DirtRoadTrip

125,000 mile long term update: 2010 Toyota 4Runner

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Recently my Facebook feed has been inundating me with timehop photos. When I saw the photo below, dated November 19, 2010, I got a little bit nostalgic. That shiny, almost new (only 14K miles) certified pre-owned Trail Edition 4Runner now has north of 125K miles on it and is developing the beat-to-shit-look patina that only a well-loved and well-used 4×4 can wear.

This was the first picture I took of the 4Runner - sitting at the dealer I bought it from on on Long Island in NY.
This was the first picture I took of the 4Runner – sitting at the dealer I bought it from on Long Island in NY.

For those of you considering a 5th gen 4Runner, let me give you the run-down of that what adventures this truck has seen and the (very few) problems I’ve encountered along the way.

The Adventures:

From November 2010 – August 2015, the 4Runner was also my only vehicle, so it had to perform on the trail and then get me reliably to work Monday-Friday. It has done a pretty awesome job. Over 5 years of ownership, there are only a few issues I’ve experienced (that were independent of failure I directly caused by bone-headed modifications – maybe that should be a whole other post!):

4Runner Issues through 125K Miles:

  • Abnormal Engine Timing Chain Wear @85K miles (repair covered under Toyota Platinum Warranty). The symptom here was a louder-than usual whining noise from the front of the motor. Steven Toyota in Harrisonburg did the repair and I have not had a problem since. I’ve not heard of anyone else ever having this issue.
  • Driver Seat Adjuster / Frame Failure @ 95K miles (repair covered under Toyota Platinum Warranty). Basically, one side of my seat frame seized and would not recline, twisting the whole frame. Koons Tysons Toyota replaced the seat frame no questions asked under warranty.
  • Power steering rack leak @98K miles (repair covered under Toyota Platinum Warranty). The leak was MINOR, and to be honest I was damn lucky to have this covered. Realistically, on a lifted/offroaded vehicle, I was happy to get almost 100K miles out of the rack, but I bet it could have gone at least 25K more before it absolutely needed a replacement.
  • Front Driver Wheel Bearing at ~80K miles. I didn’t even try to warranty this one; bought a new OEM bearing assembly off Ebay and swapped it in for ~$300 or less.

And you know what? That’s it. I have been religious on oil changes every 5K, and transmission, transfer case, and differentials every 30K miles, brakes every ~40-50K miles. A pretty fantastic track record for a truck that’s been put through the ringer and enabled many adventures. Here’s to the next 125K miles!

There’s no better way to wrap this up than a photo montage of moments over the last 5 years.

Alex “keeping me off the tree” at Red Cloud Off-road park. No body damage was incurred!
Enjoying the view from “Top of the World” in Moab in 2014
Pausing at the top of Engineer Pass near Ouray, Colorado in 2014
Flexing out in Bald Eagle State Forest in 2013 with Main Line Overland
Preparing to winch out of a muddy situation at the 2013 Vermont Overland Trophy
Another Vermont Overland Trophy Shot from the inaugural event.
Bushwhacking at the Vermont Overland Trophy in 2013
Cruising in Moab in 2013
Black Bear Pass back in 2012 on my first trip out West
Enjoying the sunset in Texas en route to Colorado in 2012
Tackling Black Bear Pass in 2012 outside of Telluride, CO
Posing near Harrisonburg, VA in the Spring of 2011 just after the 4Runner got its first suspension lift setup @25K miles
Getting ready to tackle a steep downhill in NC in 2011
A shot from one of many, many trips to George Washington National Forest circa ~2011
Hanging out on the beach on the Outer Banks, in NC in 2012
Photo from my first ever offloading trip to Green Ridge State Forest in MD; the trail is now closed:(
Hanging on the beach in the OBX in November 2010; less than a week after I bought the 4Runner
This was the first picture I took of the 4Runner – sitting at the dealer I bought it from on on Long Island in NY.

 

Comments

  1. Will you please elaborate on the motor whine? Ian dealing with a similar noise that Toyota is saying is normal but I know something isn’t right.

    Thanks in advance!

    • Austin, it was an issue with the chain guides for the timing chain. The entire assembly was taken apart and replaced by Toyota under a 100,000 mile Platinum Warranty.

  2. I remember seeing your truck years ago (summer 2012-ish) on the beach in the OBX. I was probably the only other vehicle on the beach at the time, seeing as it had just rained (lifted white sequoia). I thought it was awesome then, and even better now. I’ve been following y’all for sometime now, but I figured this was an appropriate subject to comment on. The runner looks great. Keep up the good work.

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