Toyota Tacoma Complaints (2003)

360 consumer complaints on file.

#10117417December 15, 2006
PARKING BRAKE
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA PARKING BRAKE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*MR WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKE DID NOT COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND COULD BE HEARD DRAGGING UNTIL IT KICKED OFF. OCCASIONALLY IT REFUSED TO RELEASE AND REQUIRED RE-APPLICATION BEFORE FINALLY RELEASING. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, IT DID NOT ALWAYS HOLD THE VEHICLE EVEN ON A MODEST SLOPE SUCH AS THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. *JB *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171500October 21, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY
2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT 03 TACOMA DOUBLE CAB W/ ONLY 3000 MILES ON IT I NOTICED THAT AROUND THE BOTTOM CORNERS OF BOTH REAR DRS AND THE FRONT BOTTOM CORNERS OF THE BED ALL THE PAINT HAD COME OFF ON A FAIRLY SMALL SECTION (BUT VERY NOTICABLE, EVEN FROM A DISTANCE).THE SERVICE WRITER THAT I WAS SPEAKING TO SAID THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOUBLE CABS DOING THIS. AT THIS POINT THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME TO US AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CUASED FROM ME NOT INSTALLING RUNNING BOARDS ON THE VEHICLE. NEXT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER AND DISCUSS IT WITH HIM AND HAVE HIM TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME I HAD A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT AND ALL THEY DID WAS GO LOOK AT IT IN THE PARKING LOT REAL QUICK AND NO RO WAS MADE MONTHS WENT BY AND I STILL GOT NO RESPONCE WHEN I WOULD CALL THEY SAID THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO MAKE IT UP HERE. AGAIN MONTHS WENT BY AND STILL NOTHING. CALLED AND GOT THE SAME RESPONCE. AGAIN MONTHS AND I CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RM WAS GOING TO BE THEIR ON A CERTAIN DATE AND THEY SET ME UP AN APPT. BUT TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THEIR BODY SHOP FIRST TO GET A QUOTE TO FIX IT. I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP ON THE DAY OF MY APPT. AND GOT TO DEAL WITH THE MANAGER HIMSELF WHILE THEY DID UP THE QUOTE TO REPAIR THE MANAGER WAS TELLING ME THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED AT LEAST A DOZEN OF THESE SAME VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. HE HAD SAID THAT DUE TO THE BODY CONFIGURATION AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE FACTORY MUD FLAPS THAT DEBRIS COMING OFF THE FRONT TIRES WEARS OFF THE PAINT CAUSING IT TO RUST AND ALSO RUINS THE FENDER FLARES WHICH HE LATER SHOWED ME. HE ALSO STATED THAT ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WERE DOING THIS. NEXT I WENT TO THE APPT. AND THE RM AND SERVICE MANAGER WENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD TO WAIT IN THE SITTING AREA. THEY CAME BACK IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER AND THE RM TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONS AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171085October 17, 2006
PARKING BRAKE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED. ALSO, THE PIN FROZE CAUSING THE CABLE TO SNAP WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE PINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE NEW PINS WOULD CONTINUE TO FREEZE AGAIN AND WOULD CONTINUOUSLY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170580October 11, 2006
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
CLUTCH PEDAL BUSHING IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC & SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF RUBBER, IT WEARS OUT & STARTS TO SQUEAK REAL BAD AND EVENTUALLY THERE IS METAL TO METAL CONTACT WHICH CAUSES THE WHOLE CLUTCH ASSY. TO FAIL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169082September 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA WOULD NOT STEER SAFELY. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES. *KB THE TOYOTA DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE RIGHT AND LEFT BALL JOINT USELESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167520September 6, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOSE SIGNIFICANT POWER. IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF THE THROTTLE. AFTER MY OWN INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAS A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY WITH THEIR 2003/2004 MODEL TACOMA'S. EVIDENTLY, THEIR ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR (PART OF THEIR THROTTLE BY WIRE DESIGN) FAILS. THIS CREATED A FEW SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATIONS FOR ME WHEN THE THROTTLE FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN NEEDED. AFTER REPORTING THIS TO THE DEALER, THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DID DETERMINE THE APPS WAS AT FAULT. NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS HAPPENING WITH OTHER OWNER'S IS READILY AVAILABLE VIA THE VARIOUS BULLETIN BOARDS ON THE WEB. COMPOUNDING THE ISSUE, IS THE FACT THAT THIS SENSOR CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $1000 OR SO. TOYOTA INITIALLY RESPONDED THAT THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE YET OTHERS HAVE REPORTED TO THEM PRIOR TO ME WHICH INDICATES EITHER THEY HAVE A VERY POOR PROCESS FOR LOGGING ISSUES OR ARE TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167363September 5, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON IN THE WINTER. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL THE TRUCK WARMS UP; THEN GOES OUT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO TOYOTA AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERIODICALLY COMING UP AND STAYING ON A COUPLE OF MINUTES IN THE WARM WEATHER. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY AGAIN COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167361September 5, 2006
STRUCTURE
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA AND FOUND A WATER LEAK ON MY FLOOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY TIME I TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE CAR WASH. IT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH; MAYBE THE FRONT WINDOW. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO TOYOTA BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO FIND THE LEAK WITH THEIR WATER HOSE THE LEAK COULD NOT BE FOUND. I HAVE NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166420August 24, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER MY PURCHASE OF A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA PRE-RUNNER I QUICKLY DISCOVERED MY REAR CHROME BUMPER WAS RUSTING AT THE AREA WHERE THE LICENSE PLATE IS DISPLAYED. I TOOK MY NEW TRUCK TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM AND THAT I COULD CONTINUALLY USE A TYPE OF STEEL WOOL TO KEEP UP WITH THE RUST AS IT WAS HAPPENING. UNACCEPTABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164225August 2, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO EVENT. TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. CATASTROPHIC SIDEWALL FAILURE OF FRONT TIRE AT 65 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAY. TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED. ONE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY MISSING. TIRE RETAINED AS EVIDENCE BUT REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162431July 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ROUGH IDLE - 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 2.7L AUTO, DOUBLE CAB, 55K MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL CHAIN SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED ERROR CODE PO511 - IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE (IACV). TOYOTA PARTS DEPARTMENT PRICES THIS PART AT $226 AND SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED $249 FOR LABOR (NOT INCLUDING TAX). VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 55K MILES ON IT AND "ENGINE" SHOULD BE COVERED BY 6 YR/60K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (TO HAVE OTHER RECALLS CORRECTED) WHO INDICATED A $90 FEE WAS REQUIRED JUST TO DIAGNOSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THE IACV WAS ONLY COVERED TO 3YR/36K AND THAT I SHOULD PAY DEALER FEE AND SEEK "FACTORY ASSISTANCE" FOR ANY COSTS TO REPAIR. I CONTEND THAT THIS TYPE OF A PART - NOT SERVICEABLE/MAINTAINABLE BY THE CUSTOMER, SHOULD BE GUARANTEED AGAINST FAILURE FOR MORE THAN ~50K MILES AND REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160817June 26, 2006
SUSPENSION, TIRES
DT: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED PERTAINING TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL ON 12/27/05 WHERE THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY AFTER ABOUT THREE MONTH LATER AND IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE FRONT TIRES WERE BALANCE WHICH RESULTED IN DIFFICULTY OF STEERING DUE TO THE TIRES BECOMING WORN. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT THE WORN TIRES WERE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE IMPROPER ALIGNMENT PERFORMED BY THE DEALER ON 12/27/05. AFTER 3 DAYS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR TIRE ROTATION BECAUSE THE DIFFICULTY IN STEERING HAD WORSENED. THE ROTATION FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR AWHILE HOWEVER AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS THE STEERING WORSENED. ON 6/26/06, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER FOR REALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE REALIGNMENT OF THE TIRES BEFORE THE ALIGNMENT, AFTER THE ALIGNMENT AND THE SPECIFIED RANGED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159938June 15, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED APPARENTLY THIS OCCURS OFTEN TO OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS PART SHOULD LAST MORE THAN JUST OVER 3 YEARS FILING COMPLAINT TO SEE IF THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART OR DESIGN THAT COULD LEAD TO LATER PROBLEMS COST $560 TO REPLACE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157672May 16, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 05V225000 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REMEDY. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157116May 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BROUGHT THIS CAR AND IT WAS IN A ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP LIED TO ME BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT AL THE PARTS WERE GOING TO BE COVERED BY THE GUARANTEE. HOW EVER ALL THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED AND I HAD TO PAY SOME OF THE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME. THE CAR ALSO LEAKS OIL BUT THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149746January 23, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED. VEHICLE LATER BEGAN TO MAKE A GRINDING & CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD. *TS *JB ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147993January 18, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10144780December 8, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT: CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND END UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR TIRE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WENT FLAT. THE TREAD FOR THE TWO FRONT TIRES IS SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO URGED THE CONTACT TO SENT TO THEM THE TIRES. HE HAS NOT YET SENT THE TIRES TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143437November 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
AT 21,000 MILES HEARD LOUD NOISE FOR DIFFERENTIAL, AND BAD GLUNK WHEN LEAVING STOP LIGHT, TOYOTA NEVER PUT IN GEAR LUBE TO COVER UP THE BAD WELDS ON RIGHT END OF DIFFERENTIAL (THAT WOULD HAVE LEAKED IF THEY DID PUT IN GEAR LUBE), NO REPLY FROM E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, TALKING TO CUST. REP, (REQUESTED ARBITRATION FORMS BY PHONE AND E-MAIL 6 TIMES, NEVER RECEIVED THEM EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA LIED AND SAID THEY WILL SEND THEM.) . *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141385November 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT AFTER SUDDENLY BRAKING ON LEVEL GROUND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS IT STALLED WHILE TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED ON AN INCLINE. ONE OF THESE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER BEING COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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