Toyota 4Runner Complaints (2003)

696 consumer complaints on file.

#10382875February 16, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VSC TRAC TURNED OFF, THE DAY AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRACTION TURNED OFF...THE TOYOTA 2003 4RUNNER FLIPPED OVER. THE VSC TRACTION SHOULD NOT BE TURNED OFF WHEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE NECESSARY STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE THAT A SUV NEEDS NO MATTER WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND ONE PASSENGER STILL SUFFERING FROM INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10378065January 20, 2011
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
ABS WARNING LITE STAYS ON, BRAKE LITE IS ON, VSC TRAC LITE ON. GOES ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MOSTLY STAYS ON. BRAKES OCCASIONALLY FEEL CRUNCHY AND DO NOT STOP PROPERLY. AM CALLING FOR SERVICE TODAY. VEHICLE WILL BE PARKED UNTIL PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10377388January 13, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1. RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE. TOYOTA REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. 2. LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE ON 05/05/2010 AT 95, 988 MILES. MY COST $490.73. LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE ON 11/22/10 AT 102,712 MILES. MY COST $470.40. TOYOTA CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY AS THERE WAS NO REQUIRED RECALL ON THAT PART. THEY TREAT BRAKE CALIPERS LIKE TIRES AND BRAKE PADS. I KNOW THAT CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FAIL. A FROZEN CALIPER CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFICIENCY BY 25 % PLUS CAUSE INSTABILITY DURING BRAKING. I BELIEVE THE AVERAGE OWNER DOES NOT KNOW THAT CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FREEZE UP, SO THEY ARE BUYING TOYOTA'S DENIAL AS APPROPRIATE. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372766December 20, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS VEHICLE HAS A ROTTED FRAME WHICH IS PERFORATED IN AT LEAST 3 PLACES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365921November 16, 2010
STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKING IN 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. CRACKS MATERIALIZED FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. NUMEROUS. EXACT DEALER RECOMMENDATIONS TO NOT USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A DAMP CLOTH TO CLEAN THE DASH BOARD. THIS SUV IS GARAGED AND NORMALLY NOT OUT IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. I HAVEN'T SEEN A DASH CRACK LIKE THIS SINCE THE OLD ONES BACK IN THE LATE 70'S. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THIS OBVIOUS FLAW IN THEIR DASH DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365855November 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AWD V8 WITH ~99,990 MILEAGE. FRONT BRAKE CALIPER INNER PISTONS SEIZED AND INNER FRONT BRAKE PADS FAILED TO APPLY FOR INDETERMINATE TIME PERIOD (APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AND 30,000 MILES). HEAVY CORROSION OF CALIPER CONTACT SURFACES ALSO PREVENTED NORMAL TRAVEL OF OEM REPLACEMENT INNER BRAKE PADS. RESULTED IN REDUCED BRAKING FORCE AND INTERMITTENT BRAKE PEDAL PULSATION DUE TO THERMAL IMBALANCE OF THE ROTORS. PASSENGER SIDE INNER ROTOR SURFACE CORRODED BECAUSE NO BRAKE PAD CONTACT WAS OCCURRING. PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO FRONT WHEEL BEARING PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO UNBALANCED BRAKING FORCE ON THE BRAKE ROTORS AND INORDINATE TORQUE ON THE BEARING ASSEMBLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY BRAKE FLUID (I.E., THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAS NEVER BEEN FLUSHED.) THIS IS A PERMANENT FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT OF CALIPERS IS ANTICIPATED. FAILED CALIPERS COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BUT WILL ULTIMATELY BE RETURNED FOR CORE CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365153November 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED IT; HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOTTOM TWO FLOATING CALIPER PISTONS WERE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 41,000. UPDATED 1/21/11 *CN UPDATED 02/07/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360532October 14, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
SAFETY RELATED TO 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT EDITION SUV. DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FROZE UP FOR THE THIRD TIME IN TWO YEARS. THIS TIME, COULD NOT OPEN DRIVER SIDE DOOR BY ANY MEANS. 63-YEAR OLD DRIVER HAD TO EXIT OVER CONSOLE, THEN THROUGH PASSENGER DOOR. DRIVER LATER HAD TO RE-ENTER FROM PASSENGER SIDE, OVER THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS CHARGED OVER $500 FOR REPAIRS. POTENTIAL OF NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. THIS IS A FLAW OR DEFECT IS COMMONLY NOTED ON THE WORLD-WIDE WEB. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE WITHOUT CHARGE FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353944September 5, 2010
STRUCTURE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353595September 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (V6-4WD) HAD 2 FROZEN FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED BC INTERMITTENT SQUEALING NOISE AND INCREASED BRAKING DISTANCES. ON EACH SIDE: OUTER BRAKE PAD BARELY HAD ANYTHING LEFT (LITERALLY LESS THAN PAPER THIN) + INNER BRAKE PAD LOOKED GREAT BC NEVER REALLY USED SINCE CALIPERS FROZEN. NEEDED BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED, ALONG WITH 2 CALIPERS (1 EACH SIDE). SO I BASICALLY HAD NO FRONT BRAKES FOR MONTHS AND NO WAY TO TELL UNLESS SOMEONE NOTICES THE OUTER PADS ARE WORN AND GOES TO REPLACE THEM. POOR DESIGN LEADING TO SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348376August 10, 2010
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I HAVE A CRACK IN THE DASH 1 FOOT LONG ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ONLY 15000 MILES ON TRUCK. ALOT OF OTHER POST ARE ON THE INTERNET WITH SAME CRACK OR MORE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. I AM WORRIED THAT SOMETHING WILL SPILL AND SHORT THE AIRBAG. FOR A TRUCK DROVE SO LITTLE AND ALWAYS IN THE DARK THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. TOYOTA PLACE 9670 TRASK AV GARDEN GROVE CA ASKED TOYOTA TO REPLACE IT THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECT. ANIKA FROM TOYOTA CAME TO LOOK AT A SHOWROOM CONDITION TRUCK AND SAID NO IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE IT IF I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT. IT WOULD BE $1000.00. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY AT THIS TIME. THEY DO NOT CARE. CALLED TOYOTA ON SAME DAY THEY SAID ANIKA SAID NO SO THAT IS AS GOOD AS IN STONE NOTHING MORE TO TALK ABOUT. THIS IS THE NEW TOYOTA MONEY OVER SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347541August 5, 2010
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD WAS EXHIBITING CRACKS NEAR THE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE BEGAN YEARS PRIOR BUT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF UPDATED 10/26/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345156July 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER V6 4WD 2 1/2 YEARS AGO AS A TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE..WITHIN A YEAR I NEEDED A NEW SERPENTINE BELT DUE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE AT START UP. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS AND TO BRING THE CAR BACK IF I HAD FURTHER ISSUES. THE NOISE CAME BACK BUT WAS IRREGULAR, IT WOULD COME AT START UP EVERY DAY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN DISAPPEAR FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND SOUNDED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IDLER PULLEY ON FRIDAY 07/16/10. IT SOUNDED LOUD AGAIN AT START UP AFTER I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE BUT THE NOISE EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY. HOWEVER MY SERPENTINE BELT ACTUALLY RIPPED LESS THAN A WEEK LATER (07/21/10) WHILE I WAS DRIVING 45MPH ON A CURVY ROAD. I FIRST LOST MY AC, QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY MY POWER STEERING...SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PULL OVER BUT BY THEN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IN THE RIPPING PROCESS THE BELT BROKE A COOLANT HOSE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 5 DAYS NOW AND AM WAITING ON THE DEALER TO GET A NEW HOSE SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY RUN THE CAR AND MAKE SURE THE PULLEYS ARE ALL OK. HOWEVER SO FAR THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT ALL THE PULLEYS ARE FINE AND I AM HAVING TO FIGHT WITH THEM TO GET THEM TO DO THE RECOMMENDED FIX TO THE TSB EG012-13. A NOISE AT START IS ONE THING, BUT A YEAR AND 1/2 OLD BELT ACTUALLY RIPPING IS NOT NORMAL! I WAS FORTUNATE TO COME OUT OF THIS UNHARMED AND NOT DAMAGE MY CAR OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341423July 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU IN THE PAST BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. MY DAUGHTER AND I BOTH DRIVE 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE FOLLOWING ISSUE TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES. I AM REWRITING TO YOU ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LX460 RECALL. IN SNOW OR ICE, THE VEHICLE WILL SPIN TO EASY AS YOU DRIVE AROUND A TURN WHILE GIVING IT SOME GAS. WE BOTH HAVE SPUN OUT. I HAVE ON TWO OCCASIONS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER HATES TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT IS ICY OR SNOWY. MY 2000 4RUNNER NEVER DID IT. MY BMW Z4 WILL NOT DO IT. SOME THING IS WRONG WITH THE VSC LOGIC. CAN YOU HELP ME? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340367June 28, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE FOLLOWED BY A WARNING CHIME. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. THE CONTACT STATED THE PART WAS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AFTER FIVE WEEKS. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329786May 10, 2010
STEERING
BINDING OR STICKING POWER STEERING ON 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. OCCURRED CONTINUOUSLY BEGINNING AT ABOUT 90,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED STEERING "JOINT" AT COST OF $500. TENDED TO LOCK IN STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION UNLESS EXTREME FORCE WAS APPLIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328273April 30, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER LIMITED WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE V8 ENGINE. I NOTICED THAT TOYOTA WAS GOING TO RECALL THE 2003 SEQUOIA FOR BRAKING, SLOWING ISSUES. WE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OUR VEHICLE WITH SEEMINGLY AUTOMATIC BRAKING. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE A DOWN HILL ASSIST BUTTON FOR WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE USED IN LOW GEAR ON THE TRANSFER. THE VEHICLE BEING ALL WHEEL DRIVE DOES HAVE A HIGH AND LOW TRANSFER WITH A CENTER LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WITH SLOW ALMOST WHICH SMALL LUNGES, AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS DOWNSHIFTING WITH THE RPM'S BEING TOO HIGH FOR THE GEAR. THAT IS THE BEST I CAN EXPLAIN. IT IS NOT A SUDDEN STOP, NO BRAKE LIGHTS APPEAR, BUT THE VEHICLE DOES SLOW, AS IF ITS DRAGGING, PERHAPS THAT IS SOME AUTOMATIC PULSING OF THE BRAKES. SHOULD I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328038April 29, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN STOPPED AND HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LURCHES FORWARD. IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO LOOSE THE BRAKES BUT THEN CATCHES. THE DEALER CALLS THIS A KNOWN 4RUNNER PROBLEM. THEY SAY THERE IS NO FIX FROM TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326207April 18, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
IN MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 THE OPEN ENGINE HOOD FALLS WITHOUT WARNING. A SMALL HYDRAULIC PISTON AUTOMATICALLY HOLDS THE HOOD OPEN WHEN THE HOOD IS LIFTED. THERE IS NO ROD OR OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICE TO HOLD THE HOOD OPEN, JUST THE PISTON. THE HOOD STAYS OPEN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN QUIETLY FALLS, AT FIRST VERY SLOWLY FOR A FEW INCHES, THEN RAPIDLY ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO A PERSON LEANING OVER THE OPEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HOOD IS FAIRLY HEAVY PROBABLY DUE TO THE THICK AND HEAVY FIBERGLASS INSULATION. THE PISTON WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL ABOUT EARLY 2009 WHEN IT STARTED OCCASIONALLY FALLING, NOW (APRIL 2010) THE HOOD FALLS AFTER A FEW MINUTES EVERY TIME THE HOOD IS OPENED. SINCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING I'VE BEEN USING A WOOD STICK I CUT TO SIZE TO HOLD THE HOOD OPEN WHEN I NEED ACCESS. NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE THE PISTON REPLACED BUT I'LL ASK FOR THE REMOVED PARTS BACK IN CASE THEY NEED TO BE EXAMINED. EVEN WITH THE NEW PISTON, THOUGH, I INTEND TO USE THE WOOD STICK AS A SAFETY MEASURE. I JUST DON'T TRUST THE PISTON DESIGN SINCE IT APPARENTLY REQUIRES PERFECT SEALING TO MAINTAIN THE LIFTING FORCE. ALSO, ACCORDING TO MY INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT DOES MAINLY TOYOTA'S, THIS IS A FREQUENT ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT THEIR REPAIRMEN ALWAYS BRACE THE HOODS OPEN WHEN WORKING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325047April 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I BELIEVE THE FLOOR MAT WAS INVOLVED AS WHEN I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND STOP, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY AND THE PEDAL RELEASED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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