Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reports
578 miles · Apr 28, 2010
Traction Control System
AFTER I BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER I NOTICED LOSE OF POWER WHEN ENTERING BUSY STREETS OR ROADWAYS. I WOULD GO INTO AN INTERSECTION OR ROAD AND MY SUV WOULD BRAKE AND I COULD NOT SPEED UP , I HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS THAT IS ALONG TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU. I AM GLAD I HAVE NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT THE PR…
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AFTER I BOUGHT MY 4RUNNER I NOTICED LOSE OF POWER WHEN ENTERING BUSY STREETS OR ROADWAYS. I WOULD GO INTO AN INTERSECTION OR ROAD AND MY SUV WOULD BRAKE AND I COULD NOT SPEED UP , I HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL FOR 3 OR 4 SECONDS THAT IS ALONG TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU. I AM GLAD I HAVE NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXITS. I TOOK IT TO DEALER BUT TELLS ME IT IS NORMAL. IT'S MORE LIKE SCARY THAN NORMAL.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10327866
8,000 miles · Mar 23, 2010
Steering
MY 03 4 RUNNER STEERING WHEEL FLUTTERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW AND DEALER HAS BALANCED THE TIRES EVERYTIME. I CAN STILL FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL FLUTTER/SHAKE
NHTSA ODI #10321535
75,000 miles · Aug 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA REG CAB 2WD REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EASILY STOLEN FROM MY VEHICLE. FOUR BOLTS AND IT'S FREE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND WHY THESE THEFTS ARE HAPPENING. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY TOYOTA IS CHARGING ME OVER $1,000.00 TO REPLACE IT. AS OF THIS POSTING, …
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I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA REG CAB 2WD REGISTERED IN CALIFORNIA. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS EASILY STOLEN FROM MY VEHICLE. FOUR BOLTS AND IT'S FREE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND WHY THESE THEFTS ARE HAPPENING. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY TOYOTA IS CHARGING ME OVER $1,000.00 TO REPLACE IT. AS OF THIS POSTING, I HAVE FOUND NO AFTERMARKET CAT CONVERTER MANUFACTURER THAT MEETS CA OBDII SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIS MODEL TRUCK. A LIFE-LONG TOYOTA CUSTOMER, NO MORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237611
1,500 miles · Jun 2, 2007
Steering
I GET A SHIMMY (FLUTTER) IN MY STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH, REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY FEEL IT, TRY TO FIX IT, CAN'T AND CALL IT "NORMAL" FOR A TOYOTA 4RUNNER. IT IS NOT NORMAL AND IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10192293
54,000 miles · Aug 29, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. IT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSE POWER AND HAVE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, ALMOST AS IF IT WAS HITTING AN ENGINE GOVERNOR. THE RPMS USUALLY DROP ANYWHERE FROM 200-500 AND THEN COMES BACK UP. THE POWER WOULD SLOWLY COME BACK AFTER KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE THROTTLE. IT CONSISTENTLY DOE…
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THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. IT WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN LOSE POWER AND HAVE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, ALMOST AS IF IT WAS HITTING AN ENGINE GOVERNOR. THE RPMS USUALLY DROP ANYWHERE FROM 200-500 AND THEN COMES BACK UP. THE POWER WOULD SLOWLY COME BACK AFTER KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE THROTTLE. IT CONSISTENTLY DOES IT AFTER ACCELERATING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION (USUALLY AROUND 25 MPH OR WHILE CRUISING (AROUND BOTH 45 MPH OR 75 MPH) ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS DROP OF POWER OR LACK THEREOF IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION OR NEEDING QUICK ACCELERATION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ABOUT MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR LATE MODEL TACOMAS. THE PARTS TO FIX THE ISSUE ARE VERY COSTLY AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10134459
1,282 miles · Apr 29, 2003
Structure
I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB NEW AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES NOTICED THAT UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR MAT WAS WET. TOYOTA HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND IS STILL UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY STATE THE PROBLEM IS REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE LEAK TEST DOES NOT SHOW THE LEAK, HOWEVER WHEN IT RAINS IT GETS WET. I …
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I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB NEW AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES NOTICED THAT UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR MAT WAS WET. TOYOTA HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND IS STILL UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY STATE THE PROBLEM IS REPAIRED BECAUSE THERE LEAK TEST DOES NOT SHOW THE LEAK, HOWEVER WHEN IT RAINS IT GETS WET. I FILED FOR ARBITRATION AND RECENTLY LOST, BECAUSE THEY STATED 5 REPAIR ATTEMPTS WAS NOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER EVEN THOUGH THE LAW SAYS 3 IS ENOUGH. I URGE ALL TOYOTA TRUCK OWNERS TO CHECK UNDER YOU FLOOR MATS AND LOOK TO SEE IF YOU HAVE THIS PROBLEM IF SO FILE A COMPLAINT AND LET THEM KNOW SO THEY DO NOT CONTINUE WITH THIS FAULTY PRODUCT AS THEY ARE NOW DOING. THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED BELOW STATES TODAY'S DATE BUT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR NOW WITH LITTLE TO NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016676
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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 Toyota Truck Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year