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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

26 reports
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30,000 miles · Aug 20, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

FAULTY APPS (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR). VEHICLE IS DESIGNED WITH A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL AND DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODY. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WITH NO RESPONSE TO ENGINE OR VEHICLE MOVEMENT. THIS POSES A SAFETY THREAT IF DRIVER IS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION AND C…

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FAULTY APPS (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR). VEHICLE IS DESIGNED WITH A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL AND DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODY. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WITH NO RESPONSE TO ENGINE OR VEHICLE MOVEMENT. THIS POSES A SAFETY THREAT IF DRIVER IS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION AND CANNOT MOVE VEHICLE OUT OF HARMS WAY.

NHTSA ODI #10133608

50,000 miles · Apr 28, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

AT ANY TIME, MY 2003 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK WILL LOSE ALL POWER AS IF I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN IN FACT I HAVE NOT. THIS WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO DRASTICALLY DECREASE SPEED UNTIL I PUMP THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL IT DECIDES TO WORK AGAIN AND PICK UP SPEED AGAIN. I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH …

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AT ANY TIME, MY 2003 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK WILL LOSE ALL POWER AS IF I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN IN FACT I HAVE NOT. THIS WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO DRASTICALLY DECREASE SPEED UNTIL I PUMP THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL IT DECIDES TO WORK AGAIN AND PICK UP SPEED AGAIN. I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY "DRIVE BY WIRE" THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS CAUSING THIS. THE THROTTLE BODY ON THESE TRUCKS ARE COMPUTER CONTROLLED. YOU CAN ONLY OPEN THE THROTTLE BODY BUTTERFLY THE FIRST 25% WITH THE PEDAL THEN THE COMPUTER OPENS IT THE REST OF THE WAY. THESE THROTTLE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODIES ARE CRAPPING OUT LEFT AND RIGHT AND TOYOTA IS TRYING NOT TO REPLACE THEM UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THEY ARE CLAIMING IT IS COVERED UNDER THE 3/30 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND NOT THE 5/60 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT CAUSES ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND IT IS PUTTING MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD IN DANGER. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS IF I PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A DUMP TRUCK? WHAT IF IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM CROSSING A TRAIN TRACK?? I THINK IT IS A SERIOUS LOSS OF CONTROL ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM PURE AND SIMPLE.

NHTSA ODI #10118623

45,000 miles · Apr 27, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WENT BAD, AND IN TURN, CAUSED THE TRUCK TO LOSE ABOUT 90% OF ITS THROTTLE. IT HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN HIGH TRAFFIC, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALMOST ALL POWER ,AND CARS BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON THERE BRAKES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10118531

47,800 miles · Mar 15, 2005
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED; ROTORS RESURFACED; AND STEERING KNUCKLE WERE ALL REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. C…

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THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED; ROTORS RESURFACED; AND STEERING KNUCKLE WERE ALL REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CUSTOMER ALSO STATED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS NOISY. A/C COMPRESSOR AND COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. BUT NOT PROBLEM WAS FOUND BY THE DEALER. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10111359

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

285 miles · Feb 2, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE THE RPM'S REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL MOTOR THREE TIMES IN AS MANY DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10057309

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.