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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

Parking Brake complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 24, 2010
Parking Brake

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA AND THE PARKING BRAKE REMAINS ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO FIX. I NOTICED THAT THERE …

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I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA AND THE PARKING BRAKE REMAINS ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO FIX. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME FAULTY ITEM. ONE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE IS ONE TOO MANY. ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPMENT WITH A FUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10372333

16,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Parking Brake

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK WITH 26,560 MILES. THERE IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE IN THE PARKING BRAKE (PREVIOUSLY CALLED EMERGENCY BRAKE). APPARENTLY, THE PARKING BRAKE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT IT "FREEZES UP" GIVING AN INDICATION ON THE DASH WITH THE "BRAKE LIGHT" ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED AND THEREBY G…

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I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK WITH 26,560 MILES. THERE IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE IN THE PARKING BRAKE (PREVIOUSLY CALLED EMERGENCY BRAKE). APPARENTLY, THE PARKING BRAKE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT IT "FREEZES UP" GIVING AN INDICATION ON THE DASH WITH THE "BRAKE LIGHT" ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED AND THEREBY GIVES A FALSE READING THAT THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED. HOWEVER, AS A REAL PROBLEM OCCURS THE DRIVERS ARE LULLED INTO A FALSE SECURITY THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT A WARNING BRAKE LIGHT IS LIT. WHEN A REAL PROBLEM OCCURS WITH THE BRAKES, INCLUDING THE ORDINARY BRAKE SYSTEM, THERE CAN BE A MORE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SUCH AS CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE SHOES TO LOCK ONTO THE REAR DRUMS. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED ON THIS PROBLEM AT HTTP://WWW.EHOW.COM/WAY_5649717_TACOMA-EMERGENCY-BRAKE-PROBLEMS.HTML TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THEIR 2005 AND 2006 TACOMA TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT ANY EARLIER MODELS. THE DEALERS INDICATE THAT IT CAN BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $442.12. SINCE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN INVOLVE SAFETY AND BECAUSE TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND INDEED HAS RECALLED CERTAIN MODEL YEARS FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM I BELIEVE A RECALL FOR ALL TACOMA TRUCKS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE COMPANY FIXING THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THUS FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INJURY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10305570

1,800 miles · Dec 15, 2006
Parking Brake

2003 TOYOTA TACOMA PARKING BRAKE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*MR WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKE DID NOT COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND COULD BE HEARD DRAGGING UNTIL IT KICKED OFF. OCCASIONALLY IT REFUSED TO RELEASE AND REQUIRED RE-APPLICATION BEFORE FINALLY RELEASING. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, IT DID NOT ALWAYS…

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2003 TOYOTA TACOMA PARKING BRAKE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*MR WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKE DID NOT COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND COULD BE HEARD DRAGGING UNTIL IT KICKED OFF. OCCASIONALLY IT REFUSED TO RELEASE AND REQUIRED RE-APPLICATION BEFORE FINALLY RELEASING. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, IT DID NOT ALWAYS HOLD THE VEHICLE EVEN ON A MODEST SLOPE SUCH AS THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. *JB *NM

NHTSA ODI #10117417

58,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Parking Brake

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED. ALSO, THE PIN FROZE CAUSING THE CABLE TO SNAP WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE PINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE NEW PINS WOULD CONTINUE TO FREEZE AGAIN AND WOULD CONTINUOUSLY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10171085

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.