10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
97,223 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Toyota Tundra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #27

Aug 092023

Tundra

  • miles
rear leaf spring mount separated from the frame due to complete rust -through of the frame. felt a "thump" during normal acceleration.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #26

Feb 262023

Tundra

  • miles
I just bought the Toyota I was told that he had brought this Toyota to a dealership and it was sent to har some sealant sprayed on frame to prevent anymore rust. The whole frame and the spare tire holder thing is total rusting out and the motor mounts are even rusting out is there a recall on his veichle if not there should

- Aitkiy, MN, USA

problem #25

Mar 312022

Tundra

  • miles
The truck frame has failed due to rust. Dealer only inspected but did not clear the warranty recall because of liability. They refused to do the recall. The truck seems unsafe to drive but they said there is nothing they can do. I don't feel safe driving it or selling it to endanger someone else. The dealer confirmed the truck frame is rusted beyond repair. I was not aware how bad the frame was rusted until the dealer showed me.

- Fishers, IN, USA

problem #24

Mar 062020

Tundra

  • miles
The frame haas already been repaired, at the suggestion of my inspection mechanic. The whole frame is dangerously rusted. Now he says, -??get rid of it-?"it-??s dangerous to drive!-?? Another problem, the air bag fault light won-??t stay off! Parts in the steering column have been replaced, to no avail! Toyota did that work. No one knows if my air bag will work or not!

- York, PA, USA

problem #23

Aug 192019

Tundra

  • 112,000 miles
The frame is prematurely severely rotten and crumbling. This is a massive safety issue and needs to be brought to every Tundra owners attention. I have had it sprayed, but was only done for the back crossmember by Toyota. The other half is ready for a catastrophe in due time. There may be others in my situation and no way is a frame supposed to crumble without sitting in constant salt. Please, please, please help the other owners and make them aware if they haven't yet. The frame will buckle while driving and cause harm to others on the road. Mine has pieces as big as 12 by 8 come off. The Toyota dealership I have went to told me to keep an eye on it since the recall has lapsed.

- Loves Park, IL, USA

problem #22

Aug 282017

Tundra 8-cyl

  • miles
I took my truck into a local dealership for a recall on the frame it was rusted. They said it didn't need to be replaced. So they undercoated it and all the undercoat fell off. They didn't undercoat the whole thing and now it's rusting even more. Don't know what to do.

- Johnstown, NY, USA

problem #21

Mar 052020

Tundra

  • 118,000 miles
The frame is rotting prematurely. There is multiple hole developing in a couple spots of the frame. Vehicle was at the garage for a brake job and while on the lift the mechanic noted the frame rot.

- Cassadaga, NY, USA

problem #20

Jun 012019

Tundra

  • 199,900 miles
Rear differential rusted through and fluid leaked out.

- Marshall, NC, USA

problem #19

Oct 242019

Tundra

  • 221,230 miles
The entire frame is rusted - to my shock and I just failed inspection but the truck is gorgeous and runs great with all new tires. I'm currently low income and wonder how the frame recall was missed but the airbag was replaced. Please advise and thank you.

- Newport, VT, USA

problem #18

Mar 282017

Tundra

  • 180,000 miles
Every time I go on a trip that requires the truck to be running for longer then 20 min or so it begins to make a really loud grinding clunking sound and you can feel it. It's seemingly coming from the back and is associated with the moving of the tires. My buddy thinks it is the transmission box and that it is stuck between four wheel drive and reg. It also won't go out of four lot and four hi when I want it to.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

problem #17

Apr 022019

Tundra

  • 275,000 miles
Takata recall, I was involved in a collision with my Toyota Tundra when a Nissan Altima failed to stop for a stop sign. At witch point my air bags did not go off. The truck is totaled and so was the Nissan! I was driving East on quincy ave. And the Nissan was driving South on B St. When she failed to stop at the stop sign.

- Abita Springs, LA, USA

problem #16

Feb 242015

Tundra

  • 170,689 miles
The frame by the driver side front wheel is almost broken in half...it has a 2 foot long section missing...other steering component affected stablizer bar almost rusted in half..bracket and bushing almost nonexistent...this is my daily driver for me, my wife and my 10 year old daughter...I fear for their safety should it completely let loose...I drive very slow...I am 59 years old...plz help me get a new framefrom Toyota...thanx

- Zanesville, OH, USA

problem #15

Jan 152019

Tundra

  • 130,000 miles
We sent our truck for the insurance (progressive insurance) company to the garage for an alignment and they told us the front/right side of the frame is broke. Making the truck unsafe to drive.

- Montgomery Center, VT, USA

problem #14

Dec 042018

Tundra

  • 126,955 miles
My truck's frame has large, major rust perforation holes all over the frame and will soon need replacement. I feel that this will soon be a safety factor, as the frame is the only part of the vehicle that holds the truck in one piece when driving down the road. I'm afraid my frame will not protect me in a collision and that my truck may snap in half during normal driving conditions. Toyota corporate had me immediately bring the vehicle in to my local dealer for a frame inspection and the rust perforation was noted and verified, but Toyota corporate will not replace my frame because the areas specified in their current open recalls aren't as rusted as what would be normally deemed qualified for frame replacement. The condition of my frame is terrible and may be considered more dangerous soon, compared to what could happen to the frame concerns of the current recalls.

- Forked River, NJ, USA

problem #13

Aug 192018

Tundra

  • 111,035 miles
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 Tundra and other Toyota models with same defective bracket. This dangerous defect must be recalled and fixed by Toyota with a redesigned part.

- Plymouth, MN, USA

problem #12

Jul 312018

Tundra

  • 118,253 miles
Vehicle was on recall for rusted frame, two different occasions, for 2000-2004 and 2007 models. We brought truck in, they said it wasnt bad enough for a new frame, and did the coating. We got home and saw that the coating didn't cover all it should have. We brought it back a second time. Apparently it wasn't done properly as a stabilizer bar is rusted clean through and is hanging on by a thread. We bought the truck used at a dealership. What recourse do we have" can we get them to replace the frame now" they had it in their hands twice and didn't coat it well enough to keep it safe. Now I need a new frame. Otherwise the truck is in great condition, and we maintain it and care for it properly.

- Mansfield, MA, USA

problem #11

May 112018

Tundra

  • 154,000 miles
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 underdesigned part made of inferior cast aluminum. There are thousands of reports of this problem on Tundra and other Toyota models with same defective bracket. This dangerous defect must be recalled and fixed by Toyota with a redesigned part.

- East Hampton, CT, USA

problem #10

Dec 072007

Tundra

  • 30,000 miles
"takata recall"

- Kailua Kona, HI, USA

problem #9

Jun 142014

Tundra

  • 60 miles
Takana recall // and Toyota recall

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #8

Jan 022013

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I had the frame inspection recall performed in 2012 and was told the frame is ok so they coated the frame with under coating. A few months later I was driving to work and hit a joint on the highway and ended up in the next lane. As I am in the business I put the vehicle in the air that evening and found the steering rack mount was detached from the frame due to rust. I then spoke to Toyota customer service and explained the situation and I was told to bring the vehicle back in and they would look at it. I was told again the frame is ok.. I did explain to the dealer that I had to wld a steel plate to the frame so the vehicle would be safe to drive. They still said the frame is ok and they would re spray the frame as a gesture for the inconvenience. I have made numerous calls and emails to Toyota since then because June of 2016 I found rust holes in the frame in 2 different spots.. there is a recall to replace the frame if there are perforations in the frame during the inspection. However I have been told several times they will not assist me any further on this situation. Thank you [xxx] [xxx]

- Dundalk, MD, USA

Read the next 7 complaints »