2003 Toyota 4RUNNER Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 4RUNNER years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 696 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER. That is the most of any 4RUNNER model year in the database (32 years). The most reported problem area is structure (284 complaints, 41%), typically at around 138,500 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 27 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 696owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 284 | 41% | 138,500 | “frame rust” (17%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 114 | 16% | 149,000 | “frame rust” (12%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 101 | 15% | 135,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 89 | 13% | 500 | “rotten egg” (21%) | — |
| Service Brakes | 45 | 6% | 123,112 | — | — |
| Power Train | 39 | 6% | 14,268 | — | — |
| Steering | 35 | 5% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 4% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 28 | 4% | 55,861 | — | — |
| Seats | 21 | 3% | 6,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 16 | 2% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 15 | 2% | 106,865 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 12 | 2% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 2% | 71,778 | — | — |
| Engine | 10 | 1% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Traction Control System | 8 | 1% | 65,243 | — | — |
| Tires | 7 | 1% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 1% | 110,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 1% | 123 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 1% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 0% | 40,200 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 0% | 45,665 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 0% | 101,500 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 0% | 2 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 0% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Toyota 4RUNNER recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with v6 engines, the fuel pulsation damper, located on the fuel rail, may have been improperly assembled, causing a diaphragm in the pulsation damper to be damaged. If the diaphragm fails, fuel may leak.
Risk: This could result in an engine compartment fire if a heat source or an ignition source is present.
Fix: Dealers will replace the pulsation damper. Owner notification began may 5, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Wheels
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with five factory alloy wheels (model 6934 and 6936), with factory llat, and with port installed wr4, four alloy wheel upgrade processed at the jacksonville, florida port and distributed by southeast toyota distributors in the states of alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina, when the vehicles were processed at the port, an alloy tire/wheel upgrade was installed. The upgrade included 4 alloy wheels. The original spare tire/alloy wheel was not changed. The spare tire requires the use of a different style of wheel nut to attach it to the vehicle.
Risk: If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the wheel nuts provided for the upgrade alloy wheel, damage to the wheel could result and could eventually lead to a loose wheel.
Fix: Owners will be provided with different style lug nuts, a warning label for the spare re/alloy wheel, and an owner's manual addendum.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Frame corrosion (DP18002) — opened Aug 17, 2018, closed Mar 18, 2022.
- Unintended and Uncontrolled Acceleration (RQ10003) — opened Feb 16, 2010, closed Mar 1, 2011, led to recall 11V112000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
So first off I had a Ford Escape and one day it wouldnât crank up and started beeping loud so I called and got it towed it sat in the shop for 3 days and they told me it was fixed they fixed the abs lights and was told it was ready and I didnât even make it out of shop and the car was running…
Severe frame rust. 2 large holes on the inside of the frame just back from the front wheels and 2 large holes at the ends of the rear crossmember.
Odometer Fraud. The contact investigated a 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. The contact stated that during the investigation, he discovered a fraudulent scheme of approximately 15 vehicles with odometer fraud. The contact stated that the suspects targeted Facebook Marketplace victims by spraying oil on the…
While my mechanic was servicing a small exhaust leak on my vehicle he noticed that the chassis/frame of the vehicle was heavily corroded. He told me that he believe it was no longer safe to drive and that I contact Toyota. I had a local Toyota service center also look at it and they confirmed that…
My vehicle: 2003 4Runner SR5 2WD VIN: [XXX] Issue: Front driver's side door will not open. Electronic locks are operating, but the door release is not functioning. Safety Concern: What if I was in a situation where I did need to get out of the vehicle immediately? Such as a high-water incident…
Other Toyota 4RUNNER years
← 2002 4RUNNER · 2004 4RUNNER →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 4RUNNER | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 4RUNNER | 60 | 1 |
| 2024 4RUNNER | 9 | 1 |
| 2023 4RUNNER | 33 | 1 |
| 2022 4RUNNER | 39 | 3 |
| 2021 4RUNNER | 36 | 1 |
| 2020 4RUNNER | 33 | 1 |
| 2019 4RUNNER | 65 | 4 |
| 2018 4RUNNER | 58 | 5 |
| 2017 4RUNNER | 36 | 5 |
| 2016 4RUNNER | 80 | 8 |
| 2015 4RUNNER | 87 | 9 |
| 2014 4RUNNER | 77 | 7 |
| 2013 4RUNNER | 36 | 6 |
| 2012 4RUNNER | 96 | 8 |
| 2011 4RUNNER | 163 | 10 |
| 2010 4RUNNER | 146 | 12 |
| 2009 4RUNNER | 22 | 6 |
| 2008 4RUNNER | 96 | 5 |
| 2007 4RUNNER | 154 | 5 |
| 2006 4RUNNER | 381 | 5 |
| 2005 4RUNNER | 425 | 5 |
| 2004 4RUNNER | 678 | 2 |
| 2003 | 696 | 3 |
| 2002 4RUNNER | 225 | 1 |
| 2001 4RUNNER | 185 | 1 |
| 2000 4RUNNER | 483 | 0 |
| 1999 4RUNNER | 330 | 0 |
| 1998 4RUNNER | 250 | 1 |
| 1997 4RUNNER | 261 | 1 |
| 1996 4RUNNER | 161 | 2 |
| 1995 4RUNNER | 172 | 1 |
See all Toyota 4RUNNER problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Owners most often report structure, suspension, unknown or other problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 284 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 4RUNNER model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.