I am looking at purchasing a 2023 SR5 Premium with 19,000 miles. It was previously driven in Upstate New York and has been sitting on a dealer lot for over two months. During the test drive, I experienced three distinct issues:
1. A steering wheel shake when braking (assume some sort of build up on the rotors).
2. A subtle, intermittent rhythmic pulse in the steering wheel while cruising (sticking caliper?).
3. A very soft, mushy brake pedal. It does brake well towards the very bottom of the pedal travel. Perhaps just something Iโm not used to.
My main concern is whether it is normal to experience warped rotors or need a complete front brake replacement (pads, rotors, and potentially calipers) at only 19,000 miles. Could sitting on the lot and exposure to winter salt cause this kind or is this a major red flag for the vehicle? No scratches or marks on the skid plate, no obviously new suspension parts. Registration history shows it was a lease and at least had regular oil changes.
FWIW, asking is $42.5k. Has third row and TRD wheels.