PSA - 5th Gen Defects on Newer (20-22MY) 4Runners + Solutions

[@dundeeecroc]

My 1985 Toyota 4runner SR5 5 speed never had a defect of any kind since it left the factory in Japan. they were over engineered back in the day, made very well. still driving it to this day.

[@RVH-io3dr]

Thanks for the video. I just got my first 4runner...2021 SR5 Premium and lots to learn about care and maintenance. This is a very detailed video and much appreciated.

[@amtraker]

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, mine has the same paint problem.

[@santi.9090]

Mine (2022) has the same paint issue. Will bring it up next time she's at the dealership for scheduled maintenance, hopefully they'll repair it!

[@AG4runner]

How'd that go?

[@santi.9090]

​@@AG4runner It was fine, my dealership repaired it under warranty 👌

[@AG4runner]

@@santi.9090 just contacted my dealership about this repair. How did the repair process go? Did they repaint the entire tailgate? Did they use washers/ shims to put some space between the garnish and paint? Thanks for any information you can give me

[@randallzook5570]

Thanks for sharing, I've got a 2020 Limited and thankfully neither issue with mine.

[@eurika7655]

Wiper blades may be outsourced. I'd go to Toyota and look at same 5 th gen wiper blades 2 years back. Hold yours next to the older ones and see if there's a difference. An older year may work.

[@davechester2642]

I use Bosch icons wiper blades, retired Trucker and Sports man I have 2019 4runner, with Bilst4600 shocks and Falken wild peaks at3w, and Frame treated with Fulid film my Retirement vehicle has only 37, 300 miles and covered

[@jimibill6854]

Maybe Removing the rear Garnish then put a rubber strip w/ 3M backing on it .. similar to what you see on fender flares to keep it from chaffing the Fenders paint..Or a small piece of Felt tape on the corner of the garnish.. Would be easier then removing.

[@Xerkaw]

Could work. There is technically a rubber gasket on the garnish itself, but doesn't do anything, as it's pretty flimsy. Also main issue in my case particular, is the garnish is warped in the corners and pressing into the paint. The rubber strip could distribute that force if not putting washers on. Would still need to loosen the corners to get the tape under. As I thought about slipping PPF under it as one solution, but the garnish has no flex.

[@richardcabitto5108]

Wondering if they (Toyota) are working to resolve the issue? Did they change the piece to something a bit different in 20’? Mines a 19’. Cheers

[@Xerkaw]

@@richardcabitto5108 They switched to garnish with the power window buttons, for the 20' and up for the tech refresh (Keyless Models). Before, I found only 1 post on the forums with a 16' model with the same issue, with the turn key garnish.

[@bernardoomar]

you worry about cosmetic stuff but you dont realize that you have an undestructible engine and very reliable SUV basically a tank!

[@ironmike2798]

Definitely have the paint issue will be bringing it in to dealership

[@AG4runner]

Any resolution?

[@leardi58]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@tonyp9609]

Thank you for the video. The rear garnish should be chamfered or have a rubber gasket on the top.

[@AG4runner]

My 2022 has this issue from the rear garnish. Contacted the dealer today and waiting for a call back

[@vladm9096]

2023 limited. At least it doesn't have this paint issue. There is a almost 1/16 gap on all sides. Maybe it only happens with black plastic extrusion, not the chrome one?

[@Xerkaw]

That is a possibility. I also haven't heard of the 23MY having the issue either. (Could be using different plastics for the chrome process).

[@dgriffo1369]

Mine has the same issue

[@blauer2551]

I use Bosch blades front and back, no issues. Not having the paint chips on ours manufactured late 2022 so maybe they did a fix.

[@Stevespecs]

Have an 04 sr5, even the service tech at my local dealership told me, they don’t build them like they use to, lots of issues.

[@richardcabitto5108]

Thanks for showing this man! Just bought a 2019 SR5 in Graphite and don’t see this issue on mine yet. Have you seen ANY of the older ones having the issue? I’m probably going to take the inside panel of anyway cause’ there is something rattling in there rolling around when we open and close the tailgate!! Probably can remove that panel easily then and put some plastic spacers in there if it shows signs of damage. 52,000 miles on the ticker when we got it. $41k with extended warranty in Id. Cheers!

[@Xerkaw]

Yeah the older ones (Pre 20' tech refreshed) should be fine. As they use a different garnish (Turn Key). I had a pebble rolling around my lift gate for a little while. You can remove the plastic close handles on the bottom edge fairly easy, to take a peek inside. Also good way to inspect if there is any rust forming on the backside of the panel. Plastic handles snap into place, and a plastic pry tool pops them off.

[@richardcabitto5108]

Literally an easy quick fix. That’s what I’ll do! Thanks ! And cheers!!

[@pacmancalgary]

Thanks for posting this. I've got a 2023 Limited and will check to see if it has the same issue. I think the garnish is chrome plated so maybe it's a different part. Is that an Alberta license plate that I see blurred out? Calgary here!

[@Xerkaw]

I think the chrome ones have less of an issue, but I could be wrong. Yup, Alta. Also nice to have the Ghost River PLUZ for some light trails close to Calgary.

[@ejshelby5460]

I think the sheet metal flexes every time the hatch shuts or open and so, it touches. Inserting a PPF (no need to take off the garnish) should do it

[@Xerkaw]

The main issue is the defective garnish is pressing into the body work. My guess it's slightly warped, and curving into the lift gate. Repair shop did install PPF for me, but just ended up bubbling up immediately. I removed the garnish asap, and put some installed some washers to prevent the issues permanently. Note, this issue is mainly for 2020-22 4Runners. When they switched out the tumbler lock, for keyless/button garnish. If you have a pre 2020 model, you should be relatively fine. There has only been rare instances where there is damage, judging by forum posts. Anecdotal from the comments, that it might be fixed for 23' onwards.

[@ejshelby5460]

@@Xerkaw I happen to have a 2023, built in June, I picked up in August. So far no issues and looks straight, fingers cross. I'll create a custom outline of the garnish and do a 3M paintprotection film myself

[@Xerkaw]

Good to hear. If you can side a piece of card stock in-between the garnish corners, you should be fairly ok. (I could not do this with my 4runner).

[@ejshelby5460]

@@Xerkaw So here's the interesting part. There is a OEM seal, cost $3, for the garnish. I do believe they installed it on my truck already at factory cause I can see a thin layer of foam under it, the seal does not flush with the raw edge of the plastic of course, maybe 1mm recess. Also, the seal doesn't go all around. A paper is stopped by the seal around the top, but through the bottom straight edge (above license plate), there's no seal, but a 1mm gap. I guess this is what they've done.

[@Xerkaw]

@@ejshelby5460 yep, there is a rubber gasket that runs along the top end of the garnish. Think it suppose to keep large bits of dirt from becoming trapped. This was always there, and does not necessarily prevent the issue. (In least in my case). Yeah the garnish sat pretty flush at the emblem, but had a gap opening up on the top edge on mine. I noticed pre 2020 years do not has that issue.

[@stIncMale]

1:14 - "remove the garnish". Unfortunately, removing it is quite non-trivial, beyond anything reasonable for such a thing.

[@b.frantz8346]

Try getting an engine oil leak at 16k and 32k in a 2021 4 runner. That's a problem I just had. This is petty!

[@Xerkaw]

That sucks, hope you find a resolution. Only common issues I know of with these engines is minor oil seepage. I would try the 4runner forums if you are still having issues. Might be petty now, but living in the rust belt says otherwise.

[@donphillips4492]

i never use my rear wiper. not sure why people do

[@robertippoliti5186]

what is a PPF ?

[@Xerkaw]

Paint Protection Film

[@Qpyx196xn]

My chair makes noises like squeak squeak

[@jasontorrance7199]

YUP, same damn rust issue. Thanks to your video I would have never known about it. Toyota rust warranty is 3 years OR 60K I have a 2021 SR5 Premium and I'm 2 day out from my 3 year warranty but have over 60k. Can someone tell my how KM's have anything to do with rust? This to me sounds like another loop hole Toyota can get out of. A BIG friendly F U to Toyota.

[@seanpop2886]

In the USA, the rust is 5 years...

[@jasontorrance7199]

@@seanpop2886 our too, but the rush has to go right throw the body within 5 years. So surface rust 3 years and right throw 5 years, lol!! These rust rules are ridiculous.

[@michaelpalm2210]

Nit picky much?....I dont even see those as issues. Really, I mean I have a 2020 4 runner and they are prone to front end wheel vibrations, need tire balancing often, but other than that, I use it for sport utility as designed. Its not a show truck. paint will get damaged over time. get over it!

[@Xerkaw]

I mean if you want rust holes on a new 60k truck sure. or 70k if you have the Pro. (Which I saw a one year old pro with a rusting gate.) If you think that's acceptable Toyota build quality. Maybe let people enjoy nice things eh? Especially if they intend to keep it for the next decade or two. Nothing like seeing how shitty a car looks, few years down the road with rust holes in the lift gate.

[@michaelpalm2210]

@@Xerkaw I paid $36,000 for my new SR5. I bought it during covid lockdown. They were begging for customers in 2020. No one I know of is paying 60/70 thousand for a 4 runner even a PRO isn't that much

[@Xerkaw]

@@michaelpalm2210 I'm in Canada. So they do cost that much for TRD/PRO here.

[@michaelpalm2210]

@@Xerkaw Ok so thats about $50k USA dollars for a PRO = $70K Canada.

[@toasterstruddle3807]

​@@Xerkaw no I totally agree a small piece of paint missing becomes a big issues down the road. Rust holes and paint flaking will occur. Becomes costly down the road and obviously drops the resale value if you sale or trade it in. So yea "small" things like that become big issues later. Thank you for the video because I noticed this issues on my 2021 venture edition.

[@Americafirst-i8q]

Water based paint

[@dundeeecroc]

Blame EPA for water base paint.