Consumer Complaint Detail

TOYOTA / 4 RUNNER / 2003

Recalls
0 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 003270335 Incident Date: Jun, 25 2003
Consumer's City: LEAWOOD Consumer's State: KS
Vehicle Transmission Type: AUTO Manufacturers Name: Toyota Motor Corporation
Model Name: 4 RUNNER Model Year: 2003
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 0
Vehicle's VIN#: JTEBT17R138 Date added to File: May, 25 2021
Date Complaint Received: Apr, 13 2004 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: May, 31 2003
Was Original Owner: No Anti-lock Brakes: Yes
Number of Cylinders: 8 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: 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 websites on this topic and see anecdotal evidence of some people pursuing legal recourse. other than one specific case in florida, i cannot find any other evidence of successfully making a lemon law case with the sulfur smell problem. i am in kansas and have been instructed by toyota that i have to go to arbitration.....and if i am not mistaken, this is also required prior to attempting a lemon lawsuit. i have three kids, one of which has a sulfur allergy in addition to my wife having a documented allergy. frankly, i have been nauseated by this smell on a number of instances. now at 10 mos. of ownership, 7500 miles, trying every grade and brand of gas reasonably available, 2 dealer complaints, and 2 toyota corporate complaints....i am not only disappointed at toyota's shifting of blame....but now i am at a loss on what can be done to have toyota recognize an obvious design flaw in the current 4runner model. toyota blames the problem on bad gas....don't think so...i have tried every grade from every station near my house. it has been happening since day 1 of ownership. have i researched this to figure out why it happens....absolutely. when toyota says it is not their fault.....i guess i wonder why they designed the vehicle to have rear vents that pull exhaust gas into the cabin. this is exactly why it happens. here is my point....sulfur smell from the exhaust...ok, i'm good with that. this is the case with the higher sulfur content mixes that are currently available. but should it be reasonable that i have to inhale it inside the cabin? now how is that the fault of the gasoline industry.....does that have anything to do with the sulfur content of the locally available gasoline? furthermore, if i am smelling sulfur.....i am also inhaling carbon monoxide....gee, that seems real healthy. please help.