Frame And Members problems of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of the NHTSA campaign number: 12v542000 (tires) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer declined to perform the recall repair due to rust on the subframe, and that the spare tire carrier needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 236,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side wheel had detached from the vehicle. The contact was able to navigate the vehicle to safety. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front driver’s side ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced and informed that the VIN was included in the NHTSA campaign number: 05v225000 (suspension). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where the vehicle remained and diagnosed that the rear frame was rusted and needed to be replaced and informed the contact the vehicle was included in an unknown warranty extension however, the vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 310,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the entire subframe of the vehicle was rusted due to severe corrosion. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed the subframe corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.

Tl the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently serviced by a mechanic who indicated that the vehicle would not pass inspection due to extensive rust and corrosion of the frame. The vehicle was not included in any recalls for the frame. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

Tl the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. While the vehicle was undergoing routine service by an independent mechanic, the technician noticed that the frame was fractured and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact felt movement and heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear driver side axle. An independent mechanic discovered excessive corrosion on the sub frame and stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

2003 Toyota Tacoma was recalled in April 2010 for frame replacement. The truck failed and the "entire" frame was replaced. July 18, 2011, while driving this truck the spare tire falls out from beneath the vehicle. Thankfully I was on a side road going about 35 mph and the other vehicles on the road were able to avoid any impact. The next day I took the plate that was " holding" the spare tire to the Toyota service center that replaced the frame. Despite the fact that the plate looked like it could have been a piece from the titanic, I was told that this particular part was not part of the Tacoma recall. I asked if they had to remove this part while replacing the frame, which they acknowledged they did, and then I asked why they would put a worn piece back on. . . The response was "it probably didn't look that bad a year ago". . . . !!! I called the Toyota 800 phone number and opened a case. As a result, I have learned that this part was recalled on the 2003 tundra, but not the Tacoma. . . Toyota will however reimburse me the cost $233 if I wish to have the piece replaced. I am disgusted and shocked at the fact that something like this could happen. Thankfully no one was injured. . . However I could not get this very same truck inspected in the state of massachusetts in April of this year until I replaced the catalytic converter ($1600). . . Yet it is okay to put safety inspection sticker on a vehicle that is a hazard to others due to a spare tire projectile that could occur at any moment. This is insanity to me. I also have a 1994 Toyota which would not pass due to rust on the exterior "bumper". . . Exterior rust was considered a hazard. . And I had to replace the entire bumper "or remove it" before it would pass. Perhaps the "inspection" requirements should be enhanced to include true life threatening problems. . . I have never had anyone harm themselves on my rusty bumper. . . . But I nearly took out 4 vehicles with my faulty spare tire mount. .

Wednesday April 14,2010 at approximately 8:30 am while I was getting onto a highway (101 e/b in bedford nh) my spare tire broke off from the underbed carrier. There was a motorcyclist right behind me that had to make a evasive action to avoid being hit by my spare tire. The plate had rusted out.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact noticed severe rust and flaking on the front and rear passenger side frame on the vehicle. The dealer stated that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The dealer also stated that the vehicle could be repaired at the owners expense. The manufacturer had not been contacted and no repairs were made to the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were approximately 158,000. Updated 05/06/10. The consumer stated the frame was checked by the dealer. They used a ball pin hammer and tapped all over the frame and said it passed inspection. Updated 06/25/jb.

Excessive rust has appeared on the frame and underbody components of my 2003 Tacoma making me question the structural integrity as it ages. I am concerned for the safety of myself and passengers at highway speeds knowing that proper examination of the metal's strength requires more than just a visual inspection and the use of a hammer. I began noticing excessive rust approximately one year after purchase in January 2004.

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 won't even let me take it off the lot. The proposed fix is to rebuild the truck on a new frame.