Foresee problems in 5-10 years obtaining parts for 5th Gen?

Sometimes it is important stuff though. I was chasing a misfire on my '98 and the MAF was in the mix of possibilities. Fortunately, that was not the issue but it is when I learned that the part was no longer available from Toyota. Some things I can live with aftermarket but others would be very worrisome.

 

True. Stocking up on spare parts seems like a sure way to get hit by a drunk driver, have a tree fall on it, etc.

 

The leather on the steering wheels is prone to peel and crack. The fabric on the driver's seat tends to split and tear from sliding in and out. Since interior parts are usually the first things to go out of production, seems to be a good idea to have spares on hand. Especially since you'll never match the seat upholstery or have the steering wheel rewrapped to look anything near stock.

 

Waaaay back in 1990 when I bought Goldie I was VERY proud and I was dead set on never selling it. I bought all the OEM formed rubber hoses from Brown’s Toyota…..except for the bellowed throttle body boot….guess what….it was the 1st to go. Luckily I found a replacement. I have replaced nearly every single hose in the past 35yrs. I still have a couple with Toyota tags.
To make a short story long….what you said made me think how lucky Goldie and I have been.

 

That makes sense, agree on matching the fabric. Could always get an aftermarket leather kit, but if that's not your thing then I suppose your approach is best.

I will say, the mobile leather repair guys do amazing work. They resprayed my Cayenne's steering wheel (leather is effectively painted/dyed from factory, so it's similar to painting a car) and it looked absolutely brand new. Have also had some seat repairs on other cars and again, can't tell the difference. Just thoughts, but you're prepared if ya need to be regardless !

 

No, I wouldn't worry at all. I have a 2nd gen that'll be 31 years old in January, and I can still find (OEM, not aftermarket) parts everywhere. I basically don't even have to look for em' they are so plentiful on Facebook Marketplace and such places.

 

Stock parts and things for routine maintenance will probably be around for a very long time. No worries there.

What might slowly become less available over time though are aftermarket parts/mods. 5th gen mods are still abundant right now but who knows what it will look like in 5-10 years.

 

5-10 years should be fine for most parts. 20 years will be iffy - look at 3rd gens today. The only two people I know who daily 3rd gens are Toyota specialist mechanics, with a parts car sitting in the back.

The various computers will be the first to be discontinued, PCM, fuel pump controller, SRS ECU, 4WD ECU, body control module, etc. Some are probably already discontinued for your 2018, so replacement involves scouring salvage yards and eBay. Thankfully they don't fail often in Toyotas.

 

The sheer number of 5th gens produced over an unusually long 14-year run creates used parts and incentive for aftermarket support before even considering Toyota continuing to make parts. I am not concerned in the least about getting 15+ years out of my 2019.

 

Fortunately, control modules and circuit boards are very repairable. I ain't all that bright but I managed to fix the speedometer board in my '94. Thank heavens for the internet.

 

Let's see. I've gone through 2 DRL bulbs since I bought my 2016 10 years ago. Are you suggesting I buy 2 more ahead of time to make sure I'm covered for the next 10 years?

 

^It's the stuff you haven't replaced yet that you should be worried about. Especially any module that needs programming or unique to certain years and trim levels (like a body control unit). For example, I found out this summer the 2010-2013 SR5 has a unique airbag clock spring that is not interchangeable with later years.

 

Toyota 4Runners are such a popular vehicle I would submit that there will be aftermarket parts available way into the future. I used to have a 1979 VW bus. (Sold 4 years ago) I could get parts but it would take some searching around sometimes to several sources.

 

It’s hard to make predictions about these things. There are a lot of considerations. The fact that there have been so many 5th gens sold could mean lots of spare parts in the future, or it could mean that the spare parts run out sooner. It depends on how determined the average 4Runner owner is about keeping his vehicle running into old age. By the time those of us with newer 4Runners start needing parts, perhaps those of us with older vehicles will have bled the supply dry.

And you can’t count on the aftermarket. Sure, the aftermarket has been so kind to the air-cooled VW Beetle that you can practically build a new car from scratch. You can buy an FJ40 clone. You can get any trim pieces you want for a 65 Mustang or almost any flavor of 1960”s British sports car. All of those vehicles have something in common. They are relatively simple and have few parts compared to a modern car. I would wager that by 2035 it will be easier to keep a K5 Blazer running than a 5th gen 4Runner, because it’s so dang simple.

All this is academic, because most of us will have passed on to that great rock garden in the sky.

 

The ones on my 2nd Gen Tacoma lasted 17 years... I just replaced them.

 

Usually 20 years and parts are discontinued. There's a lot of 5th gen 4runners. I have a 2013 and would like to get a transmission from Toyota to have, but I'll probably buy another 6-10 year old 5th gen 4runner or a 150k used 2013-18 4runner and start again. Someone needs to start a 5th generation junkyard.

 

I've always had this idea where I would decide on a model of car I want to become a specialist on, rent a storage space, and start buying used copies of that same model and year to tear down and store the parts all categorized. That way anything that goes out, I can just swap them onto my primary vehicle that keeps on going on the original body.

I'm starting to look around for low mileage copy of 4th gen Camry around same year as mine since those are still widely available and easy to source and do a tear down. Those are pre-DBW and no engine immobilizer to worry about.

 

I was in oreillys and someone in an early 2000 4Runner came in and we started talking. He had just came from a junkyard and was saying it’s impossible to find parts.

 

Reminiscent of Omega Man.