no report yet
Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire
Risk. Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle.
2003 Toyota TacomaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 360 owner complaints about the 2003 Toyota Tacoma, most often about the structure. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Toyota Tacoma has problems
360 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
181Structure6 crash/fire/injury
66Suspension7 crash/fire/injury
28Air bags19 crash/fire/injury
26Vehicle speed control
21Tires
18Power train
14Engine and engine cooling
13Fuel system, gasoline
12Steering
6615 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 181 | 6 |
| Suspension | 66 | 7 |
| Air bags | 28 | 19 |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 5 |
| Tires | 21 | 1 |
| Power train | 18 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 13 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 4 |
| 15 other systems | 66 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2003 Toyota Tacoma recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Control arm: lower ball joint
Risk. THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
no report yet
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
123kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 138 structure complaints. 29% were reported before 100,000 miles.
8under 30k miles40under 100k miles98100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other Tacoma year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tacoma median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2003 Toyota Tacoma safety ratings
2003 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 2 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What Tacoma owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While driving at both high speeds (highway) and local road speed limits, Toyota Tacoma's rear passenger side frame split completely in half. While performing maneuvers such as right turns, vehicle wobbled and I, driver, lost temporary control of vehicle. Upon further inspection, rear driver side…
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear subframe of the vehicle was corroded and the subframe had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the rear sub frame on the driver's and passenger's side were corroded. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of…
Own a 2003 Tacoma?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.