IllustrationI WAS SOLD PRE-OWNED TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITHOUT ITS BEING INSPECTED AND THEN I FELT ILL TREATED TO BE RECALLED TO SIGN A NEW PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH AN INCREASED INTEREST PERCENTAGE, JUST BECAUSE I AM BLACK! *NM
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
Structure complaints
6 reportsVIBRATION IN STEERING. DEALER CANNOT FIX. WENT TO ARBITRATION AND LOST DUE TO BIASED INVESTIGATOR AND POLICY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW ARBITRATOR TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TWO OTHER DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIBRATION BUT SAY IT IS DESIGNED THAT WAY!--ALSO MILEAGE COMPUTER INACCURATE AND EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE.
AAFTER THE OVERNIGHT TEMPORATURE DROPPED BEFOW FREEZING, BOTH OF MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER REAR DOORS FROZE TO THEIR WHEEL WELLS DUE TO A MINOR ACCUMULATION OF MUD IN THE WHEEL WELLS (LESS THAN 1/4 INCH THICK) WHERE THE DOOR BOTTOM EXTENDS. ALTHOUGH THE DOOR LATCHES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY, AND THE DOORS COULD BE 'SPRUNG' AWAY FROM …
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AAFTER THE OVERNIGHT TEMPORATURE DROPPED BEFOW FREEZING, BOTH OF MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER REAR DOORS FROZE TO THEIR WHEEL WELLS DUE TO A MINOR ACCUMULATION OF MUD IN THE WHEEL WELLS (LESS THAN 1/4 INCH THICK) WHERE THE DOOR BOTTOM EXTENDS. ALTHOUGH THE DOOR LATCHES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY, AND THE DOORS COULD BE 'SPRUNG' AWAY FROM THE FRAME AT THE TOP, THE BOTTOM REMAINED FROZEN TO THE WHEEL WELL PROHIBITING OPENING. EMERGENCY EGREES WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE.*AK
I PURCHASED MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER VEHICLE ON JULY 31, 2003. APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH A RATTLE OR NOISE COMING FROM THE HEADLINER / SUNROOF AREA OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON 08/29/2003, 10/14/2003, 11/25/2003 AND 12/22/2003 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BUT TO…
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I PURCHASED MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER VEHICLE ON JULY 31, 2003. APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH A RATTLE OR NOISE COMING FROM THE HEADLINER / SUNROOF AREA OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON 08/29/2003, 10/14/2003, 11/25/2003 AND 12/22/2003 TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED BUT TO DATE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DO SO. THUS FAR, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR DAYS AND THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOUR SEPARATE TIMES AND NOW THEY ARE ASKING ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE FIFTH TIME TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.
PAINT HAS CHIPPED DOWN TO THE BARE METAL IN 3 PLACES AND ANOTHER AREA HAS A FOUR INCH DIAMETER OFF-COLOR SWIRL SHOWINGTHROUGH THE PAINT AND/OR CLEAR COAT.*AK
HEADLINER RATTLES NEAR THE DOME LIGHT. *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.