Five problems related to driveshaft have been reported for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Toyota 4Runner based on all problems reported for the 2003 4Runner.
Continuing problem on my 2003 v8 4runner with the drive shaft. When I come to a stop or when I accelerate after a stop there is a momentary lag that feels like a "clunk" or that someone has just run into your back bumper. Toyota dealer "fixes" the problem with grease to the slip yoke but after 2,000 miles it comes back and is only getting worse. I've complained to the dealer continually and Lexus 470 (same vehicle) has a TSB on the same occurrence. It has become increasingly annoying and can only be classifies as a dangerous defect.
I presently have my 2003 4 runner v8 limited in for the second time in less then a year for air suspension problems. In both cases the air suspension stays in the fully inflated position. They replaced the compressor the first time in (21 days to get parts), and this time they tell me it?s the air release portion of the compressor. Which means their replacing the compressor again (7 days and counting waiting for parts). I also had the vehicle in for a wobbling sound, the problem was a driveshaft that was installed backwards on the assembly line. Toyota indicated that this occurs once in a while during assembly.
When coming to a stop and/or accelerating from a stop the car will jerk forward with a thud. Sometimes two or three thuds are felt and heard. The dealer witnessed this problem and ourisman Toyota in chantilly, va replaced the transmission at 14,500 miles. The problem seemed to go away for a while. I returned to the same dealer with the same complaint at 32,000 miles and they replaced the drive shaft. I returned again on 11/30/04 and the service manager witnessed the same problem within 200 feet of driving. The service manager indicated he believes this is normal (even though this was not a problem till about 12,000 miles). He is going to discuss this with the Toyota rep who is in town this week. I.
From the date of purchase thered has been a loud "thud" noise when releasing the brake pedal. This does not occur on a continual or predictable basis. The Toyota dealership examined the 4runner and didn't find the brakes to be faulty; however the sound and a surge are still present it reminds me of the "thud" sound that was inherent in the t-100 pick-up truck when it was started in reverse. I have an automatic transmission in my vehicle and wonder if failure is imminent there or in the drive shaft. In either case this is an obvious flaw and must be addressed by Toyota. My daughter owned a 2002 Toyota pick-up truck and said it made the same sound for as long as she owned it.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. While driving 2 mph with the brakes applied, the vehicle would surge and make a thumping sound. The dealer lubricated the u joint, but the failure recurred a month later. The failure mileage was 2,000 and current mileage was 70,000. Updated 03/04/08. The consumer stated a propeller assembly/driveshaft was needed to correct the problem. Updated.