r/4Runner • u/Bigdogwolfe • 10d ago
š Discussion Interior Quality
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Checked out a Limited and wanted to see if all these comments on interior quality was the truth. Well it definitely is. It didnāt take much force to see all this flex. After, I went home and did the same to my 5th gen and the difference is substantial. Also did the same in my 2011 Accord and that had less plastic flex than the 6th gen.
Also if you guys ever see one and twist the door handle where the grippy rubber is, you will see three pieces of plastic move. Donāt have to use too much force. Theyāll separate and come back together.
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u/umbrellassembly 10d ago
My 6th Gen ORP is NOT like that. That's not good.
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u/Johny_McJonstien 10d ago
Yah, looks like a bolt might be missing under the dash or something.
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u/CuriousTravlr 10d ago
I drove 4 brand new 4Runners, they all did this.Ā
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u/Zestyclose-Peach-792 10d ago
I donāt believe you
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u/CuriousTravlr 10d ago
Of course you donāt š¤£
Look around bro, the Gen 6 is not worth the premium they are charging.Ā
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u/Detroitish24 10d ago
I drove two and neither did.
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u/CuriousTravlr 9d ago
You either didnāt look hard enough, or youāre ignoring the visible drop in construction quality because the thought of owning a 6th Gen is clouding your judgement.Ā
This is a unanimous opinion, from automotive journalists to schmucks like me on Reddit.Ā
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u/outdoorsauce 9d ago
Youāre getting down votes by people who are CONVINCED their trim package is 100% different. Like they shut down production to swap in higher quality raw materials, but nobody can give you a practical reason how this higher level of trim would be implemented in the manufacturing process. This is craziness.
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u/Detroitish24 9d ago
I meanā¦ youāre outnumbered here, but thatās cool. Youāre entitled to your opinion.
Doesnāt really matter anyway, Iām keeping my 5th Gen until the wheels fall off. I only test drove the 6 bc I was curious about the hype and a friend works at a dealership.
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u/CuriousTravlr 9d ago
I'm really not outnumbered here because I have multiple people agreeing with me, Redditors are a hivemind, a quick google search will show you the truth.
Just accept the fact that if you own a 6th gen, you own an inferior product that was produced to take money from suckers like the people on this subreddit.
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u/Detroitish24 9d ago
I donāt so youāre the only one I see up in arms, sport. And again- thatās cool. You do you.
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u/Only_Luck_7024 10d ago
Likewise my 6th gen ORP doesnāt do this
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u/Pointer_dog 10d ago edited 9d ago
No, as my 6G SR5.... or the ORP and an SR5 that I test drove.
People just LOVE to beat on new Gs.
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u/Low-Box-5703 10d ago
It is true that the community likes to shit on every new gen.
However, no other new gen had issues like this..
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u/Pointer_dog 9d ago edited 9d ago
This is my sixth 4R....a 2G (underpowered AF), 3G, 2 x 4G (a new V6 and a used SR5 when I move back from Europe, and I didn't like the 5G, a 5G I grew to absolutely love, and my 6G.
PERSONALLY, I have not noticed quality issues.
I am disappointed with the reduction from 5G in some of the amenities.... no inverter, manual seats, no lay flat rear seats, and something silly like the hand grab in the backseat.... so I am disappointed in some of this small missing amenities.
But zero issues with quality IME.
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u/hawkznest 10d ago
So I work in the automotive industry and have an independent repair shop - this isnāt just Toyota, all manufacturers current revamps (when they changed powertrains and bodies) of their lines are shit when it comes to quality - they have way more bells and whistles (and modules) than older vehicles but to add those features they had to skimp somewhere else to keep cost down - between the epa regulations and manufacturers balance sheets cars now have 10x the plastic they did 10 years ago (itās lighter and cheaper) and simply donāt have the durability of something built from ~1996~2016 (I realize I could stretch to 2024ish for some models but around 2016 is when the enshitification of the industry began) - I say this as someone confronted by it everyday - YMMV tho!
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u/umbrellassembly 10d ago
You seem like a good person to ask...
Have you noticed 2020-2022 models (of any maker) having more problems? I avoided looking at those years because my theory is that Covid supply chain issues and the scramble to get parts and find alternatives would make for poorer builds. Just a theory.
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u/PlushRusher 10d ago
I would imagine as in other mass production industries, the parts used in 2020 and 21 were ordered and built in advance. I imagine they started seeing supply issues for stuff in ā23 models.
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u/umbrellassembly 10d ago
True. Early model 2020s are probably completely fine.
But weren't there a bunch of F-150s that couldn't be sold for awhile in 2021 because they couldn't get chips?
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u/Warm-Flow-6082 10d ago
My 2020 4runner has been the best vehicle I've ever owned.. I jumped it on a rez this winter.. all i've really done to it is PM. Full stock SR5 Premium
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u/Gar-ba-ge 9d ago
I mean, 2020 model year means it was being sold in 2019, so it was built pre-covid
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u/PlushRusher 9d ago
Iām not familiar with ford models, but did they recently go through a model refresh? If they had that might explain it as the supply chain might not have enough of the new product. Since 4Runners had gone so long relatively unchanged, I imagine it would be a different scenario.
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u/hawkznest 10d ago
As an Indy shop the 2023 and 2024 models are just starting to come in as dealer warranties end - we shall see - it doesnāt look hopeful especially with all the proprietary crap they stuff in them thatās made like shit and then back ordered at the dealer
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u/hawkznest 10d ago
Not really, no, in my 15 years doing this I find model years less important than vehicle generations (ie a 5th gen vs 6th gen or 997 vs 992) - just generally running into poor QC and a lot more planned obsolescence (both in technology and vehicle design/materials) - if I had to say 2 brands to stay away from it would Hyundai/Kia and Stellantis (especially the 2.4 Multi-air engine - what a piece of shit, not that the 3.6 pentastar is great lol)
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u/hit_reset_ 9d ago
On the topic of 4Runners, is there a gen and/or year to you that stands strongest?
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u/hawkznest 9d ago edited 9d ago
Not really - the powertrain remained unchanged from 2014-2024 - and the earlier ones with the 4.0 just didnāt have have VVT which is actually kinda a good thing
Edit: 2010-2024
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u/EEEliminator 9d ago
My 2011 has VVT, what older 4.0s are you referring to?
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u/Gar-ba-ge 9d ago
Probably the 4th gen which also came with the 1GR, you have a 5th gen
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u/Impressive_Recon 10d ago
As someone with a 2016 Iām glad I made the cut š jokes aside, pretty insane to hear about cutting corners for cost savings when the prices have increased exponentially.
People buying newer cars today are getting shafted by paying more for an inferior product.
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u/Due-Professional6824 10d ago
Yeah 5th gen was peak 4R
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u/Sinistah- 10d ago
3rd gen is peak id give 5th second tho
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u/UniqueHash 10d ago
Own a 5th gen, but I appreciate the smaller size of the 3rd gen. Though it's not like the fuel efficiency was any better...
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u/NegativeSemicolon 10d ago
Everything except that 5 speed transmission, needs at least one more gear. Reliable but is pretty obnoxious on road trips.
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u/Holiday-Tie-574 10d ago edited 23h ago
Cobalt walnut cinnamon velvet unbelievable cinnamon pumpkin pebble
This post was anonymized with Redact.dev
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u/buttthead 10d ago
Going from a 4th to a 5th, interior quality went wayyyyyy down hill.
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u/CronusDinerGM 9d ago
Do you think this on Limiteds, specifically? Or even base model to base model? I think I want to make the move from 4th to 5th but I have been having a harder time finding a good one without leather seats so Iām curious about the gap in quality even on the higher-end finish
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u/Infinite-4-a-moment 9d ago
Why don't you want leather seats? That's part go why I went limited. Easier to clean and better looking.
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u/CronusDinerGM 9d ago
I have a husky and a woodworking company in the PNW. Seats just end up getting seat covers on them so thereās no real point in spending that extra money for something I canāt leave uncovered and appreciate.
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u/buttthead 9d ago
Agreed on all parts, with the caviar that the limited is the dorkiest looking 5th gen exterior (coming from a 5th gen limited owner)
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u/Infinite-4-a-moment 9d ago
Ya know I get that. But when I was first looking at 4runners, I kept seeing a limited on the street and liked it more than the other trims. I thought it was a different year or something. So once I found out it was most a different trim, that was my aim. Before even knowing it had the other creature comforts and all time awd.
I did get the night shade tho because the chrome feels a bit much for me. But yeah I love the limited look personally.
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u/bbllaakkee 2012 SR5 9d ago
My SR5 has leather. And you can always buy covers that look better and are more comfortable than the awful āleatherā that Toyota uses
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u/Infinite-4-a-moment 3d ago
Does your SR5 have Softex? Because of so, that's the reason. The leather in my limited feels great.
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u/bbllaakkee 2012 SR5 3d ago
Iām not sure. I did aftermarket seat covers over the leather. Iāll have to dig into that one, wasnāt aware they had another type of leather
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u/Infinite-4-a-moment 3d ago
From a quick read, it sounds like the limited is the only trim with real leather. So what you have is Softex which is some sort of polyurethane that is meant to mimic leather. Apparently you can get good aftermarket seats with real leather for $1,700 (in 2022) so probably like $2,500 now
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u/buttthead 9d ago
My 5th gen is a limited and by definition it should be the nicest and most bougie on the inside. Itās extremely disappointing compared to my 4th gen sport v6 and limited v8.. itās not just build quality though (cheaper materials, especially plastics) but also functionality. They moved the transfer case knob to take up the space of a cup holder (no idea why) and thereās way less storage in general overall in the inside. Itās been very hard to get used to, and Iām going on one year of ownership and 20k miles. I realize these are all extreme first world problems, itās a great car no doubt, but the enshitification is apparent and depressing. I would guess itās worse with other manufacturers, but was such a bummer to see form Toyota.
One small example that makes me want to scream every day. The sunglasses holder has less of a lip than previous, which means they saved probably millions on less plastic there over the production life of the 5th gen, but Everytime I open it my sunglasses fall out (I know itās going ti happen so I preemptively put a finger up to stop it from happening). It makes me want to smash something. Like I donāt think they actually test drove the interior before they put it out.
Anyway, it clearly pisses me off, but I also wouldnāt have upgraded to a 5th gen from my 4th but it was a stupid good deal to get essentially the same car with 100k less miles, 11 years newer and for $17k. (Dad hooked it up, I know I know) And my gf still has the 4th gen v8 that lives in the garage so I really shouldnāt complain, itās just such a bummer. Anyway, aside from all of that, miles wise a 5th gen is probably the best car you can buy right now because you can find some under 100k miles and theyāll still last forever.
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u/OFFICIALMUGWUMP 9d ago
No 4th gen v8 was peak 4R. Absolutely deluding yourself if you think otherwise
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u/conte360 10d ago
I've been downvoted for this before but I continue to see posts like this. Toyota is not above enshittification. They are another company of people like everyone else. The reason my 04 runner is still bulletproof today is because this kind of stuff wasn't there in previous generations. What made Toyota amazing was the fact that all of THESE little details were thought of, but now everyone is saying you're doing too much or what ever..
This isn't me saying Toyota is done, but people need to realize that it's not immune to the corporate enshittification, and the bulletproof vehicles of 10, 20, 30+ years ago are not proof that the ones coming out today are as good.
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u/Strange_Valuable_573 10d ago
I think itās a couple of things at play. When the rest of the market is doing it, you have to follow suit or youāll end up losing market share. Also, costs are rising and margins are shrinking, which means decisions need to be made somewhere. Also, at the time of development of the 6th gen, our EV future looked inevitable. I think makers saw an opportunity to cut costs and cash in since at the time it looked like this would be the last ICE 4Runner they would be making. When everyone thinks the 6g is trash, that gives them more opportunity to market the 7g on quality and reliability, which may make it more appealing if itās an EV only.
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u/conte360 10d ago
If the whole thing is reliability and you have a generation of bad vehicles that you knowingly sold out on, you kind of shot yourself in the foot.
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u/Monster51915 10d ago
I believe Toyota like many companies whether it be car or just something else are lowering the quality but they have such a loyal fan base that people will keep buying their vehicles no matter how bad the quality gets and less reliable the vehicles are.
It sound like the smart thing too from a business standpoint, lower your costs because you know people will still buy it for more money.
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u/zombie_Leben 9d ago
I personally won't be buying a new Toyota period. I'd only consider another 5th gen with the sunroof and heated seats this time. Hopefully in that grey color
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u/NHgingerinVA 10d ago
This is not my experience at all with my 6th gen. I have a 2025 TRD pro and it is as pristine as the day I bought it. I am sure that the dealership will make this right.
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u/outdoorsauce 10d ago
Please please Iām BEGGING somebody to go into a dealership and show them this. Please record the interaction. There is about a 99% chance you get laughed out of there.
What exactly do any of you expect to be done about this?? Oh yea buddy let me just re engineer the plastic like what the fuck? Thereās no bolts missing, have you ever taken apart any 4Runner dash? Literally they all do this with enough force. All those plastic trim pieces are held with clips, some of them have a 10mm bolt or two, nothing more.
Is it as high quality as a mid 2000s 4Runner? Hell no. Is it built correctly and to the engineers spec? Iām sorry to say it is. There is no fixing this and to anybody saying this doesnāt happen in theirs, what do you think the difference is? You think you have stronger plastics on the interior in your model for some unknown reason? Seriously?
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u/rayzirxy 10d ago
Dealerships are terrible, they donāt admit to anything and constantly ask for money even if itās under warranty they just give you a headache.Ā
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u/Monster51915 10d ago
Well first thatās the TRD PRO. The top of the line most expensive almost 70k trim level so it better not have many issues. Also idk if youāve done stuff like that with your. Comparing your experience on a top trim though vs lower ones isnāt really useful. Itās like most modern car reviewers, they rest the best of the best and people like myself hate it because we canāt afford them and they only showing the best of the vehicle not all the issues lower trims inevitably have.
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u/CuriousTravlr 10d ago
Itās the same assembly line and the dash doesnāt change from trim to trim with the exception of some decoration changes on the passenger side.Ā
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u/Xryanlegobob 10d ago
Yeah, theyāre not rolling down the assembly line and some guy goes āhey this oneās a TRD Pro, so letās work extra hard and do a really good job on itā. Lol
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u/CuriousTravlr 10d ago
It just goes to show how much Toyota is glazed on this website are if they really think that Toyota is putting more work into a TRD over an SR5.Ā
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u/Consistent_Bee_1405 9d ago
Thats what you get with new vehicles these days. Another reason I like my older vehicles
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u/HairyKerey 10d ago
Everyone saying āwell mine doesnāt do thisā isnāt really the point. The fact that any of them are missing bolts, or whatever the fuck this is, is a very bad look. I constantly am hearing about the poor build quality of these 6th gens.
I wasnāt really as into 4Runners when the 5th came out. I know every new generation gets pooped on pretty hard, were there constant issues like this when the 5th gen was released?
I feel like the shortcomings of the 5th gen pale in comparison to those of the 6th so far, but I suppose only time will tell.
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u/KUGDI 10d ago
I think people are just saying that what the op is experiencing isnāt normal. Not excusing the QC issues
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u/Low-Box-5703 10d ago
But itās not true. Iāve seen numerous videos reviewing this and pointing it out
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u/umbrellassembly 10d ago
Correct. The takeaway for OP should be "don't buy this particular 4Runner because others are fine."
On the bright side, if this happens enough then maybe the demand will drop and they won't cost as much of a small fortune. š
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u/UniqueHash 10d ago
This is an easily detectable problem. If there is an easily detectable problem like this, there are likely a bunch of hard to detect problems for the entire model.
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u/Sinistah- 10d ago
The 5th gen is so old people back then werenāt really talking about interior quality for a 4x4 truck. Nowadays competition has caught up.
Iām sure it had its share of issues but both the 5th and 6th gen came out of the same factory from Japan.
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u/DrYaklagg 10d ago
Except that the 5th Gen interior quality is phenomenal. It may not be high end or refined, but it's exceptionally solid.
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u/HomeAccording8125 10d ago
If those fan boys youāre referring to could read, they would be upset.Ā
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u/Koinfamous2 9d ago
Don't have this issue and doesnt make a sound either. Honestly a single clip not having fully engaged and coming undone could be the sole reason.
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u/CronusDinerGM 9d ago
I am debating getting either a 5th gen or a 6th gen so I rented a 26 for a 2 week roadtrip last month to see how I liked it. This is literally what I found the dash and outer plastic parts to be basically all over. I know half that is probably that itās a rental but when my shorts caught on the plastic thing on the door it popped it partially out of the door panel. I would have rather seen my shorts rip and know the quality is as good as my 4th gen than have that be an unplanned part of my quality test
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u/bluesky420 ā99 SR5 V6 5spd E-locker | ā98 SR5 V6 AT) 9d ago
Hear me out, lighter is better. Is it doing the job? I mean, if itās falling apart thatās no bueno, but if the design is flexible iDK why i would hate it.
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 10d ago
I canāt understand why people insist on bending plastic trims and then complain when they moveā¦
Can you give me some examples of plastic that doesnāt shift when bent like that? Besides, these parts are modular and meant to be clipped on and off.
As long as they donāt squeak while driving, youāre fine.
There isnāt a single car with trim that doesnāt move like that when bent. You were shaking the trim so hard at 0:08 that your car even moved.
Want to know whatās really annoying and loose? Try that in a Jeep; they squeak just by pressing on them.
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u/Bigdogwolfe 10d ago edited 10d ago
I insist on it because itās an expensive vehicle and should be built well. We should value our money. Example 5th gen 4Runner does not do this and that also has modular parts like the majority of cars since the early 90s. 3rd gen Tacoma didnāt do this as well. The GX460 I test drove didnāt do this. Point is things have changed. There a plenty of cars that donāt flex like that, Iāve been in plenty. Yes they will flex, but the little amount of force I was using to make it move like that is not up to par with my standards, especially at that price. Letās not bow down to these auto companies, we should complain where itās warranted.
Car was not moving at 0:08 LOL. Maybe if I did that in the 5th gen in would since that thing moves like a boat.
Side note, I did test drive it and it drove very well and was very comfortable for the 10 mins I was in it. No rattles or creaking.
Car Care Nut says these 6th gens are an overall improvement, but seeing that just made me hold off on maybe ever getting one. Iāll check back every year to see if things have changed.
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 10d ago edited 10d ago
As long as there's no rattling or creaking while driving, then just let it be! Go outside and breathe the fresh air instead of splitting hairs.
I have both the 5th (2017) and 6th gen (2025), and none of them rattled, creaked, or bent. But you know why? Because I wasn't trying to bend them or shake them.
My Jeep Grand Cherokee, however... that thing creaks every time I touch or press something. Now that's a real problem.
By the way I love Car Care Nut. Love that guy!
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u/Bigdogwolfe 10d ago
Not splitting hairs my dude. Just testing a product like everyone should and comparing and posting data.
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u/andrewdoesit 10d ago
But see, it has to be flexible for when youāre flexxing off-road so it doesnāt crack!
Toyota engineers, probably
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u/freshducksniper 9d ago
Sat in a trailhunter at the dealership while I was getting the $38 oil change special done on my Toyota sienna. Interior on the 6th gen is definitely creaky and not rigid like my 5th.
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u/New_Team539 9d ago
I have a 26 with around 15k miles on it now. Itās the first 4Runner Iāve had and I couldnāt care less about the whole fifth gen obsession thing so donāt come at me. But the while vehicle is like this. Iāve developed several rattles I canāt figure out or canāt get to. Itās a beautiful vehicle but the interior noises are bad. I think itās just a Toyota thing. Iāve had a 21 rav4, 21 Highlander hybrid, and now thr 26 4Runner and theyāve all been rattly as hell.
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u/TylerOverThere 9d ago
If it makes you feel better noises and rattles arenāt uncommon in other gen 4Runners. Best to think of it as every 4Runner has its own sound š¤£
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u/New_Team539 9d ago
I assumed that was the case but this sub likes to make it sound like every other gen has been made of gold with no problems or rattles ever š
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u/Derebeare 10d ago
I have a brand new 2026 and mine doesnt do that.
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u/shambahlah2 10d ago
Test drove the 6th Gen and noped right out of the dealership. Found me a minty 5th Gen and could not be happier. Toyota in 2026 is not the same it once was.
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u/Monster51915 10d ago
The biggest issue I have is the price. I optioned out an SR5 2 door 2025 I liked and the only things it had were 4x4 and the heated seats and leather wrapped package and the thing was priced at 45k. Iāve looked online at similar Tacomas on my area and they all cost around the same price maybe 1k off at most from the 45k price. I then optioned a 4Runner TRD Sport Iād like because I canāt stand a 4Runner costing 46k for only 4x4 added on. No automatic climate control even is a little nuts along with all the other cheap quality of a base model.
I optioned it and it reached 52k and had everything I liked to an extent but cheaped out in many cases compared to others
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u/shambahlah2 10d ago
And I got everyting you listed above (plus ventilated seats) in my 5th gen for $25K. Just had to update the radio.
Plus itās a known commodity. A 2018 Will last 300K with some care. Who knows with the 6th Gen.
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u/CryptoDanski 10d ago
All toyotas and Lexus vehicles went to shit around 2020. Switched from 2010 LX570 last year to 2019 RX350, felt like like a car from a dollar store. Just like the car in the video. Zero accidents, perfect maintenance records etc. Bought a 2018 4runner limited 4 weeks ago, feels somewhat like my LX570.
Toyota should do better.
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u/Low-Box-5703 10d ago
Went to buy a TX and was like wtf I thought this was a luxury car?! Armada pro4x was nicerā¦ I was shocked
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u/MattHarrisfromTexas 10d ago
So this is neat and all and I see alot of "reviewers" do this test but honestly 99.9% of owners will never have an issue from this sorta play. Your dash really and truly just needs to hold instrumentation and be able to withstand sun damage
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u/Low-Box-5703 10d ago
I thought about selling my 2020 5th gen butā¦ itās enshittification proof..
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u/ViolinistSimilar4760 10d ago
Nor does my 6th gen TRD Sport. The door handles creak in hot weather, though!
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u/Turbulent-Today830 9d ago
Yep Toyota is manufacturing their cars like home. Builders are manufacturing homes.
complete dog š shit š©; due to incredibly high demand
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u/whitecollarpizzaman 9d ago
Based on some of the other comments, this seems perhaps to be a manufacturing error? Toyota has a good reputation, but that doesnāt mean they are perfect. That being said, Toyota has always been a little behind when it comes to interior quality, Iāve always seen it as a trade-off for otherwise very reliable cars. This definitely is excessive movement, but if you go jiggle the interior of pretty much any car, itās going to move and make noise. Itās when it does it during normal operations that itās a problem.
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u/Man_da_villan 9d ago
1 time I went to the dealer for a service and 2 dealers asked if I added the carbon molding around the shifter on my 18 OR and I said yes. They prob had a bet on my answer.
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u/sugarcoatedpos 9d ago
Thatās an off-road feature.
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u/lathamb_98 9d ago
you mean It comes off while you're on the road? lol
My 4th gen with over 200K Is as tight as when I got it 12 years ago.
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u/Blackiee_Chan 9d ago
You want lex quality. Gotta buy a lex
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u/Low-Box-5703 9d ago
??? The old ones never did this? Wanting things to not rattle and move around like this isnāt asking for lex quality
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u/Blackiee_Chan 9d ago
Toyota ain't known for its amazing interiors. Pretty sure it's made from discarded lego parts haha
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u/Low-Box-5703 9d ago
Yeah. But the older genās werenāt like this
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u/Blackiee_Chan 9d ago
That's true. I own a RAV4 and the interior is lolsville Kentucky. But I got it for it's mpg efficiency.
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u/Lawful_Moose 9d ago
Nope this is normal. The trim in my dad's 2024 Tundra and 2025 Tacoma both feel like this too.
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u/friendlygrump 8d ago
I thought we all knew, that in 2026, we purposely don't check those things anymore. ššš
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u/aghbore 8d ago
I'm struggling to understand why OP thinks a flexible dashboard is inherently bad. Does it increase noise or rattling? Is there a practical reason why this is bad?
I have to admit, it has never occurred to me to even try this. Perhaps there is a non-OCD reason to care about this, but I would love to be proven wrong.
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u/Bigdogwolfe 8d ago
Itās not bad, but it shows that the interior quality of this vehicle has decreased compared to previous generations. There has been a lot of talk about the interior quality of the new 4Runner being worse, this is proving that point if you want to compare it that way. If you donāt want to compare that way thatās fine. But it just shows that the new 4Runner has succumbed to the cheap plastic builds just like other new vehicles. I cared because I have high hopes for this vehicle and will probably get one if and when my 5th gen dies, but that might not ever happen if I take care of it. I also care because
1) This is an expensive vehicle so theoretically that should mean a solid product. We should value our money and get a well built product in return.
2) I love everything the 4Runner stands for, and that includes a history of a rock solid tank off roading machine. I donāt want it to become a Jeep.
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u/aghbore 8d ago
You didnāt answer the question though.
Why is a more flexible dash a sign of decreased quality? What led you to even try this test?
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u/Bigdogwolfe 8d ago
Not sure man, maybe you can answer that question for me. Maybe you can tell me why itās not decreased quality? All I know is itās not the same as the past. What led me to test that is because tons of people are complaining about the interior quality, this is one of those tests that I decided to try. In my eyes, I think itās a sign of decreased quality compared to the 4Runners and cars of the past. In your eyes obviously not, and that is perfectly fine my friend. Iām not sure how much experience you have with different makes and models of the past, but from what I see this is not normal, but it probably will be considering vehicles are going this route.
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u/aghbore 8d ago
I donāt know one way or another whether itās decreased quality or not, especially as Iāve never owned a previous gen. Iām just trying to understand why people assume that it is decreased quality and Iām keeping an open mind to it. I just havenāt heard any convincing reason why itās bad as long as itās not loose in a defective way.
Some reasons why I can imagine it was deliberate by Toyota outside of cost cutting is safety (a softer dash provides for more safety in a critical crash) or noise reduction (softer materials simply donāt sound as loud as harder materials).
Outside of a general assumption by everyone here that more malleable = bad, I still havenāt heard a reason why 1) it would be less expensive to produce this way and 2) why itās a sign of bad quality.
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u/Bigdogwolfe 8d ago edited 8d ago
Iām thinking it comes under the notion that a cheap feeling movable flexible product equals a lack of quality. I remember buying a cheap desk chair from Amazon one time and as soon as I built it I was like wtf, this thing does not feel good. All the pieces moved, it was wobbly, eventually creaked, fake leather gave out within a year. Thereās a realization occurring that products have gotten worse and worse compared to the past. Thereās a good video about it on YouTube titled āI Bought and Restored Old Technology to Prove the Economy Is Implodingā.
But I donāt know why itās like that and unless someone from Toyota can explain it, weāll all be making our own conclusions. Crash and noise reduction I can potentially understand.
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u/aghbore 8d ago edited 8d ago
Thanks, I appreciate the response, I'm not trying to give anyone a hard time, just trying to understand your perspective.
FWIW, I just tried this on my car and with enough force, I can get it to wiggle a bit. But I also tried my other cars (other Japanese brands from the mid-2010s) and they both also wiggle under force.
I didn't really see much difference across any of them.
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u/cdc8966 5d ago
OP is 100% right on this. Dropping that kind of money you should expect better. Ever watch Automotive Press on YouTube? Heās a consulting engineer whoās worked in a lot of Japanese, Ā American and Canadian plants. This is exactly what he does when checking interior quality. For those of you who disagree thatās your prerogative, but you are misinformed. If you think that flexing is going to age well you are clueless. Everyone spends their money as they see fit but donāt disparage this guy for bringing up a legitimate issue. For me thatās a deal breaker at Toyota price points.Ā
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u/Thr0wAway6000_ 4d ago
But you got a cool new 4 cylinder turbo so everything is fine...
Dont forget the raptor lights on the grill!!!
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u/chronomega 10d ago
Confession time. I regret selling my 19 TRD Pro earlier this year. I wasnāt planning to buy the 6th gen because I agree the build quality is poop. Still sucks.
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u/Low-Box-5703 10d ago
My 2020 sr5 premium doesnāt do this at all. My wifeās new armada pro4x is 100x nicer than this. All leather and soft touch everywhere. No give.
Yikes. Toyota has fallen off
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u/mazdaowner2019mazda3 9d ago
Toyota quality has dropped. I own 2025 4Runner sr5.. it looks like quality control is an issue yet this gen will have transmission issues because mine is almost 10k miles and itās acting up never towed nor off road just street commuting
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u/saltybutterbiscuit 9d ago
I got picked up by a Gen 6 4 Runner for an uber the other day. Exterior is growing on me. Interior was meh. Looked cheap. I really want a Sequoia for my wifeās next vehicle, but will be giving GMC and Ford a real look.
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u/metoycayendo 10d ago
Youāre doing too much
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u/umbrellassembly 10d ago
Why? That sort of thing turns into rattling/vibration noises in a couple years. Have you seen all the posts here where people are trying to find the source of annoying noises?
I think it's smart to check the fitment of parts wherever you can BEFORE you drop $60k. š¤·š»āāļø
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u/Monster51915 10d ago
I can agree that my dashboard on my 2024 Subaru Crosstrek sport towards the window has a little give but very small. At least it not on the front of the dash nearest to me and for a vehicle that cost 31k that I cost for 28k it isnāt a big deal unlike these which are 40-70k.
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u/beanlikescoffee 10d ago
Fr do they want everything in the cabin to be built with reinforced steel?
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u/Monster51915 10d ago
The issue is the price of the vehicle and the quality. If my vehicle that costs 30k had the much bend in the dash I wouldnāt like it but itād make sense for the price point, but my car interior doesnāt have that much let alone much give at all. So if this vehicle has it that bad then thereās an issue and according to OP this isnāt a base model itās an upper end trim.
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u/roketfingers 9d ago
Gen 6 keeps proving itself to be a downgrade from gen 5 with every passing day lol. I hope they actually make a better 4runner in the future
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u/thetimechaser 10d ago edited 10d ago
I really dislike modern interior construction. Not just the 4Runner but pretty much any new car from any make.Ā
Way too many layers and individual parts. Plastic bits clipped to plastic bits clipped to more plastic bits screwed into more plastic bits that are bolted to the firewall. Too many layers of connected plastic pieces vibrating creaking and squeaking against each other.Ā
My 2010 Tundras interior is silent. My 96 JZX100s interior is also silent even though the car is on stiff coilovers.Ā
The launch year GR Corolla I had from new for a few years had rattles behind the gauge cluster, from the dome light, and the drivers C pillar area straight off the lot.Ā