2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Complaints

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO HANG VERY LOW. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS RE-ATTACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000. ..UPDATED 09/19/11 *BF ALSO, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/28/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VSC TRACKING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY JERK WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL JETS WERE PLUGGED WITH CARBON, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT SINCE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,160 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,160. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 07/181//

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE TRANSFER CASE IMPLODED AND SPEWED OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE DRIVELINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE VEHICLE WITH A USED TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVELINE AT A COST OF $1,374. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CASE WAS FILED. NO OTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,664. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/12/11

THE VEHICLE WOULD REV ITSELF UP TO A HIGH RPM, FROM A STOPPED POSITION WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE WOULD GO IN REVERSE. THE DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONLY AFTER THE MANAGER BORROWED IT OVERNIGHT AND EXPERIENCED IT HIMSELF, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEGINNING AGAIN. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE RADIATOR LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (I WAS TOLD IT HAD THE WRONG KIND OF ANTIFREEZE; IT WAS GREEN AND IT NEEDS A RED KIND???). WHEN REPLACING THIS I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY FRONT BRAKES WERE PAPER THIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THIS REPAIR COST ME ALMOST $2000. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE REAR WINDOW TRIM HAS SHRUNK. I ALSO HAD THE SUNROOF REPLACED AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE REAR HATCH DOES NOT WORK AS WELL AS THE REAR WIPERS (ALSO WHEN I HOOKED A TRAILER TO IT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE MESSED UP BECAUSE THE TRAILER LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK; WENT TO AUTOZONE AND TESTED THE TRAILER AND IT IS FINE). THE VEHICLE IS STARTING TO ACT FUNNY AGAIN, THE ENGINE REVS ITSELF TO HIGH RPMS (THIS IS NOT THE AUTOMATIC TRANNY BECAUSE IT HAPPENS WHEN IT IDLES AS WELL). THE LAST INCIDENT WAS WHEN I PULLED OUT FROM A STREET PARKING SPOT AND AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WE LOST ALL POWER, WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL IT WAS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL YET I TRIPLE CHECKED AND IT WAS IN DRIVE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT ACTED NORMAL AND DROVE ABOUT 10 FEET THEN IT HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE THE ROTTEN EGG SMELL (SULFUR?) WHICH IS SPORADIC. OF COURSE THE DEALER ALWAYS SAYS THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG, NOTHING IS COMING UP ON THE COMPUTER. LUCKILY NO INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED AS OF YET BUT I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT DECIDES TO PLAY THESE GAMES. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT BECAUSE OF THE REPUTATION. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VSC TRAC TURNED OFF, THE DAY AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRACTION TURNED OFF...THE TOYOTA 2003 4RUNNER FLIPPED OVER. THE VSC TRACTION SHOULD NOT BE TURNED OFF WHEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE NECESSARY STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE THAT A SUV NEEDS NO MATTER WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND ONE PASSENGER STILL SUFFERING FROM INJURIES FROM THE ACCIDENT. *TR

ABS WARNING LITE STAYS ON, BRAKE LITE IS ON, VSC TRAC LITE ON. GOES ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MOSTLY STAYS ON. BRAKES OCCASIONALLY FEEL CRUNCHY AND DO NOT STOP PROPERLY. AM CALLING FOR SERVICE TODAY. VEHICLE WILL BE PARKED UNTIL PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED. *TR

1. RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE. TOYOTA REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. 2. LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZE ON 05/05/2010 AT 95, 988 MILES. MY COST $490.73. LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FROZE ON 11/22/10 AT 102,712 MILES. MY COST $470.40. TOYOTA CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY AS THERE WAS NO REQUIRED RECALL ON THAT PART. THEY TREAT BRAKE CALIPERS LIKE TIRES AND BRAKE PADS. I KNOW THAT CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FAIL. A FROZEN CALIPER CAN REDUCE BRAKING EFFICIENCY BY 25 % PLUS CAUSE INSTABILITY DURING BRAKING. I BELIEVE THE AVERAGE OWNER DOES NOT KNOW THAT CALIPERS SHOULD NOT FREEZE UP, SO THEY ARE BUYING TOYOTA'S DENIAL AS APPROPRIATE. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF