September 13, 2023

Stupid things I hate about the Gen5 4runner

This list is short. The 4runner is a fantastic vehicle and has amazed and impressed me in many ways. But it isn't perfect. I don't know anything better for my needs. Maybe that isn't quite true. Other vehicles might be stronger in one area while weaker in another. The 4runner is an ideal balance for my needs.

The hood scoop

This is a completely useless and cosmetic feature. Some designer thought it would look cool. Maybe some people think it does. The fact that it is useless and on top of that a big bump in the center of the hood that I have to look at all the time just bugs me.

No manual transmission option

Without a doubt, if I could have gotten the 4runner with a manual, that is what I would have done. I cannot say that the automatic has let me down or been less than entirely adequate offroad. But I am an old school guy and I could honestly handle some offroad situations better with a manual than with an automatic. However, I have been driving manual transmission offroad vehicles for over 40 years. Nothing like experience. They say a manual can prevent vehicle theft in many cases.

Hill start assist

This is a badly implemented feature that has confused many people -- including me. It activated several times the first day I was out on some 4x4 roads. The vehicle began beeping and a loud pulsing noise like the ABS brake system might make alarmed me. This happened when I backed down a hill to turn around and allowed the vehicle to roll back a bit while moving my foot to the accelerator. I do this all the time with my manual transmission Tacoma and it is no big deal. (I know exactly what I am doing).

This is an urban oriented "idiot proofing" feature that doesn't really belong in an offroad vehicle.

Once it activates, the only thing to do is to put your foot on the brake and hold the vehicle stationary until it runs its course and try again. There is no "assist" whatsoever. It is busy pulsing the brakes and any attempt to apply gas is useless. (Maybe it isn't -- I am told that if you just keep at it you will eventually gain control).

You can read the comments in the above. As one fellow says, "doesn't work too well". You have to note where one fellow says that a Subaru will hold you with the brakes until you hit the gas -- indeed that would be the desired behavior. Note also that several people in the thread mention that Jeep has a system that works perfectly.

A very questionable feature for offroad use. There ought to be a way to disable it. More discussion in the following. Shifting to neutral or reverse will stop it. Some claim if you just give it enough gas it will disable.

Have any comments? Questions? Drop me a line!

Tom's Auto repair pages / tom@mmto.org