Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2003)

696 consumer complaints on file.

#10681951February 7, 2015
SUSPENSION
TOOK MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN FOR SERVICE AND TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE SERVICE GUYS SAY THEY CANNOT INSPECT MY TRUCK BECAUSE IT HAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THE FRONT OF MY FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AFTER ONLY 160K MILES AND COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. THIS TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND KEPT CLEAN IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS IS ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS ERA AND HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE DRIVING AROUND NOT KNOWING THEIR TRUCKS ARE RUSTING AWAY TO THE POINT THE FRAME THEY ARE RIDING ON IS FALLING APART UNDER THEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679377January 28, 2015
STEERING
EXPOSED PARTS OF TOYOTA STEERING COMPONENTS ALL RUSTED TIGHT. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT FINALLY LOCKS. I AM SURE THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS WHEN I FIRST GOT THE VEHICLE. THEY SEEM TO HAVE WANTED TO HIDE THIS ISSUE. REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION THE STEERING RACK AND STEERING KNUCKLE. HOSE ENDS CORRODED SO BAD HAD TO REPLACE IT ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672032January 13, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE ENGINE, VSC TRAC AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE ENGINE 02 SENSORS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT REPLACE OR REPLACE SINCE THERE ARE NO ADVISORIES ON THE PART. THERE IS A HIGH RISK THE ENGINE MAY UNDER PERFORM WHICH MAY CAUSE LACK OF CONTROL AND A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. LEADING TO INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670783January 7, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO ISSUES ON LOCAL STREETS. SUDDENLY THE VSC,TRAC, AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WITH A VERY LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM. NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SLOWLY HOME ON SIDE ROADS (1.5 MILES AWAY). I MADE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY, PULLED IN ON MY UPSLOPING DRIVEWAY AND THEN I HAD NO BRAKES. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO THE STREET AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED AND IN TOWN. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO WARNING FOR A CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. DIAGNOSIS BY MECHANIC IS BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE, AT APPROXIMATELY $3000 TO REPLACE. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THIS FAILURE ACROSS MULTIPLE VEHICLE TYPES. THE LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS UPON FAILURE (INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE) AND THE SHORT WINDOW TO REACT MAKES ME FEEL LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HIT OR HARM MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660271November 22, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
WE WERE DRIVING ALONG NORMALLY, THE VSC, TRAC, ABS AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH AN AUDIBLE ALARM. THEN WE HAD NO BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH WITH ALL MY STRENGTH JUST TO SLOW DOWN AT ALL. WE WERE LUCKY WE DID NOT CRASH, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM FINDING OUT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL, AS WELL AS OTHER TOYOTA MODELS THAT USE THE SAME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659103November 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT MY 4RUNNER HAS SEVERE FRAME RUST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC IS WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS IT'S NEXT SAFETY INSPECTION. THE 4RUNNER WAS PURCHASED AND KEPT IN VIRGINIA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653468November 7, 2014
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DEVELOPING A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND BOTH STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS LEAKING CAUSING THE DASHBOARD TO CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652505November 4, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE ON THE SUBFRAME NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT THE FRAME HAD CORRODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AS A RESULT, THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRAME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,380.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651467October 30, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS VERY EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST AND CORROSION ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE A RATTLING SOUND CHECKED OUT. TURNS OUT, THE HEAT SHIELD BROKE LOOSE AND WAS RESTING ON THE EXHAUST ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A MUFFLER HANGAR WAS READY TO COME LOOSE. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS WERE ALSO ROTTED AWAY. I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES, SUCH AS THE TACOMA, HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, I THINK THESE ISSUES MERIT FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651030October 29, 2014
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 4RUNNER HAS A BIG RUST PROBLEM... THE FRAME IS ROTTING AT AN EXPONENTIAL RATE... RECENTLY TOOK IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND MY MECHANIC SAID THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED OUT, AND WAS STARTING TO HAVE PERFORATIONS...I HAUL MY CHILDREN AROUND IN THE VEHICLE AND IT IS STARTING TO WORRY ME THAT IT IS GOING TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE... I CALLED TOYOTA TO TRY AND REMEDY THE SITUATION, BUT THEY PRETENDED LIKE THERE WAS NO PROBLEM... I HAVE DONE LOTS OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH 4RUNNER OWNERS IN THE SAME YEARS AND BODY STYLES AS MINE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM- THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640170September 30, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD. I ALWAYS SEEN RUST ON THE FRAME SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND HAD IT SERVICED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY NEVER TOLD ME THE RUST WAS BAD OR HAD THROUGH HOLES IN THE FRAME BECAUSE THEY NEVER LOOKED. RECENTLY I DECIDED TO REQUEST THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT THE FRAME FOR HOLES. THEY FOUND MAY HOLES NEAR THE GAS TANK CROSSMEMBERS AND PASSENGER SIDE UNDER BUMPER AND DRIVER SIDE BUMPER. THERE ARE NO CAMPAIGNS OR PROGRAMS TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY FOR CORROSION ISSUES. HOWEVER WE KNOW THAT TOYOTA HAD A RECALL FOR 110,000 TUNDRAS AND ARE PERFORMING UNDERCOATING FOR TACOMAS. (MY BROTHER IS HAVING THIS DONE ON HIS 2006) I TOW A BOAT WITH MY 4RUNNER AND I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS SAFE TO TOW ANYMORE. I FEEL TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FRAME RUSTING SO BAD AND SHOULD FIX THE RUSTED PARTS LIKE THEY DID FOR THE TUNDRAS OR TACOMAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631466September 8, 2014
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD IS MELTING BECOMING STICKY AND CRACKING DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE. DASHBOARD IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEIR IS A HIGH RISK THE DASHBOARD COULD FALL APART AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628612August 26, 2014
STRUCTURE
MY DASHBOARD IS MELTING FROM THE SUN. IT'S STICKY, CRACKING AND EVERYTHING IS STICKING TO IT. THE SAFETY AND BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AFFECTING MY ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY. IT'S THE ENTIRE DASH, BUT MOST OF THE GLARE IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626245August 19, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER HAS DEVELOPED A HOLE, AND ANOTHER IS STARTING ON REAR OF THE FRAME. NO RUST ANYWHERE ON CAR EXCEPT FRAME. CAR WAS GARAGED OR PARKED ON PAVEMENT ALWAYS, NEVER ON GRASS OR DIRT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611347July 17, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2008 FOR $14,000 FROM A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE STEERING RACK HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND NOW THE GAS TANK HAS FALLEN DOWN, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ATTACH A NEW SUPPORT TO. AN AUTOMOBILE THAT SHOULD HAVE A VALUE OF $6,000 + IS NOW WORTHLESS, AND WE CANNOT EVEN DRIVE IT SAFELY. THIS WAS A CHRONIC PROBLEM THAT WAS ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA EARLY ON, BUT THEY MANAGED TO AVOID REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO, OTHER THAN WARN OTHERS AGAINST BUYING A TOYOTA. "ASK SOMEONE WHO DRIVES ONE". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609818July 11, 2014
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCUMULATED A SCARY AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE UNDERBODY. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT PROBABLY WASN'T SAFE TO HAVE MY KIDS RIDING IN THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE SUSPENSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607544July 1, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH BOARD WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND THE PROBLEM HAD WORSENED OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10599147June 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
HEAVY FRAME RUST....I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER TOYOTA SUVS AND PU'S WITH FRAME RUST THAT WERE RECALLED DUE TO THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH. THIS VEHICLE'S LIFE STARTED OUT IN WNY, AND HAS BEEN IN VIRGINIA THE LAST 3- 4 YEARS. IF TOYOTA IS RECALLING THE TACOMAS AND SEQUOIAS THEN THE 4RUNNER SHOULD BE INCLUDED. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577916April 7, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STRUCTURE
WHILE IN PROCESS OF REPLACING SERPENTINE BELT AND IDLER PULLEYS ON ENGINE, I NOTICED (AFTER REMOVING LOWER ENGINE SHIELD UNDER VEHICLE) SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO FRONT FRAME SEGMENT UNDER RADIATOR SUPPORT. THE RIGHT SIDE TOW HOOK AND CORNER OF FRAME IT WAS MOUNTED TO FELL OFF IN MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF VEHICLE FRAME WITH RUST DAMAGE, THOUGH NONE APPEAR TO BE AS SEVERE AS AREA OF FRAME UNDERNEATH RADIATOR. THIS PORTION OF FRAME APPEARS TO CONNECT THE TWO SIDE FRAME RAILS TOGETHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575312March 28, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DECREASE THE SPEED BY CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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