IllustrationPASSENGER COMPARTMENT FILLS WITH EXHAUST FUMES (ROTTEN EGG SMELL) MAINLY WHEN IN MOTION WITH THE BACK WINDOW DOWN. *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
What owners actually said
168 reportsAFTER A VERY FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH A GMC SUV WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA SR5 4RUNNER. UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH IT. HOWEVER, AN AMMONIA/SULFUR ODOR HAS BEEN NOTED INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES EXTREME IRRITATION AND A BURNING FEELING IN THE THROAT AND LUNGS OF ANYONE IN THE VEHIC…
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AFTER A VERY FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE WITH A GMC SUV WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA SR5 4RUNNER. UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH IT. HOWEVER, AN AMMONIA/SULFUR ODOR HAS BEEN NOTED INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSES EXTREME IRRITATION AND A BURNING FEELING IN THE THROAT AND LUNGS OF ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THEY ALL IMMEDIATELY COMPLAIN. WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS. WE CHECKED THIS SITE TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT....THEY HAVE. WE TALKED WITH OUR DEALER ABOUT IT AND WERE TOLD IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE FUMES GIVEN OFF FROM THE FUEL. WE BELIEVE A WIND DEFLECTOR/REAR SPOILER MAY HELP THIS PROBLEM BUT ALSO LEARNED FROM OUR DEALER THAT ONE IS NOT MADE (YET) FOR THIS MODEL 4RUNNER. THIS PHYSICAL IRRITATION AND BURNING FELT WHILE DRIVING IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND WE HOPE MORE COMPLAINTS FILED WILL CAUSE ENOUGH CONCERN TO GET SOMETHING DONE. EITHER WITH THE FUEL OR A PRODUCT TO ELIMINATE THESE ODORS FROM ENTERING THE CABIN. *NLM
I OCCASIONALLY HAVE SULFUR SMELLING FUMES FROM THE EXHAUST IN THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO SWITCH BRANDS OF GASOLINE. I AM LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SMELL THAN THE IDEA THAT EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. *NLM
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED,V8 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF GEAR.SHE HAD IT IN 4D GEAR FOR NORMAL DRIVING.SHE PULLED OVER AND PUT IT IN 4D GEAR AGAIN AND IT POPPED OUT A SECOND TIME.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. SHE PULLED OVER AGAIN AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SHE PROCEEDED T…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED,V8 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF GEAR.SHE HAD IT IN 4D GEAR FOR NORMAL DRIVING.SHE PULLED OVER AND PUT IT IN 4D GEAR AGAIN AND IT POPPED OUT A SECOND TIME.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO APPEARED. SHE PULLED OVER AGAIN AND TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SHE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION WITHOUT THE GEAR POPPING OUT.SHE CALLED OUR SON TO PICK UP THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE.THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID IT HAD TO HAPPEN WHILE THEY WERE TESTING THE CAR TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THEY COULDN'T REPEAT THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. THIS SITUATION COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE,WHO DO WE CONTACT? MY WIFE'S WORK NUMBER IS 412-875-1481
THE VEHICLE WAS DISTRIBUTING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE GAS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE . THE GAS WAS COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND MAKING THE OCCUPANTS SICK. *NLM
ENGINE BELT SQUEAKS. HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND ADJUSTED ANOTHER TIME. SQUEAK RETURNED FOR THIRD TIME WITH UNDER 2000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *NLM
EXHAUST FUMES APPARENTLY ENTERING CABIN OF VEHICLE. SMELL OF SULFUR VERY STRONG EVEN WHEN ALL WINDOWS ARE UP. *JB
THE 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
FRONT SECTION OF SEAT UNDER LEGS HAS COME LOOSE. *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.