Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2003)

696 consumer complaints on file.

#11320722April 9, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STATIONARY AT DEALER GETTING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED ME BACK TO THE SHOP TO SHOW ME WHAT HE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT. EXCESSIVE RUST & CORROSION ON THE FRAME RAILS TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SIDE IMPACT, THE DAMAGE & POSSIBLE INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS WOULD BE MUCH WORSE DUE TO THE DIMINISHED INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO MY OPTIONS SUCH AS WELDING FRAME REINFORCEMENT BUT I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE FRAMES ON THESE MODELS AS THEY DID WITH THE TACOMAS, SEQUOIAS, & TUNDRAS WHICH HAVE THE EXACT SAME FRAMES & EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME RUST & CORROSION PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319567March 28, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
I FOUND OUT IN LATE 2018 OR EARLY 2019 THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER THE RUSTED OUT AREA IS 2 FOOT LONG BY 3 INCH WIDE. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT BUT CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY WHILE DRIVE G IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11317139March 9, 2020
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE TRAILING ARM MOUNT ON THE FRAME BROKE OFF. THE STABILIZER BAR END LINK MOUNT BROKE FREE OF THE FRAME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11311921February 27, 2020
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'VE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THESE MODELS AND YEARS ..... ARE RIDDLED WITH EXCESSIVE RUST. UNSAFE RUST TO THE POINT THAT MY VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. THE RUST HAS COMPROMISED THE FRAME WHERE IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO TRAVEL IN!!! MY PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BY MY MECHANIC AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11310971February 23, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. MY 4RUNNER WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN BABIED AND USED FOR SHORT COMMUTE I HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RUSTED CAR FRAME IS UNSAFE FOR DRIVING . I'M TOLD THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN BABIED AND IS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. THE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OR OTHER PLACES... JUST THE FRAME THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE A LOT OF LIFE LEFT IN IT AS THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SELL IT FOR PARTS. I'M TOLD THAT TOYOTA HAS REPLACED SOME FRAMES AND THEY DO THIS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. APPARENTLY THE 4RUNNER IS ON THE SAME FRAME AS A COUPLE OF THEIR TRCKS (TUNDRA, ETC.) THE TRUCK FRAMES ARE ALSO RUSTING AND GOING BAD. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BAD FRAMES. I LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF VIRGINIA. I DO NOT LIVE IN THE RUST BELT. WE GET VERY LITTLE SNOW AND ICE. THE FRAMES HAVE A FACTORY DEFECT. ANY FRAME, WHEN USED IN THE CAPACITY AS WE HAVE USED OUR 4RUNNER SHOULD NEVER GO BAD AS THIS ONE HAS. THE FRAME IS A SERIOUS CAR SAFETY ISSUE. FROM READING THE INTERNET, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR TOYOTAS AS THERE ARE MANY MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE (BAD RUSTED FRAMES THAT MAKE THEIR VEHICLES UNDRIVEABLE). PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THE FRAMES. IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO THIS, THEN AT LEAST GIVE A GENERAL TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE. . I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT MY 4$UNNER IF I NEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11310632February 21, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I WAS AWARE THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUES WITH THE TACOMA, TUNDRA, AND SEQUOIA VEHICLES WITH RUSTING FRAMES, BUT I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE 4RUNNERS WERE PLAGUED WITH THE SAME FRAME ROT ISSUES. I HAVE OWNED THE 4RUNNER FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THE FRAME DUE TO RUST THROUGH ISSUES NOW ON THREE SEPERATE OCCASIONS. THE FRAME IS VERTUALLY A TOTAL LOSS. THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE GREAT, BUT THE FRAME RUST HAS MADE THE VEHICLE TOO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11309113February 14, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME IS ROTTING AND CRACKING. IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN USED FOR SHORT COMMUTES. IT IS NOW UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY KIDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308782February 12, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE DRIVING MY ABS, BREAK, VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF LIGHT CAME ON SOLID. IT WAS ALL ACCOMPANIED BY AN ALARM. I WAS IN HEADING DOWN A HILL IN THE SNOW. RIGHT AFTER THE ALERTS CAME ON I HAD A HARD BREAK PEDAL WITH NO MOVEMENT AND NO BREAKS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK AS IN SNOW THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE ONLINE AND ITS CONCERNING THAT IF ABS STOPS/FAULTS YOU LOSE ALL ABILITY TO BREAK AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308104February 10, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER COMPLETE FRONT BRAKE REPLACEMENT:ROTORS, CALIPERS, PADS,WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEED DOWNHILL ON GOOD HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING STRONGLY. STOPPED AT MECHANICS TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ROTATED. LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WAS EXTREMELY HOT, DIAGNOSED AS WARPED ROTOR. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY,CALIPER AND ROTOR AGAIN. NOW ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER THE VIBRATION IS BACK AGAIN. THIS SHOULD NOT BE. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THE PAST 15000 MILES. SOMETHING MORE IS WRONG THAT IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION BUT I DON'T SEE WHAT IT IS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307982February 9, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOOK 2003 4RUNNER TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT. WAS INFORMED THAT FRAME HAS RUSTED TO POINT OF MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NO OTHER ORIGINAL COMPONENTS HAVE RUST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307526February 6, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME RUSTING EXCESSIVLY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11306146January 30, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME ROTTING. 4 RUNNER GARAGED AND SHORT COMMUTE. VERY WELL MAINTAINED AT LOCAL DEALER. VEHICLE LOW MAINTENANCE. ROTTING REPORTED BY TOYOTA TECHNICIAN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11300666January 21, 2020
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED TWICE. ONCE BY A NATIONAL AUTO CHAIN, AND BY A TOYOTA DEALER. THE REASON FOR FAILURE IN BOTH CASES WAS, RUSTED CRACKED FRAME RAILS. THE DEALER GAVE A VERBAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR OF $21,500. ($12,250 PARTS $12,250 LABOR)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11300756January 21, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
THERE IS EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME TOWARDS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE. IN 1-2 YEARS, MY 4RUNNER WILL NEED FRAME REPAIRS, IF NOT SOONER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11299739January 16, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS IN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME HAS SEVERELY DETERIORATED DUE TO CORROSION AND RUST. I WAS ABLE TO INSPECT AND DOCUMENT THE CORROSION WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BECOME UNSAFE TO OPERATE OR DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11297498January 6, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
TOOK VEHICLE FOR NEW MUFFLER. ADVISED NOT ONLY MUFFLER RUSTED THROUGH BUT THE FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND DEEMED UNSAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11296740January 2, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RUSTY FRAME
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292564January 2, 2020
AIR BAGS
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE; A FEW CRACKS ARE RIGHT OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I WORRY ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAG. IF ANYTHING MALFUNCTIONS, AT LEAST I'LL HAVE THIS COMPLAINT ON RECORD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292355December 31, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME OF THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BECAME SO RUSTED THAT WHEN TRYING TO PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT AT A MECHANIC SHOP, THE FRAME BEGAN TO CRUMBLE AND FALL APART AT THE POINT WHERE THE LIFT CONTACTED THE FRAME. THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE POINTS WHERE THE METAL HAS RUSTED AWAY AND BECOME VERY WEAK, COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME AND POTENTIALLY WEAKENING AREAS WHERE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ATTACH TO THE FRAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290804December 23, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING, SUSPENSION
EXCESSIVE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE RUST. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER CARS OVER 30-40+ YEARS AND THIS 03 4RUNNER HAS THE WORST RUST. INSTEAD OF SIMPLE SURFACE RUST, THIS RUST HAS AFFECTED FRAME WELDS, SUSPENSION MOUNTING POINTS, TOW AND LIFT POINTS. RUSTING PACE IS EXTREMELY FAST MOVING. THERE APPEARS TO BE ONLY A SIMPLE LAYER OF THIN PAINT, WITH NO UNDERCOATING ANYWHERE. THIS 4RUNNER WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, MOTOR IS RUNNING GREAT, BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. THIS WAS A GIFT FROM GRANDPA TO GRANDSON, BUT I AM CONCERNED OF SAFETY AND AT THIS POINT RECOMMENDING ONLY LOCAL, UNDER 35MPH TRAVEL ONLY. PROBABLY SCRAP THE CAR SOON AS NOT MUCH TO DO BUT REPLACE FRAME. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MISLED CONDITION, OUTSIDE/INSIDE/MOTOR PERFECT, BUT FRAME ROTTING AWAY. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE PURCHASED TOYOTAS WITH LITTLE INCIDENT, BUT I WON'T BUY OR RECOMMENDED KNOWING THEY HAVE A LIFE OF ~10YRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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