2003 Toyota 4Runner Complaint Log

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

FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT RUSTED, GAS TANK STRAPS ARE ROTTED/RUSTED. REAR SWAY BARS ARE ROTTED OFF THE FRAME. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FRAME ISSUE AS THE TACOMA AND SEQUOIA FRAMES THAT ARE ON RECALL.

THE WHOLE UNDER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTED. IT CAN'T EVEN BE DRIVEN. MY BRAKE LINE BUSTED THE OTHER DAY (WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR) AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE THE USE OF MY BRAKES. WE ARE OKAY, AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE BRAKE LINE. BUT MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO STICK A PEN THROUGH THE FRAME. HE SAID WITH THIS EXCESSIVE RUST, I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA BECAUSE OF RUST. HOPING YOU CAN INVESTIGATE AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. THANK YOU!

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!

REAR OF THE FRAME IS RUSTED OUT THERE IS A BIG HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE FRAME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AN I LOOKED AT IT BEFORE I BOUGHT IT AN LOOKED AT THE FRAME JUST FIGURED MAYBE THE REST OF THE FRAME WOULD BE FINE BUT IT WAS NOT.

The frame on my vehicle is rusting prematurely. It's doing this on many other 4Runners and other Toyota trucks.

THE AUTO HAS 130,000 BUT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES AND IS CONSIDERED UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

FRAME IS RUSTED OUT, EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FRAME AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. SWAY BAR MOUNTS FOR REAR AXLE HAVE RUSTED OUT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE

THE REAR TIRE ASSEMBLY RIPPED LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS..A LOUD CLUNK NOISE....THEN .BRAKES WERE LOST AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHOWED WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD...CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE...MASSIVE RUST AT FAILURE POINTS

REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF AT THE FRAME AFTER STRIKING POTHOLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND ALMOST LED TO A ROLLOVER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. TOYOTA RECALLED TUNDRA'S, TACOMA'S, AND SEQUOIA'S FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT SO IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WILL TOYOTA BE HELD LIABLE FOR ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM PREMATURE FRAME FAILURE? BY RECALLING THE OTHER MODELS THEY OBVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS A PROBLEM AND 4RUNNERS SHARE THE SAME PLATFORM AS THE TACOMA SO WHY WERE THEY NOT INCLUDED?

SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME. HAS GONE COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME.

MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SR5 WAS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH AT SPEEDS UP TO 35 MPH SOMETHING IS WRONG THINKING MAYBE THE SWAY BARS SO TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER HE DROVE IT AND PUT IT UP ON A LIFT HE WAS FRIGHTENED ON HOW MUCH RUST AND SEPARATION ON THE FRAME ESPECIALLY THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MUFFLER COMPLETE SEPARATION AND THEN YOU WALK TO THE MIDDLE ANY DAY NOW THAT WOULD HAVE SEPARATED .I WAS TOLD TO TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TAKE IT BACK TO MY HOUSE WHICH IS ABOUT TWO-THREE MILES AWAY WHICH I DID BUT NOW IT SITS IN MY GARAGE - AND WITH ONLY 139,000 MILE ON IT NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OR SELL UNLESS ITS FOR JUNK.

The frame of my 4runner is so so rusted that my mechanic put his finger through a piece of the frame it is so unsafe for Mr and my grand children and EVERYONE ELSE on the road that it literally makes me sick. It'd the only vehicle I have so I have NO CHOICE but to drive it. It terrifying. It is available to inspect at anytime. I just bought this vehicle less than a year ago from a dealership and it so sad that they wld sell it to anyone knowing the frame was rusted its criminal in my opinion. It Is for sure a safety hazard to everyone. I hope that this investigation proves to help get all of these 4runners OFF THE ROAD. So that a preventable tragedy doesn't happen.

I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. RIGHT AFTER I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT WAS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN OR IS THIS COMMON? ALSO, SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF MY CAR, THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL ON THE REAR HATCH BELOW THE LICENSE ON THE LEFT, WHERE THERE ARE SOMEWHAT SHARP ANGLES. TOYOTA REPAINTED THE REAR HATCH, EXCLUDING THE SPOILER. I JUST NOTICED TWO RUST SPOTS ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. IT APPEARS WATER IS SEEPING IN FROM ABOVE THE BLACK STRIP AND PONDING ON THR BOTTOM OF IT (ABOVE THE WINDOW), RESULTING IN RUST. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS COMMON OR A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BLACK STRIP WAS REMOVED TO REPAINT, OR WASN'T SEALED AS WELL BY THE FACTORY?

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

FRAME IS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT EVEN THOUGHT THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE. I AM AFRAID TO LET MY SON EVEN DRIVE THE CAR. I READ ABOUT THE GIRL THAT DIED FROM THE AXLE COMING LOOSE AND PART OF THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE AXLE IS IN HORRIBLE SHAPE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ADD THESE VEHICLES TO THE FRAME RECALL...

VEHICLE FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED AND ROTTED TO THE POINT WHERE THERE ARE HOLES IN THE FRAME ITSELF MAKING IT EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS AROUND THE SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH SIMILAR FRAME ISSUES, DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE WHY TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THE 2003 4RUNNER FRAMES YET. VEHICLE IS OVER 205,000 MILES AND WOULD PROBABLY RUN ANOTHER 200K IF NOT FOR THE FRAME WHICH MAKES THIS CAR ALMOST UNDRIVE-ABLE. FRAME TO BE REPLACED ASAP.

I purchased this 2003 Toyota 4Runner in 2018 under what I assumed was prime condition, for a vehicle that spent the majority of its life in Nebraska/Kansas before I moved to Texas in 2021. At 87,400 miles at the time of purchase, the vehicle had no visible damage to the exterior besides a few paint chips, some minor hail damage and scratches, and some easily fixed surface rust in the paint on the tailgate. The previous owner had driven it leisurely and had kept the miles low after 15 years. The car has had some mechanical issues, but nothing out of the ordinary outside of some regular maintenance over the first few years. Being close to 100,000 miles, the timing belt and pump was replaced around 98,000 miles. Other issues have been fixed periodically, please reference the attached files. After joining a Toyota 4Runner 4th Generation Facebook group and seeing a post about another's issues with rust damage in October 2020, I decided to take a look at my own frame. I then inspected my own vehicle, and found significant frame rot damage. It is extensive, with significant rust to the frame, with large holes and soft patches that question the integrity of the frame and the safety of the vehicle on the road. Every time I hit a small bump or pothole, I fear the frame will crack and I will lose control as others have. I have not sought out professional repairs due to the extensive cost, and am awaiting the outcome of a current class action lawsuit by the Bell Legal Group. The 4th Generation Toyota 4Runner (2003-2009) is built on the exact same frame as the Toyota Tacoma of that era, yet while the Tacoma was recalled for frame rot, the 4Runner was not included, which I believe to be a gross oversight in previous legal proceedings. The 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner is a reliable vehicle, but poses significant frame rot issues much earlier than should be expected.

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED CAUSING BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS TO DETACH WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL SPOTS COVERED WITH A BLACK TAPE AND PAINTED OVER TO CONCEAL THE RUST AND HOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TIRE MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD CAUSING THE TIRES TO DAMAGE THE BUMPER AND THE PLASTIC TRIM PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT NHTSA. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS MULTIPLE PERFORATIONS GREATER THAN 10MM. ONE SUCH PERFORATION HAS CREATED A CRACK ON THE FRAME JUST IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT. IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO HIT A BAD ENOUGH BUMP OR POT HOLE, THERE EXISTS A POSSIBILITY THE FRAME COULD SNAP AND ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO BECOME FREE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated that while driving at limited speeds of 45 mph, the vehicle would wobble and swerve and was very unstable. The vehicle was taken to a Certified Auto Mechanic Shop and an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was caused by severe rusting, perforation and corrosion of the rear subframe and suspension system. The vehicle was also driven to Muffler Shops in Bladensburg, MD on 8-20-2021, and on 10 -22-2021 to Hyattsville Toyota's Certified Toyota Collision Center for Repair Estimates of $4,000.00 and $7,268.00. The vehicle frame manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation which really requires fixing or replacing was not yet repaired. The Toyota manufacturer and local dealer Global Auto Outlet were notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1 85,000. The used vehicle was purchased from Global Auto Outlet in Temple Hills, MD for $9,552.24 on 8 -1-2019 with 175,000 miles on the odometer. The windshield had a crack in it, the air conditioning & emergency brake didn't work. The Complainant hadn't noticed the perforated excessive rust corrosion on the undercarriage of the vehicle until numerous months afterwards. Moreover, at the time of the purchase the Owner also didn't notice that the spare tire carrier was rusted, as well as undiscovered that the wrong size 265/65/17 spare tire it was held in was perforated and flat. After the purchase of the vehicle shortly later, the exhaust tailpipe rusted broke first and the muffler had to be replaced which costed $258.79. The Owner was nervously forced to operate a more than unsafe motor vehicle for up to 6 months.

DRIVING ON A 3 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, STOPPED TRAFFIC, AVS/ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH A PIERCING NOISE. TRAFFIC BEGAN MOVING APPROX. 10 MPH, BEHIND SEMI, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES!!!! FROM CENTER LANE WAS ABLE TO GO THE THE LEFT LANE INTO THE THE SHOULDER. STOPPED NEXT TO CEMENT BARRIER BETWEEN NORTH BOUND AND SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC (BOTH 3 LANES). SAT THERE SHAKING FOR TOW TRUCK DRIVER FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF WITH SEMI TRUCKS FLYING BY! GOT IT TO A MECHANIC. THEY CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY TO SAY "WE ARE SORRY BUT THE COMPONENT THAT RUNS THE BRAKE PUMP IS MALFUNCTIONING." "WE RESET IT AND THE BRAKES ARE WORKING NOW, BUT IT WILL ONLY FAIL AGAIN." IT WILL COST A TOTAL OF $5,000 TO REPAIR!!!! THE VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH $4,500-$7,000 (AT BEST)!!!! LIKE OTHERS ON HERE, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY, MANY TIMES!!! NO RECALLS!!! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO PREVENTION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY?! ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING?!!! THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING TO MY 16 YEAR OLD NIECE FOR HER FIRST VEHICLE. THANK GOD THAT IT WAS NOT HER DRIVING!!! NOW SHE WILL NOT HAVE A VEHICLE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE $5,000 TO FIX IT AND A GOOD OVERALL VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY THAT CAN'T BE USED. I HAVE HAD TOYOTA'S MOST OF MY LIFE, CURRENTLY DRIVE A TUNDRA AS WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN TRULY SAY.....SHAME ON YOU TOYOTA/MANUFACTURERS!!!!

I TOOK MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER INTO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO DO MY ANNUAL STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE FRAME WAS TOO RUSTED TO PASS INSPECTION. FURTHERMORE, HE SAID THAT THE RUST WAS SO SEVERE IT HAD SEPARATED THE SUSPENSION FROM THE FRAME. HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE WORST FRAME RUST HE HAD EVER SEEN AND THAT THE CARS FRAME LOOKED LIKE IT WAS 20 YEARS OLDER THEN IT WAS. IT WAS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL SPOTS. I CALLED TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP. ALL THE OTHER CARS BUILT ON THIS FRAME HAVE BEEN RECALLED, I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ONE HASN'T BEEN.

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.

THIS 2003 4RUNNER HAS 85K MILES ON IT AND HAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRONT CORNERS OF THE FRAME. THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS QUESTIONABLE. THERE'S ALSO SIGNIFICANT RUST ON OTHER METAL COMPONENTS AS WELL. I PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2006 TUNDRA THAT WAS RECALLED FOR SEVERE FRAME RUST AND I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD TUNDRAS AND TACOMAS WITH SEVERE RUST PROBLEMS ON THE FRAME. THE 4RUNNER HAS A TRUCK FRAME UNDER IT LIKE THE OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS AND HAS THE SAME FRAME RUST ISSUES. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THE 4RUNNER?

THE RUST ON THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE IS UNLIKE ANYTHING I'VE SEEN IN COMPARISON TO IT'S AGE. I WORK ON VEHICLES FREQUENTLY AND HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN A MODERN AGE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLES THAT ARE OVER 40 YEARS OLD THAT I OWN OR WORK ON DON'T HAVE RUST THAT IS REMOTELY THIS BAD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE ENTIRE WELD LINE OF THE FRAME RAILS TO BE CORRODED THROUGH IN AN APPROXIMATELY 28" SECTION. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE ENTIRE BOTTOM SECTION OF THAT RAIL WAS RUSTED OUT TO BE EXTREMELY THIN AND SEPARATED AT THE SEAM, ENTIRELY COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME RAIL. 2 OF THE BODY MOUNTS ARE ALSO RUSTED OUT AS WELL AS SOME OF THE SUSPENSION MOUNT COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE IS AT RISK FOR HAVING THE SPRING AND STRUT ASSEMBLY OR THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY DETACHING FROM THE FRAME UNDER NORMAL OPERATION CONDITIONS. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY RISK AS IT COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE LOSING ALL STEERING CONTROL. LUCKILY IT WAS FOUND BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

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

I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER WITH SEVERE FRAME RUST THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE A HAZARD TO DRIVE AND TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS IS CLEARLY CONSISTENT WITH TOYOTA'S OTHER RECALLS.

EXTREME CORROSION OF FRAME AND BRACKETS

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.

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.

THE TRAILING ARM MOUNT ON THE FRAME BROKE OFF. THE STABILIZER BAR END LINK MOUNT BROKE FREE OF THE FRAME

WHILE DRIVING MY ABS, BREAK, VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF LIGHT CAME ON SOLID. IT WAS ALL ACCOMPANIED BY AN ALARM. I WAS IN HEADING DOWN A HILL IN THE SNOW. RIGHT AFTER THE ALERTS CAME ON I HAD A HARD BREAK PEDAL WITH NO MOVEMENT AND NO BREAKS. I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK AS IN SNOW THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE ONLINE AND ITS CONCERNING THAT IF ABS STOPS/FAULTS YOU LOSE ALL ABILITY TO BREAK AT ALL.

TOOK 2003 4RUNNER TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT. WAS INFORMED THAT FRAME HAS RUSTED TO POINT OF MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NO OTHER ORIGINAL COMPONENTS HAVE RUST.

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.

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.

VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED TWICE. ONCE BY A NATIONAL AUTO CHAIN, AND BY A TOYOTA DEALER. THE REASON FOR FAILURE IN BOTH CASES WAS, RUSTED CRACKED FRAME RAILS. THE DEALER GAVE A VERBAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR OF $21,500. ($12,250 PARTS $12,250 LABOR)

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.

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I WAS AWARE THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUES WITH THE TACOMA, TUNDRA, AND SEQUOIA VEHICLES WITH RUSTING FRAMES, BUT I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE 4RUNNERS WERE PLAGUED WITH THE SAME FRAME ROT ISSUES. I HAVE OWNED THE 4RUNNER FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THE FRAME DUE TO RUST THROUGH ISSUES NOW ON THREE SEPERATE OCCASIONS. THE FRAME IS VERTUALLY A TOTAL LOSS. THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND OTHER COMPONENTS ARE GREAT, BUT THE FRAME RUST HAS MADE THE VEHICLE TOO UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO OWN.

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

RUSTY FRAME

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.

DASHBOARD IS CRACKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE; A FEW CRACKS ARE RIGHT OVER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I WORRY ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRBAG. IF ANYTHING MALFUNCTIONS, AT LEAST I'LL HAVE THIS COMPLAINT ON RECORD.

EXCESSIVE FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE RUST. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER CARS OVER 30-40+ YEARS AND THIS 03 4RUNNER HAS THE WORST RUST. INSTEAD OF SIMPLE SURFACE RUST, THIS RUST HAS AFFECTED FRAME WELDS, SUSPENSION MOUNTING POINTS, TOW AND LIFT POINTS. RUSTING PACE IS EXTREMELY FAST MOVING. THERE APPEARS TO BE ONLY A SIMPLE LAYER OF THIN PAINT, WITH NO UNDERCOATING ANYWHERE. THIS 4RUNNER WAS SERVICED REGULARLY, MOTOR IS RUNNING GREAT, BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. THIS WAS A GIFT FROM GRANDPA TO GRANDSON, BUT I AM CONCERNED OF SAFETY AND AT THIS POINT RECOMMENDING ONLY LOCAL, UNDER 35MPH TRAVEL ONLY. PROBABLY SCRAP THE CAR SOON AS NOT MUCH TO DO BUT REPLACE FRAME. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MISLED CONDITION, OUTSIDE/INSIDE/MOTOR PERFECT, BUT FRAME ROTTING AWAY. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE PURCHASED TOYOTAS WITH LITTLE INCIDENT, BUT I WON'T BUY OR RECOMMENDED KNOWING THEY HAVE A LIFE OF ~10YRS.

MY DAUGHTER RETURNED FROM WORK TWO DAYS AGO AND PARKED THE VEHICLE, SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH ITS DRIVABILITY. THE NEXT MORNING SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND A LOUD WARNING TONE WAS BEING EMITTED FROM THE DASH. SHE ASKED ME TO LOOK AT IT AND I NOTICED THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. I TRIED DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR INSTANTLY. I TRIED BACKING UP THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF REPEATED BRAKING IN REVERSE WOULD PUMP UP THE BRAKES AS IT DOES ON SOME VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED. THAT DID NOTHING AND ALSO UNLIKE OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE DRIVEN, THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS TOTAL. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO MANUAL BRAKING. TRAVELING IN REVERSE AT MAYBE 3 MPH TOOK FOUR TO FIVE SECONDS TO COME TO A STOP. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT 60 MPH ON THE RURAL ROADS WE LIVE ON, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY ANY CAR WOULD BE DESIGNED WHERE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER FAILURE WOULD RENDER THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE INSTANTLY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL EVENT HAD IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND YOUR 7 PAGES OF BRAKE RELATED COMPLAINTS ON SPECIFICALLY 2003 4RUNNERS, THERE WERE OVERWHELMING ACCOUNTS OF THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILING WHILE DRIVING, AND MANY ACCIDENTS REPORTED DUE TO THIS. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY BEFORE FURTHER INCIDENT AND TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE OWNERS WHOLE DUE TO THIS SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT.

I'VE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THESE MODELS AND YEARS ..... ARE RIDDLED WITH EXCESSIVE RUST. UNSAFE RUST TO THE POINT THAT MY VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. THE RUST HAS COMPROMISED THE FRAME WHERE IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO TRAVEL IN!!! MY PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BY MY MECHANIC AFTER ROUTINE SERVICE.

THE FRAME IS RUSTED AWAY BUT THE BODY IS PERFECT. PURCHASED AS IS. WAS NOT INFORMED IN WRITING ABOUT THE BAD FRAME

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.