IllustrationREAR WINDOW IS OPEN AND EXHAUST SMOKE FUMES WILL COME INSIDE OF WINDOW WHILE TRAVELING. *AK
2003 Toyota 4 Runner
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 4 Runner years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
770–25K
925–50K
150–75K
175–100K
0100–150K
1150K+
89 reports with mileage · 79 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
75 reportsROTTEN EGG SMELL FROM EXHAUST WHEN HATCH BACK WINDOW DOWN FOR INTERIOR AIR CIRCULATION. BELIEVE THE CAUSE IS LENGTH AND POSITIONING OF EXHAUST PIPE. *JB
THE EXHAUST SMELL FROM THE TRUCK HAS A HORRIFIC AND SICKENING SMELL. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IT HAS MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AT TIMES AND MY WIFE AND KIDS CAN NOT STAND THE CONTINUOUS SMELL EITHER. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS AND WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF MY PURCHASE PRICE. TOYOTA SENT OUT A TSB R…
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THE EXHAUST SMELL FROM THE TRUCK HAS A HORRIFIC AND SICKENING SMELL. I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IT HAS MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH AT TIMES AND MY WIFE AND KIDS CAN NOT STAND THE CONTINUOUS SMELL EITHER. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS AND WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF MY PURCHASE PRICE. TOYOTA SENT OUT A TSB REGARDING THE SMELL SAYING IT WAS THE GASOLINE (POOR) THAT PEOPLE USE. WRONG! I USE AMOCO AND TEXACO ONLY. *AK
THERE IS A STRONG SULFUR SMELL INSIDE OUR 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SPORT EDITION WHEN WE DRIVE. IT IS HARD TO BREATHE AT TIMES. OUR CONCERN IS THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OUR HEALTH. ARE WE ALSO GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE? TOYOTA DEALER TOLD US THERE IS NO FIX OTHER THAN TO TRY DIFFERENT GASOLINE. WE HAVE TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE SAME…
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THERE IS A STRONG SULFUR SMELL INSIDE OUR 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SPORT EDITION WHEN WE DRIVE. IT IS HARD TO BREATHE AT TIMES. OUR CONCERN IS THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OUR HEALTH. ARE WE ALSO GETTING CARBON MONOXIDE? TOYOTA DEALER TOLD US THERE IS NO FIX OTHER THAN TO TRY DIFFERENT GASOLINE. WE HAVE TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE SAME GAS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SMELL. WE ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO. SUGGESTIONS? TOYOTA GAVE US A COPY OF A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DATED 2/24/03 ON SULFUR ODOR FROM EXHAUST. OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS AND ARE DOING NOTHING. *TT
2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER V6 LIMITED GENERATES THIS UNUSUAL (TICK, TICK, TICK) ENGINE NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOOSE PART IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS NOISE IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE 4-RUNNER, DRIVEN BY MY WIFE, ACCELERATES BY ME OR WHEN I DRIVE WITH THE WINDOW OPEN NEXT TO A WALL. WILL THIS NOISE AFF…
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2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER V6 LIMITED GENERATES THIS UNUSUAL (TICK, TICK, TICK) ENGINE NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOOSE PART IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS NOISE IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE 4-RUNNER, DRIVEN BY MY WIFE, ACCELERATES BY ME OR WHEN I DRIVE WITH THE WINDOW OPEN NEXT TO A WALL. WILL THIS NOISE AFFECT ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND SHORTEN ENGINE LIFE? VERY CONCERNED CUSTOMER. *JB
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLS WITH EXHAUST FUMES (ROTTEN EGG SMELL) MAINLY WHEN IN MOTION WITH THE BACK WINDOW DOWN. *JB
AFTER A VERY FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH A GMC SUV WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA SR5 4RUNNER. UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH IT. HOWEVER, AN AMMONIA/SULFUR ODOR HAS BEEN NOTED INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES EXTREME IRRITATION AND A BURNING FEELING IN THE THROAT AND LUNGS OF ANYONE IN THE VEHIC…
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AFTER A VERY FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH A GMC SUV WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA SR5 4RUNNER. UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH IT. HOWEVER, AN AMMONIA/SULFUR ODOR HAS BEEN NOTED INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES EXTREME IRRITATION AND A BURNING FEELING IN THE THROAT AND LUNGS OF ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THEY ALL IMMEDIATELY COMPLAIN. WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS. WE CHECKED THIS SITE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT....THEY HAVE. WE TALKED WITH OUR DEALER ABOUT IT AND WERE TOLD IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE FUMES GIVEN OFF FROM THE FUEL. WE BELIEVE A WIND DEFLECTOR/REAR SPOILER MAY HELP THIS PROBLEM BUT ALSO LEARNED FROM OUR DEALER THAT ONE IS NOT MADE (YET) FOR THIS MODEL 4RUNNER. THIS PHYSICAL IRRITATION AND BURNING FELT WHILE DRIVING IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND WE HOPE MORE COMPLAINTS FILED WILL CAUSE ENOUGH CONCERN TO GET SOMETHING DONE. EITHER WITH THE FUEL OR A PRODUCT TO ELIMINATE THESE ODORS FROM ENTERING THE CABIN. *NLM
I OCCASIONALLY HAVE SULFUR SMELLING FUMES FROM THE EXHAUST IN THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO SWITCH BRANDS OF GASOLINE. I AM LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SMELL THAN THE IDEA THAT EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS DISTRIBUTING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE GAS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE . THE GAS WAS COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND MAKING THE OCCUPANTS SICK. *NLM
ENGINE BELT SQUEAKS. HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND ADJUSTED ANOTHER TIME. SQUEAK RETURNED FOR THIRD TIME WITH UNDER 2000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *NLM
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.