Problems with 2003 Toyota 4Runner POWER TRAIN

Vehicle was maintained at a toyota dealership for over a decade before being informed that vehicle is unsafe to drive due to holes forming throughout the entire frame assembly from corrosion. further research showes the frame of this vehicle resembles that of the toyota tacoma and tundra models which where recalled due to early and unsafe corrosion leading to components to detach from frame while vehicle is in motion which can lead to serious life hazard. frame and vehicle were also manufactured in ohio dana company which is the supplier of the recalled frames used in the toyota tundras and tacoma's.

There is excessive rust on the underbody of my 2003 4runner. it has just 165,000 miles and the frame is extremely rusted. being only 15 years old i find this to be very sad and unreasonable. the car should be able to last 20-30 years and 300,000 miles. the car has been regularly washed and driven in pennsylvania, illinois, ohio, new york. if there was additional treatment required for the frame it should have been coated, or at the very least notify the customers to make sure they do it. these car should last much much longer and as expensive as the 4runners are they should last.

Extensive frame rust through and rear differential/axle rust the frame rust is in an area that connects the rear axle to the vehicle.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that the steering wheel failed. the steering wheel became hard to turn and the vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection. the failure was located at the steering wheel system, which failed due to severe corrosion that expanded to the transmission lines and the frame. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 125,000.

I have had this vehicle since new, and only travel back and forth to work approx 30 miles a day..(now has 59,000 miles).vehicle has been regularly serviced at a local toyota dealer...vehicle never used for towing or never been off-road, and maintained like a baby...all of a sudden dealer told me my front axle cv joints are leaking and needs replacing including the rear shocks? this is fully loaded 2003 toyota limited edition v8...seems very unusual at 59k miles? will contact toyota to see if they can help out in any way... *tr

Vehicle has a low gear sound which began when vehicle was relatively new as i travelled down slight grades. i never complained because that was the only time it seemed abnormal and there are only a very places in my town where the hill was steep enough to cause it. plus i assumed it was related to the trac braking system and might be normal. last weekend on a 5 hour trip each way the problem began to manifest itself as i accellerated on flat ground. the tachometer showed low rpms (under 2000) until 50-60 mph. however the sound was much more noticible with some additional vibration. the vibration is now worse, could it be a speed sensor problem? [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that the subframe was rusted, causing the transmission to hang very low. as a result, the vehicle was inoperable. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the transmission was re-attached. the manufacturer was aware of the failure. the failure and current mileages were 129,000. ..updated 09/19/11 *bf also, the steering intermediate shaft needed to be replaced. updated 10/28/11

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4 runner. the contact was driving 55 mph when the transfer case imploded and spewed out from under the vehicle, damaging the driveline. the vehicle was then towed to a local mechanic shop. the mechanic replaced the vehicle with a used transfer case and driveline at a cost of $1,374. the manufacturer was contacted and a case was filed. no other assistance was offered. the failure mileage was 152,664. updated 06/16/11*lj the consumer has since traded the vehicle. updated 10/12/11

My 2003 toyota had emissions issues in that all four oxygen sensors would fail quickly. it took me two years and lots of money later to determine that the cause of this is because transmission fluid is wicking its way through the transmission solenoid harness all the way to the ecu and once there because of the way the ecu is mounted gets into all of the other wiring harnesses of just about every other sensor. i went to toyota and the first technician never heard that happening before but another overheard our conversation and said "i bet you have a 4runner" so yeah its happened to others. they wanted nearly $4500 to fix the issue. new engine wiring harness $1500-$2000 and another $1000 for the labor and the rest of the estimate is for other parts not specified. their solution is to cut the wire below the transmission wiring harness connector then splice and solder but i would have to replace nearly all the critical wiring in that car. i cant give an exact date on when it started going wrong but i can look at the service history on the toyota owner's ...

From a completely stopped position, letting off the gas and allowing the truck to idle forward results in a klunk noise whether you accelerate or not. as i have read, it is a problem within the drivetrain. i took the truck to toyota to have it looked at. they say it is because the rear needs to be lubed with every oil change and was completely dry. they lubed it up and said the problem should improve with time. the truck is still making the klunk noise. the truck has only 85k. this seems very similar to the problem with toyota tundra and some lexuses. *tr

2003 toyota 4runner was stuck in 4-lo, vehicle unable to travel at safe highway speeds. part that needs replaced is transfer case actuator. *tr

Continuing problem on my 2003 v8 4runner with the drive shaft. when i come to a stop or when i accelerate after a stop there is a momentary lag that feels like a "clunk" or that someone has just run into your back bumper. toyota dealer "fixes" the problem with grease to the slip yoke but after 2,000 miles it comes back and is only getting worse. i've complained to the dealer continually and lexus 470 (same vehicle) has a tsb on the same occurrence. it has become increasingly annoying and can only be classifies as a dangerous defect. *tr

My 4runner has been making an awful clunking noise coming from the rear for about 2 years now. i have done some research and it seems to have happened in the lexus gx470 as well. the 03-06 4runners have the same driveline as the lexus and unlike lexus, toyota has refused to fix this problem. please help! *tr

My 2003 toyota 4runner makes a clunk sound that is felt throughout the vehicle when coming to a stop or when beginning to take off. this was first noticed at approximately 40,000 miles. per the toyota dealership, removing the driveshaft and greasing the spline yoke quiets the clunk for approximately 20,000 miles. this is partly true, as the greasing quiets it, but it does not go away and the clunk get stronger every day the car is driven until you feel like you are being rear ended. toyota states this is normal for the operation of the vehicle. it is not normal, and it is absurd to think it is normal. the car should accelerate from a stop without a clunk and come to a stop without a clunk. this problem is widely documented, but toyota has yet to provide a fix. the "clunking" changes your driving behavior/habits in order to minimize the clunk, but in the end, the car clunks when taking off, and clunks when coming to a stop. the toyota dealership states no damage is being incurred to the vehicle by the clunking, this may be true, but ...

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. another problem is the rear window trim has shrunk. i also had the sunroof replaced after owning the vehicle less than two years. the brake light on the rear hatch does not work as well as the rear wipers (also when i hooked a trailer to it the electrical system seems to be messed up because the trailer lights will not work; went to autozone and tested the trailer and it is fine). the vehicle is starting to act funny again, the engine revs itself to high rpms ...