IllustrationCONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30/40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *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 reportsWHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SPLASHED WATER FROM THE FRONT TIRES OVER THE HOOD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE VISIBILITY. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER SHOULD SPLASH TO THE SIDE OF VEHICLE NOT OVER THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
DOORS DO NOT ALWAYS CLOSE WITH SAFETY LATCH UPON ENTERING OR EXITING. "NORMAL" SWING IS APPLIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. HAVE FOUND DOOR COMPLETELY ABLE TO BE OPENED, EVEN THOUGH I HAD LOCKED VEHICLE WITH REMOTE.*AK
PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA ON JUNE 4, 2003, AND PAID CASH IN FULL. THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) IN THE TRUCK WENT OUT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO COVINGTON PIKE THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND EACH TIME THEY FAILED TO REPAIR THE A/C. I INFORMED THE MANAGER ON DUTY THAT I WOULD BE GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE LABOR DAY WEE…
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PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA ON JUNE 4, 2003, AND PAID CASH IN FULL. THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) IN THE TRUCK WENT OUT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO COVINGTON PIKE THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND EACH TIME THEY FAILED TO REPAIR THE A/C. I INFORMED THE MANAGER ON DUTY THAT I WOULD BE GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND WOULD NEED A LOANER TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER THAT HE COULD NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY. I HAVE RECENTLY BEGAN NEW EMPLOYMENT AND, HAVING TO LEAVE WORK DUE TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF COVINGTON PIKE TOYOTA HAS LEFT A BAD IMPRESSION WITH MY NEW EMPLOYER. *AK
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA REGULAR CAB (2 DOOR) PICKUP TRUCK THAT I PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2002. WATER LEAKS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE SEALPLATE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN WASHING THE TRUCK OR DURING RAIN STORMS, ETC. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE LOC…
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I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA REGULAR CAB (2 DOOR) PICKUP TRUCK THAT I PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2002. WATER LEAKS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE SEALPLATE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN WASHING THE TRUCK OR DURING RAIN STORMS, ETC. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND IT STILL LEAKS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK
PICK-UP ROLL OVER AT 30MPH DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*AK
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
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WATER IS ON FLOORBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK
PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 TRD P/U. THE TRUCK SWAYS AND PITCHES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FRAME. THE STEERING RACK BRACKET WAS WELDED AT AN ANGLE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SAYS THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WON'T EVEN LET ME TAKE IT OFF TH…
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PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 TRD P/U. THE TRUCK SWAYS AND PITCHES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FRAME. THE STEERING RACK BRACKET WAS WELDED AT AN ANGLE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SAYS THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WON'T EVEN LET ME TAKE IT OFF THE LOT. THE PROPOSED FIX IS TO REBUILD THE TRUCK ON A NEW FRAME. *NLM
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.