2003 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Recalls & Reliability
479 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 53/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Body & structure leads the reports, typically around 122,604 miles.
Below average
Where 2003 sits among all Tacoma years
What owners report
“Extensive frame rust and rot has rendered the vehicle unsafe to operate. Vehicle has only 90k miles on it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Tacoma
“Frame corrosion, took tacoma in for inspection while still under warranty, frame failed inspection but toyota denied claim due to outside influences.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Tacoma
“4 cylinder engine never dit frame recall it's so dangerous use toyota tacoma 2003 i do have 3 kids and dealers not help”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Tacoma
“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”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Tacoma
“The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V542000 (Tires) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer declined to perform the recall repair due to rust on the subframe, and the spare tire carrier…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Tacoma
“I was driving my vehicle 2003 toyota tacoma on highway 156 downhill to hollister, ca i was going approx 65 mph and it just jerked back and lost power i was only able to go 40mph no higher , the engine light has not turned on and it seems i am getting no kind of diagnostic error of what could be…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Tacoma
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 347 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 115,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 69,700 and 159,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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,…
Fix: 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…
CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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…
Fix: 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…
Fix: 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…
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 2003 Toyota Tacoma drew 479 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 53/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Tacoma problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma are body & structure (187 complaints), suspension (68), and other (32).
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Tacoma problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Toyota Tacoma problems around 115,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 69,700 and 159,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Toyota Tacoma. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.