2003 Toyota 4 Runner problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System (31) · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:catalytic Convertor (20) · Seats (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota 4 Runner model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
88 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (245)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 245 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2006-08-09 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module · 35,000 mi“brake pedal goes al the way to the floor when sitting at a stop . the 4 runner has 3 masters and one complete power brake unit installed by toyota and i still have the problem, toyota stated it is normal. *jb…”
2006-07-23 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip“i purchased a new 2003 4 runner from toms river toyota. all service of the vehicle performed there. over a year ago we complained low a low brake pedal. dealer said nothing was defective. recently dealer recommended rear brake service. problem still not resolved. on last service visit the dealer advised me that toyota issued a service bulleti…”
2006-06-29 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:doors:latch · 81,000 mi“all four of my door locks have stopped working with the automatic system. each required a new lock actuator to be installed on each door. the failures occurred at 26,598 (7/16/04) - front driver, 50,327 (6/10/05) - rear right, 67,878 (12/30/05) - front right, 81,435 (05/2006) - rear driver. if a user does not notice the failure, the potential …”
2006-05-22 · Child Seat“dt*: the contact stated the child seat will not stay secured in the vehicle. the seat is secured in the vehicle by the latch system and has been inspected by a child passenger safety technician. the child seat wobbles from side to side while occupied. the manufacturer has been contacted and sent a replacement base however the replacement base h…”
2006-04-04 · Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire · 45,000 mi“30 month old 2003 toyota 4 runner sport. went to use spare tire for the first time but found places on the sidewall where the rubber appears to be melted. the marks look like they correspond to the places where the spare tire touches the undercarriage of the vehicle when the spare tire is stored. it looks to me (as a layman) that the damage is s…”
2006-03-07 · Wheels:hub“i was sold pre-owned toyota 4runner without its being inspected and then i felt ill treated to be recalled to sign a new purchase agreement with an increased interest percentage, just because i am black! *nm…”
2006-02-12 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly“sunroof/moonroof leaks around glass rubber seal--severe corrosion, metal deformed, effects operation. *jb…”
2005-12-22 · Trailer Hitches“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…”
2005-12-10 · Air Bags:frontal · 53,000 mi · 💥 crash“vehicle was hit with significant impact on front driver's side. driver sustained facial lacerations, restrained child sustained shoulder/clavicle injury. minimum estimated damage to vehicle is $7000, neither side curtain or front airbags deployed. front airbags would have likely prevented injury to driver. *nm…”
2005-11-17 · Visibility:windshield“windshield cracked at the very passenger edge midway after having the vehicle for 9 mos new. the crack propogated inward. under warranty and replaced. two months later, same exact thing happened, still under warranty, replaced. year and a half later, same exact thing, same exact place, not under warranty, now all of a sudden it was a stone chip…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.