"How reliable is the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?"

"Based on 479 NHTSA complaints, the 2003 Toyota Tacoma has a median complaint mileage of 113300 miles. The most common issue is STRUCTURE:BODY."

"What are common problems with the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma is STRUCTURE:BODY, accounting for a significant portion of the 479 total complaints filed."

2003 Toyota Tacoma: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 479 complaints

479

Total Complaints

113,300mi

Median Mileage

STRUCTURE:BODY

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

61,507 25th Percentile

113,300 Median Mileage

158,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STRUCTURE:BODY

114

SUSPENSION

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

AIR BAGS

STRUCTURE

TIRES

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 WO..."

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

"ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO DRIVER ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE SHIFTER AND IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING THE LOCK. CONSUMER CONSIDERS THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, WHO STATED THIS IS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28