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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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123 miles · Mar 24, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

2003 4 RUNNER..... 12,000 MILES, RUNNING ON AMACO SLIVER GAS, STILL SMELLS AS ROTTEN AS EVER...BEEN THROUGH HELL WITH THE SCOTT CLARK TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTE AND GASTON (NORTH CAROLINA).....THEY ARE ALL LIARS!!!! SAYING IT'S THE FIRST THEY EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.....FILED REPORTS AND CONTACTED OWNERS..CALLED EVERYONE...EVEN TH…

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2003 4 RUNNER..... 12,000 MILES, RUNNING ON AMACO SLIVER GAS, STILL SMELLS AS ROTTEN AS EVER...BEEN THROUGH HELL WITH THE SCOTT CLARK TOYOTA IN CHARLOTTE AND GASTON (NORTH CAROLINA).....THEY ARE ALL LIARS!!!! SAYING IT'S THE FIRST THEY EVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.....FILED REPORTS AND CONTACTED OWNERS..CALLED EVERYONE...EVEN THOSE JERKS COULDN'T MAIL ME LEMON LAW PAPERS ETC. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE, A CLASS LAWSUIT WITH ENOUGH PEOPLE MAY GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED OR AT LEAST MY $39,000 BACK. THE SMELL OF SULPHER STINKS SO BAD THAT IT'S TO HARD TO EVEN SALE THE PIECE OF JUNK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10063797

100 miles · Nov 9, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

2003 4 RUNNER V6 HAS LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE CONMPARTMENT. I RAN IT BY THE DEALERSHIP 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE TOO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. APPROXIMATLY 2 MONTHS LATER REAR SEAT WAS SQUEAKING. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER HAD THEM FIX THE SEAT AND DIAGNOSE THE NOISE COMING FRO…

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2003 4 RUNNER V6 HAS LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE CONMPARTMENT. I RAN IT BY THE DEALERSHIP 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE TOO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. APPROXIMATLY 2 MONTHS LATER REAR SEAT WAS SQUEAKING. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER HAD THEM FIX THE SEAT AND DIAGNOSE THE NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AGAIN. THEY FIXED THE SEAT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE INJECTORS MAKING THE NOISE. I TOLD THE SEVICE MANAGER THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY. THE 2002 4 RUNNER IS VERY QUIET. I AM PLANNING A RETURN TRIP TO THE DEALER WHEN I FIND ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10045828

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SPORTS EDITION 2003 4 RUNNER IN JULY OF 2003. THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA I WAS TOLD THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS I USE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND TOYOTA JUST WASHES THEIR HANDS OF IT. I WAS GIVEN A PAPER WHICH PURPORTS TO B…

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I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SPORTS EDITION 2003 4 RUNNER IN JULY OF 2003. THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA I WAS TOLD THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS I USE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND TOYOTA JUST WASHES THEIR HANDS OF IT. I WAS GIVEN A PAPER WHICH PURPORTS TO BE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT STATES: FEB 24 2003 - SOME OWNERS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SULFUR LIKE OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SULFUR IS A NATURAL COMPONENT OF CRUDE OIL FROM WHICH GASOLINE IS REFINED AND THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR CAN BE DECREASED THROUGH THE REFINING PROCESS. THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR IN FUEL SOLD IN CALIFORNIA IS REGULATED; HOWEVER, GASOLINE SOLD IN OTHER STATES CAN HAVE A HIGHER SULFUR CONTENT. SULFUR CONTENT ALSO VARIES CONSIDERABLY BETWEEN GASOLINE BRANDS AND LOCATIONS. APPLICABLE VEHICLES ALL MODELS REPAIR PROCEDURE : A SULFUR ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLES TAILPIPE DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES RUNNING CONDITION BUT IS MOST LIKELY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FUEL. IF VEHICLES IS EXHIBITING AN EXCESSIVE SULFUR ODOR THE FOLLOWING CHECKS SHOULD BE PERFORMED IF THE MIL LIGHT IS ON CHECK FOR DTC'S AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY INFORMATION TROUBLE IS FOUND AFTER PERFORMING THE ABOVE CHECK RECOMMEND THE CUSTOMER TRY A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF FUEL. REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN SENSORS, AIR/FUEL RATIO SENSORS OR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WILL NOT REDUCE THE ODOR AND THEREFORE NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR WARRANTY (SOUNDS LIKE A COP-OUT TO ME) TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK FOR A SOLUTION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045668

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V146000. CALLED THE DEALER TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. DEALER STATED WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PART YET AND WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026222

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A RECALL # 03V146000 REPAIRS CONCERNING FUEL PULSATION DAMPER. CONSUMER WENT FOR THE APPOINTMENT ON MAY 27,2003 AND THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO CALL WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. AS OF TODAY THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024084

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.