IllustrationWE BOUGHT A NEW 4RUNNER IN MAY 2003 AND WE NOTICED A ROTTEN EGG SULFUR SMELL. AT FIRST I BRUSHED IT OFF THINKING IT WAS THE OUTDOORS, HOWEVER THE SMELL IS STILL PRESENT. *NLM
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
What owners actually said
168 reportsTICKING NOISES ON ACCELERATION. ENGINE USES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE AND ALWAYS SOUNDS AS IF IT IS OVER ACCELERATING. SMELLS OF BURNING RUBBER OFTEN. A BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE 3 RD TIME. NO HEAT OR FAN ON ONE OCCASION. SQUEALING FAN BELT ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE THIRD TIME LOST ALL WATER AND COOLANT AND HAD TO BE TOWE…
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TICKING NOISES ON ACCELERATION. ENGINE USES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE AND ALWAYS SOUNDS AS IF IT IS OVER ACCELERATING. SMELLS OF BURNING RUBBER OFTEN. A BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED FOR THE 3 RD TIME. NO HEAT OR FAN ON ONE OCCASION. SQUEALING FAN BELT ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE THIRD TIME LOST ALL WATER AND COOLANT AND HAD TO BE TOWED. STRONG BURNING SMELL AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 2 WEEKS THIS TIME AND THEY CLAIM THEY ARE REPLACING PULLEYS. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS CAR. I HAVE A 60 MILE COMMUTE. *NLM
2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER V6 SR5 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. IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE TH…
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2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER V6 SR5 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. IT ALSO SOUNDS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE AN EXHAUST LEAK SOMEWHERE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *NLM
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
HEADLINER RATTLES NEAR THE DOME LIGHT. *NLM
REAR WINDOW IS OPEN AND EXHAUST SMOKE FUMES WILL COME INSIDE OF WINDOW WHILE TRAVELING. *AK
ROTTEN 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
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.