2003 Toyota Tacoma Suspension Problems
- 35
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 35 stored complaint records:
- 4 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- ball joint · 7 records
- frame rusted · 6 records
- independent mechanic · 6 records
- unsafe drive · 5 records
- leaf springs · 5 records
- taken independent · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 10 |
| 150–400k mi | 10 |
| 60–100k mi | 6 |
| 30–60k mi | 1 |
| 1–30k mi | 1 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body · Steering · Suspension
Power steering pump having issues i can fill it up to the full line and it will go down to half empty everytime i've done it therefore steering is very tight and difficult, the truck bed has huge holes rusted/corrosion completely through it on both sides, the spare tire mechanism is rusted so badly it doesn't work and half of it is missing due to rust/corrosion an has fallen off, and the frame broke completely in…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 11252614
Body · Steering · Suspension
Was driving down the road and the frame broke completely in half on the drivers side an caused the drive shaft to fall out and when it did it bounced up and knocked a hole in the gas tank causing me to wreck.and the bed of the truck has huge holes rusted through them.
Crash reported
ODI 11270931
Body · Suspension
Bought the truck used, frame rusted, from cold weather state, heard lots of trucks did this, rust so bad afraid to drive it,everything else on truck good, from what i understand it's had 5 recalls, not one done by former owner, internet web site said frames were not coated right, factory defect, want toyota to fix issue as it's their fault this has happened, it's dangerous to drive.
ODI 11229210
Suspension · Unknown Or Other
Brought truck into body shop in june 2019 to have work done. They told me the frame on the truck was severely rusted in several places. They said it may be unsafe to drive. In 2016 (about 2.5 yrs ago) i brought the truck into the local toyota dealer to have frame inspected under a recall notice. At that time they told me that the frame was ok. In addition the truck was at the dealer in 2018 for another recall for…
ODI 11234167
Body · Suspension
Frame is rotten and broken, shocks ripped off of frame. Unsafe to drive and still need to use daily.
ODI 11208831
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. While the vehicle was coasting into a fuel station, the front passenger side ball joint detached from the tire independently and without an impact. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and later towed to toyota of whittier (located at 14577 e, whittier blvd, whittier, ca 90605, [redacted]). The dealer diagnosed that the ball joint became loose and needed to be…
ODI 11182542
Body · Springs · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. While driving various speeds, a popping noise was present from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that the rear driver's side spring hanger was rusted and detached from the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure…
ODI 11193289
Body · Service Brakes · Structure · Suspension
The rear brake lines that connect over the rear axle rusted into and caused the brake fluid to leak from the braking system. When the truck was taken into a local service center for repair to the brakes the service center representative informed me that they could not repair the brake lines because the frame was rusted so severely that if put on a lift the frame would fall apart and the truck would break in half.…
ODI 11164154
Body · Frame And Members · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently serviced by a mechanic who indicated that the vehicle would not pass inspection due to extensive rust and corrosion of the frame. The vehicle was not included in any recalls for the frame. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage…
ODI 11161942
Suspension
While traveling at about 40 mph, right front passenger wheel suddenly and unexpectedly broke off at the ball joints. The tire folded under the chassis and the truck skidded to a stop in the road shoulder.
ODI 11145227
Suspension
We bought our 2003 tacoma brand new from the dealer in 2003, expecting this to be a 30-year investment. We have kept up all maintenance on this truck with our mechanic. He checked it last year and found no issues with the frame other than some normal rust. Last week we took it to him because the check engine indicator was on, and he discovered that our frame was completely rusted through with holes in the driver's…
ODI 11132360
Suspension
Frame corrosion, took tacoma in for inspection while still under warranty, frame failed inspection but toyota denied claim due to outside influences.
ODI 11133037
Suspension
I was driving down the road goimg about 35 mph heard a loud noise. Lost all control of the steering wheel and my tire had broken off from the ball joint. The place fixing it said the other side is about to break as well. This is very dangerous and i could have been killed.
Crash reported
ODI 11091500
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle inadvertently turned left and crashed into an embankment. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front suspension ball joint fractured and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor injuries that…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10971740
Body · Steering · Suspension
The frame on my 2003 tacoma is rusting badly! The truck only has about 98k and im the second owner. I purchased the truck on 9/3/2011. The truck in getting to the point of being unsafe to drive. The mounting points for the leaf springs are almost completely rusted away. I have never received any type of notification from toyota regarding the frame recall. I've had it looked at by my local toyota dealer and they are…
ODI 10935167
Body · Suspension · Unknown Or Other
Frame has rusted thru by the leaf spring and other places. Toyota has a recall/campaing that covers the frame thru 2018. But they will not replaced frame because they said it was not undercoated during a specific time....they want $10,000 for new frame.. This is a known problem that should be fully recall.
ODI 10840117
Structure · Suspension
Both sides of my frame are rusted in front of the rear wheels . The left side has a large rusted crack where the leaf springs connect to the frame. The right side has a roasted whole large enough that i can put my hand inside. I contacted toyota corporate and they told me they were very sorry but all their campaigns were expired and they had to tell thousands of other people the same thing. Vehicle is unsafe to…
ODI 10781445
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. While driving at 60 mph, the rear end of the vehicle veered to the passenger side while the contact was steering the vehicle straight. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the shock absorber was not attached to the truck. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.
ODI 10733237
Suspension · Unknown Or Other
I purchased this 2003 toyota tacoma 4 dr a few months ago i've been a toyota owner for more than 6 yrs as my previous trk was also a tacoma the body on this trk was spotless, no rust anywhere, the frame had surface rust but it didn't look too bad the trk needed tires & a bulb for safety. I felt like i had gotten lucky to get a nice dependable trk on the road. Within a month i noticed the trk was riding rougher. It…
ODI 10693987
Body · Service Brakes · Suspension
So in december i took my tacoma to the dealership for a regular frame inspection after learning upon the issue. The truck is in almost perfect condition, spotless inside and out. The frame failed inspection, and i was unable to drive the vehicle home. First off, a service rep at the dealership tried to send me off to a friend of his who could "patch" up the frame so that it would pass inspection (great idea,…
ODI 10670536
Frame And Members · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 05v225000 (suspension) and stated that an independent mechanic before the notification of the recall sprayed the undercarriage. The dealer informed the contact that the recall repair would not be honored due to the coating of the undercarriage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that…
ODI 10614465
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that while turning at 10 mph, the contact lost control of the steering wheel as the front driver's side dropped to the ground. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the front suspension lower ball joint was found to be separated, causing the front suspension to fail. The manufacturer advised the contact that the vin was not included in nhtsa…
ODI 10556730
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!
ODI 11076028
Suspension · Underbody Shields
A toyota tacoma pickup was taken to my mechanic for routine maintenance and frame rust was noted. I called toyota and took the car to a local toyota dealership. They replied they could do nothing as the cost of repairing the frame was not worth the value of the car. They instructed me to call toyota directly and have been told i am on my own. There are 96,000 miles on the car and this was the first time rust was…
ODI 10525347
Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that while attempting to enter a parking space, the front driver's side wheel collapsed to the ground. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the ball joint was split. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 05v225000 (suspension: ball joint) and was told by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The…
ODI 10509672