CarComplaints.com Notes: Although the 2003 model year is the "worst" model year for the 4Runner, it's not really bad at all -- mainly it's just that the other 4Runner model years are even better. Howver the 2003 model year has no major problems & no unexpected problems for a 17-year old vehicle. We award the 2003 4Runner our Seal of Awesome, since overall versus other comparable models of the same age, it's very reliable.
Initially the 4th generation (2003 - 2009) 4Runner didn't earn our top "Seal of Awesome" rating because it received poor crash test ratings for rear impacts. However it's proven to have one of the lowest driver death rates out of all vehicles (not just SUVs), so we've bumped it back up to our top award.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
112,361 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The VSC system in the vehicle becomes disabled due to a firmware 'glitch' identified by Toyota when an emission system issue is detected by the onboard diagnostic system. The VSC system is listed as an 'essential safety feature, ' so I'm curious why a recall was never ordered to patch defective firmware that can cause VSC to become disabled due to a completely unrelated emissions issue.
Due to severe rust underneath the vehicle, there have been a few issues that have made the vehicle very unsafe to drive. Last week, both of my rear brake lines were completely done and leaking brake fluid leaving me with no brakes. This was due to rust and corrosion that had eaten the metal lines away. The radiator mounts are corroding, as well as the skid plate for my fuel tank and a few spots on my frame near the rear. I was not aware of the rust as I just got the vehicle a few weeks ago. I was driving in traffic when my brake light came on and I noticed my brakes didn't seem to be very effective and they eventually got the point where they were not working or slowing the vehicle at all. Once I took it to the shop and they put it on the lift, the mechanics pointed out just how bad the rust was.
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 ongoing issues with Toyota that have been reported and nothing is being done about it. Multiple 4runners are having big time Excessive Frame Rust, which are causing the frame coming apart during highway driving. These photo's show the rust on the outside and inside, all metal is having rust issues. Paint has been applied to cover said rust but it still reappears with-in a few months. Best way to contact me is via e-mail.
Frame is rotted out and brake lines attached to the frame as well as every suspension component. Car failed inspection deemed unsafe to drive. This problem has been addressed for Tacoma, tundra and sequoia but not 4runner. These frames have the same issue as those and needs to be repaired by Toyota due to lack of rust and corrosion protection. There-??s no reason 4runner should be overlooked for the same issue as the other full frame trucks.
The whole under side of the vehicle is rusted. It can't even be driven. My brake line busted the other day (with my kids in the car) and caused me to lose the use of my brakes. We are okay, and the mechanic was able to repair the brake line. But my mechanic was able to stick a pen through the frame. He said with this excessive rust, I should file a claim. After searching online, it seems that there have been recalls on other models of Toyota because of rust. Hoping you can investigate and make this right. Thank you!
- Fort Payne, AL, USA
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The rear tire assembly ripped loose from its mounts under normal driving conditions..a loud clunk noise....then.brakes were lost and the electrical system showed warning lights on dash board...car is not drivable...massive rust at failure points
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. The contact stated while having routine maintenance performed, she was informed that there was excessive rust and holes on the subframe. Additionally, the calipers were sticking and the oil pan was rusted. The contact completed the repairs. The vehicle was taken to ramey Toyota (135 frazier dr, princeton, wv 24740, (877) 825-2186) and diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The subframe was not replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage 55,000.
Driving on a 3 lane interstate highway, stopped traffic, avs/ABS/brake lights came on with a piercing noise. Traffic began moving approx. 10 mph, behind semi, brakes went to the floor. No brakes!!!! from center lane was able to go the the left lane into the the shoulder. Stopped next to cement barrier between North bound and South bound traffic (both 3 lanes). Sat there shaking for tow truck driver for an hour and a half with semi trucks flying by! got it to a mechanic. They called back the next day to say "we are sorry but the component that runs the brake pump is malfunctioning." "we reset it and the brakes are working now, but it will only fail again." It will cost a total of $5,000 to repair!!!! the vehicle is only worth $4,500-$7,000 (at best)!!!! like others on here, this has happened many, many times!!! no recalls!!! this could have been deadly!!! what happened to prevention of health and safety"! are they waiting for someone to die before they do something"!!! this vehicle was going to my 16 year old niece for her first vehicle. Thank god that it was not her driving!!! now she will not have a vehicle because we do not have $5,000 to fix it and a good overall vehicle sitting in our driveway that can't be used. I have had Toyota's most of my life, currently drive a Tundra as well, this is the first time that I can truly say.....shame on you Toyota/manufacturers!!!!
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.
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.
My daughter returned from work two days ago and parked the vehicle, she did not notice anything wrong with its drivability. The next morning she started the vehicle and a loud warning tone was being emitted from the dash. She asked me to look at it and I noticed the brake and ABS warning lights were on. I tried depressing the brake pedal and it went completely to the floor instantly. I tried backing up the vehicle to see if repeated braking in reverse would pump up the brakes as it does on some vehicles I have owned. That did nothing and also unlike other vehicles I have driven, the brake failure was total. There was little to no manual braking. Traveling in reverse at maybe 3 mph took four to five seconds to come to a stop. Had this occurred at 60 mph on the rural roads we live on, I don't think we would have been able to safely stop the vehicle. I can't understand why any car would be designed where some kind of electrical/computer failure would render the vehicle undrivable instantly. This could have been a fatal event had it occurred at highway speeds. In searching the internet and your 7 pages of brake related complaints on specifically 2003 4runners, there were overwhelming accounts of the brakes totally failing while driving, and many accidents reported due to this. This vehicle should be removed from the road immediately before further incident and Toyota should make owners whole due to this serious design defect.
When in motion or stopping, on city streets or the highway, turning included, the ABS system makes excessive nosies such as chirping, squeaking, and grinding. Currently, there has not been a crash or injury as a result; however, there is documentation within Toyota service and online forums of this issue and concern among 2003 models.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. While driving in a parking lot, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when the pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to priority Toyota chesapeake (1800 greenbrier pkwy, chesapeake, va 23320, (757) 213-5000) where it was diagnosed that the brakes were not working. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer where a state safety inspection had been performed two months earlier. The manufacturer was contacted and provided a case number. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The dealer stated that the brake repair would cost $5,000. The failure mileage was 153,596.
Extreme frame rust. Car is low mileage, well-kept, and outwardly in excellent condition. Recently suffered near-total brake failure. Towed it to shop for repair. Shop refused to repair brakes. They said frame was severely rusted. The rust had eaten away the point where the brake lines attached to the frame, and brake fuid was leaking from that juncture. They said if they removed the brake lines to replace them, they wouldn't be able to reattach them because there wasn't enough good frame metal to work with. They said the frame rust was so severe that they feared it could break clean through, or steering or suspension parts could break loose. They did not want to take responsibility for putting what they believed to be an unsafe vehicle back on the road. They only reason I discovered this was that the rust caused my brakes to nearly fail. Toyota has had recalls and lawsuits on identical issues involving Tacoma and other truck-framed vehicles. The 4-runner is a truck-framed vehicle and should be recalled. I have photos that the repair shop sent me, but I can't send them ffrom this computer.
Moving vehicle at school parking lot - 17 year old daughter driving about 3 months after getting her license. Vsc trac ABS lights all came on, a low tone noise and the brake peddle was hard as a rock when depressing.
Car was running perfectly. Brakes were services 6 months ago. Traveled from nc to fl for holiday. Started car maintenance light went on showed air bag indicator light with ear piercing buzzer. Went to drive car to Toyota service department and had no brakes. They would work slightly but to dangerous to drive. Did not have brakes
Takata recall my son and I both have a Toyota 4-runner and the ABS hydro buster / brake master cylinder went out on the 2004 and is about to go out on the 2003. I recently bought the 2003 and the problem recently started. I'm trying to find out if there is a recall on either of these vehicles. 2003 4-runner Toyota very recently 2004 4-runner Toyota I need to verify the date of problem thanks
The frame on my SUV is very rusted and causing continuous problems. I've had to replace numerous parts underneath my car (sway bars, tie rods). Just the other night while driving home in a snow storm, I completely lost my brakes. Two of the main brake lines were completely corroded. A new frame would solve a lot of my problems. They've recalled Tacoma and sequoias, wondering what the hold up is on the 4runner recall?
Tamara recall : the master brake cylinder has went out and everyone who I have spoke with has told me these particular vehicles are bad about. My brakes go all way to the floor no pressure at all and will not stop. I was on al hwy 278 in piedmont and went straight through red light almost getting it from from and rear of truck.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Roseville, CA, USA