2003 Toyota 4Runner

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Frame rust All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Inspect the frame and the front lower control arm mounts.

  NHTSA found 15 complaints of control arm failure, 13 from road-salt states, and denied a defect petition in 2022. A class action over 2005 and later trucks was dismissed in 2023.

  Sources ^10,11

• Timing belt and water pump V8

  What to check: Ask for records.

  Due every 90,000 miles or 7 years.

  Sources ^12,2

• Cracked exhaust manifolds V8

  What to check: Listen for a ticking noise.

  Sources ^2,12

• Head gasket V6, 2003–2005 One source so far

  What to check: Watch for a misfire at cold start, most often on cylinder 6.

  Three owners of 2004 V6s in one thread report head gasket leaks at about 150,000 to 210,000 miles, without overheating. Members disagree on the cause: some blame past overheating, others the design.

  About $2,000 in labor

  Sources ¹³

• Cracked dashboard 2003–2005 One source so far

  What to check: Look for cracks.

  Toyota's replacement program ended May 31, 2017.

  Sources ¹⁴

• X-REAS shock leaks Sport Edition. Optional on SR5 and Limited One source so far

  What to check: Look for oil weeping at each shock.

  Five owners in one thread report leaks in the X-REAS system, at about 50,000 to 66,000 miles where they say. A moderator notes the system is sealed and cannot be recharged.

  About $2,000 to replace. Four standard shocks cost one owner $289

  Sources ¹⁵

• 4WD actuator 4WD trucks One source so far

  What to check: Confirm it shifts into low range. Look for seepage at the actuator beside the transfer case.

  Two members in one buyer's-advice thread say to check it. One warns that an unused actuator can seize and is costly to fix, and the other calls a leak there a reason to walk away.

  Sources ¹²

• Rear air suspension Some Limited trucks One source so far

  Two members in one thread warn that the rear air bags are vulnerable: one to damage off-road, the other to wear when the truck is lifted. Neither reports a failure of their own. The thread gives no check.

  Sources ¹⁶

Recalls

• 02V339000 2003

  Trucks with port-installed alloy wheels need different wheel nuts for the spare.¹⁷

• 03V146000 2003

  Fuel pulsation damper can leak fuel.¹⁷

• 11V113000 2003–2009

  An unsecured or wrong floor mat can trap the accelerator pedal.¹⁷

Complaints

Owners filed 708 complaints about the 2003 with NHTSA.

19 said there had been a crash.

The parts named most

• Structure 285
• Suspension 114
• Unknown or other 101
• Engine and engine cooling 91
• Service brakes 46

and 26 other parts

Counted from NHTSA's complaints on 23 October 2026. These are owners' own reports, counted by the parts they named; one complaint can name several. NHTSA's list

Crash-test stars

• 2003 Toyota 4Runner 4-DR. Front: driver 4, passenger 4. Side: driver 5, passenger 5. Rollover: 3.

These stars come from NHTSA's tests before the 2011 model year. NHTSA says never to compare them with stars from its newer tests. Where NHTSA says so

Copied from NHTSA's ratings on 23 October 2026.

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: V8 All years One source so far

  The only 4Runner generation with a V8. Enthusiasts are said to seek out a clean one.²

• Avoid: Frame rust All years Walk away

  Both generations rust at the frame, worst where roads are salted, and rust can leave a frame unsafe. Toyota's frame rust program for its trucks did not include the 4Runner.^{18,19,2,10,11}

• Avoid: 2003–2005 V6 2003–2005 Less sought after One source so far

  Members of one thread split. Four steer buyers away from 2003–2005 V6s or shop only 2006 and later, while five owners of 2003–2005 V6s report no head gasket trouble, one at about 303,000 miles.²⁰

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.