Toyota Tacoma Complaints (2003)
360 consumer complaints on file.
- #11186933March 14, 2019AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL" MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON RECENTLY. I TOOK VEHICLE INTO AUTO SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG SENSOR LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY AND CLEARED CODES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED OFF FOR APPROX 30 DAYS. LIGHT KEPT COMING BACK ON EVERY FEW DAYS.I KEPT TAKING VEHICLE TO AUTO SHOP WHERE THY WOULD CLEAR THE CODES. THIS IS A WEEKLY ROUTINE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON PERMANENTLY. IS THIS TRUE? AND IS THERE A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS ON THIS VEHICLE? I'M AFRAID THE AIRBAGS MIGHT DEPLOY WHILE BEING DRIVEN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11182542February 26, 2019SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COASTING INTO A FUEL STATION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT DETACHED FROM THE TIRE INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND LATER TOWED TO TOYOTA OF WHITTIER (LOCATED AT 14577 E, WHITTIER BLVD, WHITTIER, CA 90605, (562) 222-5386). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINT BECAME LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION) IN 2005. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1902250627. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR FAILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11173926February 4, 2019STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND A HOLE ON THE SUBFRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED AND A 2 1/2 FOOT HOLE WAS PRESENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11171266January 21, 2019STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT CAUSED FRAME OF TRUCK TO SNAP IN HALF WHEN LIFTED WITH A HYDRAULIC LIFT AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11164154December 31, 2018STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
THE REAR BRAKE LINES THAT CONNECT OVER THE REAR AXLE RUSTED INTO AND CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN INTO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR TO THE BRAKES THE SERVICE CENTER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT IF PUT ON A LIFT THE FRAME WOULD FALL APART AND THE TRUCK WOULD BREAK IN HALF. THE SERVICE CENTER DETERMINED ALSO THE TRUCK WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SERVICE RECORDS AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE ON FILE WHERE THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION OF THE FRAME AND REPORTED THE TRUCK DID NOT HAVE A RUST ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTERS I RECEIVED AND HEEDED THE WARNING TO HAVE THE TRUCK INSPECTED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11161942December 17, 2018SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY SERVICED BY A MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION OF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS FOR THE FRAME. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON 12/17/18 REPRESENTATIVE STATED NOTIFCATION WAS MAILED W/O A RESPONSE. CONSUMER STATED NO NOTIFICATION WAS SENT, REPRESENTATIVE STATED SHE WOULD GET BACK TO THE CONSUMER ON 12/18/18 BUT NEVER DID.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11161483December 14, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY
WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA IN A PRIVATE SALE. UPON INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING DAY WE REALIZED THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST AND ACTUAL HOLES IN THE FRAME. MY FIANC AND I REACHED OUT TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO REFUSED TO SPEAK WITH US. I CONTACTED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO SEE IF I COULD OBTAIN SERVICE RECORDS AND I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE RECORD WHERE THE IMAGES OF THE FRAME WAS SENT TO HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FRAME REPLACEMENT. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOLD THEM WHAT HE HAPPENED, THEY CONFIRMED A FRAME REPLACEMENT WAS APPROVED BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ISSUES WITH THE TITLE AND IT PUSHED IT OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY THE TIME IT WAS FIXED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR IT, THE REPRESENTATIVE ACTUALLY SAID 'YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT WAS SO OLD'. I WAS APPALLED. THEY OFFERED NO AID, NO DISCOUNT. ALL SHE SAID WAS THAT WE SHOULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN IT'S CONDITION. MY FIANC HAS NO CHOICE AND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HIS NEPHEW WHEN HE LOST THE BREAKS (DUE TO THE RUSTED DUST SHIELD SLICING THE BRAKE LINE) AND HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. NOW HE IS MISSING WORK BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE VEHICLE. I AM COMPLETELY BAFFLED BY TOYOTA AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE SPEND ALL OF OUR SAVINGS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD US TOO BAD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11151835November 15, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME RECALL
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11145227November 4, 2018SUSPENSION
WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY BROKE OFF AT THE BALL JOINTS. THE TIRE FOLDED UNDER THE CHASSIS AND THE TRUCK SKIDDED TO A STOP IN THE ROAD SHOULDER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11141546October 20, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK IN 2015 AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS.WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FRAME RECALL WHEN IT BROKE.IT ALSO HAS 5 OTHER RECALLS WHICH WE WERE NEVER INFORMED ON THOSE EITHER SO WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA THEY SAID THE FRAME RECALL AND THE FRAME WARRANTY HAD BOTH EXPIRED BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER DIDN'T MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL LETTER HE RECEIVED BUT MAYBE HE NEVER RECEIVED ONE BECAUSE I KNOW WE NEVER DID ON ANY OF THE 6 RECALLS AND WE STILL HAVEN'T EVEN AFTER CALLING THEM.WE ARE STILL PAYING ALMOST $400 A MONTH AND STILL HAVE 13 PAYMENTS LEFT AND WE CANT EVEN DRIVE IT.I WOULD SAY IF TOYOTA NEVER SENT OUT THE LETTERS THEN THAT'S NOT OUR FAULT AND THEY SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALLS AND FIX THEM INCLUDING THE FRAME REPLACEMENT WHICH IS THEIR FAULT DUE TO A MAUFACTUIRING MESS UP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11141260October 18, 2018STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11133037October 3, 2018SUSPENSION
FRAME CORROSION, TOOK TACOMA IN FOR INSPECTION WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, FRAME FAILED INSPECTION BUT TOYOTA DENIED CLAIM DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11132360September 30, 2018SUSPENSION
WE BOUGHT OUR 2003 TACOMA BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER IN 2003, EXPECTING THIS TO BE A 30-YEAR INVESTMENT. WE HAVE KEPT UP ALL MAINTENANCE ON THIS TRUCK WITH OUR MECHANIC. HE CHECKED IT LAST YEAR AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE FRAME OTHER THAN SOME NORMAL RUST. LAST WEEK WE TOOK IT TO HIM BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ON, AND HE DISCOVERED THAT OUR FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH WITH HOLES IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE DEEMED IT COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS NEAR THE POINT OF BREAKING IN HALF. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FROM TOYOTA. WE PERFORMED ALL RECALLS THEY ISSUED. AFTER AN ONLINE SEARCH, WE DISCOVERED THE EXTENT OF THIS FRAME ROT PROBLEM OVER MANY TOYOTA TRUCKS. WHEN WE CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE, THEY DISMISSED US AND TOLD US THAT WE WERE OUT OF LUCK RECEIVING ANY HELP OR COMPENSATION FOR THIS DEFECT BECAUSE WE HAD MISSED DEADLINES ON A CLASS ACTION SUIT AND ALSO THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED ONLY FOR SOME TACOMAS IN CERTAIN COLD WEATHER STATES. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY OF THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE LIVED AT THIS SAME ADDRESS WITH THE SAME CONTACT INFORMATION SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. WE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AND THEY ALSO COMPLETELY DISMISSED US, TELLING US THAT IT WAS OUT OF THEIR HANDS AND WE COULD TRY TO CONTACT CORPORATE TO JOIN ALL THE OTHER TRUCK OWNERS WITH THIS FRAME ROT PROBLEM AND TRY TO SEE IF THEY MIGHT HELP US. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 37,479 MILES. AS MUCH AS I'M DEVASTATED THAT WE ARE NOW OUT MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S UNSCRUPULOUS POLICIES, I'M MORE ANGRY THAT THEY KNOWINGLY HAVE PUT MILLIONS OF LIVES IN JEOPARDY BY COVERING UP THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. HOW MANY MORE VEHICLES ARE CURRENTLY ON THE ROADS EVERY DAY WITH THE RISK OF RIPPING IN HALF AND KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE? THIS PROBLEM MUST BE FIXED PLEASE!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11128506September 10, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING EARLY MORNING 9/7/18. RETURNED HOME AND CALLED LOCAL MECHANIC, SUPREME AUTOMOTIVE. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK THE TRUCK IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. CALLED LATER TO TELL ME FRAME RUST WAS TOO BAD TO REMOVE CERTAIN BOLTS TO TEST EXHAUST SENSORS. UNABLE TO CALCULATE A REPAIR ESTIMATE. SINCE I HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH A 1999 TACOMA THAT HAD EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, WHICH TOYOTA RECALLED AND EVENTUALLY BOUGHT BACK, I DECIDED TO CALL TOYOTA BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY TACOMA HAD RESPONDED TO A 2009 CORROSION RECALL NOTICE. THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAD BEEN TREATED. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM FOX TOYOTA IN SPRING 2011 AFTER MY 1999 WAS DEEMED UNSAFE. NONE OF THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE 2003 INDICATED EITHER THE RECALL OR THE TREATMENT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE SO-CALLED SUBSEQUENT RECALL, OF WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED, EXPIRED 6/13/18. NOTIFICATION SUPPOSEDLY SHOULD HAVE REACHED ME THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DMV, EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK ORIGINATED IN MICHIGAN. HAD I RECEIVED NOTICE I WOULD HAVE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY, AS I HAD WITH THE 1999 TACOMA.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123164August 29, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY TRUCK HAD A RECALL THAT EXPIRED OCT 2017 BUT I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT TILL RECENT WHILE DOING SOME REPAIRS THE FRAME FROM THE CAB BACK IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS IN EXCEPTIONAL SHAPE BUT CANT FIX OR SELL I THINK THAT A DEADLINE ON SAFETY IS WRONG AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WHAT THE TRUCK IS WORTH
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11119802August 14, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY
WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2015 AND IT APPARENTLY HAD A RECALL FOR THE FRAME IN 2014 BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT GET IT FIXED SO WE ARE NOW STUCK WITH A TRUCK WE CAN'T DRIVE AND WE STILL OWE 14 PAYMENTS ON IT.I CALLED TOYOTA AND APPARENTLY THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED IN APRIL AND WE'VE NEVER GOT A LETTER ABOUT ANY RECALLS OR WARRANTYS SO WERE STUCK WITH A PIECE OF JUNK WE CAN'T DRIVE.SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED OUT OF POCKET.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11111635July 16, 2018STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
ROTTED FRAME AND NEVER RECEIVED VOLUNTARY NOTICE ABOUT THIS AND COMPANY IS NOT SUPPORTING THEIR VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATION EXPLAINED THAT I NEVER RECEIVED IT THEY TOLD ME IT HAD EXPIRED BY 23 DAYS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE CANNOT DRIVE IT I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FRAME WHEN IT WENT TO BE INSPECTED AND FAILED . HOW DID TOYOTA GET AWAY WITH SELLING SUCH AN INFERIOR AND BEING ALLOWED TO BE DRIVEN ON OUR ROADS .I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR DEPARTMENT COULD HELP I UNDERSTAND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA TRUCK OWNERS ARE IN THE SITUATION . SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11110020July 7, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS RUST IN THE FRAME, THE STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION OF THE FRAME IS SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. IN THE PHOTO THAT I ATTACHED YOU CAN SEE THAT THE REAR LEFT LEAF SPRING HAS PROTRUDED INTO THE FRAME. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENT RECALL PROGRAM TO REPLACE THE FRAME AND I BELIEVE THIS IS COMMON ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. A 15 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE STRUCTURAL ISSUES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11097725May 24, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ISSUE WITH ETCS THROTTLE BODY. GOT CODE "P2112 THROTTLE ACTUATOR 'A' STUCK CLOSED" AFTER REPLACING THE AIR/FUEL RATIO OXYGEN SENSOR (SENSOR 1 BANK 1) AND CLEANING THROTTLE BODY BORE. REPLACED NEW OXYGEN SENSOR WITH OLD SENSOR AND LOW IDLE/STALLING ISSUE WAS NOT CORRECTED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11091500May 3, 2018SUSPENSION
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.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0