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2003 Toyota Tacoma

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 228.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

268 reports with mileage · 91 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 181 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

30 crash reports1 fire reports18 injury reports

Power Train complaints

18 reports
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50,000 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL BUSHING IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC & SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF RUBBER, IT WEARS OUT & STARTS TO SQUEAK REAL BAD AND EVENTUALLY THERE IS METAL TO METAL CONTACT WHICH CAUSES THE WHOLE CLUTCH ASSY. TO FAIL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170580

21,000 miles · Nov 22, 2005
Power Train

AT 21,000 MILES HEARD LOUD NOISE FOR DIFFERENTIAL, AND BAD GLUNK WHEN LEAVING STOP LIGHT, TOYOTA NEVER PUT IN GEAR LUBE TO COVER UP THE BAD WELDS ON RIGHT END OF DIFFERENTIAL (THAT WOULD HAVE LEAKED IF THEY DID PUT IN GEAR LUBE), NO REPLY FROM E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, TALKING TO CUST. REP, (REQUESTED ARBITRATION FORMS BY PHONE AND …

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AT 21,000 MILES HEARD LOUD NOISE FOR DIFFERENTIAL, AND BAD GLUNK WHEN LEAVING STOP LIGHT, TOYOTA NEVER PUT IN GEAR LUBE TO COVER UP THE BAD WELDS ON RIGHT END OF DIFFERENTIAL (THAT WOULD HAVE LEAKED IF THEY DID PUT IN GEAR LUBE), NO REPLY FROM E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, TALKING TO CUST. REP, (REQUESTED ARBITRATION FORMS BY PHONE AND E-MAIL 6 TIMES, NEVER RECEIVED THEM EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA LIED AND SAID THEY WILL SEND THEM.) . *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143437

21,242 miles · Aug 15, 2005
Power Train

DIFFERENTIAL MADE A BAD NOISE AT 21,221 MILES CHECKED GEAR LUBE ONLY TO FIND IT EMPTY. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA CITY WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, SAID OBVIOUS LEAK ON PASS. SIDE END OF DIFF, AXLE. I HAD 15,000 MILE SERVICE DONE AT TOYOTA CITY ($165.00), THEY NEVER CHECKED THE DIFF, GEAR LUBE EVEN THO…

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DIFFERENTIAL MADE A BAD NOISE AT 21,221 MILES CHECKED GEAR LUBE ONLY TO FIND IT EMPTY. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA CITY WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, SAID OBVIOUS LEAK ON PASS. SIDE END OF DIFF, AXLE. I HAD 15,000 MILE SERVICE DONE AT TOYOTA CITY ($165.00), THEY NEVER CHECKED THE DIFF, GEAR LUBE EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MAINTENANCE BOOK SAYS TO INSPECT DIFF, GEAR LUBE. (NO REPAIRS WERE EVEN ATTEMPTED AT TOYOTA CITY). BROUGHT THE MISSED DIFF. FLUID CHECK TO CUST. SERVICE REPS ATTENTION, SAID SHE WILL TALK TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, A MONTH LATER, AND STILL NO REPLY . *NM

NHTSA ODI #10132906

21,000 miles · Jul 26, 2005
Power Train

TRUCK ALWAYS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE NEW, TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER 4 TIMES, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. AT 21,000 MILES I HEARD A BAD NOISE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL, I PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE FILL PLUG ONLY TO FIND NO OIL IN IT.SO I PUT IN 4 OZ. SHORT OF A QUART OF 80W90 GEAR OIL. (PULLED TO LEFT BECAUSE A WH…

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TRUCK ALWAYS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE NEW, TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER 4 TIMES, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. AT 21,000 MILES I HEARD A BAD NOISE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL, I PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE FILL PLUG ONLY TO FIND NO OIL IN IT.SO I PUT IN 4 OZ. SHORT OF A QUART OF 80W90 GEAR OIL. (PULLED TO LEFT BECAUSE A WHEEL BEARING WASN'T GETTING AND LUBRICATION). RETURNED TO DEALER, THEY SAID WE CAN'T FIND A LEAK, 50 MILES LATER I PULLED THE FILL PLUG AND FOUND THE OIL TO BE BLACK AS CAN BE WITH METAL IN IT. DEALERS ANSWER IS TO COME BACK WHEN IT BREAKS. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A 2003 TACOMA WITH A 200,000 MILE DIFFERENTIAL. (WHAT A SHAME).

NHTSA ODI #10130053

20,310 miles · May 21, 2005
Power Train

ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN I AM DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA VIN [XXX] IT STARTS GOING OFF THE LANE AND REQUIRES EXTRA POWER TO GET BACK ON TRACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME SO FAR ON THE LOCAL SURFACE STREETS HERE IN TEMPE. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR ON HIGHWAY. ALSO AFTER THAT THE HAND-BREAK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IT WIL…

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ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN I AM DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA VIN [XXX] IT STARTS GOING OFF THE LANE AND REQUIRES EXTRA POWER TO GET BACK ON TRACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME SO FAR ON THE LOCAL SURFACE STREETS HERE IN TEMPE. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR ON HIGHWAY. ALSO AFTER THAT THE HAND-BREAK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. I DID NOT EVEN PUT HAND BREAK. THE HAND-BREAK LIGHT WILL GO OFF AFTER A WHILE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10121780

500 miles · Mar 10, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSES. VEHICLE DOES NOT PROPERLY SHIFT INTO GEAR, HAS A ROUGH IDLE, AND A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEY WERE INTERMITTENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10062833

5,000 miles · Dec 5, 2003
Power Train

AFTER APPROX. PUTTING 5,000 MILES ON MY TACOMA 2003 DOUBLE CAB, I STARTED NOTICING WHEN NORMALLY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A CLUNCKING SOUND FROM THE REAR END. THE HARDER YOU STOP THE VEHICLE THE WORSE IT GETS. IT'S LIKE GETTING SLIGHTLY REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IF IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS CLUNCKING FEEL…

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AFTER APPROX. PUTTING 5,000 MILES ON MY TACOMA 2003 DOUBLE CAB, I STARTED NOTICING WHEN NORMALLY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A CLUNCKING SOUND FROM THE REAR END. THE HARDER YOU STOP THE VEHICLE THE WORSE IT GETS. IT'S LIKE GETTING SLIGHTLY REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IF IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS CLUNCKING FEELING AND SOUND AS YOU COME TO A STOP, IT WILL DO IT ONCE YOU LET OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO IDLE/ROLL FORWARD TO ADVANCE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHICH NOW HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO RON CARTER AUTO WORLD AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS AND CONSIDERED IT NORMAL. IF THIS IS NORMAL WHY DON'T OTHER VEHICLES DO THIS? IT GETS ANNOYING LOOKING INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS THINKING THAT YOU'VE BE REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10049263

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2003
Power Train

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVER ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE SHIFTER AND IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING THE LOCK. CONSUMER CONSIDERS THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THIS IS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026335

Official recalls

3

12V542000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

Nov 23, 2012

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 spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

05V225000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

May 17, 2005

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

03V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 19, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.