Toyota Tacoma Complaints (2003)

360 consumer complaints on file.

#10424888September 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN
RUST OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL COVER. ALL OF THE OIL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL LEAKED OUT. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM TOYOTA. THE COMPLETE DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $ 1,000.00. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AS PER MANY TOYOTA FORUMS ON THE NET. TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BY THIS REPAIR AND WILL NOT ADMIT TO ANY PROBLEM ABOUT RUST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423465August 31, 2011
AIR BAGS, TIRES, STRUCTURE
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COMPLAINT REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THE 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE SLID INTO HIS VEHICLE AND HE HIT THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE TIRES AND FRONT FENDER RATIO HAD A DESIGN DEFECT. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JB..UPDATED 01/31/12..UPDATED 11/19/13 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10417701August 5, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2003 AND HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS, BUT NOTHING YOU DON'T EXPECT WITH VEHICLES TODAY OR ANYTHING TOYOTA DID NOT EVENTUALLY FIX, UNTIL NOW. ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 45 THE TRUCK JUST LOST POWER AND STALLED ON ME. I WAS ALMOST NOT ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND OF COURSE THE PERSON BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME AND WAS HIGHLY AGITATED I HAD STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND APPEARED TO BE DRIVING LIKE A TEENAGER LEARING TO DRIVE A MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSION. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD MAF SENSOR WHICH WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS WHICH COST $400. THIS DID NOT FIX IT AND AFTER MUCH TRIAL AND ERROR AND RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND ONE OF IT'S SENSORS THAT CAN'T BE REPLACED. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO TOYOTA, THEY DISAGREED AND SAID THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS FUNNY HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE HERE AND HOW MANY MORE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. MY LOCAL TOYOTA SPECIALIST (NOT THE DEALERSHIP), WHO I TRUST AND HAS SPENT A WEEK WITH MY TRUCK DRIVING IT AND TESTING IT AND STILL ONLY CHARGED ME $80, HAS ALSO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM, A BAD SENSOR AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF ABOUT $1,000 OR SO DEPENDING ON AVAILABLITY OF PARTS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 AND 2004 MODELS ONLY AND HAVE HEARD CLAIMS FROM TOYOTA MECHANICS "OFF THE RECORD" THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. IT HAS COME TO THE POINT THAT I DON'T LET ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS TRUCK BUT ME, IT IS TOO DANGEROUS. MY KIDS DON'T RIDE IN IT WITH ME EITHER BECAUSE IT COULD STALL AS I AM TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC AND THE RESULTS COULD BE DEADLY. PLEASE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TO FIX THIS, BUT MAYBE, JUST MAYBE YOU CAN SAVE OTHERS THE MONEY AND POSSIBLY THEIR FAMILES LIVES! *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416524August 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE LOSES POWER UNEXPECTEDLY AND IS INCONSISTENT. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO ME AND MANY, MANY TIMES BY OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. A POORLY DESIGNED/ENGINEERED ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR APPEARS TO BE THE ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BY ME MULTIPLE TIMES BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS SERIOUS FLAW IN THEIR VEHICLE. MOST RECENTLY, I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED WHEN ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS CONSCIOUS AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY MANEUVER TO THE OTHER LANE. SOMEONE WILL DIE FROM THESE PROBLEMS! THIS HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED BY MANY AT HTTP://WWW.TTORA.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=13283&HIGHLIGHT=APPS+FIX I ASK THAT THE NTHSA PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IT APPEARS MANY OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. ONE MAY ARGUE THAT THIS IS AN 8 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SO NO REASON TO INVESTIGATE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR'S AND TOYOTA'S ATTENTION SINCE 2005. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED! PLEASE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415558July 28, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RUST PERFORATION ON 1998 TO 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAMES AND UNDERCARRIAGES, THE DEALER STATED WAS DUE TO IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED FRAMES. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME THAT THE VOLUNTARY FRAME RECALL ON MY 2003 TACOMA FOR FRAME RUST EXPIRED IN MARCH OF 2011 AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FRAMES OF CERTAIN YEAR TOYOTA TACOMA ARE DEFECTIVE AND WERE NOT PROPERLY MADE AND ARE SUBJECT TO RAPID RUST PERFORATION. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEIR VOLUNTARY PROGRAM SHOULD BE MADE MANDATORY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414782July 22, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS RECALLED IN APRIL 2010 FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT. THE TRUCK FAILED AND THE "ENTIRE" FRAME WAS REPLACED. JULY 18, 2011, WHILE DRIVING THIS TRUCK THE SPARE TIRE FALLS OUT FROM BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WERE ABLE TO AVOID ANY IMPACT. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE PLATE THAT WAS " HOLDING" THE SPARE TIRE TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER THAT REPLACED THE FRAME. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PLATE LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PIECE FROM THE TITANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PARTICULAR PART WAS NOT PART OF THE TACOMA RECALL. I ASKED IF THEY HAD TO REMOVE THIS PART WHILE REPLACING THE FRAME, WHICH THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEY DID, AND THEN I ASKED WHY THEY WOULD PUT A WORN PIECE BACK ON... THE RESPONSE WAS "IT PROBABLY DIDN'T LOOK THAT BAD A YEAR AGO"....!!! I CALLED THE TOYOTA 800 PHONE NUMBER AND OPENED A CASE. AS A RESULT, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS PART WAS RECALLED ON THE 2003 TUNDRA, BUT NOT THE TACOMA... TOYOTA WILL HOWEVER REIMBURSE ME THE COST $233 IF I WISH TO HAVE THE PIECE REPLACED. I AM DISGUSTED AND SHOCKED AT THE FACT THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED...HOWEVER I COULD NOT GET THIS VERY SAME TRUCK INSPECTED IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR UNTIL I REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1600)...YET IT IS OKAY TO PUT SAFETY INSPECTION STICKER ON A VEHICLE THAT IS A HAZARD TO OTHERS DUE TO A SPARE TIRE PROJECTILE THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT. THIS IS INSANITY TO ME. I ALSO HAVE A 1994 TOYOTA WHICH WOULD NOT PASS DUE TO RUST ON THE EXTERIOR "BUMPER"... EXTERIOR RUST WAS CONSIDERED A HAZARD.. AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BUMPER "OR REMOVE IT" BEFORE IT WOULD PASS. PERHAPS THE "INSPECTION" REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE ENHANCED TO INCLUDE TRUE LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS... I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYONE HARM THEMSELVES ON MY RUSTY BUMPER....BUT I NEARLY TOOK OUT 4 VEHICLES WITH MY FAULTY SPARE TIRE MOUNT.. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406924June 15, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OUT IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIM AT 45 MPH. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399559May 9, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CONTACT FELT A BUMP AND NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHAIN WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,036.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375769January 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, POWER TRAIN
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER IS HAVING A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BROKE DUE TO RUST, FRAME RUSTING, AND TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373354December 29, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOK THAT HELD THE FLOOR MAT IN PLACE LOOSENED AND CAUSED THE FLOOR MAT TO BECOME STUCK UNDER THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN THE RAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE HOOK. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE ANY RECORD OF THE PREVIOUS REPAIR AND STATED THE THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS OF A REPLACEMENT HOOK. THE FLOOR MAT HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF UPDATED 03/07/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372333December 24, 2010
PARKING BRAKE
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA AND THE PARKING BRAKE REMAINS ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO FIX. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME FAULTY ITEM. ONE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE IS ONE TOO MANY. ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPMENT WITH A FUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369556December 7, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS THE CAR DECELERATED. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE CHOKE WAS STICKING AND I NEEDED TO HAVE AN UPPER ENGINE CLEANING. 10000 MILES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NOW I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357389September 24, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GASOLINE TANK BROKE LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AFTER CORROSION CAUSED FAILURE OF RETAINING STRAP/BRACKETS. FIRE DID NOT OCCUR, DRIVE SHAFT KEPT TANK FROM COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM VEHICLE. 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA HAD ALREADY BEEN RECALLED FOR CORROSION PROBLEMS IN APRIL 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352752August 30, 2010
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE IT WITH A SPRAYED WITH A RUST COMPOUND, HOWEVER 3 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPOUND WOULD NOT DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351797August 25, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE
GAS TANK FELL OFF, TILL IT WAS 2 TO 3 INCHES OFF GROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347572August 5, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
EXCESSIVE RUST HAS APPEARED ON THE FRAME AND UNDERBODY COMPONENTS OF MY 2003 TACOMA MAKING ME QUESTION THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AS IT AGES. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND PASSENGERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS KNOWING THAT PROPER EXAMINATION OF THE METAL'S STRENGTH REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST A VISUAL INSPECTION AND THE USE OF A HAMMER. I BEGAN NOTICING EXCESSIVE RUST APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2004. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346385July 30, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:BEAD
I HAVE HAD 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES PURCHASED IN 9/08 DEVELOP LARGE "BUBBLES" AT THE RIM AND 1 ONE OF THEM WENT FLAT. THE OTHERS WERE NOTICED AND CHANGED AND ALL TIRES HAD TEARS IN THEM THAT WERE NOT VISIBLE WHEN THE TIRES WERE ON THE RIM. THE FIRST TIRE HAD AROUND 25000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT DEVELOPED A LARGE BUBBLE WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING. THE RECEIPT FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE TIRE SAID IT HAD A CUT IN IT. LAST WEEK ANOTHER TIRE WENT FLAT AFTER I HAD DRIVEN OVER 400 MILES AND THIS CAUSED ME TO INSPECT MY TIRES AND I NOTICED A "BUBBLE" THAT STARTED ON THE RIM OF ANOTHER TIRE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN I HAD TO BUY 2 NEW TIRES BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE TIRES HAD TEARS OR CUTS 1 1/2 - 3 INCHES LONG THAT WERE VISIBLE ONLY AFTER THE RIM WAS REMOVED. THESE TIRES HAD AROUND 40,000 MILES ON THEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE ORIGINAL TIRES FROM AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT A RESOLUTION WITH THEM. THE 4TH TIRE HAS A "RIPPLE" IN IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE, NOT AROUND THE RIM, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT IS FROM SEPARATION AND IS NOT UNUSUAL. I AM ALSO ASKING THAT THEY REPLACE THAT TIRE FOR ME. I STILL HAVE THE LAST 2 TIRES BUT WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN WE WORK OUT A RESOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341505July 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SINCE ALL NEW VEHICLES AND PRIOR WERE STANDARDIZING PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS WHY IS IT THAT THE CLOUDING/HAZY HEADLIGHT IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE OR A REPLACEMENT ISSUE? YOU CAN USE THE RESTORATION KITS BUT AFTER SO MANY APPLICATIONS IT WILL NOT WORK ANYMORE. MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED WITH THE CLOUDING/HAZING AND I HAVE BEEN USING KITS BUT THE SYMPTOM STILL COMES BACK. WILL THIS BE ADDRESSED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335900June 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON JUNE 11,2010 I WAS CHANGING THE ANTI FREEZE IN MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA.THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND RUNNING TO WARM ENGINE TO OPEN THERMOSTAT TO GET MORE COOLANT FROM THE LOWER BLOCK . WELL I DECIDE TO BOOST THE ENGINE SPEED BY MANUALLY MOVING THE THROTTLE .TO MY SURPRISE MY TRUCK LURCHED BACK BEFORE COMING TO A STOP I CHECK THE SHIFTER IT WAS STILL IN PARK .BUT A FURTHER EXAM THE VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE AND WILL NOT GO INTO ANY FORWARD GEAR. I M' GOING TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE LINKAGE NEEDS ADJUSTMENT EVERYBODY I TALK WITH SAID IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO MOVE UNLESS THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED FIRST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327356April 25, 2010
STEERING
I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND I LOST CONTROL OF MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA WHICH AT THAT TIME CAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AND I ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A WALL AND TOTALING MY TRUCK. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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