2003 Toyota 4Runner Reliability
The 2003 Toyota 4Runner has 708 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby 4Runner model years (2001–2005), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 4Runner's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
708
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
19
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2003 Toyota 4Runner complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 model year, filed between 2002 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 285 | 40% |
| Suspension | 114 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 101 | 14% |
| Engine & cooling | 91 | 13% |
| Service brakes | 75 | 11% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 43 | 6% |
| Steering | 35 | 5% |
| Speed control / throttle | 32 | 5% |
2003 Toyota 4Runner recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2003 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02V339000 | Dec 17, 2002 | Wheels | 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… |
| 03V146000 | Apr 14, 2003 | Fuel system | 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. |
| 11V113000 | Feb 24, 2011 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | 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… |
How the 2003 compares with nearby 4Runner years
Verdicts compare these 4Runner model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 190 | 3 | Body structure | Caution |
| 2002 | 251 | 3 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2003 (this page) | 708 | 3 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2004 | 678 | 2 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2005 | 425 | 5 | Body structure | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2003 Toyota 4Runner
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Engine & cooling: look for coolant leaks or low coolant, watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive, and check for overheating history.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2003 Toyota 4Runner can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2003 Toyota 4Runner reliability FAQ
Is the 2003 Toyota 4Runner reliable?
The 2003 Toyota 4Runner has 708 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about body structure and suspension. Compared with nearby 4Runner model years (2001–2005), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 4Runner's typical year.
What are the most common 2003 Toyota 4Runner problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner are body structure (285), suspension (114), unknown or other (101), engine & cooling (91). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2003 Toyota 4Runner have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner, including 02V339000 (wheels) and 03V146000 (fuel system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2003 Toyota 4Runner compare with the 2002 and 2004 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2002 has 251 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid); the 2004 has 678 complaints and 2 recalls (avoid). The 2003 has 708 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2003 Toyota 4Runner?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Toyota 4Runner research
Other Toyota 4Runner model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2003 4Runner, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.