205 complaints reported

2003 Toyota 4Runner Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
205
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2021

THE FRAME OF MY CAR IS CORRODING AT AN ALARMING RATE AND EVEN AFTER TREATMENT IT CONTINUES TO RUST TO THE POINT WHERE MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2021
Mar 2021

Extreme frame rust. The vehicle has extreme frame rust and Toyota should be held accountable for poor quality frame material. I have heard tons of stories of other peoples steering components snapping due to rust and frame damage.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2021
Mar 2021

OUR 2003 4RUNNER FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGHOUT. NOT EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE WITH 127,000 MILES. THE CONTROL ARM IS READY TO FALL OFF. THANKFULLY, A BUSTED BRAKE LINE GOT US INTO THE SHOP BEFORE A BAD ACCIDENT HAPPENED. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT SPENDING $4000 ON FRAMEWORK TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. SO SAD THAT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOW FOR YEARS AND NO ONE IS MAKING TOYOTA MAKE IT RIGHT. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. WE WERE READY TO TAKE A 1000 MILE TRIP FROM ALABAMA TO TEXAS WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RUST. MY MECHANIC STUCK A PENCIL THROUGH THE FRAME! IT'S SOOOOO BAD! PLEASE DO SOMETHING!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2021
Feb 2021

EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON FRAME. THE SKID PLATE HAS FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE DUE TO ROTTEN CONTACT POINTS ON THE FRAME. SECONDARY FRAME ELEMENTS HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE IN TRANSIT DUES TO CORRODED WELDS. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2019
Feb 2021

The frame of the vehicle is rusted to the point my fist can fit through a hole in the frame.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2021
Jan 2021

SEVERE RUST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Aug 2017
Jan 2021

MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER'S FRAME HAS OUTRAGEOUS RUST ISSUES. I HAVE AS BIG AS QUARTER SIZE HOLES THAT HAVE RUSTED THROUGH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE. THIS IS MY FAMILY CAR TRANSPORTING MY KIDS AND IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR TOYOTA TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS AND REFUSE TO RESOLVE IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2020
Sep 2020

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER THAT HAS 165K MILES AND I WAS TOLD IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME HAVING CRACK DUE TO RUST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2020
Sep 2020

I WAS READY TO GIVE 4RUNNER TO MY DAUGHTER AND ASK TOYOTA DEALER TO INSPECT AND GIVE ME RUN DOWN OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AFTER 150000 MILES. ONE OF THE LINE ITEM SAYS FRAME NEED PATCHES. UPON A CLOSER LOOK, THERE IS A RUST ON SPECIFIC SIDES OF THE FRAME. THE RUST IS LOCATED VERY SPECIFIC IN THE JOINT. THE RUST HAS PENETRATED DEEP INTO THE STEEL AROUND HALF INCH AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH IF NOT REPAIRED WILL CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE EVEN IN NON COLLISION ACCIDENT BECAUSE JUST THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND DRIVING IN ROUGH TERRAIN WILL CUT THE BODY IN THE MIDDLE INTO 2 SECTIONS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2020
Sep 2020

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2015
Sep 2020

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2020
Aug 2020

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LIMITED. GREAT VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE FRAME RUSTING AND HAVING WEAK SPOTS. WE HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATIONS. THESE ARE BUILT ON A TRUCK FRAME AND THE TOYOTA SEQUOIAS, TUNDRAS AND TACOMA'S HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2016
Jul 2020

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2020
Jul 2020

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2019
Jun 2020

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2020
Jun 2020

TOOK VEHICLE FOR NEW MUFFLER. ADVISED NOT ONLY MUFFLER RUSTED THROUGH BUT THE FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND DEEMED UNSAFE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2020
Apr 2020

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2017
Mar 2020

I FOUND OUT IN LATE 2018 OR EARLY 2019 THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER LOOKING CLOSER THE RUSTED OUT AREA IS 2 FOOT LONG BY 3 INCH WIDE. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT BUT CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY WHILE DRIVE G IT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2018
Feb 2020

THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. MY 4RUNNER WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN BABIED AND USED FOR SHORT COMMUTE I HAVE READ ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE RUSTED CAR FRAME IS UNSAFE FOR DRIVING . I'M TOLD THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN BABIED AND IS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION EXCEPT FOR THE FRAME. THE IS NO RUST ON THE BODY OR OTHER PLACES... JUST THE FRAME THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE A LOT OF LIFE LEFT IN IT AS THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SELL IT FOR PARTS. I'M TOLD THAT TOYOTA HAS REPLACED SOME FRAMES AND THEY DO THIS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. APPARENTLY THE 4RUNNER IS ON THE SAME FRAME AS A COUPLE OF THEIR TRCKS (TUNDRA, ETC.) THE TRUCK FRAMES ARE ALSO RUSTING AND GOING BAD. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BAD FRAMES. I LIVE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF VIRGINIA. I DO NOT LIVE IN THE RUST BELT. WE GET VERY LITTLE SNOW AND ICE. THE FRAMES HAVE A FACTORY DEFECT. ANY FRAME, WHEN USED IN THE CAPACITY AS WE HAVE USED OUR 4RUNNER SHOULD NEVER GO BAD AS THIS ONE HAS. THE FRAME IS A SERIOUS CAR SAFETY ISSUE. FROM READING THE INTERNET, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR TOYOTAS AS THERE ARE MANY MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE (BAD RUSTED FRAMES THAT MAKE THEIR VEHICLES UNDRIVEABLE). PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE THE FRAMES. IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO THIS, THEN AT LEAST GIVE A GENERAL TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE. . I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT MY 4$UNNER IF I NEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THEM.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2019
Feb 2020

THE FRAME IS ROTTING AND CRACKING. IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND HAS BEEN USED FOR SHORT COMMUTES. IT IS NOW UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY KIDS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2020
Feb 2020

EXCESSIVE RUST / ROT ON THE FRAME LIKE THE TACOMA, SEQUOIA, AND TUNDRA. TOYOTA HASNT PUT ANYTHING OUT FOR THE 4RUNNERS. FOUND DAMAGE 31OCT2020

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2020
Jan 2020

THERE IS EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE ON THE FRAME TOWARDS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE. IN 1-2 YEARS, MY 4RUNNER WILL NEED FRAME REPAIRS, IF NOT SOONER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2020
Jan 2020

WHILE MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS IN A SERVICE APPOINTMENT, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME HAS SEVERELY DETERIORATED DUE TO CORROSION AND RUST. I WAS ABLE TO INSPECT AND DOCUMENT THE CORROSION WITH PHOTOGRAPHS. THE VEHICLE WILL SOON BECOME UNSAFE TO OPERATE OR DRIVE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2020
Dec 2019

THE FRAME OF THE 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BECAME SO RUSTED THAT WHEN TRYING TO PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT AT A MECHANIC SHOP, THE FRAME BEGAN TO CRUMBLE AND FALL APART AT THE POINT WHERE THE LIFT CONTACTED THE FRAME. THE ENTIRE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE POINTS WHERE THE METAL HAS RUSTED AWAY AND BECOME VERY WEAK, COMPROMISING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME AND POTENTIALLY WEAKENING AREAS WHERE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ATTACH TO THE FRAME.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2019
Dec 2019

FRAME IS COMPLETELY CORRODED. WE LIVE IN THE MIDWEST (CINCINNATI AREA) SO NOWHERE NEAR THE OCEAN. THE 4RUNNER HAS BEEN MATICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. WE HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THESE MODELS' FRAMES WERE NOT PROPERLY COATED BEFORE SOLD...HENCE THE RUST. OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DEEMED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIDEO SPEAKS FOR ITSELF....WE ARE HOPING THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS AS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. VIDEO LINK TAKEN BY TOYOTA: HTTP://ISRE.US/6QTRKD

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2019

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2003 Toyota 4Runner has 205 Structure complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.