no report yet
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
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…
2003 Toyota 4RUNNERProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 696 owner complaints about the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER, most often about the structure. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 15, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER has problems
696 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
284Structure3 crash/fire/injury
114Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
89Engine and engine cooling7 crash/fire/injury
45Service brakes
39Power train
35Steering
29Vehicle speed control
28Service brakes, hydraulic
21Seats
11820 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 284 | 3 |
| Suspension | 114 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 89 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 45 | 2 |
| Power train | 39 | 0 |
| Steering | 35 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 29 | 5 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 28 | 1 |
| Seats | 21 | 1 |
| 20 other systems | 118 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2003 Toyota 4RUNNER recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IF A HEAT SOURCE OR AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT.
no report yet
Wheels
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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
138kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 199 structure complaints. 22% were reported before 100,000 miles.
11under 30k miles44under 100k miles155100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Service brakes
9 owners mentioned a cost$3,100median
Middle half: $3,000 – $4,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other 4RUNNER year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 4RUNNER median. How we score
'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2003 Toyota 4RUNNER safety ratings
2003 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER, and the recalls they led to.
- Frame corrosionNo recall
- Unintended and Uncontrolled AccelerationLed to recall 11V-112
In owners' words
What 4RUNNER owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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.
Toyota has had issues with their frames rusting out and the 4th generation 4Runner is not exempt from this issue. My 2003 is requiring extensive work to keep it on the road safely due to frame rust. A recall to replace frames should be in place.
There is major corrosion on the chassis, brake-power steering-transmission lines, and all metal brackets on the frame and engine. The corrosion is so bad there is holes on the chassis. Known issue, many complaints, Toyota Corp. says to keep calling back maybe something will be done in the future.…
Own a 2003 4RUNNER?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.