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?
2003 Toyota 4RUNNER: sudden unintended acceleration
10 of the 696 complaints about the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER describe sudden unintended acceleration.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- typical mileage
- 70,000
- recalls
- 1
Sudden unintended acceleration by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. The contact while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without any warning. The contact mentioned that she was able to decrease the speed by continuously depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 142,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without any warning. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred on three occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4-runner. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he shifted into drive and the vehicle surged forward and crashed into a curb. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the fuel jets were plugged with carbon, causing the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure had not since recurred. The failure mileage was 62,160 and the current mileage was 63,160. Updated 07/08/11 *bf updated 07/181//
2003 toyota 4-runner. Consumer states vehicle surged forward. *tgw the consumer stated while pulling into her garage the vehicle accelerated out of control and hit a workbench. The consumer paid for the damages out of pocket.
Tl*-the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. A police report was filed for the incident. Updated 6/1/10 *cn the consumer stated as she reached from the passengers side of the vehicle to turn the motor off, the vehicle suddenly accelerated backwards. The consumer stated she tried to run with the vehicle, but it was moving too fast. The passenger door was open and it knocked her down and she hit her head. The vehicle then went into the street and then began to accelerate forward and then the front wheel of the vehicle ran over her. Updated 06/15/10.
Re: 2003 4- runner I recently sold my 4-runner but want to report an incident that caused my car to crash into the side of my house causing considerable front-end damage to the car. I was maneuvering the car into its usual parking space, as I had done several hundred times before, when with my foot on the brake, the car surged forward into the side of the house. I did not report this issue at the time of the accident, but recent events have raised questions in my mind and I now believe that an acceleration issue may have been the cause of my accident. The 4-runner is not included in the recall involving floor mats or toyota's more recent spate of braking recalls. Please advise.
Sudden acceleration of 2003 toyota 4 runner as my wife was pulling into parking space. The vehicle jumped over a flower bed and struck two parked cars. The front end sustained approximately $2,000 in damages.
The consumer experienced sudden acceleration on 3 separate occasions. *jb......
While traveling on the highway without prior warning. The vehicle will suddenly accelerated. Please fill in additional information dealer is aware of the problem.
Service bulletins that may apply
- As part of the settlement described above, Toyota will install Smart Stop Technology on the above listed...
- On July 24, 2013, the settlement of claims for Economic Loss arising from allegations of unintended...
- Toyota: accelerator pedal sensor assembly information regarding the inspection, removal, and installation,...
- The throttle body motor may malfunction causing the malfunction indicator light (MIL) to illuminate on the...
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
- What is wrong
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 lexus lx570, 2003 through 2009 toyota 4runner, and 2006 through 2010 rav4 vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
- Risk
- A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- The remedy is now available. The safety recall began early april 2011. The remedy will involve modification or replacement of the accelerator pedal and replacement of any toyota all-weather floor mat. Owners may contact toyota at 1‑800‑331‑4331 or lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987.
Recall number 11V113000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER sudden acceleration
Is sudden unintended acceleration a common problem on the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER?
10 of 696 owner complaints about the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER (1%) mention sudden unintended acceleration. The model year with the most reports is 2005.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER?
There is 1 recall and 4 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER
ABS 24Ball joint 17Brake failure 15Fuel smell 13Grinding brakes 11Jerking 10Engine failure 6Harsh shifting 6Check engine light 5Door locks 5
VIN decoder
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