Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota 4Runner submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
I HAVE A 2003 4 RUNNER WITH ONLY 102375 MILES AND THE RIMS ARE CRUMBLING AWAY LIKE CHALK. THESE SHOULD NOT DO THIS, IT HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE AND THEY NEED TO RECALL AND FIX THEIR MISTAKE.
FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. STEEL IS LITERALLY FALLING OFF FROM THE RUST AND MY SUSPENSIONS ARE COMPLETELY SHOT AND EXPOSED DUE TO RUST.
MY ENTIRE VEHICLE IS RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY AND IS NOT IN DRIVEABLE CONDITION.
FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE RUST. ROTTED BOLTS AFFECTING ABILITY TO HAVE COMPLETE ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSING LOUD ROTATIONAL FRICTION SOUNDS WHILE IN MOTION. RUSTED EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING FAILURE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.
WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-85 IN NORTH CAROLINA AT MILE MARKER 51.4 , AT 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL EXPLODED CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT. THE TIRES HAD BEEN ON THE VEHICLE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AS THEY WERE REPLACED AS A FOUR TIRE SET, THEY WERE ALL NEW TIRES. APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SIDEWALLS WITH THESE TIRES. I GOOGLED THIS SIDEWALL BLOWOUT AND THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 198 CASES OF COOPER TIRES WITH SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. THE TIRE BRAND IS COPPER TIRES, MODEL- COOPER DISCOVERER A/T 3 265/70 R 16 DOT- UTC2 1A6 4716 DATE CODE- 2013
FRAME AND UNDER PARTS ARE RUSTED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND LOCKED THE FRONT BRAKES. THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT LANE AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,000.
MY DASH IS CRACKED FROM DRIVERS SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE AND IT APPEARS TO BE KIND OF MELTING. WHEN I AM DRIVING OVER 50MPH AND MY BACK WINDOW IS DOWN IT MAKES AN HORRIBLE NOISE BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS FINE NOT
PLEASE VISIT THIS SITE AND YOU FIND OVER 600 COMPLAINTS REGARDING TOYOTA'S WHEELS CORRODING. HTTP://WWW.NUCKLESLAW.COM/SOFTWARE-NEGOTIATIONS-EXPERT/TOYOTA-ALLOY-WHEELS-BUBBLING-TOYOTA-QUALITY-CONCERNS/COMMENT-PAGE-12/#COMMENTS I'M AN OWNER OF A 2003 4RUNNER AND HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUES INVOLVING THE PAINT ON THE WHEELS PEELING. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL, IF NOT ALL WHEELS THAT TOYOTA USES ON THEIR 4 RUNNERS AND OTHER TRUCKS. WHY DOES TOYOTA CONTINUE TO SELL AND USE A WHEEL WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE, AND WHY AREN'T THEY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING REFUNDS, OR REPAIR SERVICES? THE DEFECT LEADS TO THE WHEEL BEING CORRODED AND EVENTUALLY COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHEEL'S STRENGTH. THE SAFETY OF THE WHEEL IS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I'M AN OWNER OF A 2003 4RUNNER AND HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUES INVOLVING THE PAINT ON THE WHEELS PEALING. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL, IF NOT ALL WHEELS THAT TOYOTA USES ON THEIR 4 RUNNERS AND OTHER TRUCKS. WHY DOES TOYOTA CONTINUE TO SELL AND USE A WHEEL WHEN THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE, AND WHY AREN'T THEY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM BY ISSUING REFUNDS, OR REPAIR SERVICES? THE DEFECT LEADS TO THE WHEEL BEING CORRODED AND EVENTUALLY COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE WHEEL'S STRENGTH. THE SAFETY OF THE WHEEL IS A BIG CONCERN OF MINE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
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
NEAR THE END OF AUGUST FOUR WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME IN MY 2003 4RUNNER. THEY WERE THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP TO DETERMINE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME, REAR AXLE AND ATTACHED PARTS. I HAVE ASKED FOR AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO AS THERE IS SO MUCH RUST, CORROSION, AND LACK OF MATERIAL TO WORK WITH. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OWNER, A FRIEND OF MINE, HAD THE VEHICLE UNDERCOATED THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE, KEPT THE CAR IN A GARAGE, AND WASHED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY INCLUDING THE UNDERSIDE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2007 WITH 13,750 MILES. IT HAS ALSO LIVED IN A GARAGE HERE. AS OF AUGUST 29, 2013, THE DATE OF THE INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE HAD 24,005 MILES. THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS IN PERFECT CONDITION, AND THE INTERIOR IS THE SAME. HOWEVER, THE UNDERSIDE IS A DIFFERENT STORY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND RECEIVED THIS RESPONSE. "THERE ARE NO KNOWN ISSUES OR CURRENT RECALLS RELATING TO BODY AND FRAME RUST ISSUED FOR YOUR VEHICLE...YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WE WOULD BE UNWILLING TO OFFER YOU ANY COMPENSATION FOR ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND YOUR DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS DECISION, IT DOES REPRESENT TOYOTA'S FINAL POSITION IN THIS MATTER." *TR
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS 3 FAULTY CALIPERS 2 ON FRONT AND ONE ON THE REAR. THE CALIPER USES A DUAL PISTON AND THE INTERIOR LOWER PISTON IS THE ONE THAT FAILED ON BOTH FRONT CALIPERS. THIS ISSUE IS KNOW TO THOUSANDS OF TOYOTA OWNERS WHO INQUIRE (ITS COMMON KNOWLEDGE AMONG THOSE WHO OWN THEM.) THE FACT THAT BOTH FAILED AT THE SAME TIME WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND LOSING BOTH FRONT BRAKES SIMULTANEOUSLY IS CAUSE FOR GREAT CONCERN MY SAFETY IS AT RISK AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS AND EVERYONE ELSE. I AM NOT SURE WHY IT HAS TAKEN SOO MUCH EFFORT FROM US (THE OWNERS OF SAID VEHICLES AND THEREFORE CALIPER) TO GET THIS LOOKED INTO. THE CALIPERS ARE OF A FAULTY DESIGN AND WILL FAIL PREMATURELY PUTTING HUMAN LIVES AT RISK. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED? A PERSON TO DIE BEFORE THIS BECOMES CREDITED INFORMATION? JUST CHECK OUT T4R.ORG TO FIND ANY NUMBER OF IDENTICAL CLAIMS. *TR
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
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN MAY 2003. IN ONE COLD MORNING OF JAN. 2005, I WAS DRIVING IT IN HIGHWAY THAT WAS STILL COVERED WITH SOME SNOW. ALL OF SUDDEN, AN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON, FOLLOWED BY VSC LIGHTS, INDICATING THAT A VEHICLE SKID CONTROL FUNCTION WAS AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF. AT THAT POINT, I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR BEYOND 50 MPH, NO MATTER HOW HARD OR FREQUENTLY I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I PULLED OVER, RESTARTED, AND RE-ENTERED THE HIGHWAY BUT HAD THE SAME RESULTS. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION THE SAME DAY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE AND SIMPLY RESET THE COMPUTER CONTROLLER. THIS SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CHECK AND VSC LIGHT ISSUES RESURFACED ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER. THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME WAS THAT THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION ISSUE. NO INSPECTION WAS MADE. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IN JAN. 2010, THOSE LIGHTS REAPPEARED AND HAVE REMAINED TURNED ON. NO IMPACT ON ACCELERATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED. *TR
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, BRAKE, ABS LIGHTS ON. *TR
MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS THE VSC TRAC/TRAC OFF LIGHT ON. EVER SINCE THESE 2 LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON MY VEHICLE PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. I HAVE HAD 2 INCIDENTS WHERE MY 4RUNNER FISHTAILS ON MILD WET ROAD, THE 2 TIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS ENTERING A RAMP, AND WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING ONTO THE STREET MY VEHICLE FISHTAILED VIOLENTLY AND TURNING THE VEHICLE FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AGAINST APPROACHING TRAFFIC. IT WAS A VERY SCARY SCENARIO. I WAS GOING VERY SLOW SINCE IT WAS AN EXITING RAMP WITH A STOP LIGHT SO I HIT ON THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND MAKE THE TURN AT THE LIGHT ONTO THE STREET AND THIS IS WHAT THE VEHICLE DID...THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE ALREADY. I'VE SEEN MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEMS (VSC TRAC/TRAC OFF) ON THE 4RUNNERS?? PLEASE ADVICE. *TR
AFTER REPLACING AN OXYGEN SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES, THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DISCOVERED THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM THAT IS MAKING THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND TRACTION CONTROL CIRCUIT SHORT OUT. THE AIR DIVERTOR FLAP INSIDE THE HVAC BOX UNDER THE DASH HAD GREASE APPLIED TO THE FLAP HINGES IN THE FACTORY. DIRECTLY BELOW THE FLAP IS A WIRING HARNESS WHICH DROPS DOWN FROM THE HVAC BOX AND PLUG INTO THE ECU. OVER TIME THE GREASE HAS TRAVELED DOWN THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION PLUG INTO THE ECU CAUSING VARIOUS CIRCUITS TO SHORT. NO DAMAGE AT PRESENT, HOWEVER VARIOUS SAFETY CIRCUITS SUCH AS TRACTION CONTROL ARE BEING AFFECTED. FURTHERMORE, AS OIL IS COMBUSTIBLE, AN INTERIOR FIRE COULD RESULT FROM THE OIL PENETRATING THE 12 VOLT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION POINT ON THE ECU. THIS ISSUE/ PROBLEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND ECU AS WELL AS CLEAN THE GREASE OUT OF THE HVAC BOX. *TR
FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC BRAKING CONTROL AND ANTI-SKID CONTROL. SERVICE LIGHT ACTIVATED BUT NO RECALL OR NOTICE TO CONSUMERS. SEE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN BR 005-03 (DEC. 4, 2003). TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE SAFETY RISK OR OBLIGATION TO REPLACE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY PERIOD. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA AVALON XLS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE THE JACK MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED FROM THE JACK AND INJURED THE CONTACT'S HAND, CAUSING NERVE DAMAGE. IN ADDITION, IT DAMAGED THE DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL. PER THE CONTACT, THE BASE OF THE JACK HAD A NARROW WIDTH OF 1 3/4 INCHES AND WAS INCHES IN LENGTH. THE JACK WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ABLE TO LIFT LARGER TOYOTA VEHICLES. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE JACK WAS TOO FLIMSY TO SECURE THE VEHICLE AND WAS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION TO REPLACE THE CURRENT JACK WITH ONE OF APPROPRIATE SIZE. THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER RELATIONS OF TOYOTA. TOYOTA INVESTIGATORS TOOK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND THE JACK ,AND PROMISED A RESPONSE WITHIN 90 DAYS. THE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA STATED THAT THE JACK WAS NOT FAULTY, AND THE INSPECTION WAS ADDRESSED TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE JACK WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE JACK SIZE IN RELATION TO THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE LETTER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT SPOKEN TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.*AK UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM
2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER TRAILER HITCH CAME APART. *TS WHEN THE TRAILER CAME APART IT STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE TRAILER REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE BY THE SAFETY CHAINS . THE RECEIVER BALL SLID OUT OF THE RECEIVER OF THE HITCH DUE TO THE CLIP COMING OFF PIN AND PIN FALLING OUT. *NM
2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER: JACK AND EQUIPMENT ARE NOT SAFE AND SUITABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF TRUCK. I HAVE HAD TO USE THE JACK EQUIPMENT 2 TIMES TO CHANGE FLATS, THE FIRST TIME THE EQUIPMENT DOES NOT RAISE THE FRONT OF THE CAR HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND THE WAND USED TO JACK IT UP BENT IN HALF. THE SECOND TIME THE WAND BENT AGAIN AND THE SCREWS TO CONNECT THE WAND WERE STRIPPED CAUSING AN UNSAFE PLACE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THIS SIZE TRUCK. *NM
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.
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF CHEMICAL FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAD INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CENTER HAD FADED. *SCC *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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