Three problems related to steering column have been reported for the 2003 Toyota Tundra. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Toyota Tundra based on all problems reported for the 2003 Tundra.
Steering column shift bracket broke in 3 places when trying to shift from park to drive, making shifting impossible. See pictures from 2 of 3 fracture locations, 3rd fracture is at an attachment screw (not shown). This is cause by an punderdesigned part made of inferior cast aluminum. There are thousands of reports of this problem on Tundras and other Toyota models with same defective bracket. This dangerous defect must be recalled and fixed by Toyota with a redesigned part.
For the third time since I have owned the vehicle where the shift control goes into the steering column, where it connects has broken. This is a piece of metal that has again snapped making it unable to shift the car. What happens if I was in drive and could not shift into park? I have had this fixed twice before, once when I was stuck on the road and once towed to Toyota.
We own a 2003 Toyota Tundra with 47,000 miles on it and are the original owners. On Friday while putting the truck into reverse in a parking lot, the shift mechanism snapped off in my hand. Our certified Toyota mechanic came and managed to get it into drive and drive it to his shop,and in opening the steering column, found the entire thing was broken within the steering column. Our mechanic, who is a certified Toyota mechanic says that this should have never happened. As with another complaint lodged on this problem, it is not as if the mechanism has experienced rough handling in any way.