I just bought an 2021 4 Runner SR5 and need advice

Hey! I'm new here and have bought a used 2021 SR5 with 66k miles. I did a lot of research before buying this car and wanted to know the pros and cons of it. Toyotas are reliable and strong cars but I have a lot of doubts while driving it now for 2k miles.
Issues I have encountered and need input from everyone who knows about these cars and can guide me in the right direction. I took the car to Toyota to get a used car inspection which cost me $185. I felt like it was useless as I told them certain issues and they weren't addressed or they said was normal.

Issues:
-Car shakes while driving (20-40 mph): they said I needed a wheel balance; also has a squeaky sound at this mph range.

-I feel like the car hiccups when going up in speed.

-When I switch the car to 4WD it loses rev when I'm turning in both directions and it stutters at low speeds... is this normal in this mode?

-I feel like my braking system isn't working 100% checked the brake pads and they're still fine

-The battery died: it was a stock Toyota battery... bought an interstate and now I feel like the car has way less power. Need suggestions on a battery. Should I buy a Panasonic which is what the car comes with or is there a better option out there for this car?

-I feel like my car hydroplanes especially when it's raining. It doesn't feel like it grips all that well and I thought with a truck like this it would feel heavy and safer to drive on especially wet roads.

- Front left tire driver side: tire pressure is always 2 grades lower than the rest of the car. usually, it's a 31, and all the other tires regulate between 32-36. That tire in particular never regulates to the same numbers so my driver's wheel is always tilted more to the left. They did an alignment and it's still doing this.

Wondering if anyone has any of these issues and has good advice on what I should do. I just bought the car and I'm highly contemplating switching it out because I just don't know if it was a good buy. I'm just not convinced it's a good reliable car and that's what I need as I have a baby and just need to feel safe and secure with this truck.

Thank you in advance to whoever spends time to answer/suggest something.

 

Welcome. See responses in the quote, bold text.

 

-The battery died: it was a stock Toyota battery... bought an interstate and now I feel like the car has way less power. Need suggestions on a battery. Should I buy a Panasonic which is what the car comes with or is there a better option out there for this car? - Dead batteries can be caused by different factors. Is the battery affecting the performance of the engine?
I feel like the battery I got isn't strong enough and the car just doesn't feel as powerful when driving it. It also shakes a lot more now as well.

- Front left tire driver side: tire pressure is always 2 grades lower than the rest of the car. usually, it's a 31, and all the other tires regulate between 32-36. That tire in particular never regulates to the same numbers so my driver's wheel is always tilted more to the left. They did an alignment and it's still doing this. - Are you checking the tire pressure on the MID display or are you using an actual tire pressure gauge?
I check the MID display every time I drive but also I see my tires every day and they seem to be deflated a bit.

-I feel like my car hydroplanes especially when it's raining. It doesn't feel like it grips all that well and I thought with a truck like this it would feel heavy and safer to drive on especially wet roads. - This is completely a tire issue. Low tread or cheap tires can cause this.
The car came with Kelly brand tires. I heard they're not great tires but they told me the tread was still fine. Any suggestions for tires? I live in Texas. The weather is wild. Very hot or cold and torrential rains. I do want to travel to Colorado as well with snow so I need suggestions.

Are you saying a wheel balance would help when the car is on 4WD and it loses rev and stutters when I turn?

 

Can I ask if you took this 4R on a test drive prior to purchase? Any one of the issues you are describing would have nixed the sale and sent me looking for a different vehicle.

 

welcome

 

This is like wiping before you take a shit. Makes no sense, does it? What are the details of how you purchased the vehicle? Had you done a proper pre-purchase inspection, some of these issues could have been seen and you might not be in a buyer's remorse situation. I agree with @steelevo that we need more information to help you get answers to your questions. Quite honestly, a lot of this could be between your own ears. What did you drive before this? You might have some pre-conceived notions of what you think a 4Runner should feel like, and it doesn't meet your expectations. They are very capable and safe vehicles, but any car that hasn't been properly maintained or has worn parts is going to suffer in safety and performance.

-Could be tires, could be wheels, could be suspension/steering components.

-Need more information.

-Don't drive around on dry pavement and turn in 4WD. You're going to break something. Read the manual.

-Is it the correct battery? How would you know if it has less power? The stock battery was old. Again, could be in your own head. Did anyone bother to test the charging system?

-Tires, tires, tires. What do you have on it now. Pictures always help.

-Check it with a tire gauge. Don't rely on the computer. It's there to monitor. Who did the alignment? Show us the pre and post alignment specs.
It's a 3 year old vehicle, and it shouldn't have many issues. But, if it was modified or not properly maintained there could be problems. Again, need more information, and pictures and video always help.

 

You purchased a vehicle with part-time 4WD that should NOT be used on dry pavement - which could be some of the bucking you’re feeling. Drive around gently in 2WD and see how many things change on your list.

Generally you should be in 2WD in most conditions, even rain. Use only on loose surfaces like dirt, gravel.

You likely can’t buy the Panasonic battery it came with.

You expect better rain handling but that is not necessarily the case. Of course tires are a big factor, but this is also a heavy, tall vehicle. Tires can compensate somewhat but it could be a step down compared to what you drove before.

I personally cannot take corners as quickly as I did in my previous car before the tires complain. They have a larger contact patch but not necessarily enough to compensate for the extra 600-something pounds I’m moving around.

Being 2WD in most conditions, you can also make a wheel spin somewhat easily if you step on it while turning - traction control can intervene then whether braking that wheel or reducing throttle input to try to regain traction. (you’ll see a flashing orange dash light when that happens)

If you want a vehicle that has 4WD on all the time, you want a Limited trim. Or a different vehicle.

 

The TPMS does not regulate tire pressure. You must adjust tire pressure manually.

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

I don't think you did.

Issues:
-Car shakes while driving (20-40 mph): they said I needed a wheel balance; also has a squeaky sound at this mph range.

So, did you get the tires balanced? At over 60,000 miles on the rig, what are the miles on the tires? Have then been rotated, or balanced, per the shop?

-I feel like the car hiccups when going up in speed.

No sure what this means, hiccup while accelerating. What's a hiccup, and is it speed related, related to rpm, does it do it as you maintain a certain higher speed?

-When I switch the car to 4WD it loses rev when I'm turning in both directions and it stutters at low speeds... is this normal in this mode?

That's normal. Do not run the 4WD system on anything other than a loose surface. Even then, don't turn any tighter than you need to.

-I feel like my braking system isn't working 100% checked the brake pads and they're still fine

Why do you feel that way? Do they not stop quickly enough, fade over time while braking, etc.? If you know the pads are fine, what are you describing? It's a heavy vehicle, and they don't stop well compared to a "car".

-The battery died: it was a stock Toyota battery... bought an interstate and now I feel like the car has way less power. Need suggestions on a battery. Should I buy a Panasonic which is what the car comes with or is there a better option out there for this car?

The "car" has less power, like the engine produces less power? That's not a thing.

-I feel like my car hydroplanes especially when it's raining. It doesn't feel like it grips all that well and I thought with a truck like this it would feel heavy and safer to drive on especially wet roads.

Back to the tires. How many miles on them, and have they been rotated or balanced?

- Front left tire driver side: tire pressure is always 2 grades lower than the rest of the car. usually, it's a 31, and all the other tires regulate between 32-36. That tire in particular never regulates to the same numbers so my driver's wheel is always tilted more to the left. They did an alignment and it's still doing this.

The air pressure doesn't "tilt" your wheel and has nothing to do with your alignment. My guess is you park facing north-northeast?

None of the issues seem to have anything to do with the fact you bought a Toyota 4Runner, but that you bought a vehicle that is three years old and has 66,000 miles. Your battery died, not a big deal, they do that regardless of the make/model of vehicle. Your tires are out of balance, happens regardless of the make/model of vehicle.

You turned too sharply while in 4WD, that's what the vehicle will perform while driving in 4WD and turning.

The shop did an hour or two of inspection and told you what was wrong. Fix those things and drive-on.

 

So just to answer most of the comments up above, I bought the car from out of state. I was driving a Honda accord EX 2013 prior. I understand that my transition is absolutely drastic and I’m now driving a SUV that’s rough. Hence why I asked if some of these things are normal.

I didn’t come here to get talked too like I’m an idiot from condescending folks so keep those comments and carry on. I’m a single mother trying to figure it out thinking this is a community to try and get some answers.

My previous cars abs system shot one day to the next and I had to get a car from one day to the next due to having a kid so I didn’t test drive my car in specific which I bought through enterprise car sales. Maybe wasn’t the best choice but they swore by their inspections etc.

I took the car right to the dealer after I hit the car the next day for another inspection. The tires are Kelly Tires and they said they’re cheap tires hence why I’m getting some shakes? tread on them was still good for another 6k as per tech.

The car had a Panasonic battery and I bought the cheapest intestate battery in Walmart because I couldn’t pay for anything more at the moment. It doesn’t turn on the same. It shakes while turning on every time now. That’s what I mean when I say it Feels less powerful. Like it’s lacking crank.

When I got my inspection the battery read green good condition. Then weeks later my battery was out. Just caught me by surprise honestly.

Tires were rotated but I know I should get an alignment and wheel balance I just financially couldn’t do it at the moment.

When I read the manual on changing gears for 4WD it states you should run the 4WD once a month for 10 miles so that that part of the engine gets moved and oils move so that you can keep it maintained. So that’s what I’ve been doing.

Thanks for all the humble suggestions about not driving on dry with 4WD and air pressure guidance. Open to continue talking without getting bashed.

 

Wait until you get your new tires before you do an alignment. Have the front suspension thoroughly checked and do any necessary repairs before alignment.

 

Welcome. There is a lot of good on this forum. Try to look past those with an axe to grind...

 

Had you mentioned the circumstances behind the vehicle purchase, i.e. had to have a vehicle right away, previous car took a dump, Enterprise purchase, and being a single mom, the responses most likely would have taken a different tone. You definitely got what is generally considered a great vehicle. It just has some issues that Enterprise (go figure) decided not to let you in on. I feel like most of these are just because the 4R is so different from an Accord. You'll definitely need better tires and an alignment, that should solve most of what you're experiencing. Not sure about the battery, though. An Interstate shouldn't make that big of a difference.

 

As long as the battery is the same fitment and new I would have expected no difference in cranking so that is a thinker. Is the new battery size 24F? I also would find the cheapest or longest warranty (depending on fine print) so I don't think you made an inherent mistake there. Only a couple companies make auto batteries here anyway, so if the new battery is correct fitment I'd try to get it tested again, maybe a dud? Otherwise it might have been something else that popped up coincidentally.

So when you start the vehicle now, it takes longer to start, seems slower (lower pitch sounds while turning over) or does it just shake more? Does the shaking continue in operation? (compared to before) Might be hard to diagnose over the net though so if you get other bits checked, add that in.

Honestly there's varying opinions on buying an ex-rental (assuming it is) - you might get comments one way or another, I wouldn't dwell on it. Tougher use but you know the basics were (typically) done on time. Folks definitely like jumping on potential shortfalls with "you should have X" and I'm sorry about that. My sister's a bright person but still bought first, inspected after and obviously it's already suboptimal but it worked out.

Regarding the manual, it's great that you are keeping that in mind but don't sweat it too much. The instructions are there to keep things limber but there's a lot of folks that barely touch 4WD and get away with it. (not that never using 4WD doesn't cause trouble)

I personally hit a dirt/gravel road, throw it into 4WD Hi and drive it that way a bit every once in a while, but I can't easily get in 10 miles between off-road excursions. Also good to pop into 4Lo while you're at it, but no need to hit the road for that in my opinion. If you really want to stick with it, I'm thinking (mostly) straight line driving in the rain ought to be a decent compromise.

Also see if there's any warranty offered by the seller, I don't think it'll necessarily apply but just in case it'll be good to know. Example: CarMax's 90 day, 4000 mile warranty on a list of specific components.

 

What you describe is not normal. Good news is that 4Runner is otherwise reliable car that should be problem free for many years once you address existing issues.

As you are limited in your budget, prioritize items on your list. Don't attempt to diagnose issues yourself, from your posts it is clear that you don't have sufficient automotive knowledge and likely have no time to do proper research. For example, your cheapest battery was likely a mistake that will have you spend more money long-term. However, assuming that was a correct battery, even cheapest one should last a year or so. Unfortunately, if there exists substandard battery nominally still designed for your car, Walmart is where you'd find it.

Your #1 priority right now is to get away from any dealership. They charge premium and throw parts at the problem instead of diagnosing. Find reputable independent shop. If you don't know how, make a post with your general location and ask for help.

Your #2 priority is to make sure your car can survive the next few months. Does it have engine oil? Is it good? Does it leak anything? Does it have coolant? Stumbles under acceleration you describe is why I am concerned about fundamentals like that. It is not normal and should not be happening on 2021 4Runner.

Your #3 priority should be saving for good tires. Good tires will transform how your car handles and are safety-critical equipment. Hydroplaning, shakes, etc. are all likely tires and maybe alignment.

 

My recommendation is in the following order:
1. Stop at autozone or similar and ask them to check the battery. There’s a chance that you purchased a slightly smaller one in the hurry. Maybe you can return it to Walmart for a full refund.
2. Get new tires and if you don’t go off-roading just pick a decent brand highway tires. Cooper, Goodyear, Pirelli whatever is on sale on trirerack.com Expect cost around $800-$1200 depending on the brand.
3. When they install the new tires ask for mounting and balancing. Alignment can be checked as well. This service should be around $120-$150.
4. When the wheels are off ask them to check the brakes and you can also check the inner and outer pads yourself. Don’t take their words.
5. Hiccups during acceleration can be old fuel or lower grade. Remember it was a rental. A $10 fuel injector cleaner added to a full tank of gas might solve the problem and maybe a good quality 91 octane fill-up.
6. Don’t mess with the 4WD knob unless you’re in snow.

 

This is very important, part-time 4WD would bind when turning causing all kinds of skid issues. It is for dirt roads and getting out when stuck, not for driving around on pavement.

 

Welcome to the board and apologies for some of the prickly responses. I'm also brand new to the 4Runner as are many other folks here, but I've found there are a lot of nice, helpful and experienced men and women here.

After all the back and forth, it sounds as though you're not in quite as bad shape with your new runner as you might have thought. I think you've been given some solid advice on "where to start" so please report back on your progress and how things play out.

TimG