2003 Toyota Tundra Suspension Problems

The frame was undercoated incorrectly and is actively falling apart. Super unsafe to drive. Very clearly was not undercoated correctly as there is areas in the frame that have no signs of undercoating. This is putting the driver of the vehicle at risk as well as the other drivers on the road. This is a huge recall that was issued for this model of year truck. Very common. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer as they refused to inspect it or even acknowledge the issue. There is no warning lamps on but it is visibly unsafe to drive

NHTSA ID

11721706

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

The frame was not professionally undercoated and is actively falling apart. Super unsafe to drive.

NHTSA ID

11721589

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

I need to have rear shock replaced. They found that the bracket holder rusted thru . Shock was fine . The Rear frame corrosion and separation, spare tire frame corrosion is really bad. I have had this truck since 2004 . I absolutely love my truck. I am deeply saddened that all the care I took still didn’t prevent all this damage .

NHTSA ID

11687870

Incident

May 24, 2025

Frame rusted out causing gas tank to fall off truck while driving. Was sparking while trying to pull of to a safe spot on highway, tank was hanging on by the fuel line. Leaf spring also broke on truck do to rust. Cars were avoiding my truck on highway as sparks were coming from the gas tank shield scrapping the highway. Frame should have been replaced along with gas lines, and leaf springs during the recall in 2012 range. Toyota of York decided to just undercoat spray frame, prior to me purchasing truck from them. They never notified me (the consumer) of the recall that was current on truck.

NHTSA ID

11662394

Incident

May 15, 2025

The frame has failed by rusting through and continues to the brake line. It is available for inspection. The truck is no longer safe to drive due to the rust and brake issues. The truck frame could have failed in traffic causing harm to myself and other drivers. The problem has been confirmed by Yingling’s in Topeka, KS, Lewis Toyota in Topeka and Crown Toyota in Lawrence, KS. They have all done inspections of the truck frame. The problem first appeared when it was taken to Yinglings in 2018 to replace the muffler.

NHTSA ID

11608880

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

rear leaf spring mount separated from the frame due to complete rust -through of the frame. felt a "thump" during normal acceleration.

NHTSA ID

11537555

Incident

Aug 9, 2023

The frame on this truck is completely rusted. There are several holes and cracks in the frame. You can pull chunks of the rusted frame off with your fingers. It is unsafe to drive and is a hazard to other drivers There are many photos online of this model of truck that have broken in half when the frame has failed. There are stories of people who are driving this vehicle and it breaks in half while on the highway causing injury. I took it to our local mechanic in June who said this truck is unsafe. I contacted the Iowa Attorney General's office and made a complaint. They put me in contact with Toyota's corporate office who referred me to their Brand Experience Center. They said it had to be evaluated by a Toyota dealer. I took it to the original dealer who sold this vehicle - Wilson Toyota in Ames Iowa- on September 27, 2022. Their service center says the frame needs replaced. They said they would not pay for any repairs. They said this truck had two safety recalls to replace the frame but they said they expired in 2012. I spoke to Toyota's Brand Experience Center again on the 27th and was told that my truck did not have any rust on it when it was taken in for the recall. Nothing was done to this vehicle when it was taken in for the recall repairs. There are many posts on Toyota forums that describe the same thing happening to other owners of this truck. - They are unaware of this condition of their truck frames until they bring it in to a reputable mechanic. The attached photos of this truck show the upper body is in good shape. But the frame is falling apart.

NHTSA ID

11487052

Incident

Jun 23, 2022

My mechanic says the frame on our 2003 Toyota Tundra is rusted to the point that the pickup is unsafe to drive and is about to break in half. I have contacted two local Toyota dealers with no response. This vehicle had a recall to fix the issue but it appears the was a time frame placed on when Toyota would repair the frame. This truck is unsafe to drive and it makes me wonder how many of these vehicles are still on the road endangering the public

NHTSA ID

11480056

Incident

Jun 21, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed several times but failed to respond and went all the way to the floorboard. The contact's son intentionally hit a curb and downshifted in order to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe was severely corroded and an unknown axle was leaking and causing the brake failure. Additionally, the independent mechanic diagnosed that the gas tank was detaching from the vehicle due to the frame corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

NHTSA ID

11478825

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

Mileage

146,000 mi

I purchased my 2003 Toyota Tundra limited V8 about 7 months ago. Unbeknownst to me there had once been a recall because of the frame rusting out prematurely. So after further investigation I found my frame is dangerously rusted to the point of extreme safety concerns. I have been in contact with Toyotas head corders and was told there's nothing they can do because apparently I missed the recall time. But I bought the truck after the recall was time was over. In either case Toyota should absolutely be responsible for this no matter the time frame because of there admittance that these truck frames were rotting out prematurely. Please help before there is a crash, Fire and Fatality

NHTSA ID

11462525

Incident

Apr 27, 2022

The frame on my tundra has rusted out so bad that the engine mounts are rusted through, my truck only has 86k miles please help this is our daily driver to get to work and take the kids to school

NHTSA ID

11440362

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

I was turning down a residential street and when I was getting up to speed. About 30 miles per hour. My truck jumped up a couple times like I hit a pit hole. I got out to inspect and see what I hit but the street was freshly paved 2 years before it was smooth as butter. I look at the truck and find out my passenger tire had fallen off. Upon further inspection I see my ball joints failed and try tire came off. It snapped the cv axle in half ripped and the brake line and abs module off and broke the frame bracket for the rack and pinon. As a result my insurance totaled my vehicle out.

NHTSA ID

11437054

Incident

Sep 13, 2021

MY TUNDRA 2003 SR5 ACCESSCAB 4X4 TRD. IT HAS RUSTED SO BAD THE LAST 5 YRS. IT WILL NO LONGER PASS HAWAII SAFETY INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SINCE ABOUT 2007. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RUNNING TRUCK. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. NEW BRAKES. BUT THE RUST HAS RUINED THE FRAME, TAILGATE AND BACK OF BED! HAVE NOT DRIVEN FOR A YEAR!

NHTSA ID

11404397

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

FROM 2001-2003 IS A FRAME RECALL ON THESE TUNDRA'S DUE TO MASSIVE RUST ISSUE. I WENT INTO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HERE IN NORFOLK, VA, AND THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND SAYING I "MISSED THE WINDOW" FOR THIS ISSUE. THEN I CALLED CORPORTATE AND THEY GAVE ME A DIFFERENT REASON, SAYING THEY "APPLIED" ANTI-RUST SPRAY" IN 2016. WHICH IS NOT A THING. CLEARLY IT DID NOT WORK BECAUSE THERE ARE MASSIVE HOLES IN MY FRAME. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO OWN UP AND DO MY RECALL WHEN SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW HAVE THE EXACT SAME TRUCK AND GOT THEIRS DONE. I AM ACTIVE DUTY AS WELL, AND IT FRUSTRATES ME THAT THEY WOULD TREAT A VETERAN LIKE THIS. I BROUGHT UP MY SPARE TIRE LATCH BEING VERY RUSTED UNDERNEATH, WHICH THERE IS ALSO A RE-CALL FOR. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. 3 WEEKS LATER MY SPARE TIRE FLEW OFF FROM MY TRUCK, THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS INJURED.

NHTSA ID

11403602

Incident

Aug 14, 2020

Mileage

195,000 mi

THE FRAME IS PREMATURELY SEVERELY ROTTEN AND CRUMBLING. THIS IS A MASSIVE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO EVERY TUNDRA OWNERS ATTENTION. I HAVE HAD IT SPRAYED, BUT WAS ONLY DONE FOR THE BACK CROSSMEMBER BY TOYOTA. THE OTHER HALF IS READY FOR A CATASTROPHE IN DUE TIME. THERE MAY BE OTHERS IN MY SITUATION AND NO WAY IS A FRAME SUPPOSED TO CRUMBLE WITHOUT SITTING IN CONSTANT SALT. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP THE OTHER OWNERS AND MAKE THEM AWARE IF THEY HAVEN'T YET. THE FRAME WILL BUCKLE WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE HARM TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. MINE HAS PIECES AS BIG AS 12 BY 8 COME OFF. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP I HAVE WENT TO TOLD ME TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT SINCE THE RECALL HAS LAPSED.

NHTSA ID

11366253

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

Mileage

112,000 mi

TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE FRAME AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. RECOMMENDED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT. AS THE FRAME WAS RUST AND HAD MULTIPLE RUST PERFORATIONS IN THE FRONT HALF OF THE FRAME

NHTSA ID

11365179

Incident

Oct 7, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

FRAME IS SEVERELY ROTTEN

NHTSA ID

11342552

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY 2003 TUNDRA FRAME IS RUSTED AND CRACKING. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN (LSC) A0F.

NHTSA ID

11338038

Incident

Jul 2, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE WHOLE CHASSIS FRAME FOR MY TRUCK IS SIGNIFICANTLY AND DANGEROUSLY RUSTED AND IT IS BREAKING APART WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME, MY FAMILY, AND OTHER DRIVERS. THIS ALSO HAS LEAD TO MY BREAKS LINES FAILING DUE TO RUST WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ME NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP ON A RED LIGHT. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO THE CHASSIS FRAME AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE CHASSIS FRAME THAT WERE WELDED FROM FACTORY HAVE BROKEN OFF. IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CHASSIS FRAME PIECES HAVE STARTED TO FALL OFF AND THERE ARE HOLES THROUGH THE CHASSIS FRAME WHERE THERE SHOULD NOT BE HOLES. PARTS THAT SHOULD BE SOLID STEEL HAVE HOLES THROUGH IT. THE RUST IS SO BAD ON THE CHASSIS FRAME THAT IT HAS RUSTED OUT THE FUEL LINES AS WELL JUST LIKE IT DID THE BRAKE LINES. SECTIONS WHERE THE ENGINE MOUNTS GO IN THE CHASSIS ARE ALSO HEAVILY DAMAGE DUE TO RUST. THE RUST IS SO BAD I HAVE STEP THROUGH PARTS OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK WHEN STANDING ON IT. THERE ARE ALSO HOLES ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK WHERE YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE GROUND DUE TO THE RUST DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323509

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

Mileage

108,000 mi

TWO ITEMS HERE: FIRST I WENT TO CHANGE MY TIRE WITH MY SPARE AND IT WAS MISSING. THE TIRE SERVICE COMPANY SAID THE TIRE MUST HAVE FALLEN OFF SOMEWHERE AS THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE WAS RUSTED OFF. 2ND, I HAD MY TUNDRA PUT UP ON A LIFT TO SEE WHAT THE BANGING SOUND WAS. ONE OF THE SHOCK'S CONNECTIONS WAS RUSTED OFF AND JUST HANGING. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE WHOLE FRAME AND CRANKCASE ON THE REAR DRIVE AREA LOOKED LIKE "BARK ON A TREE" AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION

NHTSA ID

11287922

Incident

Nov 30, 2019

Mileage

425,120 mi

FRAM EXCESSIVE RUST . "RECALL" , YET TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED , TREATED , THEN DENIED THE RECALL REPLACEMENT .KINDLY ADVISE .

NHTSA ID

11243545

Incident

Jul 7, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TAKARA INFLATORS AND DRIVING DOWN A VERY BUSY STREET AND HAD A DRIVER FLASHING HIS LIGHTS AT ME. I PULLED OVER TO FIND OUT THAT MY SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK HAD FALLEN OFF AND BOUNCED INTO A BUILDING. I GO BACK TO GET IT AND NOTICE THAT IT HAD RUSTED AND FELL OFF. I'VE BEEN HAVING BALL JOINT ISSUES AND NOW MY RACK AND PINION HAS STARTED TO LEAK BECAUSE OF RUST. I'VE LEARNED ABOUT A RECALL ON MY FRAME HAS BEEN ISSUED. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID MY TRUCK HAD BEEN LOOKED AT AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. I'VE GOT THE SPARE TIRE AND THE RUSTED BRACKET. I'M REALLY SCARED TO EVEN DRIVE IT,AND AIR BAG THEY WANT TO REPLACE IT BUT TO SCARED TO DRIVE IT

NHTSA ID

11221799

Incident

Oct 2, 2018

Mileage

143,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA FRONT END MAKING A SEVERE GRINDING, SQUEAKING, AND KNOCKING NOISE. THE CV AXLE BOOTS ARE DESTROYED AND SEEMS LIKE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUB IS GOING OUT QUICKLY AS WELL. ALSO HAVE TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE AND NOISE WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11189746

Incident

Mar 16, 2019

Mileage

86,670 mi

THE FRAME BY THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL IS ALMOST BROKEN IN HALF...IT HAS A 2 FOOT LONG SECTION MISSING...OTHER STEERING COMPONENT AFFECTED STABLIZER BAR ALMOST RUSTED IN HALF..BRACKET AND BUSHING ALMOST NONEXISTENT...THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER FOR ME,MY WIFE AND MY 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER...I FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY SHOULD IT COMPLETELY LET LOOSE...I DRIVE VERY SLOW...I AM 59 YEARS OLD...PLZ HELP ME GET A NEW FRAMEFROM TOYOTA...THANX

NHTSA ID

11185443

Incident

Feb 24, 2015

Mileage

170,689 mi

THERE WERE 2 ISSUES WITH THE FRAME ON THE 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT WERE ADDRESSED ON MY SON'S TRUCK WHEN THEY WERE ISSUED. NOW, THE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND POSSIBLY A HAZARD TO DRIVE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE FRAME BUT, PULLED UP INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA AND TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND AS I SEE OTHERS ONLINE TO THIS DAY GETTING FRAMES REPLACED. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE WHO CLAIMS THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE AS THE FRAME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THIS IS REALLY A POOR WAY TO TREAT CUSTOMERS THAT PAY VERY HEAVILY FOR THESE TRUCKS AND EXPECT THEM TO LAST. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ORIGINALLY IN NY AND EVENTUALLY PA WHICH ARE THE COLD WEATHER STATES THAT WERE INVOLVED. THE COATING PLACED ON THE TRUCK DID NOTHING AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL AS THERE IS NOTHING THAT SHOWS IT WAS EVER THERE. I HAVE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS, VIDEOS, ETC THAT I WAS UNABLE TO UPLOAD.

NHTSA ID

11165986

Incident

Jan 4, 2019

Mileage

119,000 mi