2003 TOYOTA TACOMA Complaints

I WAS THE NUMBER 3 VEHICLE AT A RED LIGHT. FIRST CAR WENT THROUGH (THINKING THE LIGHT HAD CHANGED). SECOND CAR MOVED INTO FIRST PLACE. I STARTED TO FOLLOW AND WHEN I REALIZED HE HAD STOPPED I APPLIED MY BRAKES. I COULD FEEL THE TRUCK LURCH EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL PRESSING THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. I SLAMMED INTO HIM AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. IN FEBRUARY OF 2007, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND WAS UNAVAILABLE. AS OF MAY 4, 2007, THE PART WAS STILL UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WAIT TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,300 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA TO REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT SSC 50J A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND EACH TIME I CALL THEY TELL ME THE PARTS ARE IN BACK ORDER IN THE MEAN TIME I AM DRIVING ON THIS VEHICLE WITH MY BABY AND MY 6 YEAR OLD SON IN THE TRUCK I FEEL SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN ASAP I NEED TO GET MY PARTS REPLACED THE TREASON I AM TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE FOR THE PAST DAYS THERE HAS BEEN NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND ALSO IT HAS BEEN VERY JUMPY AND I WAS TOLD THAT IS THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE WE HAVE AND I AM VERY UPSET WITH TOYOTA HOW THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND . I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY KIDS IN IT BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE SINCE IT IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE MENTIONED TO THEM TO LEND ME A LOANER AND I ALSO GET THE RUN AROUND I WILL TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE I PUT MY FAMILY IN DANGER. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT PURCHASED ON 07/29/03 A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA FOUR DOOR DBL CAB. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON 4/25/04 WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE WITH AND LIGHTLY ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE REVVED SO FAST THE TRUCK DROVE OVER THE PARKING STRIP AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR ON THE SIDEWALK, CAUSING $5000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO TRUCK, AND $6000.00 DAMAGE TO THE PILLAR. DURING THE SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 10/09/06 VEHICLE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED SO THE CONTACT PUT IT IN TO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REVVED FASTER. THE DRIVER THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE AND ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IN A COUPLE SECONDS. DURING THIRD OCCURRENCE ON 02/05/07 WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHTTHE ENGINE REVVED AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE THE CONTACT5 COULD TURN OFF THE KEY. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE CONTACT TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, AND GENTLY SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKES WERE BOTH ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME. FIRST TIME THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE OTHER TIMES IT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKES, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THE CONTACT CHECKED. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED HER NOT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SO SHE RENTED A VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE DAYS. THEY HAD SOMEONE FROM TOYOTA COME TO CHECK IT OUT, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP NOTICE FOR THE SUSPENSION, LOWER BALL JOINTS. HOWEVER, HE NEVER RECEIVED A PREVIOUS NOTICE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE CONTACT'S HEAD SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, AND ALSO SUSTAINEDE BRUISING TO THE FACE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CALL TOYOTA, AND WAS TOLD BY THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT HR EVER REACH AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. TOYOTA SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AFTER THE CRASH ,AND HE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REASON THAT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WAS DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT. WHILE UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THE RELATED RECALL WAS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED WHILE HIS FAMILY MEMBER DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED THAT THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE FAILED TO MENTION THE RECALL THAT WAS EFFECTIVE A YEAR PRIOR WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500. *AK

FIRST INSTANCE 4/25/04 SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE WITH A LIGHT TOUCH ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE REVVED SO FAST THE TRUCK CLEARED THE PARKING STRIP AND CRASHED INTO A PILLAR ON THE SIDEWALK (PICTURE AVAILABLE) $5000.00 DAMAGE TO TRUCK & $6000.00 DAMAGE TO THE PILLAR. SECOND INSTANCE 10/09/06 STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ENGINE REVVED UP, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL & ENGINE REVVED FASTER. SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE AND ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IN A COUPLE SECONDS. THIRD INSTANCE 02/05/07 JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ENGINE REVVED UP AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL BEFORE I COULD TURN OFF THE KEY. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. FIRST TWO TIMES I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND GENTLY MENTIONED THAT MAYBE THE ACCELERATOR & BRAKE WERE BOTH ENGAGED AT THE SAME TIME. FIRST TIME MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR & THE OTHER TIMES IT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I CHECKED. THE SERVICE MGR. ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE IT SO I RENTED A CAR FOR A COUPLE DAYS. THEY HAD SOMEONE FROM TOYOTA COME TO CHECK IT OUT. COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. LAST TIME WAS JUST THE OTHER DAY. HAVE NOT CALLED THEM YET. 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA FOUR DOOR DBL CAB. PURCHASED 07/29/03 CAPITOL TOYOTA. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN MARCH 2005 THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A SNOWY ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT ON ITS OWN. HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AFTER LEAVING THE ROAD, AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED FRONT END DAMAGE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BEL,T AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE INVESTIGATED WHY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED HE BELIEVED THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT. *AK

I PURCHASED MY 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 IN MAY OF 2003 IN WHICH AS OF THIS DATE OF 12.29.06 MY TRUCK HAS 43K MILES ON IT AND IS IN EXCELLANT CONDITION. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 6 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THIS TRUCK AND STILL CAN NOT DRIVE IT. I HAVE HAD TO PUT A BRANDNEW CRANKSHAFT KIT IN MY TRUCK DUE TO THE KEYWAY ON THE CRANKSHAFT SHEARING OFF RESULTING IN MY TRUCK SHUTTING DOWN. AFTER INSPECTING MY TRUCK BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC THE KEY WAS NOT THERE AFTER IT HAD SHEARED OFF IN WHICH PARTS HAD MOVED FORWARD AND GROUND INTO THE METAL. AFTER THE CRANKSHAFT REPLACEMENT I CONTINUED TO HAVE MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. I HAVE REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT, HARMONIC BALANCER, NEW FAN, OIL PUMP BECAUSE THE TRUCK WILL NOT HOLD OIL PRESSURE, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, CAM SENSOR'S, RE-SETTING OF THE COMPUTER AND LABOR COST. I PICKED MY TRUCK UP ON A FRIDAY AFTER IT CAME BACK FROM HUNTERSVILLE, NC AT LAKE NORMAN TOYOTA IN WHICH THE TRUCK WAS HOOKED UP AND WAS GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH BUT, THE TRUCK LEFT ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN ON SUNDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 PM IN WHICH I HAD TO HAVE A ROLL BACK PICK IT UP FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE LESS THAN 1K RPMS IN WHICH IT THEN FINALLY HAD TO BE SHUT OFF AS SOON AS I HEARD THIS DUE TO THE SOUNDS OF METAL RUBBING METAL. THE TRUCK IS NOW LOCATED AT LEATHERMAN AUTO LOCATED IN NEWTON, NC (828.465.5269) IN WHICH THE OWNER, SCOTT HAS NOT MADE ANY REPAIRS TO THIS TRUCK YET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON IN ALL FOUR INSTANCES AS WELL AS THE OIL LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS AND I THEN LOOSE CONTROL OF MY TRUCK DUE TO IT SHUTTING DOWN. I WAS ON I-40 TRAVELING AT 65-70 MPH WHEN MY TRUCK STARTED JERKING AGAIN AND THEN I LOST MY POWER STEERING AGAIN AND HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE TRUCK TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THE TRUCK IS STALLING OUT IN WHICH I AM IN FEAR OF EITHER MYSELF OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS BECOMING INJURED OR POSSIBLY KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS INSTANCE.

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG VIBRATION WHEN MOTOR IS RUNNING. RETURNED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD RATTLE IN DASH BOARD. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPORTED THAT A MAJORITY OF THE CLIPS HOLDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN PLACE WERE NOT THERE. DEALER ORDERED REPLACEMENT CLIPS AND DASHBOARD BOLTS AND REPAIR WAS MADE. IN OCTOBER 2003 RATTLE RETURNED AND A BOLT APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE INSPECTION TOOK PLACE. MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE HAD HIT THE DASHBOARD TO LOOSEN BOLTS, NOT THE CASE, YET NO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR TIGHTEN EQUIPMENT WAS MADE. *NM

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