Structure. Review the 278 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 109 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Structure complaints

278 reports

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160,000 miles · Sep 11, 2020

StructureSuspension

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE PERFORATIONS GREATER THAN 10MM. ONE SUCH PERFORATION HAS CREATED A CRACK ON THE FRAME JUST IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT. IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO HIT A BAD ENOUGH BUMP OR POT HOLE, THERE EXISTS A POSSIBILITY THE FRAME COULD SNAP AND ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO BECOME FREE AND TH…

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NHTSA ODI #11354353

179,000 miles · Aug 21, 2020

StructureSuspension

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I TOOK MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER INTO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO DO MY ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE FRAME WAS TOO RUSTED TO PASS INSPECTION. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID THAT THE RUST WAS SO SEVERE IT HAD SEPARATED THE SUSPENSION FROM THE FRAME. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE WORST FRAME RUST HE HAD EVER SEEN AND THAT THE CARS FRAME LOOKED LIKE IT WAS 20 YEARS OLDER THEN IT WAS. IT WAS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP. ALL THE OTHER CARS BUILT ON THIS FRAME HAVE BEEN RECALLED, I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ONE HASN'T BEEN.

NHTSA ODI #11350643

96,000 miles · Aug 4, 2020

Power TrainStructureSuspension

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VEHICLE IS RUSTING AWAY. FROM THE INSIDE. VERY EVIDENT WHEN THE TOYOTA SPECIALIST WHO WORKS ON THE 4RUNNER HAS TO SERVICE IT AND WORK ON IT. THEY HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND ARE SUPPLYING US WITH THEM. THEY ARE A NORTH CAROLINA SAFETY INSPECTOR AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING IS AFFECTED AND OVERALL ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE FRAME HOLDING THE VEHICLE PARTS IN PLACE. WE HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT DOESN'T HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS ONE. IT HAS SOME RUST BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. STARTED NOTICING IT IN 2016 AFTER IT HAD REPAIRS DONE WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTOM AND FRAME PARTS. *THIS 4RUNNER WAS BUILT ON THE TACOMA CHASSIS THAT WAS RECALLED. THIS 4 RUNNER NEEDS TO BE FIXED FOR IT TO BE SAFE. MY SON DRIVES THIS VEHICLE. WELL, HE DID. I CAN'T LET HIM NOW. HE HAS NO VEHICLE. THE PICTURES ARE DISTURBING! ALL OF OUR CARS ARE OLDER AND NEVER HAVE WE HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS. THE 2003 4RUNNERS ARE AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI #11343142

97,000 miles · Jul 30, 2020

Structure

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, THAT THE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTING. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND/OR CARPORT KEPT THE ENTIRE DURATION OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS BOUGHT NEW AND ONLY ONE OWNER. WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT IT MAKES A SCRATCHING SOUND.. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS, I CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RUSTED FRAME.

NHTSA ODI #11342377

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2020

Structure

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MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER STARTED MAKING A THUMP AND SCRATCHING SOUND WHEN DRIVING AS THE ROAD DIPS, TURNS, AND WHEN HITTING ANY TYPE OR SIZE OF SPEED BUMPS AND POT HOLES. AFTER A CLOSER INSPECTION, THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. TIRE DISCOUNTER STAFF IDENTIFIED THE RUST ISSUE. THE BODY OF THE CAR IS LAYING ON THE FRAME AND THE SHOCK IS HITTING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. TIRE DISCOUNTER STAFF STATE, 'YOU ARE ONE POT HOLE AWAY FROM THIS FRAME BREAKING IN HALF.' 'THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.' THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT IT LOOKS TO BE 100 YEARS OLD. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE RUSTED THROUGH FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11331525

154,000 miles · Jun 21, 2020

StructureSuspension

I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER WITH SEVERE FRAME RUST THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE A HAZARD TO DRIVE AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS CLEARLY CONSISTENT WITH TOYOTA'S OTHER RECALLS.

NHTSA ODI #11329872

221,000 miles · May 7, 2020

Structure

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT 4.7 WITH SEVERE FRAME RUST ISSUES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME WILL FAIL SOON. TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECALLING THESE VEHICLES LIKE THE TACOMA'S AND TUNDRAS THAT USED THE SAME FRAMES! WHAT GIVES TOYOTA? *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323624

70,000 miles · Apr 14, 2020

Structure

VEHICLE HAS 100 000 MILES. HEAVY RUST IS OBSERVED SINCE 2018 ON THE MAIN FRAME NEAR THE FRONT END. HOLES AND OPENINGS ON THE FRAME ARE RUSTED OUT AND LARGE AMOUNT OF METAL IS FALLING. SAME PROBLEMS AS REPORTED ON TACOMA. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND STRUCTURAL STRENGTH OF THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF IMPACT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321091

142,000 miles · Apr 9, 2020

Structure

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VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STATIONARY AT DEALER GETTING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN CALLED ME BACK TO THE SHOP TO SHOW ME WHAT HE FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT. EXCESSIVE RUST & CORROSION ON THE FRAME RAILS TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SIDE IMPACT, THE DAMAGE & POSSIBLE INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS WOULD BE MUCH WORSE DUE TO THE DIMINISHED INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO MY OPTIONS SUCH AS WELDING FRAME REINFORCEMENT BUT I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE FRAMES ON THESE MODELS AS THEY DID WITH THE TACOMAS, SEQUOIAS, & TUNDRAS WHICH HAVE THE EXACT SAME FRAMES & EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME RUST & CORROSION PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11320722

150,000 miles · Apr 9, 2020

Structure

HEAVY RUST AND ROT HOLES NEAR WELDS POSSIBLE CAUSING VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. SAME ISSUE TACOMA HAD. THE DATE IS UNKNOWN JUST PUTTING A RANDOM DATE IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11320688

Official recalls

11V113000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 LEXUS LX570, 2003 THROUGH 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AND 2006 THROUGH 2010 RAV4 VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN EARLY APRIL 2011. THE REMEDY WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATION OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND REPLACEMENT OF ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

03V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Apr 14, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES, THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER, LOCATED ON THE FUEL RAIL, MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED, CAUSING A DIAPHRAGM IN THE PULSATION DAMPER TO BE DAMAGED. IF THE DIAPHRAGM FAILS, FUEL MAY LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IF A HEAT SOURCE OR AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PULSATION DAMPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 5, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

02V339000 · Wheels

Dec 17, 2002

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FIVE FACTORY ALLOY WHEELS (MODEL 6934 AND 6936), WITH FACTORY LLAT, AND WITH PORT INSTALLED WR4, FOUR ALLOY WHEEL UPGRADE PROCESSED AT THE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA PORT AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PROCESSED AT THE PORT, AN ALLOY TIRE/WHEEL UPGRADE WAS INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDED 4 ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/ALLOY WHEEL WAS NOT CHANGED. THE SPARE TIRE REQUIRES THE USE OF A DIFFERENT STYLE OF WHEEL NUT TO ATTACH IT TO THE VEHICLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SPARE TIRE/WHEEL IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE USING THE WHEEL NUTS PROVIDED FOR THE UPGRADE ALLOY WHEEL, DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL COULD RESULT AND COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A LOOSE WHEEL.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.

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

DP18002 · Frame Corrosion

Opened Aug 17, 2018 · Closed Mar 18, 2022

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:frame And Members

On August 7, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Gary Weinreich alleging premature frame corrosion failure in model year (MY) 2002 - 2006 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The petitioner based his request upon a corrosion-related front suspension failure he experienced in his MY 2005 Toyota 4Runner, a class action lawsuit settlement involving other Toyota products, and other complaints of underbody corrosion in Toyota 4Runner vehicles that he found in NHTSA?s online complaint database. The petitioner submitted a complaint to NHTSA documenting his experience (NHTSA ID 11098055). On August 17, 2018, ODI opened DP18-002 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI?s evaluation included information provided by the petitioner regarding his vehicle, facts related to the class action lawsuit cited by the petitioner, and consumer complaint data received by NHTSA regarding underbody corrosion in third and fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner vehicles.The undercarriage of the petitioner?s vehicle exhibited severe corrosion damage indicative of seawater immersion. The vehicle?s service history shows that concerns with underbody corrosion were first noted by a Toyota dealer in a multi-point vehicle inspection performed on April 28, 2011. The invoice for that inspection noted ?severe and excessive amount of rust on the undercarriage and on the drive shaft transmission.? Two years later, on October 21, 2013, another multi-point inspection by a Toyota dealer observed further progression of underbody corrosion damage, noting: ?rust on shocks/struts and other components,? ?rust on exhaust system,? ?both splash shields severely rusted,? and ?undercarriage very rusty.? On July 17, 2017, approximately 10 months prior to experiencing the suspension failure incident, an independent repair facility performing routine oil change and brake maintenance informed the Petitioner of a concern with ?excessive frame corrosion? on his vehicle. The service history, severe general corrosion damage, failure age, and environment do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure.ODI?s analysis of NHTSA complaint data identified fifteen incidents of front lower control arm failure in fourth-generation Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicles. Two of the failures, including the petitioner?s vehicle, involve vehicles operated in ocean front communities with continuous exposure to aerosolized marine salts and potential exposure to seawater immersion. The remaining thirteen failures all involved vehicles owned or previously registered in states with the greatest use of deicing salts to treat road surfaces in winter months (?Salt states?). On average, the front lower control arm failures occurred after 13.1 years in service in highly corrosive environments. The failure ages and environments do not support the petitioner?s allegation of premature corrosion failure. NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Since the information before the Agency is not indicative of a vehicle-based defect, it is unlikely that any investigation opened because of granting this petition would result in an order concerning the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect. Therefore, upon full consideration of the information presented in the petition and the potential risks to safety, the petition is denied. The denial of this petition does not foreclose the Agency from taking further action if warranted or the p

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal