2003 Toyota 4runner Cruise Control Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while his wife driving 60 MPH with the cruise control activated, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle rapidly started to accelerate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver depressed the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and parked on the side of the road. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and drive to her destination. The contact stated that in October 2021 his wife experienced a similar failure. The contact also stated that on 11/8/2021 while his wife driving 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle accelerated quickly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver depressed on the brake pedal with both feet and shifted gear to neutral to slow the vehicle. The driver stated she saw smoke coming from both front brakes. The drive was able to park on the side of the road. The driver stated that the brake pedal was seized on the floorboard. The driver stated she applied the parking brake to release the brake pedal. The driver was able to drive to her residence. The contact stated that his wife had experienced the failure on 3 different occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The VIN was associated to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V113000 (Vehicle Speed Control) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V146000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. RIGHT AFTER I LET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. IT WAS A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN OR IS THIS COMMON? ALSO, SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF MY CAR, THE PAINT STARTED TO PEEL ON THE REAR HATCH BELOW THE LICENSE ON THE LEFT, WHERE THERE ARE SOMEWHAT SHARP ANGLES. TOYOTA REPAINTED THE REAR HATCH, EXCLUDING THE SPOILER. I JUST NOTICED TWO RUST SPOTS ABOVE THE REAR WINDOW. IT APPEARS WATER IS SEEPING IN FROM ABOVE THE BLACK STRIP AND PONDING ON THR BOTTOM OF IT (ABOVE THE WINDOW), RESULTING IN RUST. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS COMMON OR A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE BLACK STRIP WAS REMOVED TO REPAINT, OR WASN'T SEALED AS WELL BY THE FACTORY?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED AT SUNRISE TOYOTA NORTH (LOCATED AT 910 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, MIDDLE ISLAND, NY 11953, (631) 924-8100). THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

THE ENGINE, VSC TRAC AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE ENGINE 02 SENSORS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURE WILL NOT REPLACE OR REPLACE SINCE THERE ARE NO ADVISORIES ON THE PART. THERE IS A HIGH RISK THE ENGINE MAY UNDER PERFORM WHICH MAY CAUSE LACK OF CONTROL AND A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. LEADING TO INJURY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO ISSUES ON LOCAL STREETS. SUDDENLY THE VSC,TRAC, AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD WITH A VERY LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM. NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE SLOWLY HOME ON SIDE ROADS (1.5 MILES AWAY). I MADE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY, PULLED IN ON MY UPSLOPING DRIVEWAY AND THEN I HAD NO BRAKES. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO THE STREET AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP. I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED AND IN TOWN. THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO WARNING FOR A CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. DIAGNOSIS BY MECHANIC IS BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE, AT APPROXIMATELY $3000 TO REPLACE. I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THIS FAILURE ACROSS MULTIPLE VEHICLE TYPES. THE LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS UPON FAILURE (INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE) AND THE SHORT WINDOW TO REACT MAKES ME FEEL LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HIT OR HARM MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS FAILURE. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ALONG NORMALLY, THE VSC, TRAC, ABS AND E-BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH AN AUDIBLE ALARM. THEN WE HAD NO BRAKES. I HAD TO PUSH WITH ALL MY STRENGTH JUST TO SLOW DOWN AT ALL. WE WERE LUCKY WE DID NOT CRASH, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM FINDING OUT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL, AS WELL AS OTHER TOYOTA MODELS THAT USE THE SAME BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER/TRACTION CONTROL MODULE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DECREASE THE SPEED BY CONTINUOUSLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

NEAR THE END OF AUGUST FOUR WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME IN MY 2003 4RUNNER. THEY WERE THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS AND BRAKE. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP TO DETERMINE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT RUST AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME, REAR AXLE AND ATTACHED PARTS. I HAVE ASKED FOR AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO SO AS THERE IS SO MUCH RUST, CORROSION, AND LACK OF MATERIAL TO WORK WITH. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OWNER, A FRIEND OF MINE, HAD THE VEHICLE UNDERCOATED THE DAY AFTER PURCHASE, KEPT THE CAR IN A GARAGE, AND WASHED THE VEHICLE FREQUENTLY INCLUDING THE UNDERSIDE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2007 WITH 13,750 MILES. IT HAS ALSO LIVED IN A GARAGE HERE. AS OF AUGUST 29, 2013, THE DATE OF THE INSPECTION, THE VEHICLE HAD 24,005 MILES. THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS IN PERFECT CONDITION, AND THE INTERIOR IS THE SAME. HOWEVER, THE UNDERSIDE IS A DIFFERENT STORY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND RECEIVED THIS RESPONSE. "THERE ARE NO KNOWN ISSUES OR CURRENT RECALLS RELATING TO BODY AND FRAME RUST ISSUED FOR YOUR VEHICLE...YOUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WE WOULD BE UNWILLING TO OFFER YOU ANY COMPENSATION FOR ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND YOUR DISSATISFACTION WITH THIS DECISION, IT DOES REPRESENT TOYOTA'S FINAL POSITION IN THIS MATTER." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL JETS WERE PLUGGED WITH CARBON, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT SINCE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,160 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,160. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 07/181//

I HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU IN THE PAST BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. MY DAUGHTER AND I BOTH DRIVE 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNERS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE FOLLOWING ISSUE TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES. I AM REWRITING TO YOU ESPECIALLY AFTER THE LX460 RECALL. IN SNOW OR ICE, THE VEHICLE WILL SPIN TO EASY AS YOU DRIVE AROUND A TURN WHILE GIVING IT SOME GAS. WE BOTH HAVE SPUN OUT. I HAVE ON TWO OCCASIONS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER HATES TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT IS ICY OR SNOWY. MY 2000 4RUNNER NEVER DID IT. MY BMW Z4 WILL NOT DO IT. SOME THING IS WRONG WITH THE VSC LOGIC. CAN YOU HELP ME? *TR

2003 TOYOTA 4DR. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A FENCE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. *JB

MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK ON MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I BELIEVE THE FLOOR MAT WAS INVOLVED AS WHEN I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND STOP, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY AND THE PEDAL RELEASED. *TR

2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE PULLING INTO HER GARAGE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A WORKBENCH. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE DAMAGES OUT OF POCKET. *JB

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 6/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE REACHED FROM THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO TURN THE MOTOR OFF, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TRIED TO RUN WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS MOVING TOO FAST. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS OPEN AND IT KNOCKED HER DOWN AND SHE HIT HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO THE STREET AND THEN BEGAN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AND THEN THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE RAN OVER HER. UPDATED 06/15/10.*JP

2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH 57,000 MILES ACCELERATED FROM 5 MPH AFTER TAKING A TURN, TO 50 MPH. I PUMPED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PUT ALL OF MY WEIGHT (I WEIGH 230 LBS.) ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AFTER 3 OR 4 SECONDS THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE 4RUNNER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT THERE ARE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON BOTH THE 4RUNNER AND OTHER TOYOTA MODELS THAT ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. TOYOTA CANNOT BE TRUSTED. IF YOU OWN ONE, SELL IT. IF YOU DON'T THEN DON'T BUY ANY TOYOTA. THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO HIDE THE TRUTH. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER AS MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A FLOWER BED AND STRUCK TWO PARKED CARS. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED APPROXIMATELY $2,000 IN DAMAGES. *TR

2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER V6 SPORT. ON SATURDAY I FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL AND WHEN I LET UP THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PUMPED THE BRAKES BUT ACCELERATION CONTINUED. I APPLIED STRONG CONTINUOUS FORCE TO THE BRAKES AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE ACCELERATION DISENGAGED. YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF OTHER NON-4RUNNER TOYOTA MODELS BEING RECALLED FOR EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM HAS ME VERY CONCERNED. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE 4RUNNER HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED? *TR

I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CAR( 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER) STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WITHIN A MINUTE. SINCE I WAS IN THE CENTER LANE AND IT WAS RUSH HOUR, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD, PLUS I HAD NO POWER. FINALLY A POLICE CAR PULLED UP BEHIND ME AND HAD ME TURN OFF THE CAR AND THEN RESTART. I WAS ABLE THEN TO PULL OVER WITH THE OFFICER'S HELP TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE "TRANSMISSION INPUT SPEED SENSOR(P0717)" HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT A CAR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING (ESPECAILLY ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). I WOULD FAR RATHER TO HAVE DAMAGE TO A TRANSMISSION THAN TO BE HIT IN THE REAR AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE I HAVE NO POWER.*AK

THE DESIGN FLAW OF THE GAS PEDAL CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMERS RIGHT KNEE AND LOWER BACK. *TC *JB

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *JB......*AK

REGARDING MY 2003 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, LIMITED, 4-WHEEL DRIVE WITH A V-8 ENGINE AND 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE (SEPTEMBER 28, 2003) THE ENGINE HAS PERIODICALLY ACCELERATED SUDDENLY BY ITSELF, WHILE AT A STOP, SUCH AS AT A STOP LIGHT, WITH THE AC ON AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN AN ABRUPT ACCELERATION SIMILAR TO BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR. IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE IN THESE INSTANCES, I WOULD HAVE SHOT INTO THE INTERSECTION. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT HAS TO BE DOING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND AS PREDICTABLE THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. ALL THEY DID WAS CONFIRM ITS IDLE, THEY DID NOT DRIVE IT IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INCIDENT. I'VE NOTED OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO NHTSA ON THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES ARE INCURRED BY SOMEONE.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IDLED AT A STOP AND THE HEATER/ AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. *AK THE BRAKE MUST BE HELD DOWN HARD. *SC

NAR 9-10-03. FOIA EMAIL FWD FM KOST/GC INQUIRING HOW MANY 2003 TOYOTA'S HAVE HAD A PROBLEM OF ACCELERATING WHILE THE BRAKE IS BEING APPLIED, ES HAVE NO RECORD. *CB

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.