Page 6 of 14 · complaints 251–300 of 696

2003 Toyota 4Runner complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 24, 2018SD

THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE IS SUFFERING FROM EXTREME AND PREMATURE CORROSION AND RUSTING. THERE IS SIGNIFIANT ROTTING DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION ON PARTS OF THE FRAME. ALTHOUGH NO INCIDENT HAS YET TO OCCUR, I FEAR AN UNSAFE INCIDENT COULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE CORROSION AND RUST OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 24, 2018107,000 milesRI

I TOOK MY 2003 4RUNNER IN FOR ITS ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DO TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME. MY VEHICLE IS IN PERFECT VISUAL CONDITION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 23, 201858,230 milesPR

ABS PROBLEM DISABLES BRAKES FUNCTION. WHILE DRIVING THE DASH ALERTS LIGHTS (VSC TRACK, ABS AND BRAKES ) WENT ON. THANKS GOD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND IN A FLAT TERRAIN. A TOYOTA EX-EMPLOYEE TOLD US THAT THE COMPANY BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO. NO SECURITY ALERT WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, A COMPANY BULLETIN DESCRIBED THE ABS MALFUNCTION AND OFFERED REPLACEMENT TO THOSE WHO REQUESTED IT. THIS OFFER IS NO LONGER OFFERED. I WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS 3622.41 FOR SERVICE AND PARTS. AT PRESENT THE UNIT IS OUT OF SERVICE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND BOUGHT THIS UNIT IN MARCH 1, 2003. IT HAS 58,239 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN THE UNIT FOR SERVICE WHENEVER A RECALL HAS BEEN MADE FOR THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA COMPANY HAS NEVER ALERTED ME ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BRAKE MALFUNCTION AND THE SECURITY RISK THAT THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES.

Suspension
Filed Aug 23, 2018147,000 milesTN

TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE WORK DONE ON THE STRUTS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME UNDERNEATH IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, BUT TOYOTA STILL REFUSES TO REPLACE THE FRAMES OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN ANY WAY, DESPITE HAVING ISSUED A RECALL FOR OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *LN *DL

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 22, 2018100,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRAME BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED OVER THE PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC MADE A SERIES OF REPAIRS FOR THE FOLLOWING FAILURES: THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS RUSTED, THE TOW HOOKS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE MUFFLER DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE FRAME FRACTURED INTO PIECES UPON THE CONTACT'S INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERIES OF FAILURES OCCURED DUE TO THE SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION OF THE FRAME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 21, 2018127,000 milesCO

THE FRAME ON THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS BELIEVED TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA. DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST, THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 21, 2018150,000 milesCO

MY VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IN PERFECT VISUAL CONDITION HAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AS IT COULD BE HAZARDOUS. THE CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE WITH NO RUST ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR ASIDE FROM THE FRAME FLAKING AWAY

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 21, 2018134,000 milesOH

03 4RUNNER HAS EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST NEAR REAR WHEEL AREA AND FRONT RADIATOR MOUNT.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 21, 2018190,000 milesOH

MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT HAS EXPERIENCED EXTREME, AND DANGEROUS, LEVELS OF RUST ON THE FRAME CROSS BARS, DESPITE BEING WASHED REGULARLY. THE RUST APPEARS TO BE ORIGINATING FROM INSIDE THE SUPPORTS, AND I WAS ADVISED BY A TOYOTA DEALER MECHANIC THAT THE RUST COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO COMPLETE FRAME FAILURE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. AT THIS POINT, SIZABLE AREAS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH ENTIRELY. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA, AND THEY HAVE REGULARLY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME.

Suspension
Filed Aug 21, 2018111,354 milesCA

FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE RUST. ROTTED BOLTS AFFECTING ABILITY TO HAVE COMPLETE ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. FAILED WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSING LOUD ROTATIONAL FRICTION SOUNDS WHILE IN MOTION. RUSTED EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING FAILURE AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 18, 2018155,000 milesVA

CONTINUOUS BRAKE CALIPER ISSUES WITH THEN LOCKING UP CAUSING THEM TO PREMATURELY WEAR OUT ROTORS AND PADS. NOW WITH THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, LOST BRAKE PRESSURE ALL TOGETHER ALMOST CAUSING ME THE DRIVER CREATE AN ACCIDENT IN AN INTERSECTION THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A DEVASTATING OUTCOME. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 155000 MILES, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, I'VE ALREADY PAID IT OFF POCKET ALOT OF MONEY FOR THE BRAKE CALIPER ISSUE THAT I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A NEWER VEHICLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED CLOSELY.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 5, 2018113,000 milesIL

THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM OF FRAME SECTION HAS LARGE RUSTED THROUGH HOLE AND I HAVE REMOVED A LARGE FREEZER BAG FULL OF RUST FROM INSIDE THIS HOLE. I BELIEVE THE ROOT CAUSE WAS THAT THE AIR CONDITION CONDENSATE DRAIN HOSE EXITED DOWN DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE FRAME IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE CONDENSATE(WATER) THEN RAN DOWN THE FRAME TO THE RUSTED LOCATION AS THIS IS HOW I DISCOVERED THE RUST PROBLEM, IT DRIPPED FROM THAT LOCATION LEAVING A RUST SPOT ON GARAGE FLOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME IN SAME AREA IS FINE. I HAVE SINCE RE-ROUTED THE CONDENSATE DRAIN TO KEEP PROBLEM FROM ACCELERATING.

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 2, 2018VA

2003 4RUNNER WITH EXCESSIVE RUST OF THE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE. POTENTIAL FAILURE OF FRAME AND FRAME COMPONENTS DUE TO RUST COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. DEALER SUBMITTED PHOTOS TO TOYOTA.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 24, 2018230,000 milesVA

THE FRAME IN THE REAR OF MY 03 4 RUNNER HAS RUSTED OUT NEAR THE REAR PASSENGERS SIDE.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 23, 2018136,935 milesVA

MY 4 RUNNER FAILED VA SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO "FRAME RUSTED THROUGH" SEE ATTACHED PHOTO

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 13, 201810,000 milesIL

THE FRAMES ON 2003-2008 4RUNNERS RUST VERY BADLY AND HAVE DEEMED HUNDREDS OF OTHERWISE GOOD VEHICLES UNUSABLE. NOTE THAT JUST THE FRAME COMPONENTS ARE RUSTING THROUGH WHILE THE BODYWORK REMAINS INTACT.. TOYOTA RECALLED AND REPLACED FRAMES ON SEVERAL SIMILAR VEHICLES IN THEIR LINEUP BUT DID NOT OFFER THE SAME TO 4RUNNER OWNERS. HOPEFULLY THIS CHANGES.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 1, 2018FL

INFORMED TOYOTA OF HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA , TWO YEARS AGO , OF MY DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT LETTER AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED MY CRACKED DASHBOARD.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 27, 2018156,300 milesNY

VEHICLE FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE RUST, BROKE APART AT FRAME JOINT. VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE 156K.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 5, 2018126,000 milesOH

I TOOK MY CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON 5/29/18 AND THEY CAME BACK AND TOLD ME MY FRAME WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON. WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND PUT IT UP ON THE LIFT AND THE FRAME IS ABOUT TO CRACK IN HALF FROM THE AMOUNT OF RUST. MY CAR IS GARAGED AND BARELY DRIVEN DURING THE SNOW. I REALIZE IT IS 15 YEARS OLD, BUT THE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT LOOKED AT IT STATED THAT THE HOLES AND RUST FOUND ON THE FRAME SHOULD NOT BE THAT BAD. TOYOTA HAS STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I AM EXTREMELY MAD, AS I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME SOONER THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTING. IT IS BEYOND PATCH REPAIR WORK AND PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN PATCHED EARLIER, HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. MY CAR IS TAKEN IN FOR ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND OTHER THAN THE FRAME IS IN GREAT CONDITION. IT ONLY HAS $126K MILES AND SHOULDN'T BE FALLING APART LIKE THIS.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2018100,000 milesOR

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS SEIZED UP CAUSING ME TO GO THROUGH A STOP LIGHT. SEE ENCLOSED VIDEO. PLEASE REVIEW ALL THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING TOYOTA 4RUNNER CALIPER PISTONS SEIZING UP. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jun 3, 2018156,000 milesMN

SUBSTANTIAL CORROSION OF THE FRAME, TECHNICIAN ADVISED OWNER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

Structure › Body
Filed May 29, 2018VA

EXTENSIVE FRAME ROT ON BOTH SIDES RIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS OK WITH "NORMAL" SURFACE RUST. TRIED TO TREAT RUST BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN

Structure › Body
Filed May 26, 201887,300 milesWA

RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO RUST DAMAGE. TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO REPLACE FRAMES ON TACOMA'S, TUNDRA'S AND SEQUOIA'S, BUT NOT 4RUNNERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE ALL THE SAME FRAMES.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 21, 2018VA

RUST ALL OVER THE FRAME. THERE ARE MANY PARTS WHERE IT HAS ATE THROUGH THE FRAME IN WELDS.

Structure › Body
Filed May 19, 2018NH

EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF FRAME WHILE REST OF VEHICLE REMAINS INTACT.

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 30, 2018140,000 milesCA

VEHICLE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE HOLES DUE TO RUST, UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NOT REPAIRABLE

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 9, 2018126,000 milesWV

FRONT CROSS MEMBER RUSTED INTO ON ONE SIDE AND RUSTED BAD ON THE OTHER. PLUS, FRAME HAS SEVERAL HOLES IN IT.

Suspension
Filed Jan 30, 2018IN

AFTER AN INSPECTION BY OUR MECHANIC WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR 2003 4RUNNER'S FRAME RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AND WILL BE DRIVABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME. WE ARE AN ORIGINAL OWNERS, THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC AND HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS ENTIRE LIFE.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 21, 2018140,000 milesFL

RUST HOLES IN FRAME AT 140,000 MILES.

Suspension
Filed Jan 11, 2018150,000 milesVA

2003 4RUNNER HAS SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST AND IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. TOYOTA HAS TAKEN ACTION ON OTHER MODELS BUT WILL NOT WITH THE 4RUNNERS WITH SAME FRAME.

Suspension
Filed Jan 10, 2018NY

ETENSIVE UNDERCARRIAGE RUSTING.

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 18, 2017123,112 milesKY

THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S BOTTOMING OUT GOING OVER THE SLIGHTEST LITTLE BUMP WHEN IN MOTION AND THE ROTORS WERE MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY EVEN AFTER THE BRAKES HAD BEEN CHECKED. SPENT $400+ ON NEW BRAKES & ROTORS ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE IT AT ALL. IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND WOULD CAUSE A BAD WRECK WHEN IT FINALLY DID DROP OUT.

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 14, 2017150,000 milesIL

THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE UNDERBODY OF MY 2003 4RUNNER. IT HAS JUST 165,000 MILES AND THE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED. BEING ONLY 15 YEARS OLD I FIND THIS TO BE VERY SAD AND UNREASONABLE. THE CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO LAST 20-30 YEARS AND 300,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY WASHED AND DRIVEN IN PENNSYLVANIA, ILLINOIS, OHIO, NEW YORK. IF THERE WAS ADDITIONAL TREATMENT REQUIRED FOR THE FRAME IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COATED, OR AT THE VERY LEAST NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS TO MAKE SURE THEY DO IT. THESE CAR SHOULD LAST MUCH MUCH LONGER AND AS EXPENSIVE AS THE 4RUNNERS ARE THEY SHOULD LAST.

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 9, 2017FL

FRAME IS RUSTING AND DEFORMING UNIFORMLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE JUST BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS AND ENGINE, IN FRONT OF THE TRANSFER CASE.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 8, 2017166,385 milesCA

CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LOSS WITHOUT WARNING. VSC, TAC AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS WITH LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM WITH LOSS OF ABILITY TO BRAKE. ONLY WITH STRONGEST PRESSURE ON BRAKE WAS ABLE TO SLOW VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, NO COLLISION OR INJURIES OCCURRED. REPORT THIS TO TOYOTA - NO ADVISORY OR RECALL NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED. REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT NO ONE WOULD CONTACT ME AND THE CASE WOULD BE CLOSE. THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF A MANUFACTURES LIABILITY TO NOTIFY OF POTENTIAL PRODUCT FAILURE AS LONG A PRODUCT IS IN USE. THIS IS A 2003 TOYOTA R RUNNER WITH 166830 MILES. TOYOTA WORK ORDER LIST THIS AS A BAKER BOOSTER MOTOR ASSY INTERNAL PART FAILURE. COST TO REPLACE THIS NECESSARY SAFETY EQUIPMENT WAS 3,817 DOLLARS.

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 4, 2017115,000 milesNY

THERE IS EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE CAR FRAME. IT'S OF GREATLY SAFETY CONCERN AND IT SEEMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER 4RUNNER TYPE OF FRAMES. OUR MECHANIC SEEN A FEW RELATED ISSUES IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 14, 2017146,751 milesNJ

VEHICLE FRAME IS ROTTED/PERFORATED,UNSAFE AS PER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP.

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 6, 2017133,500 milesPA

THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST, COVERING 100% OF LOWER FRAME, BUMPER TO BUMPER. IT HAS AT LEAST 2 HOLES, AND IS WEAK IN SEVERAL AREAS OF FRAME. IT FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THIS. ONLY 133K MILES ON VEHICLE. WELL MAINTAINED. FINALLY, TAILGATE DOOR IS SIGNIFICANTLY RUSTED ABOVE WINDOW, BUT AT LEAST THIS ISN'T A SAFETY PROBLEM.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 27, 2017111,540 milesIN

EXCESSIVE AND HEAVY RUST/FLAKING OF THE FRAME COMPONENTS POINTED OUT BY MY MECHANIC WHILE PERFORMING A MINOR REPAIR TO A HEAT SHIELD UNDER THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE NEW AND THERE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER 1710131927, BUT THEY ADVISE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO ACTIVE CAMPAIGNS WHICH COVER MY VEHICLE. OTHERS HAD SUGGESTED I NOTIFY THE NHTSA.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 21, 2017OH

FRAME HAS HOLES AND CRACKS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE RUST. ONE CROSS MEMBER IS NON FUNCTIONAL. HAS RUSTED THROUGH ENTIRELY. I CALLED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER CARE 800 NUMBER. WAS TOLD THE 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. THE BODY IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. IT HAS ONLY 104,000 MILES. COLLISION REPAIR SHOP LOOKED AT THE FRAME YESTERDAY AND I WAS TOLD IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 21, 2017126,000 milesFL

VEHICLE HAS A CRACKED DASHBOARD FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, COULD SPREAD AND AFFECT AIR BAGS, TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH STATED THERE IS A RECALL BUT HAVE NOT CORRECTED IN THREE YEARS, I HAVE CHECKED WITH THEM THREE TIMES

Suspension
Filed Oct 19, 201758,292 milesPA

EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND UNDER STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE FOR A 2003 4RUNNER LIMITED. NOTICED DURING INSPECTION 10/19/17 AND PRIOR YEARS.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 2, 2017NH

FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY AND NEEDS REPLACED.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 23, 2017130,000 milesTN

FRAME IS RUSTED ALMOST COMPLETELY IN TWO WHERE BACK AXLE TIES TO THE FRAME. ALSO VARIOUS OTHER AREAS OF THE FRAME ARE RUSTING AS WELL. TOOK TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND EACH SAID IT IS A MFG ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES. PUTTING A YOUNG DRIVER, OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, INTO A CAR TO DRIVE THAT HAS SERIOUS FRAME RUST ISSUES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A WRECK AND SERIOUS INJURY IS INEXCUSABLE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY WITH A RECALL. WE BOUGHT VEHICLE IN 2016, HOWEVER IT WAS RUSTED FAR BEFORE THEN BASED ON RUST EVIDENCE PRESENT.

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 13, 20172 milesCA

WHILE PULLING INTO A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, ALOUD CABIN ALARM SOUND AND ABS, VSC AND TRAC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON. MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO STOP OK SO WE DID OUR SHOPPING, WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR IT STILL HAD THE LIGHTS LIT UP AND BRAKED OK. WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME SO I DROVE SLOWLY TRYING TO GET THERE ABOUT HALF WAY HOME I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WAS HARD AS A ROCK AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE CAR APPLYING EMERGENCY BREAK AND USING SHIFTER IN ORDER TO STOP AND AVOID CRASHING WE GOT IT HOME ACCIDENT FREE. TODAY A TALKED TO A TOYOTA SPECIALTY SHOP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND HIS FIRST RESPONSE WAS THE ABS PUMP AND MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS 105000 MILES AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE BRAKES FAIL WITHOUT A BACK UP SYSTEM FOR SAFETY.I HAVE READ 1000S OF POSTS AND THREADS IN BLOGS FROM TOYOTA OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE, AND SOME THAT CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I HAD JUST COME OFF THE HIGHWAY, SO THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT JUST MINUTES EARLIER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE AND TOYOTA IS VERY AWARE OF THE SITUATION BUT NO RECALL. THIS SITUATION MERITS AN INVESTIGATION BY TOYOTA AND A RECALL SHOULD BE AWARDED BEFORE HUMAN LIFE IS LOST IN AN ACCIDENT.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 11, 2017RI

WHILE CHANGING THE BRAKES AND ROTERS, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WHERE THE GAS TANK STRAPS ATTACH, IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND ROTTED THROUGH. SEVERAL AREAS ON THE FRAME ARE ROTTED THROUGH. THE MECHANIC STUCK HIS FINGER RIGHT THROUGH MY FRAME. ALSO, THERE IS BODY RUST ALL AROUND THE BACK WINDOW, CAUSING WATER TO GET INTO THE BACK DOOR, CAUSING THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT TO NOT WORK, AND CAUSING THE LATCH TO LOCK AND KEEP THE HATCH CLOSED IS SEIZED DUE TO RUST.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 28, 2017NY

THE FRAME IT'S RUSTED

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 24, 2017186,000 milesNJ

MY 2003 4RUNNER SR5 LOOKS GREAT AND ITS V8 ENGINE HUMS LIKE IT IS NEW BUT THE FRAME RAILS ARE TOTALLY ROTTEN AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE IT AT ALL AS IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SO ITS VALUE SHOULD BE ABOUT 5-,6000 AND NOW IT IS TOTALLY JUNK AND HAS ONLY SCRAP VALUE. TOYOTA USA RECALLED THE SEQUOIA, THE TUNDRA AND THE TACOMA FROM THE TIME PERIOD, APPROXIMATELY 2003-2007 MAYBE MORE YEAR MODELS, BUT DID NOT RECALL THE 4RUNNER BECAUSE THERE WERE TOO MANY SOLD AND IT WOULD HAVE COST TOO MUCH MONEY. THE FRAME AND FRAME RAIL ROT ON THE 4RUNNER FROM THAT TIME PERIOD IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTA YET TOYOTA HAS SEEN FIT NOT TO RECALL THE 4RUNNER!! . WHAT A DISGRACE!! THE MOST IMPORTANT FACT IS THE 4RUNNERS, PAST AND PRESENT, SIT ON THE EXACT SAME FRAME AS THE TACOMA. THE TACOMA WAS RECALLED FOR THE FRAME ROT BUT THE 4RUNNER WERE NOT. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE THE REASONING FOR NOT RECALLING THE 4RUNNER FOR FRAME ROT WHILE THE TACOMA WITH THE EXACT SAME FRAME FROM THE EXACT SAME FACTORY WAS NOT/HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED?

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 11, 201775,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AT SUNRISE TOYOTA NORTH (LOCATED AT 910 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, MIDDLE ISLAND, NY 11953, (631) 924-8100). THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Wheels
Filed Aug 10, 2017172,000 milesNC

WHILE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON I-85 IN NORTH CAROLINA AT MILE MARKER 51.4 , AT 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL EXPLODED CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT. THE TIRES HAD BEEN ON THE VEHICLE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AS THEY WERE REPLACED AS A FOUR TIRE SET, THEY WERE ALL NEW TIRES. APPARENTLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SIDEWALLS WITH THESE TIRES. I GOOGLED THIS SIDEWALL BLOWOUT AND THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 198 CASES OF COOPER TIRES WITH SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. THE TIRE BRAND IS COPPER TIRES, MODEL- COOPER DISCOVERER A/T 3 265/70 R 16 DOT- UTC2 1A6 4716 DATE CODE- 2013

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner → · Every 4Runner year → · How the figures are calculated →