Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2003)

696 consumer complaints on file.

#10124959June 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
EXHAUST SYSTEM EMITS A SULPHUR SMELL THAT COMES INTO THE SEATING AREA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121429May 19, 2005
STEERING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
VIBRATION IN STEERING. DEALER CANNOT FIX. WENT TO ARBITRATION AND LOST DUE TO BIASED INVESTIGATOR AND POLICY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW ARBITRATOR TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TWO OTHER DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIBRATION BUT SAY IT IS DESIGNED THAT WAY!--ALSO MILEAGE COMPUTER INACCURATE AND EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116791April 12, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
I PRESENTLY HAVE MY 2003 4 RUNNER V8 LIMITED IN FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN A YEAR FOR AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. IN BOTH CASES THE AIR SUSPENSION STAYS IN THE FULLY INFLATED POSITION. THEY REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR THE FIRST TIME IN (21 DAYS TO GET PARTS), AND THIS TIME THEY TELL ME IT?S THE AIR RELEASE PORTION OF THE COMPRESSOR. WHICH MEANS THEIR REPLACING THE COMPRESSOR AGAIN (7 DAYS AND COUNTING WAITING FOR PARTS). I ALSO HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR A WOBBLING SOUND, THE PROBLEM WAS A DRIVESHAFT THAT WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE. TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURS ONCE IN A WHILE DURING ASSEMBLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116496April 6, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
HVAC BLOWER FAN FAILED AFTER TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY VEHICLE MILEAGE EXCEEDS WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER SAID THAT FAILURE WAS DUE TO NOT CLEARING SNOW FROM HOOD, THEREBY BLOCKING AIR TO FAN. HOWEVER, VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND NOT SUBJECT TO ELEMENTS. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE HAD SEEN OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES AND THAT THEY WERE DUE TO SEEPAGE OF WATER INTO BLOWER HOUSING AND SUBSEQUENT FREEZING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111886February 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A NEW TOYATO 4 RUNNER AND THE VEHICLE SMELL CONSTANTLY. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY ASK ME TO CHANGE MY GAS TYPE TO A MORE EXPENSIVE ONE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO BE DRIVING MY FAMILY AROUND IN A SMELLY TRUCK. HELP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111805February 18, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35MPH,THE VEHICLE STARTED SWAYING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE REAR SHOCKS BLEW THE SEALS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED AND WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. NITROUSENTERTRISES AFTER MARKET PRODUCT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110980February 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108286January 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR( 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER) STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITHIN A MINUTE. SINCE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, PLUS I HAD NO POWER. FINALLY A POLICE CAR PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND HAD ME TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTART. I WAS ABLE THEN TO PULL OVER WITH THE OFFICER'S HELP TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE "TRANSMISSION INPUT SPEED SENSOR(P0717)" HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT A CAR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING (ESPECAILLY ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). I WOULD FAR RATHER TO HAVE DAMAGE TO A TRANSMISSION THAN TO BE HIT IN THE REAR AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE I HAVE NO POWER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127961January 27, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE MANUAL ON HOW TO ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE MANUAL'S DIRECTION AND GRAPHICS WERE VERY DIFFERENT FROM HOW THE CONSUMER HAD TO ACCESS THE SPARE ON HIS VEHICLE. THE ARM TO THE JACK USED TO JACK UP THE CAR REQUIRED IT TO BE SCREWED TOGETHER AND WAS NOT HEAVY ENOUGH GAUGE TO JACK UP THE CONSUMER'S SUV. THE JACK DID NOT RISE HIGH ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE JACK AND TOOLS PROVIDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE WERE INFERIOR AND INEFFECTIVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107881January 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
AT CERTAIN TIMES I HAVE A SULFUR/EXHAUST SMELL THAT ENTERS THE VEHICLE. IT IS INTERMITTENT, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS EXHAUST FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME EMITTING BAD FUMES, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE AROUND ME. IT HASN'T LASTED LONG 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE AND IT'S GONE. BUT WHEN THE SMELL COMES IT'S VERY OVERPOWERING, MAKING ME WANT TO GAG AT TIMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108945January 18, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE DESIGN FLAW OF THE GAS PEDAL CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMERS RIGHT KNEE AND LOWER BACK. *TC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10105241December 22, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *JB......*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102441December 9, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
AAFTER THE OVERNIGHT TEMPORATURE DROPPED BEFOW FREEZING, BOTH OF MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER REAR DOORS FROZE TO THEIR WHEEL WELLS DUE TO A MINOR ACCUMULATION OF MUD IN THE WHEEL WELLS (LESS THAN 1/4 INCH THICK) WHERE THE DOOR BOTTOM EXTENDS. ALTHOUGH THE DOOR LATCHES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY, AND THE DOORS COULD BE 'SPRUNG' AWAY FROM THE FRAME AT THE TOP, THE BOTTOM REMAINED FROZEN TO THE WHEEL WELL PROHIBITING OPENING. EMERGENCY EGREES WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100838December 1, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND/OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE CAR WILL JERK FORWARD WITH A THUD. SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE THUDS ARE FELT AND HEARD. THE DEALER WITNESSED THIS PROBLEM AND OURISMAN TOYOTA IN CHANTILLY, VA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 14,500 MILES. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY FOR A WHILE. I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AT 32,000 MILES AND THEY REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT. I RETURNED AGAIN ON 11/30/04 AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WITNESSED THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN 200 FEET OF DRIVING. THE SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED HE BELIEVES THIS IS NORMAL (EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM TILL ABOUT 12,000 MILES). HE IS GOING TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE TOYOTA REP WHO IS IN TOWN THIS WEEK.*AK I
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100754November 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE THERED HAS BEEN A LOUD "THUD" NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ON A CONTINUAL OR PREDICTABLE BASIS. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP EXAMINED THE 4RUNNER AND DIDN'T FIND THE BRAKES TO BE FAULTY; HOWEVER THE SOUND AND A SURGE ARE STILL PRESENT IT REMINDS ME OF THE "THUD" SOUND THAT WAS INHERENT IN THE T-100 PICK-UP TRUCK WHEN IT WAS STARTED IN REVERSE. I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE AND WONDER IF FAILURE IS IMMINENT THERE OR IN THE DRIVE SHAFT. IN EITHER CASE THIS IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW AND MUST BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. MY DAUGHTER OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA PICK-UP TRUCK AND SAID IT MADE THE SAME SOUND FOR AS LONG AS SHE OWNED IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101042November 16, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT TWO FRONT WINDSHIELDS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER STATED, THE PROBLEM WAS SEVERE GLARE. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098033October 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR EVEN WHEN STOPPED, A LOUD THUD IS HEARD AND FELT AS IF TORQUE CONVERTER IS STILL DOWN SHIFTING. WHEN BRAKES RELEASED, THUD IS HEARD AND FELT AGAIN AS CAR ACCELERATES. DEALER SAYS BRAKES ARE FINE! I'M CONCERNED AS THIS IS NOT A NORMAL SOUND AND RECENTLY CAR ACTUALLY FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD AS THUD WAS FELT AND HEARD. (THIS IS UNRELATED TO THE CAR WANTED TO LURCH FORWARD AT STOP WHEN A/C IS ON!)*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098006October 29, 2004
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TOYOTA 4- RUNNER, 2003. WHEEL LUG BOLTS ARE BREAKING OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO BECOME LOSE. TOYOTA SAYS THE TIRE ROTATION SERVICE PEOPLE OVERTIGHTENED THE LUG NUTS. THIS SERVICE WAS 9 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE LUG BOLT BREAKING. I CONTEND THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO: A. THE LUG BOLTS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT AND HP OF THIS VEHICLE. OR B. THE METALLURGICAL COMPOND OF THE BOLTS AND/OR NUTS IS NOT CORRECT. OR C. THE THREAD TOLERANCES OF THE BOLTS AN NUTS IS NOT CORRECT....TOYOTA REFUSES TO TEST THE DAMAGED BOLTS AND NUT THAT I SAVED TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE AN ISOLATED PROBLEM FROM THEIR SUPPLIER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096235October 22, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
THIS CONDITION COULD BE RELATED TO ITEM 2. THIS CONDITION STARTED LAST WINTER AND IS GETTING WORSE.) AFTER BEING AT A STOP AND RELEASING THE BRAKES, I GET A HARD SHAKE/THUD FROM THE DRIVELINE/BRAKES. THIS OCCURS IN 90% OF STOPS/STARTS. (E.G., IF IT WAS NORMAL, IT WOULD DO IT ALL THE TIME TO SOME DEGREE.) THERE IS NO METAL ON METAL NOISE, JUST THE SHAKE/THUD LIKE THE BRAKES ARE RELEASING TOO HARD OR THE DRIVELINE HAS TOO MUCH LASH IN IT. (CONDITION IS WORSE IF YOU COME TO A HARD STOP, BEFORE STARTING AGAIN.) 2) SOMETIMES (ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME) AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO FIRST GEAR HARD AND/OR THE CONVERTER/TORSEN DIFFERENTIAL IS UNLOCKING/LOCKING INCORRECTLY. IT WILL ACTUALLY ROCK THE VEHICLE FORWARD. SOMETIMES IT GIVES THE SAME SENSATION AS IN ITEM 3. (ACTUALLY, ON A FEW OCCASIONS I GET ITEM 2 PROBLEM FOLLOWED BY AN ITEM 1 PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095938October 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MY HUSBAND PURCHASE A 2003 4 RUNNER FOR ME AND WHILE DRIVING I HAVE HAD A STRONG SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS IN THE CAR WHICH HAS CAUSE HEADACHES;STOMACHACHES AS WELL AS BLUR OF VISION. IT NOT ONLY COMES THROUGH THE WINDOWS WHILE DOWN BUT ALSO THROUGH THE VENTSAND MORE SO WHILE MY AIR CONDITIONER IS ON . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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