2003 Toyota 4RUNNER Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM · data through 07/12/2026

38Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System complaints

5.5%Of all 695 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine and engine cooling:exhaust system ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE:BODY248 · 35.7%

SUSPENSION109 · 15.7%

Unspecified / other101 · 14.5%

SERVICE BRAKES44 · 6.3%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM38 · 5.5%

Share of the 695 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER overview page.

What owners report

“AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CABIN WOULD FILL UP WITH SULFUR DIOXIDE FUMES. THESE FUMES HAVE CAUSED RESPIRATORY ISSUES…”NHTSA complaint 10071546 — filed 04/20/2004

“ROTTEN EGG/SULFUR SMELL/EXHAUST ENTERING CABIN OF VEHICLE EVEN IF WINDOWS ARE UP.HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN AUG,2003.”NHTSA complaint 10066218 — filed 04/15/2004

“I HAVE BECOME RATHER FED UP WITH THE SULFUR SMELL PROBLEM ON MY 03' V8 4RUNNER. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HERE, EDMUNDS, AND OTHER…”NHTSA complaint 10066144 — filed 04/14/2004

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER have engine and engine cooling:exhaust system problems?

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER: 38 of 695 complaints on file (5.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Toyota 4RUNNER have in total?

695 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 18 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 27 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling:exhaust system category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.