IllustrationTHROTTLE 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
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tacoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
2225–50K
2050–75K
3575–100K
76100–150K
76150K+
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
What owners actually said
359 reportsTHE 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
WHILE BRAKING 70 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE STALLED , AND THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK
AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 40 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR FUMES BECOME SICKENING TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS UNBEARABLE. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, HAD EVEN KEPT THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP, TYPED OUT A REPORT, BUT FUMES WERE STILL COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK
WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A BODY SEAL PURSUANT TO A TSB (THEY SAID), BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. I WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED OR FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHILE EXITING A 65 MPH TOLLWAY DURING THE RAIN. THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED A PUDDLE APPROXIMATELY 18" - 24" DEEP AND ~70' LONG GOING ~35MPH. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE PUDDLE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FAULTER. UPON EXITING IT TOTALLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTS THAT THE ENGINE HAD INGESTED WATER, DESTROY…
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WHILE EXITING A 65 MPH TOLLWAY DURING THE RAIN. THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED A PUDDLE APPROXIMATELY 18" - 24" DEEP AND ~70' LONG GOING ~35MPH. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE PUDDLE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FAULTER. UPON EXITING IT TOTALLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTS THAT THE ENGINE HAD INGESTED WATER, DESTROYING THE INTERNAL WORKINGS AND IT WOULD REQUIRE A LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ~$6,500.*AK
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES ON MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA P/U FOR THE FIRST TIME (6,000 MILES), I NOTICED A BULDGE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE (GOODYEAR WANGLER HP P205/75R15) LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER(AUTO WORLD) CALLED GOODYEAR, THEY SAID NO WARRANTY, BUT THEY WILL SELL ME A REPLACEMENT TIRE AT THERE COST OF $97.00 (AS IF I'LL BU…
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WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES ON MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA P/U FOR THE FIRST TIME (6,000 MILES), I NOTICED A BULDGE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE (GOODYEAR WANGLER HP P205/75R15) LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER(AUTO WORLD) CALLED GOODYEAR, THEY SAID NO WARRANTY, BUT THEY WILL SELL ME A REPLACEMENT TIRE AT THERE COST OF $97.00 (AS IF I'LL BUY ANOTHER GOODYEAR TIRE)! HOW MANY HAVE TO BE HURT OR INJURED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE! OR ARE THEY FOLLOWING FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE'S LEAD..... *LA
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
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS VIBRATION IF CONSUMER'S FOOT IS ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. DRIVER MUST PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN A SECOND OR THIRD TIME TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
Official recalls
312V542000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.