Toyota Tacoma Complaints (2003)
360 consumer complaints on file.
- #11076028March 3, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
THE FRAME ON MY TACOMA HAS ROTTED BEYOND REPAIR, OVER 6" GAPING HOLES IN THE MAIN FRAME NEAR THE SUSPENSION MOUNTS. THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ARE BOWED OVER AS WELL! I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS BY TOYOTA. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY REFUSED AT 1ST THEN AQCCEPTED IT AT THE WHITBY TOYOTA DEALER. THE RESULTS WERE THAT TOYOTA WAS WILLING TO INSTALL AN UPGRADED SPARE TIRE CARRIER & NOTHING MORE!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11074591February 23, 2018AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL: AIRBAG "WARNING" LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS ON AND HAS BEEN SINCE BEFORE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK , ACCORDING TO THE SELLER. NOT SURE IF AIRBAG WOULD EVEN OPERATE (DOUBTFUL). ALSO, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS ON, SCANS KEEP SAYING IT IS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM. VACUUM CANISTER, WIRING, OXYGEN SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND LIGHT WENT OFF TEMPORARILY, THEN STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH TRUCK RUNS FINE. DATE GIVEN BELOW IS DATE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, ONGOING PROBLEMS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11073198February 16, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I KNEW IT HAD SOME RUST ISSUES BEFORE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, BUT I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE TO SEE IF THIS VIN WAS PART OF THE RECALL IN WHICH TOYOTA REPLACES THE FRAME OR BUYS BACK THE TRUCK. THE REP I SPOKE TO SAID THAT IT WAS INDEED IN THE RECALL AND THAT, AFTER I PURCHASE I SHOULD TAKE TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND IF THE FRAME HAS PERFORATION THEN THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME. SO IN GOOD FAITH I FLEW TO NJ, BOUGHT THE TRUCK, WHICH ONLY HAD 60K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, AND DROVE IT BACK TO NC AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE FRAME INDEED HAD PERFORATION AND WAS ELIGIBLE FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT. I LEFT THE TRUCK THERE, BUT THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THEY WERE SORRY BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE 2003 TACOMA WAS A "NORTHERN TRUCK" AND HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY "UNDERCOATED" AND WAS THEREFORE EXEMPT FROM THE RECALL THAT WOULD FIX THE FRAME. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND UPON FURTHER CHECKING, THEY SAID THAT IF THE 2003 TACOMA HAD BEEN UNDERCOATED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER (AT NO COST TO OWNER--A SERVICE TOYOTA PROVIDED FOR FREE ONCE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAD USED BAD STEEL FOR THE FRAMES OF THESE TRUCKS) THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IS THEIR REP HADN'T TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WOULD REPLACED. THEY SAID THE REP HAD NOT LOOKED FAR ENOUGH INTO THE MATTER AND HAD TOLD ME WRONG AND THAT I WAS BASICALLY STUCK WITH A TRUCK I COULD NOT DRIVE. I PAID $6500 FOR THIS TRUCK AND I CANNOT PUT $12,000 INTO IT TO FIX THE FRAME. AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO! TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR USING BAD STEEL FOR THESE TRUCKS. SO DO I KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE FRAME BREAKS AND INJURES MY, MY FAMILY, OR OTHER DRIVERS? THEN I WILL SUE TOYOTA! PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11061554January 9, 2018FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION (APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM). THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER OUTPUT POWER THAT IS PROPORTIONAL TO THE AMOUNT I AM REQUESTING WITH THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE THE ISSUE OCCURS, THE MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT IS ONLY 2000 RPM WITH THE GAS PEDAL FULLY PRESSED. THE ISSUE IS OCCASIONALLY RESOLVED BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH THE CODE PO120. THE CODE TRANSLATES TO A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE $60 SENSOR INDIVIDUALLY, THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE $1,200 THROTTLE BODY THAT INCLUDES A NEW SENSOR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11055664December 20, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
I PURCHASED A 2003 TACOMA IN APRIL OF 2016 FROM MATTHEWS MOTOR COMPANY OF COVINGTON, PA. FAST FORWARD TO 12/2017 AND THE FRAME NOW HAS A COUPLE HOLES IN IT NEAR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WHERE THE GAS TANK ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS FOR THE FRAMES. CONTACTED TOYOTA TO HAVE IT ADDRESSED ONLY TO BE TOLD THE CAMPAIGN EXPIRED. THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED IN 2011 (BEFORE I OWNED IT) UNDER CAMPAIGN "ZTH" AND NO RUST PERFORATION WAS FOUND, AND AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, AN UNDERCOATING WAS APPLIED AT THIS TIME. I AM TOLD HOWEVER THAT BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS NOT UNDERCOATED / DIDN'T HAVE A CORROSION PREVENTION TREATMENT APPLIED UNDER CAMPAIGN "90D" THAT IT NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR COVERAGE UNDER CAMPAIGN "ZTH." HOW CAN THE TRUCK NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CAMPAIGN NOW WHEN IT DID IN 2011? MOREOVER, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY LETTERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE PRESENTED BY A POTENTIALLY FAULTY FRAME. I WOULD HAVE TO INSIST THAT TOYOTA INSPECT MY FRAME, ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS PERFORATED FROM RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH CAMPAIGN ZTH, NOT ONLY FOR MY VEHICLE BUT FOR THOSE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11046891November 17, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HOTLINE TO INQUIRE IF MY TRUCK QUALIFIED FOR A FRAME RUST PROTECTION COATING OR REPLACEMENT UNDER THEIR 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS OFFERED FOR 2001-2004 TACOMAS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WAS "POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR FRAME REPAIR" VALID UNDER THE WARRANTY UNTIL THE END OF 2017 AND A CASE WAS OPENED. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A FRAME INSPECTION, AND THEN REGIONAL OFFICE WOULD MAKE THE DECISION TO COVER IT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER THAT WAS PRONE TO RUST AND POTENTIAL FAILURE. I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN TO THE TOYOTA OF PORTLAND TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND INSPECT THE FRAME. WHEN I PICKED UP MY TRUCK THEY SAID IT FAILED THE FRAME INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THAT THEY NEVER REPLACED THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED ONCE THEY REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER TO REPLACE IT WOULD FURTHER COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE RUSTED FRAME. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE REGIONAL OFFICE DENIED MY FRAME REPLACEMENT BASED ON THE PHOTOS THEY RECEIVED. SUPPOSEDLY THE REGIONAL OFFICE SAID THAT THE RUST IS ONLY BAD ON THE CROSS SECTION AND THAT IS A REMOVABLE SECTION OF THE FRAME THAT CAN BE REPLACED SO THE FRAME ITSELF IS NOT DID NOT FAIL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER PAPERWORK SAYING MY VEHICLE FAILED THE FRAME INSPECTION, AND BASED SOLELY ON PHOTOS, AND WITH ONE MONTH LEFT OF MY WARRANTY, THE REGIONAL OFFICE DECIDED TO OVERRIDE THE DIAGNOSIS AND DENIED MY WARRANTY CLAIM. THE RECALLED SPARE TIRE CARRIER HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPLACED, AND IM WORRIED THAT ONCE IT IS IT WILL UNCOVER MORE CORROSION, BUT BY THAT TIME MY WARRANTY FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE EXPIRED. I WANT TOYOTA TO HONOR MY WARRANTY AND REPLACE THE FRAME ON MY TRUCK LIKE THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO DO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11034658October 19, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY SHOT, STATING HE WAS NOT EVEN COMFORTABLE WORKING UNDER IT! THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION, AND IT ONLY HAS 111,000 MILES ON IT. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SVC CTR, BUT THEY WERE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BECAUSE THE AGENT EXPLAINED THEY HAD A "LIMITED SVC CAMPAIGN" TO ADD CORROSION PROTECTION, BUT INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD EXPIRED BACK ON 7/31/2014. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN. THE AGENT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS INSPECTED BACK IN 2012 (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE YEAR I PURCHASED IT IN, SO I ASSUME THIS WAS DONE JUST PRIOR TO MY BUYING IT), AND PASSED STATING THERE WAS "NO" RUST -- WHICH IS FALSE! MISLED BY MANY AND SOLD FAULTY EQUIPMENT THAT COULD HAVE ENDANGERED OR KILLED ME AND OTHERS, I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIS! RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS, BY FAR. SO, BASICALLY, WE'VE ALL THROWN AWAY MANY $1000'S AND CAN RECOVER NONE OF IT, NOR CAN WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT FEARING IT WILL, QUITE LITERALLY, FALL APART!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11023679September 15, 2017UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME IS RUSTED AND GAS TANK STRAP BROKE OFF. WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS BUT EXPIRED 2011. HOW CAN I GET THIS FIXED? THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE. IT WAS MY LATE HUSBAND'S UNTIL HIS DEATH IN APRIL 2017.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11021585September 5, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVING TRUCK, ONLY 86617 MILES, HEARD DRIVE TRAIN NOISE, PULLED OVER, NOTICED FRAME RUST THROUGH AND TRUCK BENDING DOWN IN MIDDLE BESIDE THE GAS TANK. FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ARAPAHOE TOYOTA.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11020056August 28, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,094.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11015873August 17, 2017AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST . DOES THIS TRUCK HAVE TAKATA AIRBAGS? DID TAKATA MAKE THESE BAGS SAFE BUT ALL OTHERS DEFECTIVE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT AS WELL. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THESE DANGEROUS AIRBAGS FOR YEARS YET THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL. ARE YOU SURE OF THEIR SAFETY?!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010964July 27, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME OF VEHICLE HAS CORRODED AWAY CAUSING FUEL TANK TO FALL OFF. THIS HAPPENED AS I PULLED INTO PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10992636June 1, 2017SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:SHACKLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE KRAUSE TOYOTA OF BRINIGSVILLE, PADEALER DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT IT DID NOT PASS BECAUSE THE REAR END NEAR THE SPRING SHACKLE FOR THE SUSPENSION WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT, AS OF 2012, THEY WERE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1706010045. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10991240May 23, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF SEVERE CORROSION TO THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CASE NUMBERS: 1075172502 AND 1705192164. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 06/29/17*LJ UPDATED 08/03/2017 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10985787May 15, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WERE PREMATURELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE EXTENSIVE HOLES, RUST, AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 08/03/17*LJ
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10984425May 9, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT WELDING COMPANY WHO INFORMED THAT THEY COULD WELD THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10983722May 5, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRAME RAILS, LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE, EXHIBITING RUST THRU. SAFETY ISSUE; FRAME FAILURE IN FUTURE.(VERY NEAR).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10980268April 24, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 TACOMA. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT I HAVE EXTENSIVE FRAME CORROSION AND HOLES IN THE FRAME AND THAT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. CAR WAS STATIONARY. WTF?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10978747April 17, 2017STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WORKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10972024April 12, 2017STRUCTURE, TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE PREMATURE RUST AND CORROSION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE WELDED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 223,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0