general problems of the 2003 Toyota 4Runner

There is severe rust on the frame, the rear is listing by 3/4 of an inch due to suspension rust, parts of the frame are perforated and lots of rust can fall out of drain holes when tapped. I am unable to steer the truck due to the intermediate steering column rust. The tacoma was recalled for the same reason, I am assuming the 4runner has not been recalled because it was manufactured in greater numbers, and therefore more costly to repair, the danger of the severe rust is the same in both vehicles.

Stabilizer bar connected to the frame rusted off,back passenger side! causing the vehicle to sway uncontrollably, due to the low rate of speed, I was able to regain control of my vehicle and not drive off the bridge I was driving over at the time or crash into another vehicle. The engine runs great, everything works, the vehicle still looks good but the frame is rusting out from underneath it! Toyota needs to make it right!.

Stabilizer bar connecting the axle to the frame rusted off. I was driving only 25-30mph at the time, luckily. The vehicle swayed violently almost causing an accident and nearly forcing me off the bridge I happened to driving over. Very fortunate no one was hurt and nothing was damaged from the incident. You can imagine the tragedy if that had happened on the highway driving 75mph! major accident, innocent lives damaged or lost. This is a very dangerous vehicle not only to the driver and passengers but also to anybody that happened to be innocently in the path of an out of control Toyota 4runner. Toyota please fix this, for your safety and everyone else on the highway. People should be warned!!.

Vehicle frame and suspension components are completely rusting out. Having issues with the corroded steering column lower shaft not allowing the vehicle to turn properly.

At the end of June 2021, while driving I experienced a loud clunk and grinding noise, with reduced control of steering and brakes on my 4runner. I took the 4runner to a goodyear automotive service center on woodward avenue in royal oak, michigan, who told me that the vehicle was not driveable due to severe rust damage of the frame that resulted in a broken sway bar. I thought I should take it to the closest Toyota dealership in troy, michigan for advice and they responded that the vehicle was beyond repair and that a new frame would cost around $20,000. I could not leave my car there, and risked driving it home, where it has been parked ever since.

Frame is rotted out and brake lines attached to the frame as well as every suspension component. Car failed inspection deemed unsafe to drive. This problem has been addressed for tacoma, tundra and sequoia but not 4runner. These frames have the same issue as those and needs to be repaired by Toyota due to lack of rust and corrosion protection. There’s no reason 4runner should be overlooked for the same issue as the other full frame trucks.

Loud noise while driving. Upon inspection, excessive rust and corrosion to frame of vehicle found. Holes in frame larger than 2 inches.

Frame is almost completely rusted out even thought the rest of the car is in good shape. I am afraid to let my son even drive the car. I read about the girl that died from the axle coming loose and part of the frame that holds the axle is in horrible shape. Toyota should be required to add these vehicles to the frame recall. . .

Excessive frame and undercarriage rust. I have owned several other cars over 30-40+ years and this 03 4runner has the worst rust. Instead of simple surface rust, this rust has affected frame welds, suspension mounting points, tow and lift points. Rusting pace is extremely fast moving. There appears to be only a simple layer of thin paint, with no undercoating anywhere. This 4runner was serviced regularly, motor is running great, body and interior are in great condition. This was a gift from grandpa to grandson, but I am concerned of safety and at this point recommending only local, under 35mph travel only. Probably scrap the car soon as not much to do but replace frame. Very disappointed with misled condition, outside/inside/motor perfect, but frame rotting away. My family and friends have purchased Toyotas with little incident, but I won't buy or recommended knowing they have a life of ~10yrs.

Frame has extreme and rusting and has been reinforced by welding new steel support frames.

The control arm separated from the rotted rusted frame while driving. Almost died!.

Structural rust to frame. Cracks and holes at welds and attachment points of suspension and steering. Frame is disintegrating under the truck, complete structural failure is imminent.

The frame is rusted out and the rear suspension mounting brackets are starting to look like potato chips. Also noticed steering components are severally rusted.

Extreme rust/rot throughout my 2003 4runner frame. The body, interior, powertrain are 8. 5 out of 10 the frame is a 0 I live in new england and recently purchased the 03 4runner sr5 based off it looks. I drove the 4runner of about a month before the incident happened. I was driving on a typical new england road, fairly smooth with pot holes here and there going approximately 45 m. P. H. . Without any warning the 4runner sent the front of the truck hard left and the rear of the truck to the right. The tires were screeching and I was sent sideways into oncoming traffic narrowing missing cars and pedestrians in the area. I got the truck to "crab walk" back across the road into a parking out and called a tow truck. When we got the truck home the tow truck driver and I took a look under the truck to see what went wrong. The right rear control arm mount had completely separated from the frame. With the truck on ththe ground I was able to roll the rear right wheel forward and backwards about 5 inches without the vehicle moving at all. I then got under the truck and saw that the cross member under the transmission had rusted away and and what not in contact with the driver side of the truck. Also I could push holes in the the frame with my fingers around the driver/ front passenger doors. I have not driven the 4runner since and I dont have 8k+ to pay a shop to replace a frame. Toyota needs to step up and take care of its customers before someone gets killed.

The frame on my 2003 Toyota 4runner has almost rusted completely through the frame. While driving on i40 going around a deep curve I lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road without injury or collision. It was inspected and deemed not safe to drive due to the rusted frame. This vehicle is now immobile until the frame is replaced. I am requesting that this vehicle is included in the recall for the Toyota 4 runners. This happened 9/26/2018.

Frame is completely rusted out. Steel is literally falling off from the rust and my suspensions are completely shot and exposed due to rust.

Steering locked up during turn into busy parking lot sheetz store and gas station safely stopped vehicle after trouble shooting the problem we sprayed penetrating oil on lower steering shaft universal we moved vehicle to be towed home waiting for parts complete failure could have been deadly if driving at highway speed. This is the second rust problem we have had with Toyota nothing was ever done we lost a 1997 Toyota t-100 in an accident due to frame failure.

I purchased this 4runner in March, 2015. I began to notice a vibration in the steering wheel at 63mph. I thought it was brakes, I had brakes and rotors surfaced on 3/12/15. Still vibrating! so I figured it was a simple balancing issue, I took it on the same day to have it balanced. It started vibrating and shaking worse! I had the same mechanic re-balance and rotate the wheels/tires. It road the same. They turned me to the Toyota dealership because they have the road enforce balancer. I took it to Toyota to have them test drive first, they claimed it was indeed out of balance. Toyota balanced. I drove it and it was shaking like a leaf at 32-70mph. I had Toyota re-balance again! I drove it again and it remained worse. They informed me that they didn't know what else to do. I left thinking that it was my wheels and or my tires because in my mind Toyota knows best! I went to where the tires were bought, tires are 3 months new. They informed me that this same 4runner had been brought in by the previous owner with the exact same issue. They pulled the wheels off and pulled me aside to show me how excessive the balancing weights were on each rim and some all the way around rim (Toyota's doing). They balanced using the haweka, it drove better but still vibrating at 32-70mph. They re-balanced again, still same issue. They used a different set of wheels and balanced again, same issue. They installed my original wheels back on and re-balanced again, same issue! they checked hubs, bearings, alignment, brakes, rotors, boots, axle and everything checks out. I have invested nearly 4 days and $300 in locating the issue. I have done research and so many Toyota 4runner owners are complaining about the same issue. I am clueless and don't know what else to do. I am running out of patience and money! please help!.

The steering felt like it had been briefly catching or grabbing on something, so we took it in for service since this is a safety issue when the car does not turn as expected. The mechanic said the steering coupler was rusted, causing it to bind up with the joint when turning. He said the part is completely exposed on the underside of the car, and it rots with the road water salt, etc. The part was unavailable and the parts place said they have sold so many of them recently that it was on backorder. The part has now come in and we will be repairing it tomorrow. We replaced the same part for the same reason on our 2004 Toyota sienna six months ago. I would like to know why this has not been a recall issue for Toyota. I have had the same thing happen on both of my Toyota vehicles, and has cost me money to fix something that appears to be improperly designed to last. There is a recall on the spare tire cable that is rotting from exposure, and I don't understand how there can be no recall related to something that impacts the ability to steer the vehicle as expected. Thank you.

Binding or sticking power steering on 2003 Toyota 4runner. Occurred continuously beginning at about 90,000 miles. Dealer replaced steering "joint" at cost of $500. Tended to lock in straight-ahead position unless extreme force was applied.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4runner. While driving 30 mph, the steering wheel shook very badly. The contact pulled the vehicle over because he thought he had a flat tire, but that was not the case. The vehicle was taken to have the tire pressure checked and then to the dealer for inspection. The shaking only occurs while driving over 30 mph. The contact stated that there was a recall for this vehicle. The dealer checked the recall database, but found no recalls. The vehicle is currently at the dealer for inspection. There is a recall for the 2001-2002 Toyota 4runner regarding the suspension and the contact believes that the same failure is occurring on his vehicle. The failure mileage was 71,100 and the current mileage was unknown.

I own a 2003 4 runner and also my daughter. I have reported the following issue to Toyota and also have taken the vehicle to a dealer. On snowy or icy roads, the rear end of the 4 runner will flip around when accelerating around a corner at very low speeds. It has happened to me three times and to my daughter 3 or 4 times. Both vehicle have new tires and the situation still occurs. I live in nc and we do not get a lot of snow. It happen a week ago when we got some snow. It can just happen so fast. My daughter is scared to drive it. Our 2000 4 runner would not come close of acting this way. Bottomline, it is unsafe. You must be extremely cautious or you will spin the car around.

Steering wheel has resonate vibration at certain engine rpm. It is not tire vibration but more like a buzz at these speeds. We filed for arbitration and lost because arbitrator would not drive the vehicle to feel the problem. Toyota has refused to fix though they know of the problem fleet wide. I feel that a total recall of this model is necessary.

Vibration in steering. Dealer cannot fix. Went to arbitration and lost due to biased investigator and policy that would not allow arbitrator to drive the vehicle. Two other dealers acknowledge the vibration but say it is designed that way!--also mileage computer inaccurate and excessive wind noise.

Shimmy in steering wheel between 60 and 65 mph. Auto door down & up will not work. Noticed problems after purchased (4 miles on vehicle) dealer balanced tires and still had vibration. Will replace tires to see if this fixes problem. Replace window motor.