2003 Toyota 4RUNNER Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 2%of 696 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 71,778miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER, 2% of the 696 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,778 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On approximately february 28, 2012, the ABS/trac control/vsc lights came on and remained lit on my 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER. I called the dealership and they said to bring it in right away. They diagnosed the car and came up with no sensor reading?. It cost me $150 for the diagnostic test. I picked up the car and a few weeks later I brought it back for the same problem. The computer then indicated that there was a faulty o2 sensor which they replaced my cost was over $650. The next week the lights came on again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10472640, filed 2012-08, 50,000 miles“I purchased a brand new 2003 Toyota 4runner in may 2003. In one cold morning of jan. 2005, I was driving it in highway that was still covered with some snow. All of sudden, an engine check light on the dashboard was automatically turned on, followed by vsc lights, indicating that a vehicle skid control function was automatically turned off. At that point, I could not drive the car beyond 50 MPH, no matter how hard or frequently I pushed the accelerator pedal. I pulled over, restarted, and re-entered the highway but had the same results. …”
NHTSA complaint #10312029, filed 2010-02, 15,000 miles“The vehicle would rev itself up to a high RPM, from a stopped position when I stepped on the gas the vehicle would go in reverse. The dealership eventually replaced the transmission only after the manager borrowed it overnight and experienced it himself, but I have noticed the problem beginning again. Another problem is the radiator leaking and needed to be replaced (I was told it had the wrong kind of antifreeze; it was green and it needs a red kind???). When replacing this I was notified that my front brakes were paper thin and needed to be replaced this repair cost me almost $2000. …”
NHTSA complaint #10387248, filed 2011-03, 12,000 miles“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”
NHTSA complaint #11394884, filed 2021-02, 200,000 miles“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. The contact stated that the suspects targeted Facebook Marketplace victims by spraying oil on the engine prior to test-driving the vehicle, and when the vehicle began smoking, the suspects would ask for a discount for the vehicle. The contact added that after the vehicle was purchased, the odometer was rolled back and the vehicle was resold. The vehicle was a private sale. …”
NHTSA complaint #11696425, filed 2025-10, 306,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10238157May 30, 2023TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered…
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10133654Nov 22, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE November 22, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2014 ? 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be…
- 10132360Jun 15, 2017Warranty Policy Bulletin POL14-11: Rev Toyota has received reports where some vehicles may exhibit cracked and/or sticky/melting dashboards as a result of heat or humidity.
- 10131838Mar 22, 2017Warranty Policy Bulletin POL14-11: REVISED March 22, 2017: Toyota has received reports where some vehicles may exhibit cracked and/or sticky/melting dashboards as a result of…
- 10131837Mar 22, 2017Dealer Daily: Voluntary Extension of Warranty Coverage for Cracked and/or Sticky/Melting Dashboards (Instrument Panels) as a Result of Heat or Humidity.
- 10152205Jan 6, 2017TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0101-11. Applicability has been updated to include 2016 ? 2017 model year vehicles…
- 10132930Nov 29, 2016TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE: September 14, 2016: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0134-16.
- 10150418Sep 14, 2016TSB: Supersession Notice. Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are…
- 10149213Sep 8, 2016Technical Instructions: In our continuing effort to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota has converted Limited Service Campaign (LSC) BST into Special Service…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 14% |
| 2025 | 8 | 13% |
| 2024 | 2 | 20% |
| 2022 | 2 | 5% |
| 2021 | 3 | 8% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 8 | 12% |
| 2018 | 4 | 7% |
| 2017 | 5 | 14% |
| 2016 | 18 | 23% |
| 2015 | 13 | 15% |
| 2014 | 24 | 31% |
| 2013 | 4 | 11% |
| 2012 | 6 | 6% |
| 2011 | 6 | 4% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 4 | 18% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 8% |
| 2006 | 18 | 5% |
| 2005 | 9 | 2% |
| 2004 | 22 | 3% |
| 2003 | 12 | 2% |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% |
| 2001 | 6 | 3% |
| 2000 | 4 | 1% |
| 1999 | 17 | 5% |
| 1998 | 11 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 2% |
| 1996 | 3 | 2% |
| 1995 | 6 | 3% |
| 1993 | 5 | 10% |
| 1992 | 6 | 11% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER
284 complaintsSuspension
114 complaintsOther or unknown
111 complaintsEngine cooling
89 complaintsBrakes
74 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
39 complaintsSteering
35 complaintsVehicle speed control
29 complaintsSeats
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsWheels
15 complaintsFuel system
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology