Has my 157,000 mile 2009 TRD Off Road had an abnormal amount of failures?

you got a lift and big wheels/tires?

 

This doesn't strike me as awful for basically 17 yrs. I'm a 2 wheel drive but 2010 with just under 150k. Haven't had to do much up front, but it did need sway bar pins. I did run into the intermediate shaft about 2 yrs ago.

I did have a run in 2023 that cost me about 4k in all, mostly expected items. Exhaust for instance..battery/alternator. The oil pan croaked but it wasn't a horrible cost as the 2WD is easier.

Ultimately you have knowledge and confidence in the truck which is priceless.

Hell, I had a Colorado 4wd before this truck and that was a piece. All new U joints at 30K..a few of the cam solenoids..some other stuff I forget. Cylinder head failure and the timing chain as well.

 

For reference MY 2007 has 260,000 miles. So far, I've replaced

HVAC fan at about 125,000
Alternator at 170,000
One U-Joint at about 170,000

I've spent more in the last 1 1/2 years. New starter at 255,000
New CV axles at the same time.

Replaced the factory coolant and hoses as well as new plugs at 245,000

Front brakes 2-3 times, I don't remember. Rear brakes at 200,000. I still have factory rotors and drums.
It's on the 3rd battery.

Serpentine belt every 100,000 miles.

I've had 265/75/16 tires on it since the factory tires wore out. 2' lift for about the last 60,000 miles.

I don't change transmission fluid, ever. Not in any vehicle in 50 years of driving. Never had an issue.

I changed the oil every 10,000 miles or 6 months for the 1st 9 years and 180,000 miles. It's driven less now so I just do it every 6 months which works out to 5000-6000 miles.

 

Negative. The truck is 100% stock.

 

You're doing a lot better than I am.

I would have expected 250,000 miles out of a Toyota, any Toyota, before having to wrench on *any* non-wear item.

I'm not going to lie: I'm disappointed.

Yes, PA is technically a "salt" state, but it just doesn't snow like it used to. We can go several years with next to no measurable snow. It's not like it was when I was in my teens and 20's.

So why did this happen, I wonder?

 

I’ll give you

 

Still better than the competition in my opinion, still better than a car payment

If it was a Chevy it would be on its 3rd transmission and the rear main seal would be leaking a quart every 500 miles

 

...and arguably still better than the abysmal build quality of the Gen 4.

 

Notice how nothing you mentioned is an internal engine or transmission problem?

Every fricken week we see Jeep/Chrysler vehicles with Stellantis engine problems. Blown head gaskets, valve-train problems..

GM V8s with cylinder deactivation issues, the lifters and camshaft distributing metal shavings through the motor..

 

My engine and tranny are both tip-top. They’re not showing any signs whatsoever of going anytime soon.

*knock on wood*

 

Re: "longevity lemon"?: IMO: No. Those are normal wear items you listed above (again: IMO) with the exception of maybe the transfer case, and perhaps the condenser. Just the pure age of the parts is a factor. At 16 years, those parts and others are simply getting old as well; regardless of the miles. Time takes a toll.

FWIW, my 2012 has 144,000 (purchased with 104,000) and still has all of the original original parts and items on your list. Go figure.

 

That is a good point, I commented to a friend 2 yrs ago when in the midst of the expensive year I mentioned earlier that I'm at a point where some of the repairs mine will need are just due to age versus being a mileage based thing.

 

I'm also not sure that making a comparison of a first gen Tacoma to a second gen as I did is really fair here. I would assume Toyota took notice of any chronic weak spots on the 1st gen trucks (wheel bearings, u-joints, carrier bearing) and improved them, although the center carrier was still a problem. As a new offering for the U.S., I'm sure they were trying to keep the costs down too and spent their time and money on the bullet-proof 4-banger and the transmissions.

 

You'd think/hope so to be sure, but seeing as frames are still a thing..haha

 

I seemed to have lucked out and got one of trucks with a good frame. Minimal rust on the surfaces and edges and the laminated areas are good and treated with the off-white goop by the dealer. It has now passed four frame inspections by them. However the trailer hitch sheds paint even though I have scraped it and put about three new coats of paint on it, and Fluid-Filmed it at least three times with the rest of the frame. The spare tire mechanism and hoist gizmo also seems to form flaky rust on the surfaces just by lowering the tire and looking them over.

 

Mine got the black coating treatment on the first inspection, which I know they used prior to the white stuff you mentioned. Not sure why the move, but in my case it didn't help ultimately. The new frame has been solid so far, and I get it Woolwaxed yearly

 

We live in the same area and my truck has around the same mileage as yours.
I haven’t had any mechanical failures minus my AC compressor clutch, but that’s it. My truck did come from Virginia Beach area, and I’m the second owner, bought it at 112K around 6 years ago.

That said I did just put a lift on it with heavier tires and wheels, along with a steel bumper so I’m probably going to start breaking shit now lol.

You’ve had more things break than what I’ve seen on this forum for being a stock truck. Seems unusual to me.
You’re right, we barely get any decent amount of snow anymore, things have definitely changed compared to 20+ years ago.

 

^this

It's not just about mileage, age gets a vote too.