So Today I may be purchasing a 2000 toyota 4runner Sr5 with 130k
Transmission was rebuilt this yr with a 2 yr warranty.
Im paying 5k for it.

I was wondering if I should stay away from 4runners because of their faulty transmissions. I've been doing alot of research, and many people are having transmission issues. Is this car really as reliable as people say?
Can anyone tell me what to expect when owning this vehicle?
Should I just stay far away??
Please give me some insight.

Im going to be making my choice today.

 

I've had mine since new and never had or heard of any tranny problems with these. I would suggest getting a Carfax report. Sounds like someone may have been rough on it. Where are you hearing about issues??

 

that is the first complaint about a tranny on our generation of 4runner that i have heard... so i guess not to many are having this issue. my tranny is doing great as well as everything else on the car and i'm at 170,000 and drive 120 miles a day and dont think twice about it... i have had no services done to it besides the belts water pump and one starter... other than that usual stuff it an amazing ride.

bobby

 

From what I've read, many runners have bad trannys..
Can anyone confirm this claim?

 

I think your confused with a JEEP

Seriously, the trannys are great so whom ever you talk with is full of it....

 

where have you heard this. and how many miles did the 4runner you have heard of have on them? 225,00? 250,000? 275,000? 300,000? any car with that many miles is gonna need some TLC. but i have money sayin that when puttin a toyota with those kind of miles next to a lot of any other brands that the toyota will have way less issues that its rivals...

bobby

 

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0dacc5

Everyone on the forum has stated tranny issues.

I really want a 4runner...
But Im just a little unsure.
Ive wanted one for a long time

 

lol you they are not the same tranny's. that generation of TUNDRAS did have some issues and it was in the 2wd's.

bobby

 

I have a 94 Runner and have never had any issues with the transmission. And she has 211K on her.

and have not heard anybody else talk about any problems

 

it's been thrown around that the 00-02 transmissions don't hold out as long as the 96-98s and are prone to intermittent issues. there are even posts about it on here, use the search button and see what it turns up, good luck with the sale

 

I like this posting:

"My Toyota has 210000 miles, in need of help to figure out whats going on. The gears are taking longer to engage, and feel slugish when I am doing 50-60 miles per hour as if the RPMs are going over 3500. I also hear a "clicking sound" when idle at 20 miles per hr. My mechanic could not pin point the problem, and chnged the oil & filter with out solving the problem however when it first happened the needle to check the fluid did came out, but could not get it back in, (persistent problem) as if s/thing was stuck"

210,000 and he and his machanic can't figure out whats wrong....

 

$5k sounds like a decent price too. Is it 4x4 or 2WD? Don't worry about the tranny, especially since you have a little warranty. Expect a solid vehicle that wont let you down, take you anywhere you want to go, and will hold its value pretty good.

 

Not to start rumors, but I have heard 2001-2002 transmissions had problems with planetary gears. But I've only heard a very few cases of this.

It mainly has to do with transmission care. People forget that transmission fluids need attention. They change out the motor oil at 3k miles on the dot, but many people I know have not changed out the transmission fluid at 100+k miles.

 

I have never heard of any problems for the 3rd gen trannies. My 89 has an auto and after only one fluid change recently and 20 years of use it still shifts flawlessly.

 

Well Im glad to hear that the 3rd gen tranny issues are not as bad as I thought.
The car that I am purchasing is a Green 2000 toyota 4runner sr5, 2wd, 130k, 1 owner, He told me that earlier this year he had to replace his "shift solenoid" and then decided to replace the whole tranny..
Do you think the second tranny will be as competent and reliable as the original OEM tranny?

 

I bought my 97 runner with 196k on it and flat towed my 74 beetle over an hour back home when i bought it.. I had to go look at it alone wife was prego and due. I have 212k on it know and that was since january. I changed to full synthetic fluids right when i got it. Prolly will do the timing belt after the winter, it was done sometime before i got it. You will enjoy it if it is in good shape.

 

how many 3rd gen 4runners do you see out on the road? tons of them, there's your evidence