IllustrationEXHAUST FUMES APPARENTLY ENTERING CABIN OF VEHICLE. SMELL OF SULFUR VERY STRONG EVEN WHEN ALL WINDOWS ARE UP. *JB
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 reportsTHE CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. *JB
EXHAUST FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHILE DRIVING. *JB
MY 2003 4RUNNER V6 LIMITED GENERATES THIS UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. MY OBSERVATIONS INCLUDE A POSSIBLE LOSS IN POWER AND AFFECTS ENGINE PERFORMANCE, AND POSSIBLY THE LONGEVITY OF THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO A SECOND TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED BUT A SOLUTION IS YET TO BE DETERMINED SIN…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 4RUNNER V6 LIMITED GENERATES THIS UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING. MY OBSERVATIONS INCLUDE A POSSIBLE LOSS IN POWER AND AFFECTS ENGINE PERFORMANCE, AND POSSIBLY THE LONGEVITY OF THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO A SECOND TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED BUT A SOLUTION IS YET TO BE DETERMINED SINCE THE V6 4.0 IS A NEW ENGINE. CURRENTLY, I WAIT FOR A TOYOTA TECHNICIAN FROM THE FACTORY TO EXAMINE THE ENGINE. MEANWHILE, I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND I AM AFRAID THAT I AM DOING MORE HARM TO IT'S LIFE EXPECTANCY. WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO ACCELERATE THE PROCESS SINCE I FEEL THAT I AM BEING GIVEN THE RUNAROUND. I HAVE BEEN A FAITHFUL TOYOTA CUSTOMER AS THIS IS MY 3RD 4RUNNER, AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MANY THANKS. *NLM
TOXIC SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL IN CABIN OF AUTOMOBILE
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.