Friend considering buying high mileage 03

[Sammamish]

Hello, a friend of ours is considering buying high mileage 03 and I wonder if you have advices that I can pass onto him.

The truck is supposed to be
03
6cyl
Lim
~75K in mileage
clean CarFax

Some of the things I want to find out:

03 was first year for the latest generation right? Were there any issues for that year production?

Should high mileage be a concern? Is it OK to assume these cars are bullet proof as they say? What type of things are prone to fail in the next couple of years?

If it's worthwhile to go ahead with purchase, would inspection be mandatory in this case? In Eastside Seattle, any recommendation for who does good inspection? How much?

Sorry for rambling and thanks in advance for helping us out! Thanks again! Kevin from Sammamish.

 

[RickyCRX]

I've got 68.5k on my early '03 model... I bought it may of '05 with 51k on it and it's been great. I drive it hard and have been doing a lot of towing lately and haven't had a single problem withi t. Granted, it's the bulletproof V8 that's been around forever, but he/she still shouldn't have any problems with the high-mileage '03 V6. That was the first year for that particular engine, but other than a drive belt idler/tensioner assembly giving issues on some of them, I haven't heard any issues with them.

Let somebody else take the bath on the depreciation due to the mileage; I see no reason not to pick up a high mileage 4th gen.

Ricky

 

[srpage]

I now have 31,000 miles on my 03 V6 and have had absolutely no problems with it.

I would not expect any problems with an 03 V6 with 75,000 miles on it.

 

[TitaniumToy]

75K miles is not high

 

[BROOKLYN]

its not like your buying a ford with 75k than i would be worried but runners can go for alot more

 

[sharp4runr]

Early 2003 V6 models had a recall for the fuel rail. Get the VIN and verify with Toyota that the fix has been implemented. If it hasn't it should be a free repair by Toyota.

The V6 (1GRFE) is Toyota's 1st aluminum truck engine so reliability marks are sort of up in the air still. As you can see though, there are people with numerous miles on their V6 without any problems. Plus, you are buying a Japanese built Toyota here so I think you can be a bit more assured that it will last.

You guys keep saying "High Mileage" and it puts a smile on my face. 75K miles isn't high mileage on a Toyota, it is just breaking in. :

 

[TeryT]

I've got 55k on my 03 V8. I bought it used with 29k, and the one thing that had been fixed was the drivers seat problem.

Around 36k the traction control computer had to be replaced, and there was a TSB on this. My extended Toyota Platinum warranty covered this nearly $2000 repair. (It was that high, because they mistakenly replaced the yaw sensor first.) (I tow a big trailer, and have some idea that this forced the problem to surface, but that's just a guess.)

Anyway, my 4Runner was a very late model year 03 (August), an it still had the traction control issue. Very few other people seem to have had this. I've had no issues since. (but I think it is an accurate observatio that the electronics in newer cars gives something else to break - and an expensive/sophisticated something at that!)

I don't get too excited anymore about a solid (non Detroit or European) vehicle with 75k. I bought my 1988 Nissan Pathfinder with about that on it, and sold it last year (10 years later) with over 225k almost completely trouble free miles on it. Burnt no oil or no nothin! (Course many rubber items were starting to dry out by then.)

I think the moral of the story is that if you start with a solid vehicle (which I certainly believe the 4R is), an treat it half way right, you'll likely get 300k out of it!

Oh, tell him to see if he can get the maintenance records. I called the dealership I thought the previous owner had used for service, and gave them the VIN. They faxed over the full service & maint. report! (yes, it had been treated quite royally by the older couple that had it - and almost all highway miles with no offroad or towing!)

 

[ToyotaDan]

I have an 03, and have no problems. Some squeaks at first, but all was taken care off.