2003 TOYOTA TACOMA Complaints

2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD CREW CAB PICKUP I WOULD LIKE TO RELATE A RECENT EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA PICKUP. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK THROUGH A PARKING LOT IN LARGO, MARYLAND ON JANUARY 29, 2009. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN IN THE FRONT END AND I CAME TO A STOP. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HAD DROPPED DOWN INTO THE WHEEL WELL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BY BOSWELL AUTO SERVICE OF WALDORF, MARYLAND NEAR WHERE I LIVE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE CASTLE NUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY HAD COME OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT. THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY SEPARATED AND AS A CONSEQUENCE FRONT AXLE WAS BROKEN AS WELL. IN REVIEWING MY RECORDS I SAW THE RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT FOR MY TOYOTA. I HAD THIS RECALL WORK COMPLETED AT WALDORF TOYOTA ON DECEMBER 29, 2005. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED MY TRUCK. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD MAKE THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT. IN HIS OPINION, THIS EVENT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE BALL JOINT CASTLE NUT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY. I TOOK THE INFORMATION TO WALDORF TOYOTA ON FEBRUARY 3, 2009. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER (MICHAEL PAVAN, 301-843-3700, [email protected]) AND A MAN I BELIEVE WAS A MECHANIC OR SERVICE SUPERVISOR. I SHOWED THEM PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE BROKEN BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REMNANTS OF THE COTTER PIN WERE STILL IN SO THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY HAD INSTALLED THE CASTLE NUT CORRECTLY. I LEFT THE BROKEN BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH THEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD REPORT IT TO HIS REGIONAL MANAGER. *TR

I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, LUCKILY EVERYBODY HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS ON AND NOBODY GOT HURT. I DO NOT HAVE A PASSENGER TURN OFF KEY FOR THE AIR BAG IN THE VEHICLE. I AM TOLD THE TRUCK WILL BE TOTALED OUT DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS BENT. *TR

SYNOPSIS OF PROBLEM: THE FRAME OF THE TACOMA WAS FABRICATED WITH INSUFFICIENT CORROSION PROTECTION, PARTICULARLY INSIDE THE BOXED SECTION OF FRAME UNDER THE MIDSECTION OF THE TRUCK. THE FRAME IS LITERALLY RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. WHAT HAPPENS IS, AS THE FRAME RUSTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOXED SECTION, THE RUST FLAKES DROP ONTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOXED SECTION. THESE RUST FLAKES THEN PLUG THE WEEP HOLES IN THE FRAME SO THAT MOISTURE IS NOT ALLOWED TO DRAIN OUT THE INTERIOR OF THE BOXED SECTION, THEREBY EXACERBATING THE POTENTIAL FOR CORROSION. SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THE BOTTOM OF THE BOXED SECTION OF FRAME IS RUSTING OUT DUE TO THE BUILD-UP OF MOISTURE AND THE ACCUMULATION OF RUST FLAKES PLUGGING OFF THE WEEP HOLES. THE RUST FLAKES ARE 1/8? DEEP ON THE BOTTOM OF MY BOXED SECTION OF FRAME. BASICALLY THE BOTTOM 20% OF TACOMA FRAMES ARE RUSTING OUT. WHAT IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ABOUT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOXED SECTION OF FRAME BECOMING COMPROMISED BY CORROSION, IS THE BOTTOM OF THE BOXED SECTION IS WHERE THE BRACKET FOR THE REAR LEAF SPRING IS ATTACHED. AS THE BOXED SECTION CORRODES, THERE IS LESS AND LESS MATERIAL SUPPORTING THIS MAJOR SUSPENSION BRACKET. THE DESIGN OF THIS BRACKET MUST BE ANALYZED BY YOUR NHTSA INDEPENDENT ENGINEER. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IT DOESN?T TAKE MUCH FRAME CORROSION TO SEVERELY COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THIS WELDED LEAF SPRING BRACKET. IF THIS BRACKET FAILS, THEN THE FRONT OF THE LEAF SPRING COMES FREE, THE REAR AXLE COMES OUT OF ALIGNMENT, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! I ALSO CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER THAT SINCE THE FRAME IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY SYSTEM, WHAT DOES A SEVERELY CORRODED AND WEAKENED FRAME DO TO THE LEVEL OF CRASH PROTECTION OFFERED BY THE VEHICLE? IF NHTSA?S INDEPENDENT ENGINEER FINDS THAT THE FRAME DOES PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE CRASH PROTECTION OFFERED BY THE VEHICLE, THEN THE NHTSA WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FORCE TOYOTA TO DO A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ONCOMING VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD FRONTAL AIR BAGS ON BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE; HOWEVER, NEITHER DEPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS SMASHED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE SMASHED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,458 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

MY ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA KEEPS COMING ON. I SENT $1000 TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND THEN THE EVAP CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THEY'VE REPLACED MANY OF THESE ON TOYOTAS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT FELL ASLEEP OR BLACKED OUT. THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND STRUCK A TREE AND ROLLED OVER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR FRONT END AND REAR DAMAGE DAMAGE DUE TO THE IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED MAJOR SCALP INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD TURNED IN A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 318,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 218,000. UPDATED 10/5/09 *CN UPDATED 10/07/09. *JB

MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA V6 SR5 DOUBLE CAB 4X4 HAS A CONDITION WHERE THE THROTTLE CUTS OUT WHILE ACCELERATING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN ICY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A WIRED GUARDRAIL AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL. THE FRONT PASSENGER WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, BUT SUSTAINED AN INJURED RIGHT SHOULDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE SIDE AIR BAGS WERE ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE SIDE DOOR PANEL, FRONT BENDER, AND FRONT BUMPER WERE REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

IN JANUARY 2006, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA RE: BALL JOINTS ON OUR 2003 TACOMA. I SCHEDULED WITH THE DEALER AND THEY WERE ALL REPLACED. CHRISTMAS DAY OF 2007, I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BOTH UPPER AND LOWER SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. AND, THE WHEEL PRETTY MUCH SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. (VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT INJURY). VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH 74,0000 MILES. MILEAGE ON TOYOTA-REPLACED BALL JOINTS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ABOUT 20,000 MILES WHEN THEY FAILED. *TR