Hi,

Was test driving a 2013 AWD GS 350 F-Sport today and am thinking about buying but I want to get to the bottom of something first. I was coming up a long hill, about 100 km per hour after about 25 minute test drive. Wasn't driving it hard, but the roads were slushy in some places, but the highway I was on at the time was dry.

At the top of the hill I started to feel a shudder (almost like brake pulsing from warped rotors or speed wobble but it was neither of these). Slowed down and drove another 800 meters till it was safe to pull over. While slowing down the shuddering continued. I put in park and got out of vehicle to look at tires and engine. There was some fluid (transmission?) smell but nothing else noticeable. Got back in the car after 2 minutes or so and put it in drive and drove away. No issues at all, drove perfectly.

Wondering what this might be, transmission, differential or something else that might cause these symptoms?

Seller is a reputable Toyota dealer but the car won't come with a warranty. They are going to look at it but might not be able to find it or replicate.

Thanks for any guidance on possible causes.

 

I think I would look at something else.

 

Ya I'd move on to a different GS if I noticed that during a test drive.

 

or it could have been the traction control doing its thing!

 

It's absolutely the traction control and ABS breaks. They pump like that to make your car shudder and is absolutely normal in winter/icy roads.

 

I'd still walk away if I smelled transmission odor, especially if it's not warranted. There's plenty out there to choose from.

 

I had been on snowy roads 10 minutes before but the highway I was on was bone dry, no snow or ice.

 

My wife and I have an '08 Toyota Highlander Sport "4WD" that had similar issues, a shuddering, often low-moaning sensation at certain highway and in-town speeds, also present with some clunks in the rear when on and off the gas. Turns out the drive shaft to the rear wheel differential was making eccentric noise due to the u-joints between each section of the driveshaft having excessive play. That would be my go-to to tell the service folks to look at. I had to be very adament with my Toyota dealer, and I pushed to have them put it on a lift and let me observe with them. Sure enough, it was the damned driveshaft. I ended up getting a new one since the noise and vibrations had been happening for years and since before our warranty ended. When up on the lift the service tech pointed out the excessive play by grabbing each half shaft with a hand and rotating them in opposite directions, where you would see and hear the play. Took persistence, but in the end it played out for me. I'm positive all cars, FWD, RWD or AWD will experience driveshaft issues at some point. CV joints, universal joints, etc.

This is going to sound abrasive, but don't beleive that guy that said "It's absolutely the traction control and ABS breaks" That's BS. ABS pulses and makes grinding noises, and if you've ever experienced it you know. Shuddering is never a good thing and is NOT ABS/Stability control.