Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota Tacoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION EXPLODED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FLEW UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE LINE SNAPPED. THE VEHICLE MOVED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,661.
THE REAR BRAKE LINES THAT CONNECT OVER THE REAR AXLE RUSTED INTO AND CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN INTO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR TO THE BRAKES THE SERVICE CENTER REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT IF PUT ON A LIFT THE FRAME WOULD FALL APART AND THE TRUCK WOULD BREAK IN HALF. THE SERVICE CENTER DETERMINED ALSO THE TRUCK WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SERVICE RECORDS AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE ON FILE WHERE THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION OF THE FRAME AND REPORTED THE TRUCK DID NOT HAVE A RUST ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTERS I RECEIVED AND HEEDED THE WARNING TO HAVE THE TRUCK INSPECTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT DISPENSED THE BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME AND BRAKE POSITIONING VALVE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM RELATED TO THE FRAME, WHICH EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE STOPED SPINNING FORCING THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE LEFT TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
SO IN DECEMBER I TOOK MY TACOMA TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REGULAR FRAME INSPECTION AFTER LEARNING UPON THE ISSUE. THE TRUCK IS IN ALMOST PERFECT CONDITION, SPOTLESS INSIDE AND OUT. THE FRAME FAILED INSPECTION, AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. FIRST OFF, A SERVICE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO SEND ME OFF TO A FRIEND OF HIS WHO COULD "PATCH" UP THE FRAME SO THAT IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION (GREAT IDEA, RIGHT?). TOYOTA HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A RENTAL, BUT THE ONLY RENTAL THEY WOULD GIVE ME IS A COROLLA. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND BOUGHT THE TRUCK SO THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE ROUGH WINTER WEATHER. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO CALL OUT OF WORK AS A RESULT OF BEING UNABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE SNOW. I AM LOOKING AT A DATE OF MID MARCH AT THE EARLIEST (MOST LIKELY LONGER) UNTIL I AM ABLE TO HAVE MY TRUCK BACK, DEPLETING THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF ME HAVING A TRUCK. I HAVE TRIED GETTING TOYOTA TO BUY THE TRUCK BACK. I LOVE MY TRUCK, AND I PLAN ON CONTINUING TO DRIVE TOYOTA DUE TO THE WELL-KNOWN RELIABILITY OF THESE VEHICLES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A SORT OF BAD LUCK INCIDENT, BUT CONSIDERING THAT RUST SPREADS, I ALREADY KNOW THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE VEHICLE TO COMBAT THE RUST CORROSION THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN DUE TO A FAULTY FRAME. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ALREADY OCCURRING, CONSIDERING THAT IT IS NOT JUST THE FRAME THAT IS CORRODED, BUT ALSO THE BRAKE LINES. I AM NOT LOOKING IN ANY WAY TO CHEAT TOYOTA, I AM JUST ATTEMPTING TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE, AND I WORRY THAT SINCE THIS CORROSION HAS ALREADY STARTED, REPLACING THE FRAME IS ONLY PUTTING OFF THE ISSUE UNTIL IT BECOMES NOTICEABLE ON THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. IF ANYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY HAVE TOYOTA BUY BACK A 2001-2004 MODEL TACOMA, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW THEY ACCOMPLISHED THIS.
THE BACK BRAKES ON MY TACOMA FROZE UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. I COULD OF BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT. THE BRAKES FROZE UP CAUSING THE SKID AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED. THERE WAS A NEW FRAME PUT ON UNDER A RECALL ALONG WITH THE CABLE LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF A POSSIBLE DEFECT CAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE HURT BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED BACK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE EMISSIONS INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE UNDERBODY, SHIELDS, WELDING, LOWER FRAME, UPPER FRAME AND THE SUB-FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THAT THE PLATE BY THE BRAKES WAS RUSTED. THE TECHNICIAN WELDED THE FRAMES AS AN INTERIM FIX AND SUGGESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDED TO REMOVE THE CORRODED FRAMES AND COMPONENTS AND REBUILD THE FRAME OR IT MAY POTENTIALLY FRACTURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND ADJUSTMENTS HAD TO BE MADE IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,600.
COMING TO A STOP APPROX 2 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED VERY LOUDLY AND THE TRUCK SHOW FORWARD. THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE TRUCK. I SWERVED TO AVOID THE CAMPSITE WE WERE AT AND HIT A TREE VERY HARD. THE ENGINE HOWEVER CONTINUED TO REV LOUDLY AND I SHIFTED TO PARK. WITH THE ENGINE STILL VERY LOUD AND THE WHEELS SPINNING I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE BY REMOVING THE KEY. *TR
I BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN DECEMBER 2011 WITH 81,841 MILES ON IT. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM TENNESSEE TO OREGON A LEAK IN THE OIL PAN APPEARED. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTING. THE LEAK WAS FROM THE OIL PAN THAT WAS CORRECTED BADLY. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT FROM THERE TO MY HOME IN OREGON HAVING TO ADD ABOUT ONE QUART OF OIL. THE DISTANCE WAS ABOUT 700 MILES. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND HE INFORMED ME THAT I HAD MAJOR RUST PROBLEMS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE GAS TANK SHIELD IS GONE DUE TO RUST. THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WAS SO RUSTY THEY COULDN,T GET SOME OF THE BOLTS OUT. THEY HAD TO REMOVE SOME OF THE FRONT END SUSPENSION TO REPLACE THE OIL PAN. BOTH FRONT BACKING PLATES FOR THE ROTORS WHERE RUSTED AWAY. NO ALIGNMENT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE OF THE RUST. I HAD THE FRONT END REPLACE WITH GOOD USED PARTS AND WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO ALIGN THE VEHICLE THE FRONT TIE ROD BROKE DUE TO RUST. THE WHOLE FRAME ASSEMBLY IS VERY RUSTY. I FIND OUT NOW THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF FRAME WHICH I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. THIS VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN TENNESSEE IN DECEMBER OF 2011. THEY NEVER SAID A WORD TO ME ABOUT THE RUST PROBLEM. THEY DID A OIL CHANGE AND THEY ALSO REPLACED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE SO THEY HAD TO BE AWARE OF THE RUST PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE A FIND OUT CAME FROM NEW YORK ORIGINALLY. THEY SAY THEY WILL HELP OUT WITH REPAIR COSTS SO FAR BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FRAME RUST. THIS DEALERSHIP WITHHELD VITAL INFORMATION FROM ME. TOYOTA OF AMERICA SAYS THE FRAME RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY AND HAS EXPIRED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA AND THE PARKING BRAKE REMAINS ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOYOTA TO FIX. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME FAULTY ITEM. ONE FAULTY PARKING BRAKE IS ONE TOO MANY. ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPMENT WITH A FUNCTIONING PARKING BRAKE. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK WITH 26,560 MILES. THERE IS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE IN THE PARKING BRAKE (PREVIOUSLY CALLED EMERGENCY BRAKE). APPARENTLY, THE PARKING BRAKE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT IT "FREEZES UP" GIVING AN INDICATION ON THE DASH WITH THE "BRAKE LIGHT" ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED AND THEREBY GIVES A FALSE READING THAT THE BRAKE IS ENGAGED. HOWEVER, AS A REAL PROBLEM OCCURS THE DRIVERS ARE LULLED INTO A FALSE SECURITY THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT A WARNING BRAKE LIGHT IS LIT. WHEN A REAL PROBLEM OCCURS WITH THE BRAKES, INCLUDING THE ORDINARY BRAKE SYSTEM, THERE CAN BE A MORE SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM SUCH AS CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE SHOES TO LOCK ONTO THE REAR DRUMS. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED ON THIS PROBLEM AT HTTP://WWW.EHOW.COM/WAY_5649717_TACOMA-EMERGENCY-BRAKE-PROBLEMS.HTML TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THEIR 2005 AND 2006 TACOMA TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT ANY EARLIER MODELS. THE DEALERS INDICATE THAT IT CAN BE REPAIRED AT A COST OF $442.12. SINCE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN INVOLVE SAFETY AND BECAUSE TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND INDEED HAS RECALLED CERTAIN MODEL YEARS FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM I BELIEVE A RECALL FOR ALL TACOMA TRUCKS SHOULD BE MADE WITH THE COMPANY FIXING THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THUS FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INJURY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA PARKING BRAKE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*MR WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE BRAKE DID NOT COMPLETELY DISENGAGE AND COULD BE HEARD DRAGGING UNTIL IT KICKED OFF. OCCASIONALLY IT REFUSED TO RELEASE AND REQUIRED RE-APPLICATION BEFORE FINALLY RELEASING. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED, IT DID NOT ALWAYS HOLD THE VEHICLE EVEN ON A MODEST SLOPE SUCH AS THE CONSUMERS DRIVEWAY. *JB *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED. ALSO, THE PIN FROZE CAUSING THE CABLE TO SNAP WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE PINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND THE NEW PINS WOULD CONTINUE TO FREEZE AGAIN AND WOULD CONTINUOUSLY NEED TO BE REPLACED.
2003 TOYOTA TACOMA WOULD NOT STEER SAFELY. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW TIRES DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES. *KB THE TOYOTA DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE RIGHT AND LEFT BALL JOINT USELESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON IN THE WINTER. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT STAYS ON UNTIL THE TRUCK WARMS UP; THEN GOES OUT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO TOYOTA AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERIODICALLY COMING UP AND STAYING ON A COUPLE OF MINUTES IN THE WARM WEATHER. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY AGAIN COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *JB
THE CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT BRAKES WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED; ROTORS RESURFACED; AND STEERING KNUCKLE WERE ALL REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CUSTOMER ALSO STATED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS NOISY. A/C COMPRESSOR AND COMPRESSOR CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. BUT NOT PROBLEM WAS FOUND BY THE DEALER. *TT
WHILE BRAKING 70 MPH BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE STALLED , AND THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS VIBRATION IF CONSUMER'S FOOT IS ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. DRIVER MUST PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN A SECOND OR THIRD TIME TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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