The one in my 2008 4Runner just broke 2 days ago. Was annoying since I was at the gas station trying to fill up. Luckily my local dealer had it in stock for $8.
My 2008 4Runner with 300k had this issue sporadically. Sometimes the substance would be on the oil cap and sometimes not. It's still running good with 300k.
Same for me. I got it to go into vehicle settings a couple times but usually it just goes into the read codes mode and there's no clear or simple way to navigate out of it. Doesn't help that it's pretty damn slow.
Got new tie rods in and looking at the part numbers it looks like they were installed backwards. RH was on the driver's side and LH was on the passenger side.
So this is the same issue on both front wheels. Tie rods are already on order. I told the wife that the new wheels would rub the fenders a little bit so maybe that's why she didn't think much of it, although the metal on metal sound is obviously much different than a tire rubbing the inner fender.