Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2003)

696 consumer complaints on file.

#10760277August 31, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST. MUCH MORE THAN WOULD EVER BE CONSIDERED NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10744781July 29, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A SUSPENSION CHECK AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THE PASSANGER REAR FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10743549July 26, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE CAR IS RUSTED OUT WHERE THE STRUCTURE OF THE FRAME IS COMPROMISED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. EVERY OTHER COMPONENT ON THE CAR IS IN VERY GOOD WORKING ORDER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735066July 20, 2015
STEERING
STEERING LOCKED UP DURING TURN INTO BUSY PARKING LOT SHEETZ STORE AND GAS STATION SAFELY STOPPED VEHICLE AFTER TROUBLE SHOOTING THE PROBLEM WE SPRAYED PENETRATING OIL ON LOWER STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL WE MOVED VEHICLE TO BE TOWED HOME WAITING FOR PARTS COMPLETE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS IS THE SECOND RUST PROBLEM WE HAVE HAD WITH TOYOTA NOTHING WAS EVER DONE WE LOST A 1997 TOYOTA T-100 IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FRAME FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732031July 5, 2015
SUSPENSION
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH EXCESSIVE FRAME ROT ON REAR OF FRAME. REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT IS COMPROMISED WITH EXTREME RUST PERFORATION. BUMP STOP OVER AXLE IS MISSING BECAUSE OF 2"-4" HOLE IN OUTER FRAME RAIL. CAR IS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731947July 4, 2015
SUSPENSION
THE DEALER DISCOVERED SEVERE RUSTING AND A HOLE IN THE VEHICLE FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING AND CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE AT THESE MILES AND VEHICLE AGE. TOYOTA WAS NOTIFIED AND SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. SINCE THESE VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME FRAME MANUFACTURER ISSUES AS THE PREVIOUS FRAME RECALLS FOR TUNDRA AND TACOMA VEHICLES, TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE FRAMES ON THE 4RUNNERS AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726654June 22, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SUSPENSION
THE FRAME ON MY 2003 4RUNNER HAS "PERFORATIONS" IN IT'S FRAME RAILS AND THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER IS TOTALLY ROTTED AWAY...THIS HAS BEEN AND ISSUE WITH THESE SUVS FOR YEARS..THE TOYOTA TACOMA SHARES THE SAME FRAME/PLATFORM AS THE 4RUNNER AND HAS HAD SIMILAR ISSUES, WITH 1 DIFFERENCE TOYOTA HAS REPAIRED MANY OF THEM FREE OF CHARGE ,BUT HAS NOT EXTENDED THESE REPAIRS TO THE 4RUNNER...A $30,000 DOLLAR 12 YEAR OLD SUV SHOULDN'T HAVE A ROTTED FRAME. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID "FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS ROTTED OFF. ONLY BE HELD BY FROTN SKID PLATE. FOUND A HOLE IN FRAME RAIL DRIVERS SIDE BY FUEL TANK." I WAS THEN TOLD I WOULD BE INFORMED WHEN A TOYOTA USA ENGINEER WOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WAS CALLED ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND TOLD THE ENGINEER REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT AND WOULD NOT BE HELPING ME WITH THIS MATTER..I THEN CALLED TOYOTA USA AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS GOING ON (I HAVE A CASE # THEY GAVE ME) , THEY TOLD ME TO EXPECT A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP (WHERE THE SUV WAS PURCHASED & WHERE THE FRAME WAS INSPECTED) IN 2 DAYS..THAT CALL NEVER CAME....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725833June 17, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
LOST ALL TRACTION CONTROL CAUSING SPIN OFF FREEWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725383June 15, 2015
STRUCTURE
ROTTING OUT FRAME WITH GAPING HOLES. THERE ARE SEVERAL LARGE HOLES IN THE FRAME, AND ALONG THE WELD LINES AND SOFT SPOTS LEADING TO MORE AS WELL. UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NOW OFF THE ROAD (I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR OR VALUE FOR TRADE IN). APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO 3 SEPARATE MECHANICS I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO, IT RESEMBLES THE TACOMA ROTTING THAT LED TO RECALL (THAT I HAD NEVER KNOWN ABOUT). ACCORDING TO LAST MECHANIC WHO I WAS GOING TO GET A QUOTE FOR REPAIR SAID THE WHOLE FRAME IS ROTTED, SOFT SPOTS IN SEVERAL OTHER AREAS, AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME AND NOT WORTH FIXING. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA TWICE AND THEY BASICALLY SAID "TO BAD FOR YOU". NOTHING THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE ONLY DRIVER. PLANNED ON ANOTHER COUPLE YEARS AT LEAST. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA AND LUCKY THAT I WAS IN GET TO AN INSPECTION STICKER AS I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN. I IMAGINE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC HADN'T I BEEN MADE AWARE....UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF UPDATED 9/24/15 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721362May 26, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON STARTING VEHICLE, GAS GAUGE AND TACHOMETER DID NOT WORK. TURNED IGNITION OFF THEN RESTARTED AND GAS GAUGE FLUCTUATED AND FINALLY RESPONDED, BUT NO RESPONSE FROM TACHOMETER. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE WITH AIR ON, STOPPED AT STORE THEN STARTED VEHICLE AND ALL GAUGES WORKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE OFTEN SINCE IT IS GETTING WARM. I HAVE READ BLOGS WHERE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SPORT MODEL ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CLUSTER FAILING. SOME HAVE TRIED TO GET REPAIRED AND THAT'S A 50/50 SHOT. THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE IS TO REPLACE CLUSTER AT $300.00 USED WITHOUT LABOR AND AN EXTRA FEE OF $100.00 TO CALIBRATE MILEAGE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE, BUT FAILS TO RESPOND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715647May 11, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNKNOWN REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE REAR FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714688May 5, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
NO FAILURE. FLAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN PARTS AND VEHICLE DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE BY DEALERSHIP DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. FAILURE IS IMMINENT AND COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. TOYOTA FACTORY PERSONNEL HANDLING COMPLAINTS ACKNOWLEDGED THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH A RUSTED FRAME, BUT INSISTED THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING. FRAME IS SAME/SIMILAR TO THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA VEHICLES OF LIKE MODEL YEAR, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE HAD MANUFACTURER RECALLS. NO FACTORY SUPPORT EXISTS FOR THE 4RUNNER. I AM TO KEEP MY RECEIPT FOR ANY REPAIRS AND IF A RECALL HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE, TOYOTA WOULD "CONSIDER" REIMBURSING ME FOR COSTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713279April 28, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
MY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS CONTINUE TO FREEZE OR SEIZE AND CAUSES THE BRAKE PADS TO STICK TO THE ROTORS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I OWNED THE TRUCK. RECENTLY, UPON REPLACING THE BOTH FRONT CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, AND ROTORS, AFTER BLEEDING THE BRAKES THE BRAKE SYSTEM NOW ONLY WORKED IN THE FRONT BRAKES AND NOT THE REAR BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712683April 24, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE ABS, PARKING BRAKE, VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT LOST ALL BRAKING CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT CONTROLS THE ABS AND BOOSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DECLINED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712166April 22, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2003 4RUNNER WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRONT FRAME CROSS MEMBER AND THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE RADIATOR, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE CROSS MEMBER, COULD SHIFT OR WORK LOOSE. THE RUST DAMAGE IS MOST EVIDENT NEAR THE FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) FRAME MEMBER WHERE THE TOW HOOK IS MOUNTED. DUE TO WEAKNESS IN THIS AREA, THE TOW HOOK PULLED OUT WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BEING WINCHED ONTO A FLATBED FOR TOWING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705876April 15, 2015
SUSPENSION
MY PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS RUSTING AND WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. HE NOTIFIED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE WHO STATED THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE. TOYOTA HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY IN THE PAST FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CASE # WITH TOYOTA IS [XXX]. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE. THANK YOU! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703900April 6, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TOYOTA INSTALLED A SUNROOF THAT HAD KNOWN DESIGN DEFECTS IN THE 2003 4RUNNER, THE FIRST MODEL YEAR OF THE 4TH GENERATION 4RUNNER. THE SUNROOF WOULD EVENTUALLY STOP WORKING, AND THE DRAINAGE TUBES IN THE SUNROOF WOULD CLOG AND BACK UP. THIS WOULD CAUSE WATER TO RAIN DOWN ON THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS DURING ACCELERATION OR A SUDDEN STOP. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUNROOF ISSUE SINCE AT LEAST 2006, AND HAD ISSUED MULTIPLE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT INITIATING A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10702057March 26, 2015
STEERING, WHEELS, TIRES
I PURCHASED THIS 4RUNNER IN MARCH, 2015. I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT 63MPH. I THOUGHT IT WAS BRAKES, I HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS SURFACED ON 3/12/15. STILL VIBRATING! SO I FIGURED IT WAS A SIMPLE BALANCING ISSUE, I TOOK IT ON THE SAME DAY TO HAVE IT BALANCED. IT STARTED VIBRATING AND SHAKING WORSE! I HAD THE SAME MECHANIC RE-BALANCE AND ROTATE THE WHEELS/TIRES. IT ROAD THE SAME. THEY TURNED ME TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ROAD ENFORCE BALANCER. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA TO HAVE THEM TEST DRIVE FIRST, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS INDEED OUT OF BALANCE. TOYOTA BALANCED. I DROVE IT AND IT WAS SHAKING LIKE A LEAF AT 32-70MPH. I HAD TOYOTA RE-BALANCE AGAIN! I DROVE IT AGAIN AND IT REMAINED WORSE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I LEFT THINKING THAT IT WAS MY WHEELS AND OR MY TIRES BECAUSE IN MY MIND TOYOTA KNOWS BEST! I WENT TO WHERE THE TIRES WERE BOUGHT, TIRES ARE 3 MONTHS NEW. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS SAME 4RUNNER HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THEY PULLED THE WHEELS OFF AND PULLED ME ASIDE TO SHOW ME HOW EXCESSIVE THE BALANCING WEIGHTS WERE ON EACH RIM AND SOME ALL THE WAY AROUND RIM (TOYOTA'S DOING). THEY BALANCED USING THE HAWEKA, IT DROVE BETTER BUT STILL VIBRATING AT 32-70MPH. THEY RE-BALANCED AGAIN, STILL SAME ISSUE. THEY USED A DIFFERENT SET OF WHEELS AND BALANCED AGAIN, SAME ISSUE. THEY INSTALLED MY ORIGINAL WHEELS BACK ON AND RE-BALANCED AGAIN, SAME ISSUE! THEY CHECKED HUBS, BEARINGS, ALIGNMENT, BRAKES, ROTORS, BOOTS, AXLE AND EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT. I HAVE INVESTED NEARLY 4 DAYS AND $300 IN LOCATING THE ISSUE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND SO MANY TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I AM CLUELESS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I AM RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE AND MONEY! PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693410March 10, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
EXACT SAME ISSUE IDENTIFIED IN: DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 01/07/2015 COMPONENT(S): SERVICE BRAKES DATE OF INCIDENT: 01/05/2015 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10670783 DROVE CAR TO SHOP WITHOUT LOSING BRAKE POWER. QUOTED $3,000 AND TOLD THE ABS ACTUATOR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. I'VE REPLACED TRANSMISSIONS AND ENGINE PARTS OVER CAR LIFETIMES, BUT NEVER RUN INTO THIS PART FAILING BEFORE, NOT EVEN IN A FORD. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683968February 18, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO FROM AN AUTO GROUP (TOYOTA, HONDA, ECT) AND HAD THEM PERFORM A SAFETY INSPECTION. SINCE IT WAS USED I KNEW THERE WOULD BE SOME ISSUES, THE ONLY PROBLEM IT HAD WAS THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE WASN'T COMPLETED AT 90K MILES (TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, ECT). I WORKED THAT INTO THE DEAL AN WAS ON MY WAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE U.S. AND SHIPPING MY CAR TO HAWAII, THE INSPECTORS HERE FOUND A LOT OF RUST ON THE FRAME AND SAID IT COULD BE AN ISSUE GETTING AN APPROVED SAFETY INSPECTION (REQUIRED FOR REGISTERING THE CAR IN HAWAII). THEY SAID IT ISN'T SEVERE NOW, BUT CAN BE LIVING IN THIS STATE AS IT IS VERY RUSTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN SUCH A HUMID ENVIRONMENT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT TACOMAS FOR THAT YEAR HAD A RECALL DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST (SIMILAR IF NOT THE SAME FRAMES) BUT 4RUNNERS DO NOT, SO THEY RECOMMENDED I TALK TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER HERE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND IF I WANTED THE FRAME FIXED OR REPLACED, IT'D HAVE TO BE AT MY EXPENSE. TOYOTA'S ARE FANTASTIC VEHICLES, I JUST HOPE THIS COMMENT AIDS IN THEIR DECISION TO APPROVE A RECALL ON 4RUNNER'S FRAMES DUE TO RUST LIKE THE OTHER MAKES FOR THE SAME YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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