2003 Toyota Tacoma Complaint Log

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW AND WAS DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE LINE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THE POWER STEERING SWITCH. THESE COMPONENTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND THE CONSUMER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *AK

I BROUGHT THIS CAR AND IT WAS IN A ACCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP LIED TO ME BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THAT AL THE PARTS WERE GOING TO BE COVERED BY THE GUARANTEE. HOW EVER ALL THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED AND I HAD TO PAY SOME OF THE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND COMPLAINED BUT THEY WOULD NOT LISTEN TO ME. THE CAR ALSO LEAKS OIL BUT THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION. *JB

DIFFERENTIAL MADE A BAD NOISE AT 21,221 MILES CHECKED GEAR LUBE ONLY TO FIND IT EMPTY. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA CITY WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, SAID OBVIOUS LEAK ON PASS. SIDE END OF DIFF, AXLE. I HAD 15,000 MILE SERVICE DONE AT TOYOTA CITY ($165.00), THEY NEVER CHECKED THE DIFF, GEAR LUBE EVEN THOUGH THE OWNERS MAINTENANCE BOOK SAYS TO INSPECT DIFF, GEAR LUBE. (NO REPAIRS WERE EVEN ATTEMPTED AT TOYOTA CITY). BROUGHT THE MISSED DIFF. FLUID CHECK TO CUST. SERVICE REPS ATTENTION, SAID SHE WILL TALK TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, A MONTH LATER, AND STILL NO REPLY . *NM

FAULTY APPS (ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR). VEHICLE IS DESIGNED WITH A COMBINATION OF MECHANICAL AND DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODY. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED WITH NO RESPONSE TO ENGINE OR VEHICLE MOVEMENT. THIS POSES A SAFETY THREAT IF DRIVER IS IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION AND CANNOT MOVE VEHICLE OUT OF HARMS WAY.

TRUCK ALWAYS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE NEW, TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER 4 TIMES, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. AT 21,000 MILES I HEARD A BAD NOISE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL, I PULLED OVER AND REMOVED THE FILL PLUG ONLY TO FIND NO OIL IN IT.SO I PUT IN 4 OZ. SHORT OF A QUART OF 80W90 GEAR OIL. (PULLED TO LEFT BECAUSE A WHEEL BEARING WASN'T GETTING AND LUBRICATION). RETURNED TO DEALER, THEY SAID WE CAN'T FIND A LEAK, 50 MILES LATER I PULLED THE FILL PLUG AND FOUND THE OIL TO BE BLACK AS CAN BE WITH METAL IN IT. DEALERS ANSWER IS TO COME BACK WHEN IT BREAKS. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A 2003 TACOMA WITH A 200,000 MILE DIFFERENTIAL. (WHAT A SHAME).

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DRIVEN IT BEGAN TO DEVELOP ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ULTIMATELY THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DEVELOPED INTO A FIRE THAT DAMAGED COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD AS WELL AS CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGES. AT THE PRESENT TIME THE VEHICLE REMAINS IN ITS POST FIRE CONDITION AWAITING REPAIR. THE VEHICLE INVOLVED IS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB, IT WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WAS AND IS UNDER FULL FACTORY WARRANTIES. AS OF YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY TOYOTA OR BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, BOTH TOYOTA AND THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAVE REPEATEDLY INSTRUCTED ME TO ABSORB THE PROBLEM MYSELF BY TURNING IT INTO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THIS THEN EXPOSES ME TO COSTS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, MAKES THE INSURANCE CARRIER RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERABLE BY WARRANTY AND DOES NOTHING TO ASSURE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS FOREVER CORRECTED TO PREVENT A RE-OCCURRENCE TO EITHER MYSELF OR TO OTHERS WHO MAY SUFFER THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ROUGH IDLE - 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 2.7L AUTO, DOUBLE CAB, 55K MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL CHAIN SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED ERROR CODE PO511 - IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE (IACV). TOYOTA PARTS DEPARTMENT PRICES THIS PART AT $226 AND SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED $249 FOR LABOR (NOT INCLUDING TAX). VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 55K MILES ON IT AND "ENGINE" SHOULD BE COVERED BY 6 YR/60K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER (TO HAVE OTHER RECALLS CORRECTED) WHO INDICATED A $90 FEE WAS REQUIRED JUST TO DIAGNOSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THE IACV WAS ONLY COVERED TO 3YR/36K AND THAT I SHOULD PAY DEALER FEE AND SEEK "FACTORY ASSISTANCE" FOR ANY COSTS TO REPAIR. I CONTEND THAT THIS TYPE OF A PART - NOT SERVICEABLE/MAINTAINABLE BY THE CUSTOMER, SHOULD BE GUARANTEED AGAINST FAILURE FOR MORE THAN ~50K MILES AND REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY MANUFACTURER. *JB

AT 21,000 MILES HEARD LOUD NOISE FOR DIFFERENTIAL, AND BAD GLUNK WHEN LEAVING STOP LIGHT, TOYOTA NEVER PUT IN GEAR LUBE TO COVER UP THE BAD WELDS ON RIGHT END OF DIFFERENTIAL (THAT WOULD HAVE LEAKED IF THEY DID PUT IN GEAR LUBE), NO REPLY FROM E-MAILS, PHONE CALLS, TALKING TO CUST. REP, (REQUESTED ARBITRATION FORMS BY PHONE AND E-MAIL 6 TIMES, NEVER RECEIVED THEM EVEN THOUGH TOYOTA LIED AND SAID THEY WILL SEND THEM.) . *NM

IN THE MONTH OF JUNE I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO A REPUTABLE SERVICE CENTER FOR OUR STATES REQUIRED STATE SAFTY INSPECTION. DURING THIS INSPECTION THE TIRES MUST BE REMOVED FOR THE BRAKE INSPECTION. WHILE THE INSPECTER WAS PLACING THE TIRES BACK ONTO THE TRUCK, TWO OF THE WHEEL STUDS BROKE ON THE FRONT HUB. HE BROUGHT THEM IN TO SHOW ME THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST EVERY 2000 - 2003 TOYOTA PICKUP THEY WORK ON. HE EVEN SHOWED ME THAT THE STUD WASN'T CROSS THREADED AND REMOVED THE STUD FROM THE LUG NUT USING A PAIR OF PLIERS. THE STUD CAME RIGHT OUT WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. THE STUDS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW STUDS FROM A LOCALE AUTO PARTS STORE. THE OLD STUDS WERE THROWN IN THE TRASH.

THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WENT BAD, AND IN TURN, CAUSED THE TRUCK TO LOSE ABOUT 90% OF ITS THROTTLE. IT HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN HIGH TRAFFIC, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALMOST ALL POWER ,AND CARS BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON THERE BRAKES.*AK

ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN I AM DRIVING MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA VIN [XXX] IT STARTS GOING OFF THE LANE AND REQUIRES EXTRA POWER TO GET BACK ON TRACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME SO FAR ON THE LOCAL SURFACE STREETS HERE IN TEMPE. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR ON HIGHWAY. ALSO AFTER THAT THE HAND-BREAK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. I DID NOT EVEN PUT HAND BREAK. THE HAND-BREAK LIGHT WILL GO OFF AFTER A WHILE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AT ANY TIME, MY 2003 TOYOTA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 TACOMA PICKUP TRUCK WILL LOSE ALL POWER AS IF I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN IN FACT I HAVE NOT. THIS WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO DRASTICALLY DECREASE SPEED UNTIL I PUMP THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL IT DECIDES TO WORK AGAIN AND PICK UP SPEED AGAIN. I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY "DRIVE BY WIRE" THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS CAUSING THIS. THE THROTTLE BODY ON THESE TRUCKS ARE COMPUTER CONTROLLED. YOU CAN ONLY OPEN THE THROTTLE BODY BUTTERFLY THE FIRST 25% WITH THE PEDAL THEN THE COMPUTER OPENS IT THE REST OF THE WAY. THESE THROTTLE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODIES ARE CRAPPING OUT LEFT AND RIGHT AND TOYOTA IS TRYING NOT TO REPLACE THEM UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THEY ARE CLAIMING IT IS COVERED UNDER THE 3/30 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND NOT THE 5/60 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT CAUSES ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND IT IS PUTTING MYSELF, PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD IN DANGER. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS IF I PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A DUMP TRUCK? WHAT IF IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM CROSSING A TRAIN TRACK?? I THINK IT IS A SERIOUS LOSS OF CONTROL ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM PURE AND SIMPLE.

SLOW FILL UP AT THE GAS PUMPS. THE TANK TAKES 10-12 MINUTES TO FILL. IT TAKES THE GAS VERY SLOWLY. PUMP WILL KEEP CLICKING OFF. THE PUMP HOSE HAS TO BE KEPT HALF TO THREE-QUARTERS OUT IN ORDER THAT THE GAS FLOW INTO THE TANK. *TR

I HAVE A 2003, TOYOTA TACOMA, V6, 4X4, TRD PACKAGE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND EVERY NOW AND THEN IT IS LIKE I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS BUT I DIDN'T! IF I STEP ON IT, IT IS FINE. *JB THE PROBLEM: IS THROTTLE BY WIRE THROTTLE BODIES ON 03 AND 04 TACOMAS. THE ACCELERATOR PETAL POSITION SENSOR ASSEMBLY HAS A SHAFT ONTO WHICH THE LEVER FOR THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IS MOUNTED WITH SOME RETURN SPRINGS. THIS SHAFT ALSO TURNS THE POTENTIOMETER. THIS LEVER (A PLASTIC PIECE) LIMITS THE TRAVEL OF THE ASSEMBLY, SO THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST RESISTANCES OF THE POTENTIOMETER ARE NOT ENCOUNTERED IN THE POTENTIOMETER. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE POTENTIOMETER CAN ALSO TURN IN THE ASSEMBLY, LOOSING ITS REFERENCE TO THE ARM AND LEVER. THEN THE RANGE OF RESISTANCE THAT IS POSSIBLE CAN BE CHANGED. IF IT TURNS TOO FAR ONE WAY, THE HIGHER RESISTANCE WILL BE SUCH THAT THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT VOLTAGE SENT TO THE ECU TO INDICATE THAT THE PEDAL HAS BEEN DEPRESSED. CONVERSELY, THERE IS A POINT AT THE OTHER END OF THE PETITIONER WHERE THE FULL VOLTAGE IS APPLIED AND THE ECU SEES THIS AS A FAILURE AND CLOSES THE THROTTLE BY RELEASING THE THROTTLE CONTROL MOTOR'S CLUTCH. NOTHING HAS BEEN TO DONE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA OR DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC CAN NOT REPLICATED PROBLEM. SUGGESTED I REPLACE BRAND NEW THROTTLE BODY WHICH IS ABOUT $600

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

WHILE BRAKING 70 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE STALLED , AND THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK

INFO COPY LTR FWD TO TOYOTA REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL, CUSTOMER DISSATISFIED W/QUALITY OF CURRENT TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TS **REFERENCE 10140998*** THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT KEPT GOING, THE CONSUMER OVER STEERED TO TRY AND THE VEHICLE TO TURN, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WENT TOO FAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, HIT A CULVERT WENT AIRBORNE AND HIT A DIRT DITCH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE EXITING A 65 MPH TOLLWAY DURING THE RAIN. THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED A PUDDLE APPROXIMATELY 18" - 24" DEEP AND ~70' LONG GOING ~35MPH. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE PUDDLE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FAULTER. UPON EXITING IT TOTALLY STOPPED AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTS THAT THE ENGINE HAD INGESTED WATER, DESTROYING THE INTERNAL WORKINGS AND IT WOULD REQUIRE A LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ~$6,500.*AK

WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A BODY SEAL PURSUANT TO A TSB (THEY SAID), BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. I WOULD LIKE THIS REPAIRED OR FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPLACED. *AK

VERY LOOSE STEERING WHEEL. PROBLEM IS THE SLIP SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. OVER TIME THE LOVER SHAFT WEARS AND THE STEERING BECOMES LOOSE AND SLOPPY. PROBLEM FIRST SHOWS UP AS LOOSENESS IN THE WHEEL AND EVENTUALLY TURNS INTO A CLUNK WHEN DRIVING OVER MINOR ROUGH ROADS. FROM TALKING TO MECHANICS AND OTHER TACOMA OWNERS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS. PROBLEMS INCLUDE DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. WANDERING AT ALL SPEEDS. MAJOR DIRECTION CHANGES WHEN BREAKING ON ALL ROADS. SMOOTH OR ROUGH. OVER ALL THE TRUCK IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK ACTUALLY CHANGE LANES WHEN I HIT AN UNEXPECTED ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD AT APPOX 30 MPH. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DUE BECAUSE OF THE SLOP IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TRUCK IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. I'M NOW FACED WITH SPENDING EVEN MORE MONEY TO REPLACE A STEERING COLUMN. *TR

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 40 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR FUMES BECOME SICKENING TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS UNBEARABLE. DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, HAD EVEN KEPT THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP, TYPED OUT A REPORT, BUT FUMES WERE STILL COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE ROTATING THE TIRES ON MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA P/U FOR THE FIRST TIME (6,000 MILES), I NOTICED A BULDGE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE (GOODYEAR WANGLER HP P205/75R15) LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER(AUTO WORLD) CALLED GOODYEAR, THEY SAID NO WARRANTY, BUT THEY WILL SELL ME A REPLACEMENT TIRE AT THERE COST OF $97.00 (AS IF I'LL BUY ANOTHER GOODYEAR TIRE)! HOW MANY HAVE TO BE HURT OR INJURED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE! OR ARE THEY FOLLOWING FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE'S LEAD..... *LA

FIRST INSTANCE 4/25/04 SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE WITH A LIGHT TOUCH ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE REVVED SO FAST THE TRUCK CLEARED THE PARKING STRIP AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR ON THE SIDEWALK (PICTURE AVAILABLE) $5000.00 DAMAGE TO TRUCK & $6000.00 DAMAGE TO THE PILLAR. SECOND INSTANCE 10/09/06 STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ENGINE REVVED UP, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL & ENGINE REVVED FASTER. SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE AND ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IN A COUPLE SECONDS. THIRD INSTANCE 02/05/07 JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ENGINE REVVED UP AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE I COULD TURN OFF THE KEY. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. FIRST TWO TIMES I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND GENTLY MENTIONED THAT MAYBE THE ACCELERATOR & BRAKE WERE BOTH ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME. FIRST TIME MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR & THE OTHER TIMES IT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I CHECKED. THE SERVICE MGR. ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT SO I RENTED A CAR FOR A COUPLE DAYS. THEY HAD SOMEONE FROM TOYOTA COME TO CHECK IT OUT. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LAST TIME WAS JUST THE OTHER DAY. HAVE NOT CALLED THEM YET. 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA FOUR DOOR DBL CAB. PURCHASED 07/29/03 CAPITOL TOYOTA. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR DUNLOP TIRES, SIZE 215/70/15. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE SPARE TIRE WAS MOUNTED TEMPORARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SPARE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBERS WERE UNAVAILABLE.

AS SOON AS THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE THE RPM'S REVVED EXTREMELY HIGH AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL MOTOR THREE TIMES IN AS MANY DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHILED RIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION . UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. *AK

2003 CREW CAB TACOMA: DRIVE TRAIN CLUNK WHEN STOPPING, FEELS LIKE I WAS REAR ENDED LIGHTLY. FIRESTONE TIRES ARE SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF SIDE WALLS, LOOK LIKE RE-TREADS, ALL FIVE TIRES ARE THE SAME. 7000 MILES ON TRUCK. *LA

Hello I Just wanted to check if my vehicle was ever in a crash. 2/29/24 VIN. [XXX] 03 Toyota Tacoma 2WD 4 cyl. EMail is [XXX] Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE IDLING IS HIGH FOR TWELVE MINUTES. THE DRIVER HAS TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKES TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE TECHNICIAN CAN NOT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM. *MR

AFTER APPROX. PUTTING 5,000 MILES ON MY TACOMA 2003 DOUBLE CAB, I STARTED NOTICING WHEN NORMALLY BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, THERE IS A CLUNCKING SOUND FROM THE REAR END. THE HARDER YOU STOP THE VEHICLE THE WORSE IT GETS. IT'S LIKE GETTING SLIGHTLY REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IF IT DOESN'T MAKE THIS CLUNCKING FEELING AND SOUND AS YOU COME TO A STOP, IT WILL DO IT ONCE YOU LET OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO IDLE/ROLL FORWARD TO ADVANCE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ETC. THIS APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHICH NOW HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK IT TO RON CARTER AUTO WORLD AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS AND CONSIDERED IT NORMAL. IF THIS IS NORMAL WHY DON'T OTHER VEHICLES DO THIS? IT GETS ANNOYING LOOKING INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS THINKING THAT YOU'VE BE REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*JB

AFTER MY PURCHASE OF A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA PRE-RUNNER I QUICKLY DISCOVERED MY REAR CHROME BUMPER WAS RUSTING AT THE AREA WHERE THE LICENSE PLATE IS DISPLAYED. I TOOK MY NEW TRUCK TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM AND THAT I COULD CONTINUALLY USE A TYPE OF STEEL WOOL TO KEEP UP WITH THE RUST AS IT WAS HAPPENING. UNACCEPTABLE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO CHANGE THE TIRE.*AK THREE DAYS LATER THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF ABOUT TO FAIL AS WELL. THE NEXT DAY, TOYOTA HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND ALL 5 TIRES WERE REPLACED. *CB *JB

2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT 03 TACOMA DOUBLE CAB W/ ONLY 3000 MILES ON IT I NOTICED THAT AROUND THE BOTTOM CORNERS OF BOTH REAR DRS AND THE FRONT BOTTOM CORNERS OF THE BED ALL THE PAINT HAD COME OFF ON A FAIRLY SMALL SECTION (BUT VERY NOTICABLE, EVEN FROM A DISTANCE).THE SERVICE WRITER THAT I WAS SPEAKING TO SAID THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOUBLE CABS DOING THIS. AT THIS POINT THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME TO US AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CUASED FROM ME NOT INSTALLING RUNNING BOARDS ON THE VEHICLE. NEXT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER AND DISCUSS IT WITH HIM AND HAVE HIM TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME I HAD A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT AND ALL THEY DID WAS GO LOOK AT IT IN THE PARKING LOT REAL QUICK AND NO RO WAS MADE MONTHS WENT BY AND I STILL GOT NO RESPONCE WHEN I WOULD CALL THEY SAID THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO MAKE IT UP HERE. AGAIN MONTHS WENT BY AND STILL NOTHING. CALLED AND GOT THE SAME RESPONCE. AGAIN MONTHS AND I CALLED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RM WAS GOING TO BE THEIR ON A CERTAIN DATE AND THEY SET ME UP AN APPT. BUT TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THEIR BODY SHOP FIRST TO GET A QUOTE TO FIX IT. I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP ON THE DAY OF MY APPT. AND GOT TO DEAL WITH THE MANAGER HIMSELF WHILE THEY DID UP THE QUOTE TO REPAIR THE MANAGER WAS TELLING ME THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED AT LEAST A DOZEN OF THESE SAME VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. HE HAD SAID THAT DUE TO THE BODY CONFIGURATION AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE FACTORY MUD FLAPS THAT DEBRIS COMING OFF THE FRONT TIRES WEARS OFF THE PAINT CAUSING IT TO RUST AND ALSO RUINS THE FENDER FLARES WHICH HE LATER SHOWED ME. HE ALSO STATED THAT ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WERE DOING THIS. NEXT I WENT TO THE APPT. AND THE RM AND SERVICE MANAGER WENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND I WAS TOLD TO WAIT IN THE SITTING AREA. THEY CAME BACK IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES LATER AND THE RM TOLD ME THAT IT WAS DUE TO ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONS AND IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *NM

THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED; ROTORS RESURFACED; AND STEERING KNUCKLE WERE ALL REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CUSTOMER ALSO STATED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS NOISY. A/C COMPRESSOR AND COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. BUT NOT PROBLEM WAS FOUND BY THE DEALER. *TT

DRIVER REPLACED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE . THREE STUDS BROKE WHILE CHECKING THE WHEEL DUE TO CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

DOORS DO NOT ALWAYS CLOSE WITH SAFETY LATCH UPON ENTERING OR EXITING. "NORMAL" SWING IS APPLIED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. HAVE FOUND DOOR COMPLETELY ABLE TO BE OPENED, EVEN THOUGH I HAD LOCKED VEHICLE WITH REMOTE.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA AND FOUND A WATER LEAK ON MY FLOOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY TIME I TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE CAR WASH. IT SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH; MAYBE THE FRONT WINDOW. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO TOYOTA BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO FIND THE LEAK WITH THEIR WATER HOSE THE LEAK COULD NOT BE FOUND. I HAVE NOTICED THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA ON JUNE 4, 2003, AND PAID CASH IN FULL. THE AIR CONDITIONING (A/C) IN THE TRUCK WENT OUT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO COVINGTON PIKE THREE SEPARATE TIMES FOR REPAIRS, AND EACH TIME THEY FAILED TO REPAIR THE A/C. I INFORMED THE MANAGER ON DUTY THAT I WOULD BE GOING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND WOULD NEED A LOANER TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER THAT HE COULD NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY. I HAVE RECENTLY BEGAN NEW EMPLOYMENT AND, HAVING TO LEAVE WORK DUE TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF COVINGTON PIKE TOYOTA HAS LEFT A BAD IMPRESSION WITH MY NEW EMPLOYER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SPLASHED WATER FROM THE FRONT TIRES OVER THE HOOD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE VISIBILITY. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER SHOULD SPLASH TO THE SIDE OF VEHICLE NOT OVER THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

THE FRONT SEATS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 XTRACAB ROCK ON THEIR TRACKS WHEN I DRIVE ON ROUGH SURFACES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY NEAREST DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD APPLY A SHIM IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE NOISE PROBLEM. HOWEVER THE SHIMS WERE ALREADY INSTALLED DURING MANUFACTURING, SO THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

WELL, I HAVE OWNED MY TOYOTA TACOMA 03' SINCE IT WAS NEW AND WAS AWARE OF SOME UNUSUAL PATTERNS OF INCREASED ENGINE REVVING FOR YEARS. I TOLD MY MECHANIC SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HE REALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS ACTING THAT WAY. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS PHENOMENON WAS WHEN I LEFT THE VEHICLE IDLING WHILE I WENT INTO A GAS STATION CONVENIENCE STORE AND WAS ALERTED OF THE IDLING TO BE HIGHER THAN WHEN I WENT IN THE STORE. I WAS STARTLED BECAUSE IT WAS REVVING ON ITS OWN, HIGHER AND HIGHER UNTIL IT LEVELED OFF AT A BIT HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND FINALLY TO AVERAGE IDLING. IT WAS CREEPY. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MOSTLY WHEN I WOULD LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. ONLY 1 INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT I WAS IDLING IN PARK AND IT BEGAN TO IDLE HIGHER BUT NOT AS I SHOULD NOTICE ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE THE REVVING INCREASED AND I SHUTTLED AHEAD TOWARDS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY TRUCK WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF MINE THE ENGINE SLOWED AGAIN. I WAS EXTREMELY TERRIFIED AT THAT MOMENT. NOTHING STRANGE OCCURRED THAT DAY AFTER THAT. I QUESTIONED IF I HAD PRESSED THE GAS OR IF MAYBE SOMETHING, SOMEHOW, I MIGHT HAVE OVER LOOKED, BUT I DECIDED THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A STRANGE STICKING GOING ON IN THE ENGINE. I ALSO CONSIDERED IF IT WAS THE GAS PEDDLE PERHAPS, BUT I RULED THAT OUT AS, IT WOULD REV MOSTLY ON IDLES ON ITS OWN. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG VIBRATION WHEN MOTOR IS RUNNING. RETURNED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD RATTLE IN DASH BOARD. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPORTED THAT A MAJORITY OF THE CLIPS HOLDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN PLACE WERE NOT THERE. DEALER ORDERED REPLACEMENT CLIPS AND DASHBOARD BOLTS AND REPAIR WAS MADE. IN OCTOBER 2003 RATTLE RETURNED AND A BOLT APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE. MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE HAD HIT THE DASHBOARD TO LOOSEN BOLTS, NOT THE CASE, YET NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR TIGHTEN EQUIPMENT WAS MADE. *NM

PICK-UP ROLL OVER AT 30MPH DUE TO UNKNOWN REASON. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WATER IS ON FLOORBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK

PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 TRD P/U. THE TRUCK SWAYS AND PITCHES EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE FRAME. THE STEERING RACK BRACKET WAS WELDED AT AN ANGLE. TOYOTA CORPORATION SAYS THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WON'T EVEN LET ME TAKE IT OFF THE LOT. THE PROPOSED FIX IS TO REBUILD THE TRUCK ON A NEW FRAME. *NLM

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA REGULAR CAB (2 DOOR) PICKUP TRUCK THAT I PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2002. WATER LEAKS INTO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE SEALPLATE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS OCCURS WHEN WASHING THE TRUCK OR DURING RAIN STORMS, ETC. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN MARCH 2003. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND IT STILL LEAKS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED.*AK

MY TRUCK HAD A RECALL THAT EXPIRED OCT 2017 BUT I DIDN'T FIND OUT ABOUT IT TILL RECENT WHILE DOING SOME REPAIRS THE FRAME FROM THE CAB BACK IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY TO THE POINT THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO NOW I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS IN EXCEPTIONAL SHAPE BUT CANT FIX OR SELL I THINK THAT A DEADLINE ON SAFETY IS WRONG AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WHAT THE TRUCK IS WORTH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AXLE, POWER STEERING LINES AND OIL PAN WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CORROSION WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT CAUSED A FRACTURE ON THE POWER STEERING LINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRAME AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

INFO COPY LTR FWD TO TOYOTA REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL, CUSTOMER DISSATISFIED W/QUALITY OF CURRENT TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TS **REFERENCE 10140998*** THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE FRONT END PROBLEM AFTER BEING FIXED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER WHICH MADE IT HARD TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES HAD DELAYED ACTION, IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO RESPOND TO TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB