Are 4runners prone to vibration or shake in steering wheel when approaching freeway speeds

Hello all, we are shopping 4runners and finding many like new units for sale with close to 20k miles. Most we have test driven have a vibration or slight shake when getting up to freeway speed of 55-65 or more miles per hour. Is that also a common thread for the 4runner? We are going to test drive a used 2022 model today and hopefully things go well, I'll report back with findings.

 

It’s a tire balancing issue. Many experience it, but if balanced properly, it can be fixed.

This has been discussed in depth here a few times, and there are some who says it’s just part of driving a runner, while others have had it solved.

 

https://www.4runners.com/threads/steering-wheel-shimmy-at-highway-speeds.30298/#post-440967

 

Balance and alignment issues. Mine wasnt done when it arrived at the port when PRO wheels and tires were put on. Took it into dealer at 250 miles under warranty and problem solved.

 

Not sure how the market is around you, but are there any new 4runners to test drive? I always would worry about any used car and why it was sold off to begin with. Maybe most of the low miles used cars are the regret cars, something was off with them, and the owners just sold it to move on. Oddly enough, new 4runners are often cheaper than used, so it might be worth looking for one to test drive.

Usually it’s just a wheel balance or tire problem. I dont know if this is the right word, but 4runners are a bit…jiggly. A solid, firm jiggly, mind you, not necessarily a bad thing. Body on frame, lots of rubber bushings in between all the hard bits, and the weight can do that. If there is a vibration somewhere at the right frequency, it can set off a shimmy in the front end.

But yes, some owners have a really hard time getting rid of shimmy once they get it.

 

I've never had that, it is not a blanket issue for all 4Runners. At least with my 2016, steering wheel doesn't shake even at 100km/hr, nothing

 

Zero shake or vibration at any speed in my 2023. Very smooth on the stock Bridgestone tires.

 

Have discussed multiple times but with my experience it depends on the wheel balance shop. I've been using Hunter Road Force wheel balance service at DiscountTire and don't have issues even with much hated BFG KO2. I also use factory wheels so don't have any experience with aftermarket wheels.

Right out the dealership the only poor quality I experience was with my TRD Pro with this vibration, But I won't complain on Toyota quality of Japan Tahara factory because most of the TRD Pro stuff including wheels and tires) is bolted-on in USA facility. So I won't expect Toyota Japan quality on TRD Pro.

 

I had shake once, one of my tires went out of balance.

 

I'm just going to repeat what's been said. They seem to be sensitive to out of balance tires. Mine shimmied some with the stock tires. I've had to rebalance tires, occasionally, due to weights coming off. But, I have always been able to get it smooth, with 3 sets of aftermarket tires.

 

Report back once you replace the factory tires. I have a set of tires on some pro rims from my tacoma that I needed balanced twice. Once I put them on the runner, I got a slight vibration, once I switched back to the factory tires and wheels, smooth.

 

I don't even bother with normal tire balancing anymore, those Hunter machines get fantastic results.

My last vehicle had horrid duratrac's, and thanks to the shop with a Hunter machine, Goodyear warrantied 3 of my tires because they were so out of round. They were able to get the replacements within the yellow zone, and the vibration was almost completely gone. When I finally got rid of those and got some Falken AT winters put on, the Hunter made them smooth as silk.

 

The only steering wheel vibration I remember with my previous 2016 TE that had Cooper AT3 4S 255/75R17s was during the 1st few miles in the morning. It felt like the tires where out of round from sitting too long.

The tires I had were taller but narrower than stock. Also, maybe it's worth mentioning that TE/OR models have a wheel that is 0.5" wider than the pro.

I guess this issue is another pre-delivery checklist item for me.

 

Nothing on my 2021 ORP

 

Sometimes building your own TRD, your own PRO, has its benefits. Slappin BFG's on a bolted on trim with positive offset wheels ain't always the same

 

It's unlikely that I'll replace the tires before 2028 unless I purchase a set of snow tires for some unforeseen furfuraceous adventure

 

I had it when I changed over to my first set of stock sized AT3s. Went back to the tire shop and got them to rebalance it, and perfecto! I changed over rims and tires on the weekend, now 285s and still smooth.

 

No vibration on my 2019, even after switching to AT/Mud tires still no vibration or shake. But i did stick with stock tire weight/size. 65k an no alignment yet.

 

my 2019 SR5 does not, even with the original tires on 72k miles. only thing close to that , that I note is if I'm behind a tractor trailer at speed, I get a little more sway in response to the 'wake' from the truck than I was used to in other vehicles, but otherwise, she's pretty solid

 

This happened on both my 4runners however once the tires heated up it 100% went away. I believe its the cold that does this. The vibration is very minimal and goes away quick.

 

Same here. No issues on my '23 OR, with either the stock tires or Cooper Rugged Treks.

 

Definitely a tire balance issue. Happens to mine all the time with my mud terrains (Cooper Evolution). This now reminds me that I'm due for a tire rotation.

 

I have had 4 TR4s. 2000, 2004 (lifted), 2015, now 2022 and none have ever had any front end shake. But they were always checked and properly aligned and balanced when needed. The 2000 and 2004 had replacement tires, the 2004 with oversized. Others only stock. Rims all stock.

 

Hello again everyone. We test drove 2022 sr5 premium last, stock tire & wheel set up. It was night and day difference from the 2 previous used 2022 4runners from Toyota dealership, one had been lifted. Not good from the start, never acceded 40 mph before returning to dealership. I know have faith that a stock 4runner can be driven at freeway speeds without vibration in steering wheel.

 

Balancing was the issue here too. However I still have a little shimmy on cold mornings until the tires warm up. The tech I spoke with was the one that confirmed that the cold tire shimmy was a thing especially with off road tires.

 

Our 2014 SR5 with 140k miles and new 20" Michelin Defender tires on T4R Limited rims steers, rides and drives like a new vehicle with no body sway or vibration at any speed up to 90 mph.

 

Is that referring to the previous 2 driven?

 

No issue on my 2021 SR5 up to around 80-85 mph. Stock wheels and the tires were replaced by the dealership before I bought it with some crappy ones. As others have said, it's probably a balance issue. I'm just surprised the ones you are test driving, if they are at dealerships, haven't been corrected before they are putting them on the lot.

 

Honestly, I’d be surprised if they drove them at all…besides off the truck that brought them in. Dealers probably spend their time detailing cars when they receive them, and filling out check marks on a “multi-point inspection” form, completed by anyone that knows how to work a pencil.

Cars are moving so fast that they’d probably rather deal with problems post-sale.

 

Well since I actually have experience with this… I can’t speak for all dealerships, but the one I worked at and actually did the used car inspections for years. We completely looked EVERYTHING over on the cars that came through. The other tech and I spent hours on each and every car. It’s a huge liability to let something slip through and then go wrong with the customer. I appreciate everyone’s hate for dealerships but they’re not all bad. I will state though that even when we pointed things out that needed to be done didn’t mean the used car manager approved us to fix them. I never saw tires, alignment or a safety issue not get approved though. Again, that’s a huge liability and really anyone with a conscience is not going to let things like that slide. Also again, I can’t speak for any other dealership but the one I worked at. And no, they don’t want customers to come back and deal with problems post sale. Thank you, and rant over.