2003 Toyota 4Runner Engine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AFTER GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I LUCKILY NOTICED AND PULLED OVER BEFORE INCURRING MORE DAMAGE AND WARPING THE ENGINE HEAD. I HAVE HEARD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THESE 4.0 V6'S TOYOTA MADE HAVE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. AFTER GETTING IT TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC ON THANKSGIVING, I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN/LEAKING HEADGASKET. I HAVE NEVER DROVE THIS VEHICLE OVER 3K RPMS AND FIND IT RIDICULOUS IT WOULD FAIL UNDER SUCH GOOD CONDITION. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO FROM AN AUTO GROUP (TOYOTA, HONDA, ECT) AND HAD THEM PERFORM A SAFETY INSPECTION. SINCE IT WAS USED I KNEW THERE WOULD BE SOME ISSUES, THE ONLY PROBLEM IT HAD WAS THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE WASN'T COMPLETED AT 90K MILES (TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, ECT). I WORKED THAT INTO THE DEAL AN WAS ON MY WAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE U.S. AND SHIPPING MY CAR TO HAWAII, THE INSPECTORS HERE FOUND A LOT OF RUST ON THE FRAME AND SAID IT COULD BE AN ISSUE GETTING AN APPROVED SAFETY INSPECTION (REQUIRED FOR REGISTERING THE CAR IN HAWAII). THEY SAID IT ISN'T SEVERE NOW, BUT CAN BE LIVING IN THIS STATE AS IT IS VERY RUSTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN SUCH A HUMID ENVIRONMENT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT TACOMAS FOR THAT YEAR HAD A RECALL DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST (SIMILAR IF NOT THE SAME FRAMES) BUT 4RUNNERS DO NOT, SO THEY RECOMMENDED I TALK TO TOYOTA ABOUT IT. I CALLED THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER HERE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL AND IF I WANTED THE FRAME FIXED OR REPLACED, IT'D HAVE TO BE AT MY EXPENSE. TOYOTA'S ARE FANTASTIC VEHICLES, I JUST HOPE THIS COMMENT AIDS IN THEIR DECISION TO APPROVE A RECALL ON 4RUNNER'S FRAMES DUE TO RUST LIKE THE OTHER MAKES FOR THE SAME YEAR. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE, VSC TRAC AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES AND TWICE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE ENGINE 02 SENSORS HAD BEEN REPLACED EVEN TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VSC TRACKING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY JERK WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT ED, 6 CYL.- AT 100,400 MILES, BOTH MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WENT OUT. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON WHICH DISENGAGES THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL, SO I HEAR. REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. CAN'T SMOG CAR ON THE FIRST TIME CAR EVER NEEDS TO GET SMOGGED. SEEMS LIKE A RECALL ISSUE TO ME? *TR

MODEL : 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER V8 ISSUE : AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION WHILE A/C ON HOW TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE : OPTION 1] WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE WITH BRAKES DEPRESSED TURN THE A/C "ON", THE VEHICLE WOULD TRY TO SUDDENLY MOVE FORWARD. THE TACHOMETER ALSO SHOWS HIGHER READINGS. OPTION 2] TURN YOUR A/C OFF DRIVE FOR A WHILE AND THEN TURN YOUR A/C ON, THE MOMENT YOU TURN YOUR A/C ON THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN FOR A WHILE. THIS PROBLEM IS MAGNIFIED ESPECIALLY IN SUMMER AND HOTTER CLIMATES AND DOES NOT FAIL TO OCCUR IN SUMMER. *TR

BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER V6 4WD 2 1/2 YEARS AGO AS A TOYOTA CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE..WITHIN A YEAR I NEEDED A NEW SERPENTINE BELT DUE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE AT START UP. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS AND TO BRING THE CAR BACK IF I HAD FURTHER ISSUES. THE NOISE CAME BACK BUT WAS IRREGULAR, IT WOULD COME AT START UP EVERY DAY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS AND THEN DISAPPEAR FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND SOUNDED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IDLER PULLEY ON FRIDAY 07/16/10. IT SOUNDED LOUD AGAIN AT START UP AFTER I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE BUT THE NOISE EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY. HOWEVER MY SERPENTINE BELT ACTUALLY RIPPED LESS THAN A WEEK LATER (07/21/10) WHILE I WAS DRIVING 45MPH ON A CURVY ROAD. I FIRST LOST MY AC, QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY MY POWER STEERING...SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PULL OVER BUT BY THEN SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD DUE TO THE FACT THAT IN THE RIPPING PROCESS THE BELT BROKE A COOLANT HOSE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 5 DAYS NOW AND AM WAITING ON THE DEALER TO GET A NEW HOSE SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY RUN THE CAR AND MAKE SURE THE PULLEYS ARE ALL OK. HOWEVER SO FAR THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT ALL THE PULLEYS ARE FINE AND I AM HAVING TO FIGHT WITH THEM TO GET THEM TO DO THE RECOMMENDED FIX TO THE TSB EG012-13. A NOISE AT START IS ONE THING, BUT A YEAR AND 1/2 OLD BELT ACTUALLY RIPPING IS NOT NORMAL! I WAS FORTUNATE TO COME OUT OF THIS UNHARMED AND NOT DAMAGE MY CAR OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S. *TR

TOYOTA 4-RUNNER 2003 SIX CYLINDER. EXCESSIVE SULFUR DIOXIDE ODOR. NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. SPORADIC. DEALERSHIPS GAVE ME A HARD TIME, WANTED $150.00 TO RUN TEST EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS INFORMED ME THAT THE DEALER SHOULD JUST REPLACE PARTS, SO I NEVER HAVE HAD IT FIXED BUT I AM CONCERNED. I CHANGED GAS STATIONS NUMEROUS TIMES AND STILL RECEIVE THE ODOR. ODOR COMES AND GOES AND CAN BE STRONG AT TIMES ESPECIALLY IN COLD MONTHS. CONCERNS ARE THAT IT WILL BECOME WORSE AND THE SMELL IS TOXIC. *TR

MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO BECOME LOUDER WHEN IDLING OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED IT. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I NOTICED IT BEING NOTICEABLY MUCH LOUDER. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHILE IDLING (RED LIGHT, DRIVE THRUS...) AND WOULD BECOME LOUDER WITH ACCELERATION UP TO ABOUT 40MPH. THIS WAS A RATTLING NOISE LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE UNDERBODY, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SEATS. IT SOUNDED LIKE LOUD HEAVY VIBRATIONS, METAL ON METAL. I ASKED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CHECK OUT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HEATSHIELD WAS SERIOUSLY RUSTED. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT BUT SAID IT WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THEY HAD TO REMOVE WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE ORIGINAL HEATSHIELD TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS. ONCE THE NEW PART WAS RECEIVED THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT ON THE NEW HEATSHIELD. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL SINCE I GOT IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY UPON ACCELERATION. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING THAT I GET VERY DIZZY. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THERE A QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM. IT SEEMS ALONG WITH THE SULFUR DIOXIDE THERE IS CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE CABIN, REGARDLESS IF THE WINDOWS ARE UP OR DOWN. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS THAT THIS IS DUE TO BAD GAS. I LIKE MY 4RUNNER BUT THERE IS NO WAY I CAN DRIVE IT KNOWING THAT NOT ONLY ME, BUT MY SON ALSO ARE BEING POISONED. TOYOTA MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT!!!! *TR

CHIRP NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA ON COLD START--THIS HAS REPEATED 5 TIMES SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE--EACH TIME THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER HAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY--REPLACED TENSIONER AND BELT--CHIRP SOUND RETURNS REPEATEDLY AFTER APPROX 6 MTHS OPERATION. *TR

FOUL SMELLING EXHAUST - AMMONIA SMELL - VERY STRONG ON ACCELERATIONS UPHILL OR FREEWAY ON RAMPS. *JB

EXHAUST SYSTEM EMITS A SULPHUR SMELL THAT COMES INTO THE SEATING AREA

I BOUGHT A NEW TOYATO 4 RUNNER AND THE VEHICLE SMELL CONSTANTLY. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY ASK ME TO CHANGE MY GAS TYPE TO A MORE EXPENSIVE ONE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO BE DRIVING MY FAMILY AROUND IN A SMELLY TRUCK. HELP

AT CERTAIN TIMES I HAVE A SULFUR/EXHAUST SMELL THAT ENTERS THE VEHICLE. IT IS INTERMITTENT, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS EXHAUST FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME EMITTING BAD FUMES, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE AROUND ME. IT HASN'T LASTED LONG 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE AND IT'S GONE. BUT WHEN THE SMELL COMES IT'S VERY OVERPOWERING, MAKING ME WANT TO GAG AT TIMES. *NM

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT IS INTERMITTENT AND SEEMS TO OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY UPON ACCELERATION. THE SMELL CAN GET QUITE BAD AT TIMES, AND HAS CAUSED MY EYES TO BURN AND OTHER PASSENGERS TO FEEL NAUSEOUS. MY 3 YEAR OLD SON HAS COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES THAT IT MAKES HIS TUMMY HURT. TAKING IT IN TO TOYOTA HAS NOT HELPED - THEY STATE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS TAKING A LOOK AT IT. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL LOOK QUICKER AND FIND A SOLUTION. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL TOYOTAS (THIS IS MY SECOND 4RUNNER IN A ROW) AND HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THE CARS AND SERVICE TO BE EXCEPTIONAL. HOWEVER, THIS HAS SOURED ME ON MY WONDERFUL 4RUNNER AND I WILL MOST DEFINITELY LOOK AT OTHER SUVS - PERHAPS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER NOW. *NM

MY HUSBAND PURCHASE A 2003 4 RUNNER FOR ME AND WHILE DRIVING I HAVE HAD A STRONG SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS IN THE CAR WHICH HAS CAUSE HEADACHES;STOMACHACHES AS WELL AS BLUR OF VISION. IT NOT ONLY COMES THROUGH THE WINDOWS WHILE DOWN BUT ALSO THROUGH THE VENTSAND MORE SO WHILE MY AIR CONDITIONER IS ON . *AK

MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER HAS AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF SULPHUR IN THE CABIN WHEN I DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. I HAVE REPORTED THIS 3 TIMES TO MY DEALER, AND ON THE THIRD TIME, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SMELL WAS FROM THE FUEL. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS, AND NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A SMELL, AND I HAVE COMPARED TO OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE THE SAME SITUATION. THE SMELL IS IMMEDIATELY NOTICEABLE. *AK

ROTTEN EGG SULFUR SMELL IN MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. VERY BAD WHEN ANY WINDOW IS DOWN, JUST BAD WHEN ALL WINDOWS ARE UP. DEALER SUGGESTED DIFFERENT GAS(DIDN'T WORK), AND REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER (DIDN'T WORK). THIS PROBLEM IS GIVING ME AND MY FAMILY HEADACHES WHILE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. *NM

LTR FM CHRISTINE IDLAND (NJ) RE A PROBLEM WITH HER 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, IT EMITS A PUNGENT ODOR WHEN SHE PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR; REPLY ATTN DEREK DECOSMO/HADDON HEIGHTS OFFICE. *NM THE NJ OEP RAN TEST ON THE VEHICLE WHICH DETERMINED THAT WHEN THE CONSUMER ACCELERATED THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS INSIDE THE VEHICLE BECAME ELEVATED. THIS OCCURRED WHETHER THE WINDOWS WERE OPENED OR CLOSED. *NM

ROTTEN EGG (SULFUR) SMELL WITH CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) IN THE CABIN IS MAKING PASSENGERS SICK! (POISONED) I JUST DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE LEARNED THAT 60 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NHTSA FOR THIS SULFUR SMELL. HOWEVER WHAT EVERYONE IS FOCUSING ON IS THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGG. THIS IS DISGUSTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BUT THAT IS IT IS NOT WHAT WILL KILL YOU. THE CARBON MONOXIDE(CO)IS THE REAL DANGER BECAUSE IT IS WITHOUT ODOR AND DEADLY IT IS ALSO GETTING INTO THE CAR BY THE SAME MEANS AS THE OBVIOUS EGG SMELL. I WAS SO CONCERNED THAT I CONTACTED A ENVIROMENTAL COMPANY WHO CAME FOR A RIDE ALONG IN MY 2003 SR5 4RUNNER. THIS RIDE PROVED TO ME THAT(CO)IS INDEED ENTERING THE CABIN AND ALARMED THE TECH WHO CAME ALONG WITH A (CO)TESTER. AT ONE POINT HE YELLED "CLOSE THE F@#%@%& REAR WINDOW". I SAW THE READINGS GO OFF THE CHARTS DEPENDING ON THE CONFIGURATION OF THE WINDOWS. I DID NOT PAY FOR THIS TEST AS THEY WERE BEING KIND ENOUGH TO JUST SEE IF I HAD ANY (CO)ENTERING THE CABIN. THIS WAS ENOUGH FOR ME! I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE REGIONAL REP FROM FL. ANOTHER OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT ON THEIR OWN IS TO GO TO THE HOME DEPOT AND BUY A (CO) TESTER. THIS CAN BE PLUGGED INTO THE 110 OUTLET IN THE GLOVE BOX. I DID AND I DO NOT DRIVE WITH THE REAR WINDOW DOWN AT ALL ANY LONGER AND HAVE POSTPONED TRIPS OF LONGER THAN 50 MILES TO REDUCE EXPOSER TO THIS HARMFUL CHEMICAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MAY BE CORRECTED BY CHANGING THE LOCATION OF THE TAIL PIPE TO VENT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HOPE THIS WILL GET THE PEOPLE (NHTSA) WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONALS THAT PROTECT US "TO WAKE UP." IF SOMEONE ELSE COULD DO A SIMILAR TEST IN THEIR STATE WE COULD HAVE MORE AMMUNITION TO FIGHT TOYOTA. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE EPA COMPANY WOULD DO A COMPLETE TEST WITH REPORT AND ALL FOR AROUND $340.00. I AM GOING TO SEE IF THE SERVICE REP WOULD DO THIS BUT I DOUBT IT. *AK

ROTTEN EGG SULFUR SMELL WITH CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) IN THE CABIN IS MAKING PASSENGERS SICK! (POISONED) I JUST DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE LEARNED THAT 60 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE NHTSA FOR THIS SULFUR SMELL. HOWEVER WHAT EVERYONE IS FOCUSING ON IS THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGG. THIS IS DISGUSTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BUT THAT IS IT IS NOT WHAT WILL KILL YOU. THE CARBON MONOXIDE(CO)IS THE REAL DANGER BECAUSE IT IS WITHOUT ODOR AND DEADLY IT IS ALSO GETTING INTO THE CAR BY THE SAME MEANS AS THE OBVIOUS EGG SMELL. I WAS SO CONCERNED THAT I CONTACTED A ENVIROMENTAL COMPANY WHO CAME FOR A RIDE ALONG IN MY 2003 SR5 4RUNNER. THIS RIDE PROVED TO ME THAT(CO)IS INDEED ENTERING THE CABIN AND ALARMED THE TECH WHO CAME ALONG WITH A (CO)TESTER. AT ONE POINT HE YELLED "CLOSE THE F@#%@%& REAR WINDOW". I SAW THE READINGS GO OFF THE CHARTS DEPENDING ON THE CONFIGURATION OF THE WINDOWS. I DID NOT PAY FOR THIS TEST AS THEY WERE BEING KIND ENOUGH TO JUST SEE IF I HAD ANY (CO)ENTERING THE CABIN. THIS WAS ENOUGH FOR ME! I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE REGIONAL REP FROM FL. ANOTHER OPTION FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT ON THEIR OWN IS TO GO TO THE HOME DEPOT AND BUY A (CO) TESTER. THIS CAN BE PLUGGED INTO THE 110 OUTLET IN THE GLOVE BOX. I DID AND I DO NOT DRIVE WITH THE REAR WINDOW DOWN AT ALL ANY LONGER AND HAVE POSTPONED TRIPS OF LONGER THAN 50 MILES TO REDUCE EXPOSER TO THIS HARMFUL CHEMICAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MAY BE CORRECTED BY CHANGING THE LOCATION OF THE TAIL PIPE TO VENT TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I HOPE THIS WILL GET THE PEOPLE (NHTSA) WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROFESSIONALS THAT PROTECT US "TO WAKE UP." IF SOMEONE ELSE COULD DO A SIMILAR TEST IN THEIR STATE WE COULD HAVE MORE AMMUNITION TO FIGHT TOYOTA. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE EPA COMPANY WOULD DO A COMPLETE TEST WITH REPORT AND ALL FOR AROUND $340.00. I AM GOING TO SEE IF THE SERVICE REP WOULD DO THIS BUT I DOUBT IT. *AK

TERRIBLE SULPHUR SMELL IN THE CABIN. WINDOWS ARE ALWAYS UP DUE TO 3 OF 4 MEMBERS HAVING ASTHMA. MAKES ALL PASSENGERS SICK TO STOMACHS AND HEADACHES. WANT FULL PURCHASE PRICE BACK FOR THIS VEHICLE. CANNOT DRIVE ANYLONGER. VERY UPSETTING FROM A TOYOTA PRODUCT. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES.

AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CABIN WOULD FILL UP WITH SULFUR DIOXIDE FUMES. *PH THESE FUMES HAVE CAUSED RESPIRATORY ISSUES FOR THE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. *NM