128 complaints reported

2003 Toyota Tacoma Structure

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
128
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Feb 2025

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 was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 260,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2025
Oct 2024

The frame rusted through and there are holes in the frame The frame broke while my wife was driving home from work. Had to get it towed to the house No No No, no symptoms

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2024
Feb 2024

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)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2004
Jan 2024

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 the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 345,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2024
Jul 2023

We bought the truck used from a dealer about 10 -12 years ago. We've always taken good care of it, and kept it in a garage. It always passed inspection with no problems, and there is nothing wrong with the truck, except at the last inspection about 2 weeks ago the mechanic said the frame has completed rusted through and the truck is not safe to drive. We can't get it fixed. I called Toyota and they said since it was no longer under warranty, too bad. They did "open a case" for us and I'm supposed to hear back from them next week, but I don't have much hope that they will do anything. The truck only has about 90,000 miles on it, despite being 20 years old. It is in good shape in every other way.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2023
Feb 2023

This truck was sprayed for frame rust at Kern Toyota Winchester, Va 10/07/2010 a problem Toyota was very aware of and tried to put a band-aid on a known issue that would rust out and not pass inspection or worse yet cause a terrible accident or cause harm to driver/passengers or other drivers. We have had another vehicle in the family by Toyota that they replaced the entire frame and now they state that is not true. However, we had a rental for over a month while they did replace entire frame for same issue. Now our above truck that is in wonderful shape nothing else wrong but frame that is rusted did not pass inspection requiring parts that need welded. So we have a good truck that only thing wrong is the issue Toyota knew they used faulty equipment/parts for.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2023
Aug 2022

frame. We did have the frame checked a few times since we were made aware of the issue with rusted frames. Terrible noise. Technician says frame is being held to cap by two inches of rusted frame on both side just above rear wheel. Our repair person says of there was a recall, he can fix it. It thought there was a recall. He said otherwise the truck looks perfect. We are original owers. have kept truck in perfect condition. This is our second toyota truck and fourth toyota car. I can't imagine you would not authorize/pay for frame replacement, new/used. we are crushed. please advise if you can authorize/pay for repair/replacement. Our repair person advised we should not drive for fear of truck splitting in half.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2022
Oct 2021

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while changing the oil, he noticed that the undercarriage of the vehicle was rusted which resulted in the sub-frame being compromised. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2021
Aug 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,208.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jul 2021
Feb 2021

WHEN I WENT TO THE GARAGE FOR THE YEARLY INSPECTION, I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FRAME ON MY TACOMA WAS RUSTED SEVERELY WITH MAJOR HOLES AND COULD NOT BE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRAME FOR SUCH ISSUES AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THE DEALER WHO SOLD THE TRUCK. BEING AS THE DEALER WAS NO LONGER OPEN (RETIRED), I WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK TO HIM. II CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT AND THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I ASKED WHY I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS RECALL AS I WAS THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD THAT "EVERYONE THAT OWNED ONE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A NOTICE." I WROTE A LETTER TO THE TOYOTA COMPANY IN JANUARY 2020 AND DID NOT RECEIVE A REPLY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2019
Sep 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2019
Aug 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH WITH FIVE HOLES TO THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENNETT TOYOTA (1951 LEHIGH ST, ALLENTOWN, PA 18103), WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE FIVE HOLES IN THE SUBFRAME AND THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2020
Jun 2020

A LOT OF RUST ON THE FRAME AND RUST UNDERNEATH. CLEAN AND WELL TAKEN CARE BUT THE RUST STILL EXIST. I EVEN HAVE TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST BECAUSE IT FALL OFF DUE TO THE RUST. THE RUST UNDERNEATH ARE ALMOST EVERYWHERE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2019
Jan 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER BEING SERVICED AT A DEALER (CUMBERLAND TOYOTA 1540 INTERSTATE DR, COOKEVILLE, TN 38501 (931) 272-3719) WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME WAS DISCOVERED TO BE RUSTED OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BUT IT HAD EXPIRED BY 2018. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2019
Jan 2020

RUST, CORROSION, OR OTHER FAILURE OR DETACHMENT OF EXTERIOR BODY AND FRAME COMPONENTS, THE VEHICLE IS ROTTED UNDERNEATH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2018
Oct 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THERE WERE CRACKS AROUND THE SUB FRAME AND THE VEHICLE HAD AN UNSTABLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 210,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2019
Sep 2019

ON SEPTEMBER 14 2019, I TOOK MY TRUCK (2003 TOYOTA TACOMA) TO JERRY TOYOTA DEALER FOR A SERVICE. THEY FOUND A CRACK ON THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK, BUT THEY DIDN'T OFFER ANY REPAIR. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALLED FOR THE FRAME WAS EXPIRED ON 2018.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2019
Jun 2019

COMPLETE RUST WITH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE WAS A VOLUNITARY RECALL BY TOYOTA BUT I NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CAN BREAK IF HALF. THIS IS ALSO WHY THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SPARE TIE HOLDER. BUT CAN NOT GET THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER FIXED WHAT TO THEY FIX IT TO A RUSTED UNDERCARRIAGE. I HAVE CALLED AND COMPLAINTED IN THE PAST.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2015
Jun 2019

FRAME RUSTED RESULTING IN STRUCTURE FAILURE (AUTO BASICALLY BROKE IN HALF), CALL TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. SAID THE TRUCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPRAYED. BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A DEALERSHIP AND FEEL AS THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED INSPECTION AND SPRAY IF NECESSARY PRIOR TO SELLING AUTO.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2019
May 2019

FRAME IS RUSTY AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE PART MAY BREAK AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO ME OR ANY OTHER PERSON IN MY VEHICLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2018
May 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DARCARS LOCATED AT 15625 FREDERICK RD, ROCKVILLE, MD 20855 WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR FRAME CORROSION EXPIRED, AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Apr 2019
Apr 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND A HOLE ON THE SUBFRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED AND A 2 1/2 FOOT HOLE WAS PRESENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2018
Feb 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A NOISE EMERGED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED ON BOTH SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,733.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2019
Jan 2019

FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT CAUSED FRAME OF TRUCK TO SNAP IN HALF WHEN LIFTED WITH A HYDRAULIC LIFT AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2019
Jan 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUB FRAME EXPERIENCED EXTREME RUSTING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2019

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2003 Toyota Tacoma has 128 Structure complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.