NHTSA Complaint #10038813 — 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER

WE PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER IN MARCH 2003 OF THIS YEAR FROM POWER TOYOTA CERRITOS. FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING TO THE CURRENT DATE, THE EXHAUST EMITS A SULFUR ODOR DURING REGULAR AS WELL AS HARD ACCELERATION. THE ODOR IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN THE REAR WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN. CURRENTLY WE HAVE OVER 5,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE CONFRONTED THE TUSTIN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED A COUPLE OF TIMES. WE RECEIVE THE SAME RESPONSE EVERYTIME THAT IT IS NORMAL AND DUE TO THE GASOLINE OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS TO "BURN IN". SINCE CA HAS THE STRICTEST EMISSION LAWS, I'M SURE THE GAS IS THE LEAST OF OUR WORRIES. I READ ON ALLDATA.COM THAT THERE IS A TSB (EG003-03) FOR A SULFUR SMELL, HOWEVER THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATA ON IT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON SITES LIKE EDMUNDS.COM, HTTP://WWW.4X4REVIEW.COM/DISCUSSIONS/TOYOTA/DEFAULT. ASP, AND OTHER COUNTLESS SITES. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO DENY THE PROBLEM EXIST. ALTHOUGH IT CURRENTLY IS NOT A SAFETY RISK, WHY WAIT TO FIND OUT? MY WIFE AND I ENJOY EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS NUISANCE IS BEGINNING TO OVERSHADOW OUR VIEW OF TOYOTA'S QUALITY. *JB