2003 Toyota 4RUNNER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
527 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
127,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 382 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 246 of 527 complaints (46.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 93 | 17.6% |
| Steering behavior | 33 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 2.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 1.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body | 246 |
| Suspension | 107 |
| Unknown Or Other | 97 |
| Service Brakes | 44 |
| Steering | 31 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 |
| Structure | 17 |
Structure:Body: 246; Suspension: 107; Unknown Or Other: 97; Service Brakes: 44; Steering: 31; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 17; Structure: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 50 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 125 |
| 150,000 and above | 136 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 50; 100,000 to 149,999: 125; 150,000 and above: 136
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (136). 145 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 35 |
| 2011 | 17 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 72 |
| 2019 | 91 |
| 2020 | 41 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 11; 2010: 35; 2011: 17; 2012: 14; 2013: 11; 2014: 17; 2015: 33; 2016: 44; 2017: 46; 2018: 72; 2019: 91; 2020: 41; 2021: 48; 2022: 15; 2023: 8; 2024: 1; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 93 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10175810 · 2006-12-11 (December 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH UPHILL, A STRONG ODOR WAS NOTICED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, WHO DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS PRODUCING THE ODOR. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE REPLACEMENT. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ABOUT THE FRONT BRAKES. THE MECHANIC MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS AND INSTALLED NEW PADS. AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKES REPAIR, THE PEDAL WAS TOO LOW WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES WERE RECHECKED AND THE MECHANIC …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187176 · 2007-04-06 (April 6, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES WITH GREAT FORCE FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE SLID TO A STOP. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSES WAS THAT DEBRIS IN THE ROTORS CAUSED THE NOISE. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHY THE VEHICLE COULD NOT STOP WITHOUT SLIDING. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, AND THE ROTORS RESURFACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,0…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191944 · 2007-05-29 (May 29, 2007)
STEERING WHEEL HAS RESONATE VIBRATION AT CERTAIN ENGINE RPM. IT IS NOT TIRE VIBRATION BUT MORE LIKE A BUZZ AT THESE SPEEDS. WE FILED FOR ARBITRATION AND LOST BECAUSE ARBITRATOR WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO FEEL THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO FIX THOUGH THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM FLEET WIDE. I FEEL THAT A TOTAL RECALL OF THIS MODEL IS NECESSARY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275343 · 2009-06-30 (June 30, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VERY BADLY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HAD A FLAT TIRE, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE THE TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED AND THEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SHAKING ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHECKED THE RECALL DATABASE, BUT FOUND NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THERE IS A REC…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218243 · 2008-02-17 (February 17, 2008)
MY DRIVERS SEAT IS BROKEN AND MOVES WHEN I DRIVE IT DEVELOPED OVER A FEW WEEKS. MY SEAT BELT LOCKS SOME TIMES BECAUSE OF THE SEAT SHIFTING I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND ONLY WEIGHT 178 I DON'T KNOW HOW IT BROKE BUT THE DEALERSHIPS SAID IT IS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY I EXPLAINED THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD BUT DIDN'T GET ANY RESPONSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328273 · 2010-04-30 (April 30, 2010)
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 DOWNSHIFTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10611347 · 2014-07-17 (July 17, 2014)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10640170 · 2014-09-30 (September 30, 2014)
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 W…
Owner-reported narrative. 162,352 miles reported. Look up ODI 10640170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286534 · 2009-10-06 (October 6, 2009)
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 DAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10387248 · 2011-03-01 (March 1, 2011)
THE VEHICLE WOULD REV ITSELF UP TO A HIGH RPM, FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE WOULD GO IN REVERSE. THE DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONLY AFTER THE MANAGER BORROWED IT OVERNIGHT AND EXPERIENCED IT HIMSELF, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEGINNING AGAIN. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE RADIATOR LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (I WAS TOLD IT HAD THE WRONG KIND OF ANTIFREEZE; IT WAS GREEN AND IT NEEDS A RED KIND???). WHEN REPLACING THIS I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY FRONT BRAKES WERE PAPER THIN AND NEEDED TO B…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10387248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424180 · 2021-07-10 (July 10, 2021)
No Accident - Items need to be investigated for Safety Defects on Toyota's. 1> Front Brake Calipers (constant freezing of the front brake calipers). 2> Dash Cover (excessive cracking on the dash covers especially areas that contain airbags). 3> Fuel Pump Connection (on top of fuel tank, connection to fuel pump appears to create a short, which in turn causes vehicle to stall also could cause a fire). 4> Excessive Frame Rust (frame has excessive rust outside and inside which is causing frame to fail. this is a manufacturing issue). These are ongo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424180 at NHTSA ↗