2003 Toyota Tacoma Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the 2003 Toyota Tacoma, 18% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 136,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “ball joint” (24% of reports).
- 66suspension complaints
- 136,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ball joint: mentioned in 16 of 66 complaints (24%)
- Frame rusted: mentioned in 10 of 66 complaints (15%)
- Suspension lower: mentioned in 6 of 66 complaints (9%)
- Spare tire: mentioned in 6 of 66 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 43 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 66 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 4 an injury.
Toyota Tacoma suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Tacoma | 9 | 8% | — |
| 2024 Tacoma | 5 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Tacoma | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Tacoma | 3 | 4% | — |
| 2020 Tacoma | 1 | 1% | 2,527 |
| 2019 Tacoma | 4 | 2% | 12 |
| 2018 Tacoma | 6 | 3% | 2,700 |
| 2017 Tacoma | 6 | 2% | 2,000 |
| 2016 Tacoma | 14 | 4% | 30,000 |
| 2015 Tacoma | 4 | 4% | 38,000 |
| 2014 Tacoma | 8 | 9% | 20,500 |
| 2013 Tacoma | 14 | 11% | 38,423 |
| 2012 Tacoma | 21 | 7% | 55,000 |
| 2011 Tacoma | 60 | 32% | 96,193 |
| 2010 Tacoma | 95 | 32% | 44,946 |
| 2009 Tacoma | 119 | 23% | 78,700 |
| 2008 Tacoma | 124 | 28% | 78,000 |
| 2007 Tacoma | 118 | 22% | 96,234 |
| 2006 Tacoma | 154 | 20% | 95,000 |
| 2005 Tacoma | 137 | 19% | 102,000 |
| 2004 Tacoma | 84 | 20% | 120,000 |
| 2003 Tacoma | 66 | 18% | 136,000 |
| 2002 Tacoma | 82 | 25% | 131,000 |
| 2001 Tacoma | 81 | 20% | 168,418 |
| 2000 Tacoma | 52 | 25% | 155,000 |
| 1999 Tacoma | 35 | 14% | 133,000 |
| 1998 Tacoma | 28 | 9% | 167,276 |
| 1997 Tacoma | 24 | 18% | 189,000 |
| 1996 Tacoma | 87 | 34% | 137,345 |
| 1995 Tacoma | 90 | 51% | 180,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint may have been scratched. The ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort.
Risk: The lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle causing loss of steering control and a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints free of charge. The recall began on july 5, 2005. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I took my 2003 Toyota Tacoma and for a tire alignment and was told by an employee of the tire shop that my rack and pinion needed to be replaced and lower ball joints. I checked the VIN number and it said I have zero recalls, but there is a general recall on this make a model that I have what do I…
Invoice no. XXX Frame recall. I have a receipt statingâ¦âJ# 20TOZFRAM,;CS FRAM Inspection TECY(S):351 Warrenty inspected Frame, Frame failed, perforation, Replaced Frame at Dealerâ. Except they did not replace the frame, I have a receipt stating they replaced the â spare tire rack assembly…
While driving at both high speeds (highway) and local road speed limits, Toyota Tacoma's rear passenger side frame split completely in half. While performing maneuvers such as right turns, vehicle wobbled and I, driver, lost temporary control of vehicle. Upon further inspection, rear driver side…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Toyota Tacomas have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 66 owner complaints about suspension for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma (18% of the 360 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Toyota Tacoma suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do suspension problems start?
The median reported mileage is 136,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?
The most frequent phrase is “ball joint”, in 16 of 66 complaints, followed by “frame rusted” (10).
Other 2003 Toyota Tacoma problems
- Structure problems (181)
See all 2003 Toyota Tacoma problems or suspension problems across all Tacoma years.