Toyota Tundra Complaints (2003)

399 consumer complaints on file.

#11537555August 9, 2023
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
rear leaf spring mount separated from the frame due to complete rust -through of the frame. felt a "thump" during normal acceleration.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11513996March 27, 2023
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that an unknown recall for structure corrosion was completed on the vehicle in February 2012 at a local dealer. The contact stated on June 2022, he noticed that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The local dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11510235March 5, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I just bought the Toyota I was told that he had brought this Toyota to a dealership and it was sent to har some sealant sprayed on frame to prevent anymore rust. The whole frame and the spare tire holder thing is total rusting out and the motor mounts are even rusting out is there a recall on his veichle if not there should be
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509714March 1, 2023
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was discontinued. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the part was discontinued. The failure mileage was 235,680.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11509267February 27, 2023
SEAT BELTS
Both rider and driver seat belt become unlatched randomly. I have no expectation these will remained secure if involved in an accident
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497313December 13, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
Frame is rusted and unsafe to be driven. I loved this truck but now what good is it?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11487052September 29, 2022
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY
The frame on this truck is completely rusted. There are several holes and cracks in the frame. You can pull chunks of the rusted frame off with your fingers. It is unsafe to drive and is a hazard to other drivers There are many photos online of this model of truck that have broken in half when the frame has failed. There are stories of people who are driving this vehicle and it breaks in half while on the highway causing injury. I took it to our local mechanic in June who said this truck is unsafe. I contacted the Iowa Attorney General's office and made a complaint. They put me in contact with Toyota's corporate office who referred me to their Brand Experience Center. They said it had to be evaluated by a Toyota dealer. I took it to the original dealer who sold this vehicle - Wilson Toyota in Ames Iowa- on September 27, 2022. Their service center says the frame needs replaced. They said they would not pay for any repairs. They said this truck had two safety recalls to replace the frame but they said they expired in 2012. I spoke to Toyota's Brand Experience Center again on the 27th and was told that my truck did not have any rust on it when it was taken in for the recall. Nothing was done to this vehicle when it was taken in for the recall repairs. There are many posts on Toyota forums that describe the same thing happening to other owners of this truck. - They are unaware of this condition of their truck frames until they bring it in to a reputable mechanic. The attached photos of this truck show the upper body is in good shape. But the frame is falling apart.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11486431September 26, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES
I just bought a 2003 toyota tundra 4wd v8 in Feb 2022 totally unaware of any recalls or frame rust or anything even closely related! After 6 months of owing this vehicle I had the wheel bearings replaced n mechanic told me my frame has so much damage due to rust n corrosion that it is eating through parts of my frame, he mentioned that toyota did recalls etc on this n I immediately called Toyota and told them along with doing research on this matter, I was told everything expired etc n nothing can be done! Well previous owner had took it in 2012 to have rust proofing done underneath n entire frame, that was just 10 years ago! Well toyota ways recall was done, apparently the remedy didnt work or my frame wouldn't look this bad 10 years later !so I believe that is a defective remedy and since I bought the vehicle knowing nothing, and do to the safety issues related too this as serious injury and or death can occur, I believe that they should replace my frame as they admitted to using inferior metal to build these and therefore leading too all these issues! Using inferior metal should make the part (frame) a defective part as well! Bottom line is iam driving a vehicle that can cause me n my family along with everyone on the road serious injury or death! They tried to fix the problem with rust proofing n by doing that in 2012 there is no way my frame should be in this.condition , therefore I should be entitled to a new remedy related to recall since the remedy the used was insufficient n defective regardless I'd it expired or anything! I also have alot of pictures of frame n the amount of rust n corrosion! Can you please let know a way too send these pictures to you from my phone! Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11480056August 18, 2022
SUSPENSION
My mechanic says the frame on our 2003 Toyota Tundra is rusted to the point that the pickup is unsafe to drive and is about to break in half. I have contacted two local Toyota dealers with no response. This vehicle had a recall to fix the issue but it appears the was a time frame placed on when Toyota would repair the frame. This truck is unsafe to drive and it makes me wonder how many of these vehicles are still on the road endangering the public
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478825August 11, 2022
SUSPENSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed several times but failed to respond and went all the way to the floorboard. The contact's son intentionally hit a curb and downshifted in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe was severely corroded and an unknown axle was leaking and causing the brake failure. Additionally, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the gas tank was detaching from the vehicle due to the frame corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11468755June 11, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 2 wheel drive The frame is rotted With only a 140000 miles on itAnd the manufacturer won't help me anymore so I don't know what to do with this vehicle now.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11462525April 27, 2022
SUSPENSION
I purchased my 2003 Toyota Tundra limited V8 about 7 months ago. Unbeknownst to me there had once been a recall because of the frame rusting out prematurely. So after further investigation I found my frame is dangerously rusted to the point of extreme safety concerns. I have been in contact with Toyotas head corders and was told there's nothing they can do because apparently I missed the recall time. But I bought the truck after the recall was time was over. In either case Toyota should absolutely be responsible for this no matter the time frame because of there admittance that these truck frames were rotting out prematurely. Please help before there is a crash, Fire and Fatality
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11459179March 31, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The truck frame has failed due to rust. Dealer only inspected but did not clear the warranty recall because of liability. They refused to do the recall. The truck seems unsafe to drive but they said there is nothing they can do. I don't feel safe driving it or selling it to endanger someone else. The dealer confirmed the truck frame is rusted beyond repair. I was not aware how bad the frame was rusted until the dealer showed me.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11440362November 14, 2021
SUSPENSION, STEERING, ENGINE
The frame on my tundra has rusted out so bad that the engine mounts are rusted through, my truck only has 86k miles please help this is our daily driver to get to work and take the kids to school
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11439678November 8, 2021
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while the vehicle was being emissions tested, he was informed that the sway bars and the rear cross members were corroded. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the location of the corrosion was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to several independent mechanics who declined to service the vehicle due to the damage of the corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11437103October 18, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
Frame is rotten. Recently purchased truck from a private party. Did not notice frame rust at time of purchase. It is bad. Can fit more than a marble through the hole in picture. Read up on it online. Common problem. Upon going underneath truck all frame is decaying. It appears it may have previously been sealed. Which may have cracked away and trapped moisture in just making problems worse. On top of that one thread I read stated guy took his truck to dealer and they told him by law they could not let him leave due to rust issue. Mine is an 2003 Toyota Tundra sr5 access cab 2wd terminator edition. Please help. I was also able to look up on Toyota website under owners and found a shop stated not safe to drive or even lift in November of 2020. And since then truck has only had about 700 miles put on. 120 miles was from guy driving it to me to sell to me. I’m now worried if I drive this in it’s current state that at any time it could break and cause an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11437054October 17, 2021
STEERING, SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES
I was turning down a residential street and when I was getting up to speed. About 30 miles per hour. My truck jumped up a couple times like I hit a pit hole. I got out to inspect and see what I hit but the street was freshly paved 2 years before it was smooth as butter. I look at the truck and find out my passenger tire had fallen off. Upon further inspection I see my ball joints failed and try tire came off. It snapped the cv axle in half ripped and the brake line and abs module off and broke the frame bracket for the rack and pinon. As a result my insurance totaled my vehicle out.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434226September 24, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, AIR BAGS
The frame haas already been repaired, at the suggestion of my inspection mechanic. The whole frame is dangerously rusted. Now he says, “get rid of it—it’s dangerous to drive!” Another problem, the air bag fault light won’t stay off! Parts in the steering column have been replaced, to no avail! Toyota did that work. No one knows if my air bag will work or not!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425104July 16, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while having the vehicle repaired under an unknown recall, he was informed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 118,485.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11423188July 2, 2021
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
2003 Toyota Tundra. Consumer writes in regards to NHTSA safety recall related to rusted frames.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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