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2003 Toyota 4 Runner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota 4 Runner do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.5.

About this comparison →
168Owner complaints

Model-year median: 96.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
104
200031
200132
2002168
200366
200415
2005
Compare all 4 Runner years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
75Power Train
18Seats
17Visibility
13Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8
All reported categories
Structure
6Vehicle Speed Control
6Fuel System, Gasoline
5Suspension
5Tires
5Unknown Or Other
4Wheels
4Electrical System
3Steering
3Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
2Air Bags
1Child Seat
1Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes, Air
1Trailer Hitches
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 79 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
81,000 miles · Jun 29, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

ALL FOUR OF MY DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING WITH THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM. EACH REQUIRED A NEW LOCK ACTUATOR TO BE INSTALLED ON EACH DOOR. THE FAILURES OCCURRED AT 26,598 (7/16/04) - FRONT DRIVER, 50,327 (6/10/05) - REAR RIGHT, 67,878 (12/30/05) - FRONT RIGHT, 81,435 (05/2006) - REAR DRIVER. IF A USER DOES NOT NOTICE THE FAI…

Read full complaint

ALL FOUR OF MY DOOR LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING WITH THE AUTOMATIC SYSTEM. EACH REQUIRED A NEW LOCK ACTUATOR TO BE INSTALLED ON EACH DOOR. THE FAILURES OCCURRED AT 26,598 (7/16/04) - FRONT DRIVER, 50,327 (6/10/05) - REAR RIGHT, 67,878 (12/30/05) - FRONT RIGHT, 81,435 (05/2006) - REAR DRIVER. IF A USER DOES NOT NOTICE THE FAILURE, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR CHILDREN IN THE BACKSEAT TO OPEN THE DOOR - AS THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THE DOOR IS LOCKED, BUT IT IS NOT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10161070

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.