Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota 4Runner owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Please visit this site and you find over 600 complaints regarding Toyota's wheels corroding. Http://www.nuckleslaw.com/software-negotiations-expert/Toyota-alloy-wheels-bubbling-Toyota-quality-concerns/comment-page-12/#comments I'm an owner of a 2003 4runner and have researched the issues involving the paint on the wheels peeling. 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, [redacted]
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, [redacted]
While traveling southbound on I-85 in north carolina at mile marker 51.4 , at 65 MPH the left rear tire sidewall exploded causing a near accident. The tires had been on the vehicle less than two weeks as they were replaced as a four tire set, they were all new tires. Apparently there is a problem with the sidewalls with these tires. I googled this sidewall blowout and there have been over 198 cases of cooper tires with sidewall blowout. The tire brand is copper tires, model- cooper discoverer a/t 3 265/70 r 16 dot- utc2 1a6 4716 date code- 2013
I have a 2003 4 runner with only 102375 miles and the rims are crumbling away like chalk. These should not do this, it has to be defective materials and should be recalled before someone is hurt or worse. Toyota is aware of this problem and will be responsible and they need to recall and fix their mistake.
Frame and undercarriage rust. Rotted bolts affecting ability to have complete alignment performed. Failed wheel bearings causing loud rotational friction sounds while in motion. Rusted exhaust system causing failure and required replacement.
My dash is cracked from drivers side to passenger side and it appears to be kind of melting. When I am driving over 50mph and my back window is down it makes an horrible noise but the dealership says its fine not
I purchased this 4runner in March, 2015. I began to notice a vibration in the steering wheel at 63mph. I thought it was brakes, I had brakes and rotors surfaced on 3/12/15. Still vibrating! So I figured it was a simple balancing issue, I took it on the same day to have it balanced. It started vibrating and shaking worse! I had the same mechanic re-balance and rotate the wheels/tires. It road the same. They turned me to the Toyota dealership because they have the road enforce balancer. I took it to Toyota to have them test drive first, they claimed it was indeed out of balance. Toyota balanced. I drove it and it was shaking like a leaf at 32-70mph. I had Toyota re-balance again! I drove it again and it remained worse. They informed me that they didn't know what else to do. I left thinking that it was my wheels and or my tires because in my mind Toyota knows best! …
Toyota 4- runner, 2003. Wheel lug bolts are breaking off causing wheel to become lose. Toyota says the tire rotation service people overtightened the lug nuts. This service was 9 months prior to the lug bolt breaking. I contend that the problem is due to: a. The lug bolts are too small for the weight and hp of this vehicle. Or b. The metallurgical compond of the bolts and/or nuts is not correct. Or c. The thread tolerances of the bolts an nuts is not correct....Toyota refuses to test the damaged bolts and nut that I saved to see if this could be an isolated problem from their supplier.
P265-65r17, dunlop grand trek tire collapsed while driving to work in an 03 Toyota 4-runner. Speed was approximately 50 MPH. No road hazard was encountered. No loud explosion. Tire just suddenly went flat. Tire separated 360 degrees around front of rim. Tire is completely intact on back side of rim. Toyota dealership says they have never had a report of any problem with these tires. They refused to replace tire and referred me to dunlop. They told me that the rest of the tires, to include the spare, now mounted, are safe for driving.
30 month old 2003 Toyota 4 runner sport. Went to use spare tire for the first time but found places on the sidewall where the rubber appears to be melted. The marks look like they correspond to the places where the spare tire touches the undercarriage of the vehicle when the spare tire is stored. It looks to me (as a layman) that the damage is significant enough that it compromises the safety of the tire.
Related recalls
Wheels
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with five factory alloy wheels (model 6934 and 6936), with factory llat, and with port installed wr4, four alloy wheel upgrade processed at the jacksonville, florida port and distributed by southeast Toyota distributors in the states of alabama, florida, georgia, north and south…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with different style lug nuts, a warning label for the spare re/alloy wheel, and an owner's manual addendum.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other 4Runner years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2003 Toyota 4Runner?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2003 Toyota 4Runner, 3% of the model year's 696 complaints. The component named most often is hub (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota 4Runner wheel & tire problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-339 (wheels, Dec 17, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota 4Runner wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.