2015 Toyota 4runner Suspension Problems

Your 4Runner's front coil spring may develop cracks due to how it's designed where it connects to the spring seat. A cracked coil spring could cause sudden loss of control while driving, especially at highway speeds, and broken pieces could fly out from under the vehicle and cause injury or property damage. The fix would involve replacing the damaged front coil spring with a new one.

Your 4Runner's KDSS suspension valve under the driver's door has corroded and is leaking oil from the suspension system. A warning light appeared on your dashboard before the leak became noticeable. If the system loses all its fluid, you may experience poor handling and suspension control when steering or braking at high speeds or making sharp turns. The fix will involve replacing the corroded KDSS valve and refilling the suspension system with fresh fluid.

Your 2015 4Runner's X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension System has developed leaking front shocks, and Toyota dealership service recommends replacing the entire system (front and rear shocks, lines, and actuators) at a cost of around $4,000. You're concerned about this recurring problem across multiple 4Runners you've owned and worry the suspension could fail while driving and cause an accident. The repair will likely involve draining and replacing the suspension fluid lines, shocks, and electronic actuators that control the adaptive suspension system.

I HAVE HAD 3 SETS OF TIRES ON MY 4RUNNER AND EACH SET HAS WORN DOWN PREMATURLY DESPITE PURCHASING GOOD QUALITY TIRES WITH A 60K MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED AT THE REQUIRED SERVICE INTERVALS AND AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY ALIGNED VERY LONG. I EVEN WENT TO MULTIPLE TIRE SHOPS TO GET DIFFERENT OPINIONS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MULTIPLE TIRE SHOPS THAT THE 4RUNNERS ARE DIFFICULT TO ADJUST AND DO NOT HOLD AN ALIGNMENT. EACH SET OF 60K WARRANTY TIRES ONLY LASTED 30K MILES AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN OVERALL ROUGH RIDE. WHEN I DRIVE OVER 6OK MILES PER HOUR THE SHAKE AND ROUGH RIDE IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND DISAPPOINTING IN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE.

THIS IS A TOYOTA LIMITED MODEL THAT HAS A PROPRIETARY XREAS SUSPENSION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE INTERVALS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES THE SERVICE TECH FOUND THAT ALL FOUR STRUTS WERE LEAKING AND REQUIRED $4,500 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. A VISIT TO A SECOND DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSTIC OUTCOME PROVIDED BY THE FIRST DEALER. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO STATED THE WARRANTY HAD LAPSED AND EXPRESSED NO DESIRE TO INVESTIGATE WHY AT 55,000 THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM SEALS AT ALL FOUR WHEELS WOULD FAIL. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OUTLINED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. THE SUSPENSION BECAME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT BECAME SO SOFT CERTAIN EMERGENCY MANEUVERS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN I HAD THE SYSTEM REPLACED I DIRECTED THAT ALL THE REMOVED PARTS BE RETURNED TO ME AND I HAVE THEM SAVED FOR POSSIBLE INSPECTION. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE STRUTS TAKEN DURING THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION. I BELIEVE THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA SEEMED TO POSSIBLY ADDRESS THIS IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0145-11. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR DESIGN AND PROVIDE FREE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT TO ITS PRODUCT OWNERS.

I'M WRITING YOU TODAY IN THE HOPES THAT YOU CAN INVESTIGATE AND CREATE A RECALL FOR TOYOTA'S X-REAS SUSPENSION SYSTEM. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 LIMITED 4RUNNER FOUR YEARS AGO. ON NOVEMBER 29TH, 2019 I HAD MY 4RUNNER SERVICED AT A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER FOR A 40,000 MILE CHECK UP. AFTER THE CHECK UP I WAS TOLD THAT BOTH FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND DUE TO THE DESIGN (BOTH FRONT STRUTS BEING CONNECTED TO BOTH REAR SHOCKS) THE ENTIRE X-REAS SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. (TOTAL COST BEFORE REALIGNMENT AND TAX = $2,468.00.) X-REAS COMES STANDARD ON THE LIMITED TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND IS A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM THAT CANNOT BE SERVICED. THE X-REAS SYSTEM ON MY 4RUNNER STARTED LEAKING WITH ONLY 38,977 MILES OF CITY AND FREEWAY DRIVING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO OFF ROADING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLY PREMATURE AND A DEFECTIVE DESIGN FOR A SUSPENSION THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY BUILT TO WITHSTAND RUGGED OFF ROADING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN FACED WITH X-REAS SUSPENSION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS A 4RUNNER FORUM WITH TRUCK OWNERS SEARCHING FOR ADVICE AND HELP ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A TREND. HTTPS://WWW.4RUNNERS.COM/THREADS/4RUNNER-LIMITED-BUYER-BEWARE-X-REAS-SUSPENSION-FAILS.7894/ THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPT REP ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN ABOUT SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR X-REAS SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WILL NOT BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING A NEW X-REAS SYSTEM INSTALLED. I ASKED ABOUT HAVING TOYOTA'S STANDARD COIL SUSPENSION INSTALLED INSTEAD BUT MY WARRANTY ONLY COVERS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED PARTS. WHEN MY WARRANTY EXPIRES IN 2 YEARS I WILL BE LIABLE FOR ALL FUTURE SUSPENSION FAILURES. MY TRUCK IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. I AM WORRIED THAT IN 4 YEARS (OR SOONER) THE X-REAS SYSTEM WILL FAIL AGAIN. PLEASE HELP!

THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, SOUNDS LIKE SUSPENSION... I MENTIONED IT TO THE TECH AT THE 5000 MILE CHECK, AND THE 15000 MILE CHECK. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. IT IS ONLY PRESENT WHEN THE TEMPS ARE BELOW ABOUT 40 F OR SO. IT IS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES OVER SMALL BUMPS AT A LOW SPEED. EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED ON A GRAVEL ROAD.