Problems with 2003 Toyota 4Runner STRUCTURE

My 2003 4runner sr5 looks great and its v8 engine hums like it is new but the frame rails are totally rotten and i have been advised not to drive it at all as it is too dangerous to drive. so its value should be about 5-,6000 and now it is totally junk and has only scrap value. toyota usa recalled the sequoia, the tundra and the tacoma from the time period, approximately 2003-2007 maybe more year models, but did not recall the 4runner because there were too many sold and it would have cost too much money. the frame and frame rail rot on the 4runner from that time period is well documented and many complaints have been filed with the nhta yet toyota has seen fit not to recall the 4runner!! . what a disgrace!! the most important fact is the 4runners, past and present, sit on the exact same frame as the tacoma. the tacoma was recalled for the frame rot but the 4runner were not. could you please provide the reasoning for not recalling the 4runner for frame rot while the tacoma with the exact same frame from the exact same factory was not/has not been recalled?

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while the vehicle was stationary, the contact noticed that the frame of the vehicle near the trailing arm brackets was rotted with holes and slight corrosion. a dealer was not contacted about the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that there was no recall on the vehicle. the failure mileage was 196,000.

Frame rust, severe extensive rust to frame, vehicle is unsafe to drive, toyota has recalls for tundra and tacoma, need to add 4runner to recall list. vehicle has not been involved in accident, frame rot was pointed out while having vehicle serviced. the frame needs to be replaced.

tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. the vehicle was taken to the atlantic toyota dealer located at 145 albany ave, amityville, new york, 11701, for a check up when the dealer diagnosed that the front frame was rusted. the dealer stated that the failure was as a result of salt on the road, and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was no longer under warranty, but did not offer additional assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 125,660.

The frame is rusted through on passenger side bottom of frame section has large rusted through hole and i have removed a large freezer bag full of rust from inside this hole. i believe the root cause was that the air condition condensate drain hose exited down directly on top of the frame in the engine compartment and the condensate(water) then ran down the frame to the rusted location as this is how i discovered the rust problem, it dripped from that location leaving a rust spot on garage floor. the driver side frame in same area is fine. i have since re-routed the condensate drain to keep problem from accelerating.

Today, i drove my 2003 4runner limited that has 135409 miles with the entire frame was deemed "unsafe" by toyota dealership today. this was after i took my 4runner for front brakes and the mechanic told remove my kids car seats from the back seat and told me to bring to this toyota attention. the 2003 4runner frame is unsafe and i should not drive until they repair / replace frame.

Frame is rusted almost completely in two where back axle ties to the frame. also various other areas of the frame are rusting as well. took to several mechanics and each said it is a mfg issue and should have been recalled due to severe safety issues. putting a young driver, or anyone for that matter, into a car to drive that has serious frame rust issues which could lead to a wreck and serious injury is inexcusable and toyota needs to get this taken care of immediately with a recall. we bought vehicle in 2016, however it was rusted far before then based on rust evidence present.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while the vehicle was undergoing routine maintenance, severe rusting and corrosion was discovered on the subframe of the vehicle. the cause of the failure was not determined. an unknown dealer was notified of the failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 165,000.

Frame is rusted out and should be replaced for safety

While having an oil and filter change performed by midas auto service experts on my 2003 toyota 4 runner, the owner of the shop found the entire frame is rotted with rust to the point where there are holes where the frame is welded. he was able to push his finger through the rusted frame of the car. he stated the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to structural rot of the frame.

Excessive amount of frame rust for a car that has been garage stored in mild vancouver bc climate. frame is exact same as toyota tacoma which have known frame rust and frame rot, but not covered under the frame recall from toyota

Rust covering all chassis components discovered during routine maintenance needs to be scraped primed and painted to protect against further damage

While changing the brakes and roters, it was noticed that the frame where the gas tank straps attach, is completely rusted and rotted through. several areas on the frame are rotted through. the mechanic stuck his finger right through my frame. also, there is body rust all around the back window, causing water to get into the back door, causing the 3rd brake light to not work, and causing the latch to lock and keep the hatch closed is seized due to rust.

My 4runner was classified unsafe to drive by a safety inspector because of advanced degradation of the frame due to extensive rust. it is not able to be repaired.

Takata recall. car is a hazard to drive. rust has consumed the frame to the point that major parts are at risk of separating from the frame and falling from it.

I was doing some maintenance and service on my 2003 4 runner and noticed a huge rot hole in the framed just ahead of the right rear track bar.

While vehicle was at the repair shop (vehicle was stationary) ongoing a service maintenance, the technician noticed a huge rot hole going along the passenger frame and another rust hole on the bottom radiator support.

Frame rusted throughout to the point that mechanics and body shop employees have advised us not to drive vehicle or sell it. we were told it needs a new frame and is beyond repair. we purchased 11/29/16. previous owner spray undercarriage black to hide rust. only 151k miles!

Vehicle had frame perforations from corrosion and completely corroded gas tank straps (both straps). both of these represent safety hazards and had to be repaired to pass state inspection. the frame corrosion problem with the 2003 4runner and similar vehicles is well known and needs to be addressed by toyota. since toyota has known about this for some time and not acted on it there needs to be intervention from the nhtsa to address the issue.

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.

The frame is very badly rusted also to the point of being unsafe to drive

Extreme frame corrosion. frame condition is making vehicle unsafe to drive.

I bought the 2003 toyota 4 runner in august 2015. at the time of purchase, there had already been a repair to the exhaust system. in january of 2016, a brake caliper malfunctioned and i took it in for repair. at that time, i was informed there were rot holes in the frame that needed to be repaired. they showed me pictures of the rust holes and i about fell over. i couldn't believe my eyes. i had the holes repaired. when i took the car for inspection in august 2016, there were more rot holes and it couldn't be inspected. i had those holes repaired, and the repair guy said it was dangerous to keep driving this vehicle. he said it is rusting from the inside out. i was so mad because i just bought it less than a year ago, and am now facing losing thousands of dollars due to this faulty frame. i got the oil changed recently and the comment on the multipoint inspection is that the frame is rusting. when i parked the car today, i had the wheel turned, and i saw another rot hole in the frame by the wheel that i will have to get repaired. this is a terrible safety hazard, the frame could rust through while i'm diving it. i can't just go out and get another car while losing thousands on this one which is what will happen if i have to trade it in. something needs to be done here.yes it is a 2003, and i would expect some rust on an older vehicle, but this is ridiculous. i do have repair bills, but i can't scan them in.

My 2003 toyota 4 runner has significant frame rust that the toyota dealer identified during routine service and noted that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. they refused to fix the problem, saying it could not be fixed (beyond repair), but that i should no longer drive the vehicle as it is now unsafe to be on the road.

My 4runner has parts of the structure with above average rust. that frame element intended to hold the skid plate on is completely rusting through. for fear of safety performance issues in the event of a collision i refuse to drive my family in this vehicle. in one instance a steel piece designed to stabilize the muffler popped off it's weld while i was driving, causing a potentially dangerous situation to the cars around me. i was driving down a hill to my near my home at the time.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the frame became severely rusted and corroded over the period of two years. the contact stated that an independent mechanic made a series of repairs for the following failures: the drive shaft was rusted, the tow hooks detached from the vehicle, the muffler detached from the vehicle, and the frame fractured into pieces upon the contact's initial assessment of the damages. the contact stated that the series of failures occured due to the severe rust and corrosion of the frame. the dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failures. the failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for routine repair, the technician diagnosed that the subframe underneath the front part of the vehicle was corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 96,834.

My 4runner frame is showing excessive rust. the rest of the vehicle is in excellent shape and i am diligent in keeping the vehicle in good condition. please consider my 4runner as a frame replacement candidate.

This 2003 toyota 4runner has 135,000 miles on the odometer and the frame and exhaust system including catalytic converter are completely rusted out and the vehicle is now unsafe to drive. some frame components have completely rusted and broken off from the frame i.e. tow hooks, exhaust and engine mounts. the frame is only held on to the body by the shock absorbers. the vehicle can no longer be driven safely. the cost to repair this damage would be prohibitive and i believe that this issue needs to be addressed by toyota. i purchased this vehicle in good faith and trusted that toyota quality would last. please advise any possible recourse. thank you *tr

Have rust on my frame. have hole near my cat converter that toyota found during inspection which failed because of the hole. they recommended i take somewhere else to patch to save money. seems dangerous that frame is rusting to the point that it caused a hole.

Noticed the right front wheel making awful sound. i had my mechanic to take a look. it is the wheel bearings going out, but then proceeded to tell me that the rust is so bad underneath that all the hose lines will have to be replaced. brake lines leaking, transmission line leaking. all will have to be replaced. the rust is eating away underneath the car like cancer. no stopping it. the sway bars are rusting into as well. our mechanic will let us know how much it will cost to repair the lines...but is it worth spending the money on??? this is our 7th toyota that we have owned, always taken excellent care of vehicle, and i have never experience such a rusty mess. love my 4runner but really don't know what to do with it!

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while the vehicle was being serviced for annual routine maintenance, the dealer observed that the frame was severely corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 235,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that the dashboard was cracked. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to mount airy toyota (508 n andy griffith pkwy, mount airy, nc 27030, (336) 786-2118), but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer informed the contact that the extended warranty expired on may 31, 2017 and provided case number: 1808210330. the failure mileage was 164,000. the vin was not available.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while at an independent mechanic for repairs, the mechanic diagnosed that the entire subframe was corroded and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 141,000.

Had a mechanic look at it and pointed out a few holes in the frame of the vehicle.

I'm an owner of a 2003 4runner and have researched the issues involving the paint on the wheels pealing. i have found that it is an issue with several, if not all wheels that toyota uses on their 4 runners and other trucks. why does toyota continue to sell and use a wheel when they know it is defective, and why aren't they correcting the problem by issuing refunds, or repair services? the defect leads to the wheel being corroded and eventually compromises the integrity of the wheel's strength. the safety of the wheel is a big concern of mine, especially since the problem continues to get worse. sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Failed state inspection 1/25/16 due to rusted and perforated frame. it passed the inspection 1/26/15 just before selling vehicle to us. we have put less than 7000 miles on it since purchase on 1/28/15.

Scheduled vehicle for regular inspection. toyota rep advised substantial rot on frame, rear passenger side. did not pass inspection. rep advised that no current remedies/recalls in place. rep suggested to trade it in. 153000 miles, engine/transmission excellent condition. frame washed and treated w/ rust prevention 2x a year. unacceptable structural problem, given the circumstances with no remedy from toyota.

4runner frame rust. multiple techs have told me my frame should have been included with an existing toyota recall but was not.

My 2003 4runner has serious frame rust issues with less than 150,000 miles. the piece of the frame that supports the radiator and a/c condenser has rusted completely through and the radiator is unsupported on the driver's side. i have not experienced this problem with my old 1996 4runner which had 100,000 more miles on it.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. while backing out of the driveway, the lower control arm failed and the vehicle became inoperable. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and an inspector sent by the manufacturer examined the damage. the inspector determined that the subframe bracket, which holds the lower control, had rusted and caused the lower control arm to fail. the inspector recommended that the entire frame of the vehicle be replaced. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 104,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4unner. while driving over a pothole at approximately 25 mph, a loud bang emitted outside of the vehicle. the vehicle wandered out of the lane independently and became difficult to steer. the failure occurred when encountering uneven road surfaces and potholes. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the entire frame was completely corroded. the vehicle was beyond repair. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000. updated 04/14/16*lj *cn

While driving on the highway the passenger rear side of my toyota 4runner began to move up and down and wobble making the car wander all over the road. we immediately went to the local toyota dealer, carver toyota of columbus in taylorsville, in. inspecting the car on the passenger rear side we found that the rear suspension had pulled away from the frame where the frame had completely rusted leaving a big hunk out of the frame. there was extensive rusting of the frame in multiple places. the car was inspected and photographed by matt warren, service manager at carver toyota and was determined to be undriveable. this is a well maintained vehicle which is in tip-top condition in every other respect than the rusted frame. we are very upset to lose a good car which still had a lot of value still left in it to us. we also feel that this is a very important safety issue. we were incredibly lucky that neither we nor anybody else on the highway that day were injured by this dangerous situation. and we are very concerned that this has been reported in other 4runners as well and there hasn't been a recall and these dangerous vehicles are still on the road. we are holding on to the vehicle hoping that there will be some remedy for this situation. thank you so much for your attention. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be serviced, but it was discovered that there was extensive corrosion on the frame of the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 139,000. .....updated 12/08/15 *bf *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota 4runner. the contact stated that the subframe was rusted. in addition, there were three large holes in the front passenger side of the vehicle. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 180,000.

My vehicle has severe frame rust and rot. part of frame at the front of the car has holes in it and is not safe to drive. this vehicle has been well maintained. it was driven primarily in maryland and virginia.

Frame rust - car is basically not safe to drive

Brought the vehicle in for a suspension check and the mechanic found the passanger rear frame completely rotted.

Heavily rusted areas on the frame on my 2003 toyota 4runner. vehicle is garage kept and routinely maintained.

Rotting out frame with gaping holes. there are several large holes in the frame, and along the weld lines and soft spots leading to more as well. unsafe to drive and now off the road (i am now without a car or value for trade in). apparently, according to 3 separate mechanics i brought the truck to, it resembles the tacoma rotting that led to recall (that i had never known about). according to last mechanic who i was going to get a quote for repair said the whole frame is rotted, soft spots in several other areas, and it is a matter of time and not worth fixing. i have called toyota twice and they basically said "to bad for you". nothing they are going to do. i've taken good care of my car, bought it new and have been the only driver. planned on another couple years at least. very disappointed in toyota and lucky that i was in get to an inspection sticker as i wouldn't have known. i imagine could have been very dangerous to myself and the general public hadn't i been made aware....updated 07/30/15 *bf updated 9/24/15 *js