CarComplaints.com Notes: A dependable pickup option that does have a slight history of frame corrosion. Even though mud looks cool on a truck, it's best if you run this through the car wash every now and again.

2.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,846 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Toyota Tundra body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2003 Toyota Tundra Owner Comments

problem #12

Feb 012012

Tundra

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that an unknown recall for structure corrosion was completed on the vehicle in February 2012 at a local dealer. The contact stated on June 2022, he noticed that the subframe was corroded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that?the subframe needed to be replaced. The local dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #11

Oct 012021

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 153,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while the vehicle was being emissions tested, he was informed that the sway bars and the rear cross members were corroded. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the location of the corrosion was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to several independent mechanics who declined to service the vehicle due to the damage of the corrosion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

- Manlius, NY, USA

problem #10

Apr 292020

Tundra

  • 118,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a routine check, the mechanic became aware that the subframe was severely corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

- Medford, NY, USA

problem #9

Jan 202017

Tundra 8-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2003 Toyota Tundra. Consumer writes in regards to rust holes near front sway bar and left rear at shock mount. The consumer stated the vehicle was inspected for rust holes multiple time none were found, but the vehicle was previously treated for frame rusting.

- Holden, MA, USA

problem #8

Feb 202017

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. While driving 2 mph and making a left turn, an abnormal noise was heard the vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the upper control arm was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 09V444000 (structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000. Updated 04/19/17

- Wyoming, RI, USA

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problem #7

May 052010

Tundra

  • 48,913 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to be serviced under an unknown recall, the technician informed that the vehicles frame was moderately corroded. The contact stated that the technician serviced the vehicle with an adhesive on top of the corroded frame. The contact stated that six years prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be serviced under NHTSA campaign 09V444000 (structure) but thetechnician stated that the vehicle showed no signs of corrosion and the vehicle was not serviced under the recall. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic that the frame was severely corroded. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,913.

- Marriottsville, MD, USA

problem #6

Feb 022014

Tundra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id numbers: 14V350000 (air bags), 09V444000 (structure) and 05V225000 (suspension). The contact was waiting for several months for the recall part to become available and the dealer was not able to determine when the recall repair would be performed. The manufacturer notified of the issue. The contact did not experience a failure.

- Saranac, MI, USA

problem #5

May 142010

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 103,739 miles
On May 14 2010 I took my 2003 Toyota Tundra in for a recall regarding "excessive corrosion of the rear cross member". reference: NHTSA campaign number 09V444000, November 18, 2009 & Toyota safety recall no. Ssc9090M. My truck was inspected and subsequently was sprayed with corrosion protection compound. However, the spare tire mounting bracket was not sprayed nor was the differential with the required corrosion protection compound. Reference NHTSA campaign number 09V444000 which states "dealers will inspect the rear cross member and related components, including the brake lines and replace them if necessary" or "will be sprayed with a corrosion protection compound". on January 8, 2014 at 103,793 miles, I was forced to replace the entire differential at a cost of $4,657.67 due to the differential rusting completely through to the point it would no longer retain oil. More recently, O/a September 15, 2014 at approximately 105,500 miles I was driving at 30 mph when the mounting bracket that retains the spare tire in place rusted through and the spare tire fell off of my truck and ended up on the side of the road approximately 1/4 mile away. Fortunately, there was no one driving behind me and no other damage or injuries occurred. In both of the above issues at the time of each incident contacted Toyota customer service and was told that they could not assist me in either matter. I would like to submit this complaint in the hopes that it may help others in similar situations and I also would like to know if there is means or process I can follow to possible obtain restitution from Toyota. I have all necessary documentation to support my claims as outlined above. Thanking you in advance for your consideration in this matter.

- Chatsworth, NJ, USA

problem #4

Jun 282014

Tundra 4WD 8-cyl

  • 110,500 miles
As I was traveling at a slow speed when I became aware of a loud grinding noise which had suddenly began as I turned onto a side street. I stopped vehicle immediately and got out to investigate what was causing the noise. I discovered that my fuel tank was dragging beneath the truck. The metal straps that held tank to frame had rusted thru causing tank to fall to road surface. All the connections to fuel tank were ripped from tank. Toyota is worried about the spare tire falling down do to rusted frame members but I feel they should be more worried about their fuel tanks falling off. If I had been traveling at highway speeds I hate to think of what consequences might have been.

- Madawaska, ME, USA

problem #3

Apr 042014

Tundra

  • 50,000 miles
Frame rust through.Toyota claims rust hole is not in the correct location on the truck.says there is nothing they can do.

- Corry, PA, USA

problem #2

May 152010

Tundra

  • 60,000 miles
2003 Tundra has excessive rust on frame. Deal offers no remedy.

- Merrimack, NH, USA

problem #1

Nov 242009

Tundra

  • 107,000 miles
My 2003 Toyota Tundra is rusting away on the frame. The frame of my truck looks like it could bend, crack or brake at any time. This truck has been washed top and bottom at least once a month since it was new and all of a sudden I notice the entire under carriage is brittle and looks unsafe. I have loved everything about this truck but am now worried that it may become unsafe to drive.

- Dalton, MA, USA

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