RecallMyCar

2003 Toyota 4Runner Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2003 Toyota 4Runner, and owners have filed 527 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
527
owner complaints to NHTSA
17 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–18
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 11V113000 Reported 1,363,244 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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 driver's floor mat.

    Remedy: The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may…

  2. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 03V146000 Reported 29,482 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the pulsation damper. Owner notification began may 5, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…

  3. Wheels

    NHTSA 02V339000 Reported 176 vehicles potentially affected SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS

    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 distributors in the states of alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina, when…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with different style lug nuts, a warning label for the spare re/alloy wheel, and an owner's manual addendum.

527 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Toyota 4Runner have filed 527 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 127,922 miles. Complaints peaked in 2019 with 91 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Severe frame rust. 2 large holes on the inside of the frame just back from the front wheels and 2 large holes at the ends of the rear crossmember.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 16, 2026 · Structure

“Odometer Fraud. The contact investigated a 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. The contact stated that during the investigation, he discovered a fraudulent scheme of approximately 15 vehicles with odometer fraud. T”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 29, 2025 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Toyota 4Runner (4Runner 2WD, 4Runner 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–18 mpg
City / Highway14–16 / 17–20
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 4/4.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd

Compare Toyota 4Runner model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota 4Runner model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1984 Toyota 4Runner02
1985 Toyota 4Runner02
1986 Toyota 4Runner08
1987 Toyota 4Runner05
1988 Toyota 4Runner19
1989 Toyota 4Runner16
1990 Toyota 4Runner178
1991 Toyota 4Runner143
1992 Toyota 4Runner153
1993 Toyota 4Runner151
1994 Toyota 4Runner112
1995 Toyota 4Runner147
1996 Toyota 4Runner272
1997 Toyota 4Runner1139
1998 Toyota 4Runner1130
1999 Toyota 4Runner0220
2000 Toyota 4Runner0379
2001 Toyota 4Runner1154
2002 Toyota 4Runner1192
2003 Toyota 4Runner3527
2004 Toyota 4Runner2612
2005 Toyota 4Runner5410
2006 Toyota 4Runner5381
2007 Toyota 4Runner5154
2008 Toyota 4Runner596
2009 Toyota 4Runner622
2010 Toyota 4Runner12145
2011 Toyota 4Runner10163
2012 Toyota 4Runner896
2013 Toyota 4Runner636
2014 Toyota 4Runner777
2015 Toyota 4Runner986
2016 Toyota 4Runner879
2017 Toyota 4Runner536
2018 Toyota 4Runner558
2019 Toyota 4Runner465
2020 Toyota 4Runner133
2021 Toyota 4Runner136
2022 Toyota 4Runner339
2023 Toyota 4Runner132
2024 Toyota 4Runner19
2025 Toyota 4Runner159
2026 Toyota 4Runner27

Checking a specific 2003 Toyota 4Runner

How do I know if my 2003 Toyota 4Runner has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2003 Toyota 4Runner; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V339000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.