Rear window never worked right - now what?

I've had problems with my rear hatch window since I bought this truck, new, in 2016. The rear window won't always roll back up, which is a serious problem when you're 30 miles away from pavement.

The first time I took it to the dealer, during my warranty period, they remarked on how much dirty was in the tailgate, cleaned and lubed it, and gave it back to me. I was ok with the fact that it rolled back up, although it was really slow. (The first time I saw another 5th gen roll up their window, I was shocked to realize just how f*'d up mine actually is.)

The second time I took it back, still under warranty, they again asked me how I got so much dirt in the tailgate. The mechanic came out shaking his head in bafflement, apologized for asking a stupid question, then asked me if I had been doing deep river crossings. He then showed me the top holes where water enters, and the bottom (3) drain holes, cautioning me to keep them clear. Mine had been plugged with mud, he explained. He also replaced some part, not the main motor, and stupid me can't find the paperwork or remember wtf he replaced.

It worked for a couple months, still slowly, and then again got stuck down. I was still under warranty, brought it in, and pretty much the same experience: "How did you get all this dirt in there?" They again cleaned/lubed and got the window rolled up again, but we were all afraid to lower it to test it. This time the service manager made a notation on my paperwork, "This is not a warranty concern and customer has been advised that this is an outside influence issue and Toyota will not cover it. Roseville Toyota will cover as a 1 time goodwill and will not be able to cover it in the future due to outside influence." When the service manager told me I "wasn't operating the vehicle in the manner in which it was intended," I brought him a copy of the sales brochure, showing 4runners splashing through creeks and enveloped in clouds of dirt. He wasn't impressed.

I called corporate, and they told me there's nothing they could do until the warranty period has expired and the window broke again. So ever since, I haven't used my window, what a fricken bummer. My dogs are pissed.

Well, today was the last straw. Last month I noticed a wet spot in the back and figured I had spilled a water bottle. Yesterday I washed my truck in the river (lol, water never got above my tailpipe even), and a couple hours later found the rear interior of my truck soaking wet. Sleeping gear, tools, food. It turns out the window has been cracked about 1/8th an inch for God knows how long. I tried to roll it up, but in the process the window rolled down another inch. FML.

So now I'm preparing to go to Toyota, but am looking for advice. Should I take it to them, have them do the work, and if they balk at paying take them to small claims? Or should I go to another shop? I think I'll start by calling corporate again.

And the fact that I can't find anybody else in the WORLD who is having this problem seems to favor my case, yes?

 

It's a known issue with the second gens, probably first too. I'm not super savvy on the other gens but I know two guys with 2nd gens that have kaput windows and just use a wooden wedge to keep them up or 90% down depending on how they want to roll.

Your situation sucks because you don't want to welfare up a fix on a current production vehicle, and the rear window is like the second best feature on the truck.

I got no advice unless possibly finding an entire new hatch at a junkyard and swapping the entire thing out.... That would definitely get rid of whatever component was failing although it would be akin to dropping a bomb when a well placed shot would suffice ...

 

Why is there so much dirt/mud in there anyway?

 

There has to be something wrong with your hatch to allow that much dirt in like that.

 

There are 2 compartments in the back tailgate. Each side is protected by plastic to prevent water and dirt. The inside of your panel looks dusty but not surprised if you use the vehicle. However what really matters is what it looks like behind the plastic where the motor and track is at. I have taken off that entire panel and the plastics to relocate my backup camera on my swing outs. It didn’t look dirty like that and I have been through some dirt (off-roading in the Arizona desert). Here is a picture:


I didn’t see nearly that much dirt in mine when I took it off. I have been off-roading with that back window down and the whole car was dirty. Still not like that. Seriously wondering what is really going on. It sounds like they are taking the easy way out. I would like to see a video of your rear windows in action and then compare the timing. Mine isn’t the fastest either but works just fine.

 

This sucks. The rear hatch really does draw in a ton of dust, and it really should be a checklist item for owners to check the drains on the bottom of the hatch regularly. The inside of the hatch must be a super low pressure area, which ends up sucking dust in past the window weather stripping. Same reason exhaust is sucked in when the window is down (for those w working windows, sorry OP lol)


The hatch has two handhold/hand-grab plastic cups. Just pull them out, stick your hand in there, and feel around at the bottom of the hatch. All of you will be surprised at the amount of dirt in there. Every couple of carwashes, i put a small controlled stream of water in there to help flush the bottom out best I can and keep it from collecting dust and ensuring drainage. The speakers and motors are in there, so I try not to spray water.

Hate to say it, but I bet there really was something wrong with your window when new. The dealer isnt paid to think, they’re paid to bill. Any thinking tech would suffer wrath otherwise. So when they see dirt and dust, they would probably tell the tech to hose down the dirt with lube. That makes a nice abrasive paste by the way. In the meantime, they just kicked the problem down the road. Well down the road come abrasive paste wear an uncontrolled rusting from blocked drains.

This one might call for some quality time with the 4runner to figure it out, but you can start by just sticking a flashlight up the hand hold holes and looking.

I think everybody that off roads or encounters lots of dust needs to check the drains regularly! Wet dust will just stay wet and cause corrosion.

heck, I even hose out the inside of my frame rails after a dusty wheeling weekend, cuz I dont want wet dust turning into damp mud in there. (try it, it’s refreshing!). Frame is easy because there is nothing sensitive in there. Just find a hole, use hose nozzle to jet right into one, and watch water come out of the frame all the way down, like a seive.

 

You should be able to get a copy of all service work done on your 4runner by the dealership- including your missing invoice).
If they give you a hard time tryba different dealership - it was explained to me that it's all stored on the toyota database for warranty-maintance issues. Sounds like you had a Lemmon (motor was a problem, plastic sheet not placed properly to protect the motor, etc. Price out how much a repair to replace the motor, plastic sheet etc FROM A DIFFENT DEALERSHIP - since you have lost confidence in your local one to FULLY diagnose a problem.
Then either (1) small claims court for the cost to repair it properly, or (2) toyota headquarters with copies of all your paperwork, and a statement from you saying YES, YOU WASH YOUR VEHICLE RELIGIOUSLY, AND NEVER LET DIRT SIT FOR VERY LONG ON THE VEHICAL. Stress how you have been trying to work with your local dealership since you bought the vehicle, but they never solved the issue of protective plastic properly keeping dirty rom your motor. Stress from the build up of the dirt could have easily cracked the window. Make sure the cost of a new window is also on the estimate - and that the estimate is a DETAILED ESTIMATE with the cost of everything individually listed, INCLUDING LABOR.
Your possition with the court and with corporate is simple- you paid for a new FULLY FUNCTIONING VEHICAL- The dealer blamed dirt buildup. Corporate actually told you nothing they could do till the warranty was over???? Which makes no sense. Please tell me you have that in writing because that would be great for the judge to see. The only way the issue will get resolved it to keep at them. The dealership and corporate- or the courts. For the courts have ALL THE DOCUMENTAION, showing how you have had this ongoing issue and lack of response from any of them. Bring copies of the 2016 pamphlets too to counter their argument that it's not designed for dirt dust mud etc.
If your fed-up with the headache and just have the work done - great, keep that invoice too, (detailed invoice) then suck uo the headache and take their ass to court- because the dealership will keep doing this to you and your friends and family neighbors. Just don't have your local dealer do the work for crying out loud...duhh. If you do the motor, plastic and glass swap yourself and plastic, document very purchase, as well as how long it took you to do the install. Courts LOVE documentation (invoices).
Hope this helps and keep us posted please.

 

@Bodie the Dog - did you ever get this resolved (thread hasn't been updated in 7 months), or are you gathering up stacks of documents to drag that dealership and Toyota corporate into court to have the long arm of the justice system make this right??!!

 

I FAILED bigly. I waited too long to start the process. Toyota Corporate then delayed things long enough to pass the statute of limitations for small claims court. They were always pleasant and made promises to examine the situation, but I kept getting transferred to different people, each of whom assured me they were working diligently to solve my problem. Eventually they just ignored me, without any kind of closure or even a "so sorry, we can't help you."

I had to haul some lumber last week, and what a bummer not being able to stick the boards out the rear window.

 

Don't forget the KDSS guard! This situation especially sucks because I've always been diligent about rinsing off my undercarriage immediately after every trip. And I hold my finger over the rear window drain holes so muddy water doesn't enter them.

 

I’ve been having a similar problem with my back window, it rolled down only 1/2 way, got stuck then rolled down all the way, got stuck. I finally got it to go all the way up. I was panicked a bit because it’s literally in the middle of a snow storm here! I’m wondering if there’s a ton of stuff stuck in there. The back hatch is also crazy heavy to lift up, like I can barely do it sometimes.

 

Are there any pictures of where I should be cleaning the drains?

 

The hand holds at the bottom of the hatch. Take them out and you can see inside. To clean, I use a small little stream of water (not spray) along the bottom with the hatch lowered as much as possible. Aim the water towards the other handhold.




Below, the handhold “cup” was removed. Just pry it off gently with your fingers.



Below, is looking along the bottom of the hatch on the inside, through one handhold hole toward the other. The light source on the left is the other open hole. The small dot of light is the center drainhole. I make an effort to keep that pinch seam clean so water can run straight to the drain holes without pooling anywhere.



Below, is looking straight up the handhold hole of the passenger side. Dont spray the speakers.

 

Thank you!!! This will have to be a next sunny day project. I’ve got to have stuff stuck in there. I can’t believe how heavy my hatch is.

 

Maybe it’s a blown gas strut? Hopefully there’s not that much stuff in there!