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 reports
1,000 miles · Feb 26, 2004
Tires
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM. ALL 5 TIRES SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALL. FIRESTONE SENT AN INSPECTOR, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE SECOND SET OF TIRES HAD THREE TIRES WITH SPLITS IN THE SAME AREA. THE FIRESTONE INSPECTO…
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THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM. ALL 5 TIRES SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALL. FIRESTONE SENT AN INSPECTOR, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE SECOND SET OF TIRES HAD THREE TIRES WITH SPLITS IN THE SAME AREA. THE FIRESTONE INSPECTOR SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO ROCKS OR SOME SORT OF PROBLEM CUTTING THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD NEVER DRIVEN THE VEHICLE OFF OF PAVED ROADS. ALL EIGHT TIRES HAD SPLITS IN THE SAME AREA. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10052077
8,000 miles · Feb 23, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILED RIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10059603
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IDLING IS HIGH FOR TWELVE MINUTES. THE DRIVER HAS TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKES TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE TECHNICIAN CAN NOT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. *MR
NHTSA ODI #10052144
1,000 miles · Feb 14, 2004
Seats
THE FRONT SEATS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 XTRACAB ROCK ON THEIR TRACKS WHEN I DRIVE ON ROUGH SURFACES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY NEAREST DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD APPLY A SHIM IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE NOISE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE SHIMS WERE ALREADY INSTALLED DURING MANUFACTURING, SO THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PR…
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THE FRONT SEATS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 XTRACAB ROCK ON THEIR TRACKS WHEN I DRIVE ON ROUGH SURFACES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY NEAREST DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD APPLY A SHIM IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE NOISE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE SHIMS WERE ALREADY INSTALLED DURING MANUFACTURING, SO THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10058153
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
1,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004
Tires
2003 CREW CAB TACOMA: DRIVE TRAIN CLUNK WHEN STOPPING, FEELS LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED LIGHTLY. FIRESTONE TIRES ARE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF SIDE WALLS, LOOK LIKE RE-TREADS, ALL FIVE TIRES ARE THE SAME. 7000 MILES ON TRUCK. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10052997
9 miles · Jan 12, 2004
Tires
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE.*AK THREE DAYS LATER THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ABOUT TO FAIL AS WELL. THE NEXT DAY, TOYOTA HAD THE VEHICLE …
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WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE.*AK THREE DAYS LATER THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ABOUT TO FAIL AS WELL. THE NEXT DAY, TOYOTA HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND ALL 5 TIRES WERE REPLACED. *CB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10048009
10,000 miles · Dec 31, 2003
Suspension
THE FRONT TIRE TREADS ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES OF THE VEHICLE WORE OUT WITHIN 10,000 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE SHOCKS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHICH FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10052223
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 · Oct 10, 2003
TiresWheels
DRIVER REPLACED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE . THREE STUDS BROKE WHILE CHECKING THE WHEEL DUE TO CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
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.
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.
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.
2003 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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