There are 11 owner-reported tires & wheels complaints for the 2003 Toyota Tacomain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED AS THE SPARE TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES) AND STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
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
NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO EVENT. TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. CATASTROPHIC SIDEWALL FAILURE OF FRONT TIRE AT 65 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAY. TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED. ONE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY MISSING. TIRE RETAINED AS EVIDENCE BUT REPLACED AT OWNER EXPENSE. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND AND END UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR TIRE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WENT FLAT. THE TREAD FOR THE TWO FRONT TIRES IS SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALL. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO URGED THE CONTACT TO SENT TO THEM THE TIRES. HE HAS NOT YET SENT THE TIRES TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
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.
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
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.
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
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
DRIVER REPLACED FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE . THREE STUDS BROKE WHILE CHECKING THE WHEEL DUE TO CORROSION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEM. ALL 5 TIRES SPLIT ON THE SIDEWALL. FIRESTONE SENT AN INSPECTOR, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK THE SECOND SET OF TIRES HAD THREE TIRES WITH SPLITS IN THE SAME AREA. THE FIRESTONE INSPECTOR SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO ROCKS OR SOME SORT OF PROBLEM CUTTING THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD NEVER DRIVEN THE VEHICLE OFF OF PAVED ROADS. ALL EIGHT TIRES HAD SPLITS IN THE SAME AREA. *SC
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026