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2003 Toyota 4runner Wheels Problems

7 owner-reported wheels complaints from NHTSA data

7
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2003Nov 2018
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Wheels Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #02V339000

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 CAROLINA, WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PROCESSED AT THE PORT, AN ALLOY TIRE/WHEEL UPGRADE WAS INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDED 4 ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/ALLOY WHEEL WAS NOT CHANGED. THE SPARE TIRE REQUIRES THE USE OF A DIFFERENT STYLE OF WHEEL NUT TO ATTACH IT TO THE VEHICLE.

Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH DIFFERENT STYLE LUG NUTS, A WARNING LABEL FOR THE SPARE RE/ALLOY WHEEL, AND AN OWNER'S MANUAL ADDENDUM.

Owner Complaints (7)

mediumWHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Filed: Feb 2026

Your 2003 4Runner is experiencing multiple issues affecting the wheels, brakes, and engine. You're seeking information about whether there's a recall that might address these problems.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11714805
mediumWHEELS
Filed: Nov 2018

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.

NHTSA #: 11152116
mediumWHEELS
Filed: Aug 2017

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

NHTSA #: 11014530
mediumWHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2016

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

NHTSA #: 10897860
mediumWHEELS
Filed: Feb 2016

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, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10824261
mediumWHEELS
Filed: Oct 2004

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.

NHTSA #: 10098006
mediumWHEELS
Filed: Jan 2003

THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL CENTER CAP CAME OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER.*TS CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE THE SECOND WHEEL CAP. *JB

NHTSA #: 10004399

Other 2003 Toyota 4runner Issues