Representative model. Photo: DestinationFearFan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2003 Toyota Tacoma recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2003 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 5
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 372
Latest campaign: Nov 23, 2012

Recall summary by component5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Exterior lighting	2	Jul 17, 2006	06E065000 06E026000
Tires	1	Nov 23, 2012	12V542000
Suspension	1	May 17, 2005	05V225000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	May 19, 2003	03V189000

Safety recalls5

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Nov 23, 2012Latest campaign


Nov 23, 201212V542000	Tires: temporary/emergency spare tire Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. DetailsHide details for campaign 12V542000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 12V542000 · Nov 23, 2012
Jul 17, 200606E065000	Exterior lighting LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DetailsHide details for campaign 06E065000 What's wrong CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. Risk LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Remedy AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026. Campaign NHTSA 06E065000 · Jul 17, 2006
Mar 23, 200606E026000	Exterior lighting WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. DetailsHide details for campaign 06E026000 What's wrong CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. Risk WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Remedy PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988. Campaign NHTSA 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006
May 17, 200505V225000	Suspension: front control arm THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. DetailsHide details for campaign 05V225000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 05V225000 · May 17, 2005
May 19, 200303V189000	Fuel system, gasoline: delivery hoses, lines/piping, and fittings THIS DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. DetailsHide details for campaign 03V189000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 03V189000 · May 19, 2003

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component372

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

372Complaints filed

31Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

22Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Structure	182	49	5	0	4
Suspension	66	18	7	0	4
Vehicle speed control	29	8	6	0	2
Air bags	28	8	19	0	17
Unknown or other	26	7	0	0	0
Power train	22	6	0	0	0
Tires	21	6	1	0	1
Service brakes	16	4	2	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	16	4	0	0	0
Fuel system	14	4	0	0	0
Gasoline	13	3	0	0	0
Steering	12	3	4	0	2
Electrical system	11	3	0	1	0
Fuel/propulsion system	8	2	0	0	0
Wheels	6	2	1	0	1

12 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Air bags
“I was traveling on highway 12 at 60 mph when the seat belts exploded and cinched up tight to child safety lock mode. There was an odor of burning wires/electrical.”
Filed 10/06/2026 · ODI 11769471
Steering
“I took my 2003 Toyota Tacoma and for a tire alignment and was told by an employee of the tire shop that my rack and pinion needed to be replaced and lower ball joints.”
Filed 02/22/2026 · ODI 11719764
Wheels
“Many things are happening to my truck that’s why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much”
Filed 02/01/2026 · ODI 11714805

Other Toyota Tacoma model years

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2003 Toyota Tacoma recall questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma have?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The most recent, 12V542000 (reported November 23, 2012), concerns tires. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2003 Toyota Tacoma recalls for?

The largest group is exterior lighting, with 2 campaigns. Others: tires (1), suspension (1), fuel system, gasoline (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?

Structure is the most-reported component, named in 182 complaints out of 372 filed with NHTSA (49%). Across all complaints, owners reported 31 crashs and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2003 Toyota Tacoma?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Toyota recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Toyota dealer.

Check a specific Toyota by VIN

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