something so insanely good as holding it’s value. So this is definitely a legit strategy.

The only issue is how long the 6th gen will be held at bay. The next one might be the best thing on earth, or it could go the way of the Nissan Pathfinder.

And also dealing with all the mods. Once I spend time wrenching on a vehicle, I get attached

 

I totally get that and have never lived anywhere that rust is a consideration.
However, if after a few years it seems to affect them like that, it would be my inclination. Agree about attachment putting time in.

 

The tailgate door is not repairable bc it is rusted Trough. You will need new door, paint match and finish. I wouldn't buy that unless you get discount for vehicle and the covered quote for replacement.

 

I just had my new ORP underside sprayed with fluid film. I removed the spare also and had that area sprayed.

The guy I went to also sprayed the brackets that hold the running boards which he has seen rust. There is also some bare metal in the rear wheel wells. Last pic is buddy 4 month rusty rivet. I put ff on there also

I sprayed fluid film on a wax pad and applied to that area. I also did the same to my trailer hitch and did the spare also. I got a new truck and part time job to care for it lol

My buddy got rust on the gas cap tank rivets do I did there. I also did the screws on the wheel liners. I guess I Ll do these latches now.

It’s really bs we have to do this on new $40k plus rides even in the Midwest.

I am glad mine is parked in garage for Michigan winter. I’ll drive my Honda all winter.

I read even the new F150 frames are rusting when new. It’s a shame manufacturers don’t do a better job on this. Rust is not a new topic.

My friends tease me about not driving 4R in winter but I am not going to beat it up. If we have that much snow and salt I will stay home. Someday Florida or Az will be the winter place.

 

Xdtrl,
My 4runner, also white, has similar rust issues. I called toyota corporate to complain and sent them the pictures in my thread

 

Stick to your guns bro. Heck, I live in Dallas and my Runner stays locked down for the winter (even though salt is not used on the roads here, no need to drive it when I have an AWD Highlander). I've spent too much money to get this thing trail-worthy and id like to hold on to it as long as humanly possible.

Right now before any more mods go on my vehicle, my goal is to remove the front and rear bumper covers and the absorbers so the frame ends are exposed before going to Line X. The front and rear extremes of the frame do tend to rust out a bit.

 

Thanks yep I live in the suburbs of Detroit and the salt is already out. The old Honda Accord and see the salt and if the roads are that bad I can stay home especially now working remotely.

I am with you we pay too much money for these things especially in your case doing mods. I kept an Explorer over 20 years storing it in winter and hoping for the same from the 4R.

Can you post some pics of your line x in the front end when you do it. Will you spray yourself or have them do it?

I was thinking of removing the hitch and doing that when it goes. Up here the bitches look like crap after one year or less. Happy new year

 

Heck yeah,

if I can get my Youtube skills polished off i may try to chronicle the whole thing there.For sure tho there will be pictures.

 

Cool thanks. Look forward to seeing those pics or video.

 

Hi,sorrry to hear about your rust issue.I have a 2016 T4R and notice a sloshing sound coming from the lift gate while driving.I pulled the plastic grab handles from the bottom of the lift gate and water came pouring out! To no surprise the inside of the lift gate was rusted. I suspected a problem since the latched turned rusty after a couple of years.

I guess my question is that something that comes under a service bulletin or a recall? I’m hoping the power window motor is water proof! There’s a lot of components back there which are expensive to repair.

 

Can you post pics of the frame and underside? I would love to see how it looks with a hatch like this.