Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2003)

696 consumer complaints on file.

#11251790August 26, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRAME ON MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS SEVERE RUST DAMAGE. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THIS TRUCK. REGULAR WASHING, CLEANING, MAINTENANCE ETC... I HAVE TRIED TO GRIND OFF THE RUST, USE RUST INHIBITING PRODUCTS, AND UNDERCOATING WITHOUT ANY LUCK. THE TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT THE FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES. I'M AFRAID THIS $37000 TRUCK WILL NOT MAKE IT TO 75000 MILES. I KNOW TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS ON THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA TRUCK FRAMES, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 4RUNNERS FOR SOME REASON. THE 4RUNNER TRUCK FRAMES ARE TOTAL JUNK AND SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245667August 22, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNRISE TOYOTA (3984 SUNRISE HWY, OAKDALE, NY 11769, (631) 589-9000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THE FRAME HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245786August 22, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PRIORITY TOYOTA CHESAPEAKE (1800 GREENBRIER PKWY, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, (757) 213-5000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE A STATE SAFETY INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED TWO MONTHS EARLIER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE REPAIR WOULD COST $5,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,596.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11243930August 14, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR SECTIONS OF THE FRAME WERE CORRODED THROUGH. THE TECHNICIAN DECLARED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF KINGSPORT (2525 E STONE DR, KINGSPORT, TN 37660, (423) 246-6611) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION AND STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST AND HOLES IN THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: TAS-906032087. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11240870July 31, 2019
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS CORRODED. WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WAS PULLING TO THE SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND NOTICED THAT THE TRAILING ARM THAT HELD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED. THE CONTACT WELDED THE BRACKET BACK TO THE FRAME. HE CALLED CORWIN TOYOTA OF FARGO (222 40TH ST S, FARGO, ND 58103, (701) 282-8425) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 255,000. *TT*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231940July 15, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
WENT TO INSPECT MY 4 RUNNER, WAS TOLD I HAVE MAJOR ROT AND RUST ON THE FRAME THEY ARE UNABLE TO INSPECT, VEHICAL IS UNSAFE TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. MY SUV IS MINT WITH LOW MILES HOW CAN THIS BE. I ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF MY VEHICALS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230500July 9, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I TOOK MY 4RUNNER TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDS A NEW FRAME DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST/ROT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS BEYOND REPAIR AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AT THIS POINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229658July 5, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
WE WERE HEARING A NOISE IN THE REAR SUSPENSION (LH) WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. THE CAR WAS NOT STABLE TO DRIVE. WE LIFT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRAME IS RUSTED DUE TO THE MANUFACTUER DID NOT PROTECT IT AT THE FACTORY. THE REAR LEFT SUSPENSION BRACKET WAS ALMOST DISSAPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVEN. WE HAD TO REINFORCE THE AFFECTED PART TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN SERVICE, BUT THE FRAME IS ROTTEN. THE ENGINE, BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION BUT THE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228641July 1, 2019
STEERING, SUSPENSION
FRAME HAS EXTREME AND RUSTING AND HAS BEEN REINFORCED BY WELDING NEW STEEL SUPPORT FRAMES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221860June 22, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FRAME IS SERIOUSLY RUSTED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT MAKING MY VEHICLE UNSAFE. THERE IS RUST IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS. I JUST VISITED A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO REINFORCE OR REPLACE THE FRAME. THE COST FOR REINFORCING THE FRAME IS OVER 5000 DOLLARS. THE VEHICLE IS IN GREAT SHAPE OTHER THAN THE FRAME AND I WAS HOPING TO DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE YEARS. YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS FOUND SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER TOYOTAS THAT HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AND ARE BUILT UPON SIMILAR FRAMES MADE EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. THESE MODELS INCLUDE THE TACOMA, SEQUOIA, AND TUNDRA. IT IS MY OPINION THAT TOYOTA FAILED TO TREAT THEIR FRAMES PROPERLY AND THE DEALER FAILED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO INFORM ME OF THE ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221675June 21, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA WALLINGFORD (859 N COLONY RD, WALLINGFORD, CT 06492) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,363.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219909June 13, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EXTREME FRAME RUST. CAR IS LOW MILEAGE, WELL-KEPT, AND OUTWARDLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. RECENTLY SUFFERED NEAR-TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. TOWED IT TO SHOP FOR REPAIR. SHOP REFUSED TO REPAIR BRAKES. THEY SAID FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE RUST HAD EATEN AWAY THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE LINES ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, AND BRAKE FUID WAS LEAKING FROM THAT JUNCTURE. THEY SAID IF THEY REMOVED THE BRAKE LINES TO REPLACE THEM, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REATTACH THEM BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ENOUGH GOOD FRAME METAL TO WORK WITH. THEY SAID THE FRAME RUST WAS SO SEVERE THAT THEY FEARED IT COULD BREAK CLEAN THROUGH, OR STEERING OR SUSPENSION PARTS COULD BREAK LOOSE. THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUTTING WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BACK ON THE ROAD. THEY ONLY REASON I DISCOVERED THIS WAS THAT THE RUST CAUSED MY BRAKES TO NEARLY FAIL. TOYOTA HAS HAD RECALLS AND LAWSUITS ON IDENTICAL ISSUES INVOLVING TACOMAS AND OTHER TRUCK-FRAMED VEHICLES. THE 4-RUNNER IS A TRUCK-FRAMED VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE PHOTOS THAT THE REPAIR SHOP SENT ME, BUT I CAN'T SEND THEM FFROM THIS COMPUTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219658June 13, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR AXLE BADLY ROTTED. CAR HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT WHICH IS APPARENTLY AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND SENSITIVE PROCESS. THE CORROSION SEEMS TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY PREMATURE AND DUE TO SUBSTANDARD FRAME MATERIALS AND TREATMENT OF SAME. ACTON TOYOTA HAD ALREADY WELDED IN A FRAME BAR 2-3 YEARS AGO. CALLED (800)331-4331 (TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING)SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (ANGIE) AND HER SUPERVISOR (MARIA) WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE FRAME EXPIRED IN 2006, THEY WERE CLEAR ABOUT TOYOTA'S POSITION THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING W/O A FACTORY RECALL. THIS IS, APPARENTLY, NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/INV/2018/INBC-DP18002-73038.PDF HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2018/TOYOTA-4RUNNER-FRAME-RUST.SHTML HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2017/TOYOTA-RUSTED-FRAME-SETTLEMENT.SHTML HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2016/TOYOTA-TACOMA-RUSTED-FRAMES-LAWSUIT.SHTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219477June 12, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
REAR AXLE BADLY ROTTED. CAR HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT WHICH IS APPARENTLY AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND SENSITIVE PROCESS. THE CORROSION SEEMS TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY PREMATURE AND DUE TO SUBSTANDARD FRAME MATERIALS AND TREATMENT OF SAME. ACTON TOYOTA HAD ALREADY WELDED IN A FRAME BAR 2-3 YEARS AGO. CALLED (800)331-4331 (TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING)SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (ANGIE) AND HER SUPERVISOR (MARIA) WHO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE FRAME EXPIRED IN 2006, THEY WERE CLEAR ABOUT TOYOTA'S POSITION THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING W/O A FACTORY RECALL. THIS IS, APPARENTLY, NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/INV/2018/INBC-DP18002-73038.PDF HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2018/TOYOTA-4RUNNER-FRAME-RUST.SHTML HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2017/TOYOTA-RUSTED-FRAME-SETTLEMENT.SHTML HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2016/TOYOTA-TACOMA-RUSTED-FRAMES-LAWSUIT.SHTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218044June 5, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME, FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER SUPPORT, AND RADIATOR BAR CONTAINED RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF NAPERVILLE (LOCATED AT 1488 OGDEN AVE, NAPERVILLE, IL 60540, (630) 528-1459), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217135May 31, 2019
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11208227May 17, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING, SUSPENSION
THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM THE ROTTED RUSTED FRAME WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST DIED!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11208273May 17, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
EXCESSIVE AND PREMATURE CORROSION HAS DEVELOPED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE FRAME SUCH THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME AND IT'S IMPACT ON THE OPERATIONAL SAFETY WHEN I'M DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE CORROSION HAS ORIGINATED ON BOTH THE EXTERNAL FRAME SURFACE WELDED SEAMS AND ALSO FROM INTERNAL FRAME SURFACES. I TOOK PROACTIVE MEASURES TO HAVE MY FRAME TREATED FOR CORROSION RESISTANCE BY AN AFTER MARKET VENDOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABATE EARLY SIGNS OF CORROSION BUT THE CORROSION FROM INTERNAL SURFACES HAS NOW WORKED IT'S WAY THRU SHOWING CLEAR HOLES/GAPS/SEPARATION IN THE FRAME STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS. RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT ADDS TO MY CONCERN ABOUT THE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL SAFETY. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD ALL REGULAR, SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALER WHOM HAS ALSO POINTED OUT THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES RESULTING FROM CORROSION. I LEARNED ABOUT AND WAS SHOWN THE CORROSION PROBLEMS DIRECTLY FROM THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS ELEVATED ON A LIFT IN A SERVICE BAY. ATTACHED ARE PICTURES TAKEN RECENTLY (5/17/19) WHILE AT THE DEALER OF THE MORE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON THE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207558May 14, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE REAR BEARING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS ROTTED AND HAD HOLES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11205190May 2, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRAME ON MY 2003 4RUNNER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED BEYOND WHAT IS REASONABLE AND SAFE. I PURCHASED THE 4RUNNER NEW AND NOW I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS THE FRAME IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SOME SHOPS REFUSE TO PUT THE 4RUNNER ON A LIFT IN FEAR THE FRAME WILL BREAK. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. I FEEL THIS RUST ISSUE IS THE FAULT OF TOYOTA TO NOT PREP THE FRAME TO RESIST CORROSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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