2003 Toyota 4Runner problems and complaints
Owners have filed 707 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota 4Runner. The most-reported areas: Structure (285), Suspension (114), Unknown Or Other (101).
Key takeaways
- 707 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 19 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 28 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 285 | 40% |
| Suspension | 114 | 16% |
| Unknown Or Other | 101 | 14% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 91 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 74 | 10% |
| Power Train | 43 | 6% |
| Steering | 35 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 | 5% |
| Hydraulic | 28 | 4% |
| Seats | 21 | 3% |
| Wheels | 16 | 2% |
| Visibility | 16 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 3/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Wheels,service Brakes,engine - filed 2026-02-01
Many things are happening to my truck that’s why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much
Structure - filed 2026-01-16
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.
Electrical System - filed 2025-10-29
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 engine prior to test-dr...
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More for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.