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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR( 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER) STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITHIN A MINUTE. SINCE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, PLUS I HAD NO POWER. FINALLY A POLICE CAR PULLED UP BEH…

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I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR( 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER) STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITHIN A MINUTE. SINCE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, PLUS I HAD NO POWER. FINALLY A POLICE CAR PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND HAD ME TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTART. I WAS ABLE THEN TO PULL OVER WITH THE OFFICER'S HELP TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE "TRANSMISSION INPUT SPEED SENSOR(P0717)" HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT A CAR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING (ESPECAILLY ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). I WOULD FAR RATHER TO HAVE DAMAGE TO A TRANSMISSION THAN TO BE HIT IN THE REAR AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE I HAVE NO POWER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108286

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

THE DESIGN FLAW OF THE GAS PEDAL CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMERS RIGHT KNEE AND LOWER BACK. *TC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10108945

11,200 miles · Dec 22, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *JB......*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105241

1,000 miles · Mar 19, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

REGARDING MY 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, LIMITED, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WITH A V-8 ENGINE AND 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (SEPTEMBER 28, 2003) THE ENGINE HAS PERIODICALLY ACCELERATED SUDDENLY BY ITSELF, WHILE AT A STOP, SUCH AS AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE AC ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES THIS RES…

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REGARDING MY 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, LIMITED, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WITH A V-8 ENGINE AND 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (SEPTEMBER 28, 2003) THE ENGINE HAS PERIODICALLY ACCELERATED SUDDENLY BY ITSELF, WHILE AT A STOP, SUCH AS AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE AC ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN AN ABRUPT ACCELERATION SIMILAR TO BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR. IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE IN THESE INSTANCES, I WOULD HAVE SHOT INTO THE INTERSECTION. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT HAS TO BE DOING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND AS PREDICTABLE THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. ALL THEY DID WAS CONFIRM ITS IDLE, THEY DID NOT DRIVE IT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INCIDENT. I'VE NOTED OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA ON THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES ARE INCURRED BY SOMEONE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10062625

5,300 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN VEHICLE IDLED AT A STOP AND THE HEATER/ AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE BRAKE MUST BE HELD DOWN HARD. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10053656

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10031644

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.