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.
We used the car for two years pulling a 2200 pound boat, well within its 5000 pound rated towing capacity, when it started vibrating under light acceleration. Then it would not shift into high gears. Dealer diagnosed as faulty transmission. Dealer replaced transmission.
After a week I had the car back. As I drove it off the lot and down the road it started vibrating again. Turn around and go back to dealer. It stays there for another week and I am told they reprogram computer and put a different transmission fluid in.
I pick up car. This time I get a bit further down the road when every warning light on the dashboard lights up and the car goes into limp mode... So I go back to the dealer for a third time. This time Toyota keeps the car for two weeks, replaces the computer AND the catalytic converter, but not the transmission.
Again I pick up the car. It's spent the last month at dealer. Conversation with service manager is enlightening. He tells me that they've had lots of problems with this engine and transmission in the other Toyota SUVs. My 4Runner is the first year of a redesign and the first time that this engine and transmission is in this car. I am done. I've spend the last week researching new cars. I drive it straight into a Dodge dealer, trade it in for a 2005 Dodge Durango with a bigger V-8. That was the last time I drove the 4Runner.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We used the car for two years pulling a 2200 pound boat, well within its 5000 pound rated towing capacity, when it started vibrating under light acceleration. Then it would not shift into high gears. Dealer diagnosed as faulty transmission. Dealer replaced transmission.
After a week I had the car back. As I drove it off the lot and down the road it started vibrating again. Turn around and go back to dealer. It stays there for another week and I am told they reprogram computer and put a different transmission fluid in.
I pick up car. This time I get a bit further down the road when every warning light on the dashboard lights up and the car goes into limp mode... So I go back to the dealer for a third time. This time Toyota keeps the car for two weeks, replaces the computer AND the catalytic converter, but not the transmission.
Again I pick up the car. It's spent the last month at dealer. Conversation with service manager is enlightening. He tells me that they've had lots of problems with this engine and transmission in the other Toyota SUVs. My 4Runner is the first year of a redesign and the first time that this engine and transmission is in this car. I am done. I've spend the last week researching new cars. I drive it straight into a Dodge dealer, trade it in for a 2005 Dodge Durango with a bigger V-8. That was the last time I drove the 4Runner.
- dadeo, Moravia, US