Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Spare Tire Carrier may Fail
- Summary
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.
- Consequence
- Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
BALL JOINT FAILURE
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.
- Consequence
- THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
TOYOTA/FUEL LEAKAGE
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, DURING SIDE IMPACT NCAP TEST (I.E. LINCAP TEST), A FLANGE AT THE REAR END OF THE DOUBLE CAB BODY DEFORMED AND INTERFERED WITH THE FUEL INLET HOSE THAT CONNECTS THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL INLET HOSE.
- Consequence
- THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL HOSE PROTECTOR ON THE BODY FLANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (359)
359 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The structure is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 359 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 181 | 50.4% |
| Suspension | 66 | 18.4% |
| Air bags | 27 | 7.5% |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 7.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 26 | 7.2% |
| Tires | 21 | 5.8% |
| Power train | 18 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 4.2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system | 14 | 3.9% |
How 2003 compares with other Tacoma years
Best and worst Tacoma years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 249 | 0 |
| 2000 | 210 | 0 |
| 2001 | 396 | 4 |
| 2002 | 333 | 3 |
| 2003 | 359 | 3 |
| 2004 | 414 | 3 |
| 2005 | 707 | 10 |
| 2006 | 782 | 11 |
| 2007 | 541 | 10 |
| 2008 | 446 | 11 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,050
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 404 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 23 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 22 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 / 20 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 19 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 2.7 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2003 Tacoma for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2003 Toyota Tacoma FAQ
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 12V542000 (tire), 05V225000 (suspension), 03V189000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2003 Toyota Tacoma problems?
Owners filed 359 complaints with NHTSA. Structure (181), Suspension (66), Air bags (27) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 20 city, 25 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2003 Tacoma compare with other years?
Among the 1999–2008 Toyota Tacoma model years at least five years old, the 2000 drew the fewest complaints (210) and the 2006 the most (782). The 2003 drew 359. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.