What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Toyota Tacoma

Typical pattern

2.4% of complaints about the 2003 Toyota Tacoma came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 11.7 yr in service. The most-reported system is structure (186 complaints), typically at 13.2 yr or about 122,000 miles.

Complaints
457
Median age at failure
11.7 yr
Median mileage
115,680 n=340
Crash / fire / tow
11.4% of reports
Safety recalls
5

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Structure
186 reports · 122,000 mi
13.2 yr
4.8%
Suspension
63 reports · 143,000 mi
14.3 yr
14.3%
Air bags
26 reports · 64,000 mi
10.8 yr
69.2%
Other
25 reports · 139,400 mi
13.8 yr
0%
Speed control
24 reports · 108,000 mi
8.8 yr
20.8%
Tires
21 reports · 90,000 mi
7.8 yr
4.8%
Power train
15 reports · 86,000 mi
8.0 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

12V542000 2012-11-23
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a sp

Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

06E065000 2006-07-17
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

05V225000 2005-05-17
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

03V189000 2003-05-19
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.

THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

In owners’ own words

Structure mileage not reported 8 mo in service
PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 TRD P/U. THE TRUCK SWAYS AND PITCHES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FRAME. THE STEERING RACK BRACKET WAS WELDED AT AN ANGLE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SAYS THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WON'T EVEN LET ME TAKE IT OFF THE LOT. THE PROPOSED FIX IS TO REBUILD THE TRUCK ON A NEW FRAME. *NLM
Structure 2,300 mi 6 mo in service
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA REGULAR CAB (2 DOOR) PICKUP TRUCK THAT I PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2002. WATER LEAKS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE SEALPLATE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN WASHING THE TRUCK OR DURING RAIN STORMS, ETC. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND IT STILL LEAKS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK
Structure mileage not reported 11 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SPLASHED WATER FROM THE FRONT TIRES OVER THE HOOD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE VISIBILITY. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER SHOULD SPLASH TO THE SIDE OF VEHICLE NOT OVER THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
Tires mileage not reported 1.1 yr in service
DRIVER REPLACED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE . THREE STUDS BROKE WHILE CHECKING THE WHEEL DUE TO CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

Other Tacoma model years

2025202420202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

How to read this