5th gen Car battery average life span

My Toyota branded battery, dated 2/21 just had a moment tbis morning and didnt want to start.
Dash lit up like when you hit push start, but no brake pedal.
Checked battery, 10.5 volts.
I use a battery tender while I travel. Been fine for 3 days since I got back from overseas.
Anyways, it did eventually start, alternator putting out 13.5 volts.
Drive for 45.minutes , and battery was at 12.87. 2 hrs kater 10.8.
But, started.
Intersting.
Thoughts. Probably need new battery

 

The life of a battery can vary based on what region of the U.S. you're in and your driving habits. Usually, they last between 3 - 5 yrs. So yeah, it sounds like it's time for a new battery.

 

My 2021 purchased in October 2020 is on its second replacement. I got about 3 years out of the original battery, and its NAPA replacement was replaced under warranty a couple months ago. Only aftermarket load on the electrical system is a Garmin Dash Cam Mini2 with the OBD port power adapter set to provide 10min power after shutdown.

 

I changed the battery on my 4/2021 4runner 2 weeks back (8/12/2025) at 35K miles. I don't use any battery tender or anything. I have a dashcam with parking mode that records when it's parked. It didn't show signs or failure but failed at battery load test at service. So I replaced it with a Walmart battery. I thought it's not worth to check my luck until it fails. But I do have a Noco jump starter if needed.

(My charging shows 13.4V normally when driving per ScanGuage. Cold start it shows 14.1v max charging. )

 

Getting ready to travel for work in 10 days, I will get a AGM type battery vice the OEM Panasonic lead.

 

My 2019 purchased in September 2018 is still on its original battery, although I suspect heading into this winter I will need a replacement.

Battery life depends on a few things - how often it is driven, and when it is started, do you drive very short trips? That will kill a battery if it never gets a chance to fully recharge.

 

I do a lot of short trips when home

 

I suggest no to AGM. 13.5v (per your measuring) not enough to charge an AGM battery.

 

13.5 was what my meter was showing.
Weird how it wont be enough to charge. Not sure what our alternators amperage is too.

 

It’s interesting. I’ve read other threads discussing Toyota’s stock battery. Specifically the one made by Panasonic (is there another brand of stock battery?) and there’s often commentary about how unusually long-lived that Panasonic battery is, followed by lamentation that that battery can’t be replaced.

@Steve40th did you add any electrical accessories to you 4Runner either immediately before or after your travels? What type of tender do you use?

 

Here a screenshot of my pics from a previous post.
In this example Duracell AGM needs minimum 13.8V to charge.

 

@kmeeg did you perform the small mod to boost the charging voltage? Also, what is the advantage of an AGM battery? I thought the reason was that they could be mounted in any orientation. But there must be another reason.

 

@Captain Spalding I'm with you, I have had great experience with the Panasonic battery, like the one in my T4R. The factory battery in my 2015 Tacoma lasted more than six years as well.

 

I ended up changing the battery on my '19 (purchased January 2019) in the winter of '21/22 with probably around 70K miles. I don't recall the exact month.

I don't know if the batteries are just not as good as they used to be, or if it's a result of more parasitic draw on newer vehicles. But, it seems like a lot of folks have replaced OEM batteries on 3-4 year old vehicles, and sometimes even sooner.

 

My 4Runner is only 3.5 years old so it hasn’t had time to age out yet. I think I was referring to this thread where folks touted the stock battery.

 

No sir. I didn't buy AGM. I just bought regular lead acid from Walmart. Everstart Maxx with 750CCA. I'm not comfortable installing a voltage booster.

I Duracell pic was just taken at Sam's club. Didn't purchase it.

 

My '03 came with a Panasonic battery that lasted what seemed like a very long time. I don't recall the exact time or mileage, but it was only on the second battery with 257K miles in 2017 when I traded it for my Tacoma. The second battery was whatever the Toyota dealers had at the time.

I don't know if they use the Panasonic batteries anymore or not. I actually don't recall what I took out of my 2019.

 

Lol. I could have copy/pasted my reply from that thread and posted it in here.

 

FWIW, I have an AGM (Diehard platinum, or something like that) and have not taken any steps to adjust the charge voltage.

After a discussion on Tacomaworld, my plan was to hook up a trickle charger once or twice a month to top it off properly. But, I haven't done so. So far it's been fine. But, I don't do a lot of short trips with mine.

My understanding (possibly incorrect) is that they're not as sensitive to being tilted on an angle as lead acid. And, possibly more resistance to vibration..

Here's an AI overview from Google. Take with a grain of salt:

"AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries offer benefits like maintenance-free operation, leak-proof and spill-proof design, a longer lifespan, faster charging, and better performance in extreme temperatures. Their sealed, vibration-resistant construction also makes them more durable and suitable for a wider range of mounting positions, supporting advanced vehicle features and providing greater reliability than traditional flooded lead-acid batteries."

 

Nothing changed on 4runner. I use a Noco genius 2.0

 

Not sure, but I know our lead factorys were shut down in the US during Obamas admin. They were factories that produced higj quality lead for electronics industry.
I get 3 to 4 yeara here in Charleston SC in my vehicles. Heat, short trips etc might just be the life expectancy here

 

Since you are talking AGM - I just remembered my boss' motorhome uses AGM batteries for the "house" batteries. He has a huge Cummins diesel pusher, and I believe the dedicated batteries for the engine are lead acid, and they are a pair possibly in parallel.

I perform minor maintenance on his motorhome, and I am grateful for the AGM batteries. I don't have to do any maintenance at all. His previous motorhome, the "house" batteries were wet lead acid and we had nothing but trouble with those, and there were twelve of them. I did everything on those batteries including replacement, as well as manufacturing bus bars out of copper to try to keep those batteries happy. And the corrosion!! Boy am I glad that thing is gone!

 

Replaced my original factory battery, 3/2019 build date in July with Die Hard Gold. Did not have any issues with the factory battery but changed based on age and cold climate.

 

Hey, I checked the battery this morning, 10.7 volts. Probably sborted cell.
But, it started right up anyways.
AGM or Lead Acid, decisions.
Whats Toyoylta charge for their battery?

 

Temperature/climate is a huge variable. I have friends in AZ who seem to be replacing their batteries every 2 years with their extreme heat. Here in the Northeast, my experience has been more like 5-7+ yrs.

 

IIRC, Toyota batteries are priced similar to other major brands. It's worth calling around, or Googling, especially if you think you're going to go with an AGM.

 

The OEM Panasonic battery is not available for purchase is it? It does seem to be top quality lasting longer.

 

My 2022 T4R was manufactured in June of 2022. It’s still on its original factory installed battery, and doing well.

The longest I’ve ever had a factory “car” battery last was in my 2006 Toyota Tundra that I bought new for myself in ‘06. That dang battery lasted until in to 2016. Even then, it was still working, but I could sense that it was beginning to crank slower. So I went ahead and replaced it because I didn’t want it to strand me out somewhere. I was sad to let that battery go, but decided to play it safe.

I’ve never had a battery last anywhere near that long since.

 

When I replaced the battery on my 2003, the dealership did not have the Panasonic ones. I did not check to see if they could be ordered, though.

And, agreed that it seems like the Panasonic ones are exceptional quality.

 

The AGM batteries have different charging requirements. The 4Runner may not meet the requirements to fully charge it. I know the Tundra doesn't meet them.