TroubleCAR
62
Trouble

2003 Toyota Tacoma

Complaints: 359Avg mileage: 110,407 miSince: May 2003
CrashFire21 injured

Problem Areas

Structure:Body
114
Suspension
48
Frame and Members: Underbody Shields
29
Unknown or Other
26
Structure:Frame and Members
22
Vehicle Speed Control
22
Air Bags
21
Structure
20
Tires
14
Fuel System, Gasoline
12

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

AIR BAGS
Jun 30, 2024Ojai, CA
Crash1 injured

I was getting on the freeway when my truck either got hit by someone or it sped up without me pressing the gas causing me to spin and catch the bushes on the side of the on-ramp where I rolled and slammed my front end continuing to roll 3 times. I broke my back due to the airbag failure to deploy

AIR BAGS
Jun 26, 2024Ojai, CA
Crash1 injured

I was getting on the freeway and was hit by another driver (who fled the scene and didn’t get caught) and my truck spun around 180 before catching bushes and rolling three times smashing my front end and almost collapsing my roof and my airbags failed to deploy as well as my seatbelt tensioner not tightening resulting in me breaking my back in three spots. I was going approximately 35-45 mph and the first roll from the top of the embankment dropped about 15 which is where the front end got smashed due to being front heavy and this is where I broke my back before continuing to roll

AIR BAGS
May 9, 2023Cottageville, SC
Crash1 injured

I was driving home on March 10 2023 well out of no where my Toyota Tacoma something on the front end suspension broke it looks to me the recal that Toyota fixed before I even got the truck well sent me into 3 trees head on 55mph no airbag deployed I didn't have a chance to try and stop the vehicle I thought I was going to die I know the road I was on isn't the best shape I need help

AIR BAGS
Dec 28, 2021Yucaipa, CA
Crash1 injured

Truck crashed into rocks on shoulder and rolled over. Driver side Windshield and roof crushed. Air bag did not deploy. Sheriff took a report of crash.HI213530034 Greenspot road. Highland , CA. Vehicle is in possession of coparts authorized by USAA insurance

STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 31, 2019MATEWAN, WV
Crash1 injured

POWER STEERING PUMP HAVING ISSUES I CAN FILL IT UP TO THE FULL LINE AND IT WILL GO DOWN TO HALF EMPTY EVERYTIME I'VE DONE IT THEREFORE STEERING IS VERY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT, THE TRUCK BED HAS HUGE HOLES RUSTED/CORROSION COMPLETELY THROUGH IT ON BOTH SIDES, THE SPARE TIRE MECHANISM IS RUSTED SO BADLY IT DOESN'T WORK AND HALF OF IT IS MISSING DUE TO RUST/CORROSION AN HAS FALLEN OFF, AND THE FRAME BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AN CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO HANG ON THE GROUND AND IT KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK BEFORE I COULD GET THE TRUCK STOPPED, ALSO THE SUSPENSION ON THE REAR OF THE TRUCK IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME ON THE TOP UNDER THE BED JUST ATTACHED TO THE FRAME ON THE BOTTOM.

SUSPENSION
Apr 10, 2017BIG SUR, CA
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY TURNED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

STRUCTURE:BODY
158,000 miSep 27, 2016ROCK HILL, SC
Crash1 injured

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH AND EXITING A RAMP, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED TO THE LEFT, THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT, AND TURNED 360 DEGREES. THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE BOBBLED, FLIPPED OVER, CRASHED INTO TREES, AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

AIR BAGS
Aug 31, 2011SANTA ANA, CA
Crash1 injured

LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COMPLAINT REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLID INTO HIS VEHICLE AND HE HIT THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TIRES AND FRONT FENDER RATIO HAD A DESIGN DEFECT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB..UPDATED 01/31/12..UPDATED 11/19/13 *BF

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
20,458 miJan 6, 2009LAFAYETTE, LA
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL AIR BAGS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE; HOWEVER, NEITHER DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SMASHED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE SMASHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,458 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

AIR BAGS
64,000 miSep 25, 2008SHAWSVILLE, VA
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP OR BLACKED OUT. THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK A TREE AND ROLLED OVER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END AND REAR DAMAGE DAMAGE DUE TO THE IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED MAJOR SCALP INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

AIR BAGS
40,000 miJan 15, 2008BRATTLEVORAUA, VT
Crash2 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A WIRED GUARDRAIL AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL. THE FRONT PASSENGER WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT SHOULDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE SIDE AIR BAGS WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE SIDE DOOR PANEL, FRONT BENDER, AND FRONT BUMPER WERE REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
51,514 miSep 11, 2007SAN JOSE, CA
Crash1 injured

I WAS THE NUMBER 3 VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. FIRST CAR WENT THROUGH (THINKING THE LIGHT HAD CHANGED). SECOND CAR MOVED INTO FIRST PLACE. I STARTED TO FOLLOW AND WHEN I REALIZED HE HAD STOPPED I APPLIED MY BRAKES. I COULD FEEL THE TRUCK LURCH EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL PRESSING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. I SLAMMED INTO HIM AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL. *TR

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
39,500 miFeb 20, 2007AUSTIN, TX
Crash1 injured

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP NOTICE FOR THE SUSPENSION, LOWER BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, HE NEVER RECEIVED A PREVIOUS NOTICE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE CONTACT'S HEAD SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, AND ALSO SUSTAINEDE BRUISING TO THE FACE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CALL TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT HR EVER REACH AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. TOYOTA SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH ,AND HE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REASON THAT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WAS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT. WHILE UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE RELATED RECALL WAS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED WHILE HIS FAMILY MEMBER DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED THAT THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE FAILED TO MENTION THE RECALL THAT WAS EFFECTIVE A YEAR PRIOR WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
17,000 miJan 23, 2007BOSTAWEN, NH
Crash1 injured

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN MARCH 2005 THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A SNOWY ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN. HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AFTER LEAVING THE ROAD, AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BEL,T AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE INVESTIGATED WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED HE BELIEVED THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
22,200 miJan 18, 2006MORENCI, AZ
Crash1 injured

DT*: THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS PRE-BRAKING PRIOR TO IMPACT, THE SPEED AT THAT TIME WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, BUT WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE POLICE WERE AT THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/09/06

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
30,100 miSep 15, 2004LEMOORE, CA
Crash3 injured

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
8,000 miFeb 23, 2004VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
Crash1 injured

WHILED RIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. *AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
230,000 miMay 5, 2023Penn Valley, CA
Crash

The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving up the driveway at 5 MPH and turning into the garage, the accelerator pedal was depressed but went down to the floorboard and became stuck. The contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into the fence gate and the corner of the neighbor's residence. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard, where it was totaled. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Oct 25, 2019MATEWAN, WV
Crash

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE FRAME BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AN CAUSED THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FALL OUT AND WHEN IT DID IT BOUNCED UP AND KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK CAUSING ME TO WRECK.AND THE BED OF THE TRUCK HAS HUGE HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THEM.

SUSPENSION
270,000 miMay 3, 2018MORGANTON, NC
Crash

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOIMG ABOUT 35 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE. LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY TIRE HAD BROKEN OFF FROM THE BALL JOINT. THE PLACE FIXING IT SAID THE OTHER SIDE IS ABOUT TO BREAK AS WELL. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

Other Tacoma Years

Other Toyota Models