2003 Toyota 4RUNNER: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Airbags, Brakes · GA

So first off I had a Ford Escape and one day it wouldn’t crank up and started beeping loud so I called and got it towed it sat in the shop for 3 days and they told me it was fixed they fixed the abs lights and was told it was ready and I didn’t even make it out of shop and the car was running hot and als realized the miles had been docked back a lot and had to be towed again a week came around and the fan stopped spinning and they said they offer me a trade in because they didn’t know what was wrong well I got this 2003 4 runner and these both were under warranty 3 months in and both had to be taken into service this one for radiator busted only to go into service had it towed and then additional problems they put a new wheel hub and brakes without my authorization and also the gear clip / gear shift was broken and they were trying to fix that and told me my car was ready today went up there and they told me they didn’t even test drive it and that if it started running hot that to bring it back to service I felt unsafe and left the car and not only that the ABS lights and TRAC and maintenance and other lights were illuminated and it wasn’t that way when I brought it in I didn’t feel safe so I left it at service and I’m done dealing with this company . I want a resolution this is unsafe and I’m not the only one who has been done wrong . I have picture proof of the miles . Also the radiator fan shroud was left in the back of the car as well when I went to pick up. This is absolutely ridiculous!

Filed Aug 13, 2020 · Brakes · 188,000 miles · WA

Driving on a 3 lane interstate highway, stopped traffic, avs/ABS/brake lights came on with a piercing noise. Traffic began moving approx. 10 MPH, behind semi, brakes went to the floor. No brakes!!!! From center lane was able to go the the left lane into the the shoulder. Stopped next to cement barrier between north bound and south bound traffic (both 3 lanes). Sat there shaking for tow truck driver for an hour and a half with semi trucks flying by! Got it to a mechanic. They called back the next day to say "we are sorry but the component that runs the brake pump is malfunctioning." "we reset it and the brakes are working now, but it will only fail again." it will cost a total of $5,000 to repair!!!! The vehicle is only worth $4,500-$7,000 (at best)!!!! Like others on here, this has happened many, many times!!! No recalls!!! This could have been deadly!!! What happened to prevention of health and safety?! Are they waiting for someone to die before they do something?!!! This vehicle was going to my 16 year old niece for her first vehicle. Thank god that it was not her driving!!! Now she will not have a vehicle because we do not have $5,000 to fix it and a good overall vehicle sitting in our driveway that can't be used. I have had toyota's most of my life, currently drive a tundra as well, this is the first time that I can truly say.....shame on you toyota/manufacturers!!!!

Filed Feb 12, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 173,000 miles · CO

While driving my ABS, break, vsc trac and vsc off light came on solid. It was all accompanied by an alarm. I was in heading down a hill in the snow. Right after the alerts came on I had a hard break pedal with no movement and no breaks. I was not able to use the emergency break as in snow that would not have helped. I have done some research and this has happened to multiple people online and its concerning that if ABS stops/faults you lose all ability to break at all.

Filed Dec 8, 2019 · Brakes · 220,000 miles · TX

My daughter returned from work two days ago and parked the vehicle, she did not notice anything wrong with its drivability. The next morning she started the vehicle and a loud warning tone was being emitted from the dash. She asked me to look at it and I noticed the brake and ABS warning lights were on. I tried depressing the brake pedal and it went completely to the floor instantly. I tried backing up the vehicle to see if repeated braking in reverse would pump up the brakes as it does on some vehicles I have owned. That did nothing and also unlike other vehicles I have driven, the brake failure was total. There was little to no manual braking. Traveling in reverse at maybe 3 MPH took four to five seconds to come to a stop. Had this occurred at 60 MPH on the rural roads we live on, I don't think we would have been able to safely stop the vehicle. I can't understand why any car would be designed where some kind of electrical/computer failure would render the vehicle undrivable instantly. This could have been a fatal event had it occurred at highway speeds. In searching the internet and your 7 pages of brake related complaints on specifically 2003 4runners, there were overwhelming accounts of the brakes totally failing while driving, and many accidents reported due to this. This vehicle should be removed from the road immediately before further incident and toyota should make owners whole due to this serious design defect.

Filed Oct 18, 2019 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · AZ

When in motion or stopping, on city streets or the highway, turning included, the ABS system makes excessive nosies such as chirping, squeaking, and grinding. Currently, there has not been a crash or injury as a result; however, there is documentation within toyota service and online forums of this issue and concern among 2003 models.

Filed Apr 16, 2019 · Brakes · 160,000 miles · CA

Moving vehicle at school parking lot - 17 year old daughter driving about 3 months after getting her license. Vsc trac ABS lights all came on, a low tone noise and the brake peddle was hard as a rock when depressing.

Filed Dec 8, 2018 · Brakes · 17,000 miles · MS

Takata recall my son and I both have a toyota 4-runner and the ABS hydro buster / brake master cylinder went out on the 2004 and is about to go out on the 2003. I recently bought the 2003 and the problem recently started. I'm trying to find out if there is a recall on either of these vehicles. 2003 4-runner toyota very recently 2004 4-runner toyota I need to verify the date of problem thanks

Filed Aug 23, 2018 · Brakes · 58,230 miles · PR

Abs problem disables brakes function. While driving the dash alerts lights (vsc track, ABS and brakes ) went on. Thanks god this happened while driving at a very low speed and in a flat terrain. A toyota ex-employee told us that the company became aware of this problem almost 10 years ago. No security alert was issued. However, a company bulletin described the ABS malfunction and offered replacement to those who requested it. This offer is no longer offered. I went to a toyota dealer and the cost to fix the problem is 3622.41 for service and parts. At present the unit is out of service. I am the original owner and bought this unit in march 1, 2003. It has 58,239 miles. I have taken the unit for service whenever a recall has been made for this vehicle. Toyota company has never alerted me about the possibility of brake malfunction and the security risk that this problem involves.

Filed Sep 13, 2017 · Brakes · 2 miles · CA

While pulling into a grocery store parking lot, aloud cabin alarm sound and ABS, vsc and trac and brake warning lights on the dash came on. My vehicle seemed to stop ok so we did our shopping, when we started the car it still had the lights lit up and braked ok. We were close to home so I drove slowly trying to get there about half way home I applied the brakes and the pedal was hard as a rock and would not slow down the car applying emergency break and using shifter in order to stop and avoid crashing we got it home accident free. Today a talked to a toyota specialty shop and explained the problem and his first response was the ABS pump and master cylinder failure. Vehicle has 105000 miles and this is a safety issue I have never had a vehicle brakes fail without a back up system for safety.I have read 1000s of posts and threads in blogs from toyota owners with similar issue, and some that caused accidents. I had just come off the highway, so this could have caused a serious accident just minutes earlier. This seems to be a very common occurrence and toyota is very aware of the situation but no recall. This situation merits an investigation by toyota and a recall should be awarded before human life is lost in an accident.

Filed Mar 21, 2017 · Brakes · 135,000 miles · IN

While driving at approximately 30 MPH on a city street, with my little girl in the vehicle, breaks failed and loud cabin alarm sound and ABS, vsc and trac dash lights came on. We were close to home so we got it there into the garage applying emergency break and using shifter in order to stop and avoid crashing. Had vehicle towed to dealership twice as they said the fixed it after only having it 30 minutes and said the accumulator pump was blocked up. Came home, drove it twice and the one week later all the bells and whistles go off again. Had it towed once again and now being told that it will cost us $4000 to fix. Very odd toyota goes from a thirty-minute charge and fix to a three-day process because they have to order part and cost us $4000. Supposedly the ABS pump break master cylinder is bad and has to be replaced. I have read 1000s of posts and threads in blogs from toyota owners with similar issue, and some that caused accidents. I had just come off the highway, so this could have caused a serious accident just minutes earlier. This seems to be a very common occurrence and toyota is very aware of the situation but no recall. This situation merits an investigation by toyota and a recall should be awarded before human life is lost in an accident. They should also find a better less expensive fix. Generations of my family have put our faith into toyota vehicles and to be screwed like this is just not fair. The economy bailed car dealerships out when they were going under and they can't do the right thing taking ownership of this known issue. Will analysis my options when buying another toyota.

Filed Jul 30, 2016 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 54,000 miles · HI

I've been doing research online for the non stop vcs trac, vcs off, ABS and brake warning lights and buzzers going off. It has been described as a common issue with toyota and can lead to complete loss of brakes, but no recall. The dealership wants $3200 for the part and $600 to install. I guess toyota needs fatalities to back their product. Shame on toyota.

Filed Feb 16, 2016 · Brakes · 260,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. When the vehicle was started, the ABS, emergency brake, and vsc trac lights remained illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The contact placed the vehicle in drive and then depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not stop. The contact quickly placed the gear in park and called a tow truck. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the hydraulic ABS and the tc motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was at the shop for repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 260,000.