U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Toyota TUNDRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

399 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 270 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 91 of 399 complaints (22.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	61	15.3%
Steering behavior	30	7.5%
Fuel system concerns	18	4.5%
Transmission and shifting	14	3.5%
Electrical and battery issues	4	1.0%
Engine operation	1	0.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure:Body

Air Bags

Suspension

Unknown Or Other

Structure:Frame And Members

Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields

Power Train

Service Brakes

Structure:Body: 91; Air Bags: 83; Suspension: 50; Unknown Or Other: 32; Structure:Frame And Members: 25; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 22; Power Train: 21; Service Brakes: 18

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 33; 100,000 to 149,999: 80; 150,000 and above: 56

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (80). 129 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2002: 1; 2003: 12; 2004: 12; 2005: 13; 2006: 13; 2007: 11; 2008: 9; 2009: 20; 2010: 24; 2011: 15; 2012: 19; 2013: 16; 2014: 22; 2015: 45; 2016: 17; 2017: 36; 2018: 24; 2019: 27; 2020: 18; 2021: 12; 2022: 8; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 8; 2026: 8

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 61 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 18 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10031155 · 2003-08-09 (August 9, 2003)

TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK FRONT ROTORS I HAD A PROBLEM AS I BOUGHT THE NEW TRUCK . BRAKES WOULD PULSATE WHEN STOPPING. I WAS TOLD FROM TOYOTA THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT THE FACTORY WITH WARPED ROTORS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND ALL THEY DID WAS MACHINE THE ROTORS DOWN. THE INVOICE SAID"OUT OF ROUND ROTORS. IM' CONCERNED THIS COULD REOCCUR AND CAUSE A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND A "PLUG" IN MY TIRE. BRAND NEW TRUCK AND THERE WAS A PLUG IN IT. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031155 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031600 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES PULSATE, AND VEHICLE IS GOING SIDE TO SIDE. IT IS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TUNDRA V6. *AK THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDDING DOORS NOT SHUTTING PROPERLY.*TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031600 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10130662 · 2005-07-30 (July 30, 2005)

BRAKES GRAB WHEN VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED THERE SEEMS TO BE MOVEMENT FROM EITHER THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OR AXLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130662 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10130663 · 2005-07-30 (July 30, 2005)

THE BUSHINGS USED TO ATTACH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TO THE FRAME IS TOO SOFT, CAUSING THE STEERING LINKAGE TO MOVE. THE STEERING LINKAGE IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FRAME AND I HAVE TO OVERSTEER AND IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE FEELING OF FLOATING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 35,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130663 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10154747 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)

THERE IS A FLAWED DESIGN OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS WITH ITS 2003-2004 TUNDRAS. THE PROBLEM AFFECTS FUEL VAPOR EMISSIONS FROM THE GAS TANK. THEY OFFER NO SUPPORT ONCE ONE IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THEIR FAULTY DESIGN/BUILD OF THIS PART. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154747 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10155808 · 2006-04-21 (April 21, 2006)

FUEL TANK FILLER WAS GIVING AS THE REASON OF MY TRUCKS PROBLEM BEFORE IT WAS LOOKED AT BY A TECHNICIAN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE FAULT WOULD CAUSE THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THEREFORE WOULD ALSO BE A HAZARD BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AT THE TIME THE TRUCK WAS BEING FILLED OR FROM ESCAPING VAPORS. THE PART WAS (IS) BEING REPLACED AND IS COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 42,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155808 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012142 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)

THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED EITHER A NEW VEHICLE OR A FULL REFUND FOR THE VEHICLE. MR SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047370 · 2003-11-22 (November 22, 2003)

2003 TUNDRA RPM HANG-UP - SAFETY ISSUE HELLO ALL:I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA 3.4, V6, 4X4, 5 SPEED. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IF I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD THE RPM'S ARE MAINTAINED FOR UP TO 1.5 SECONDS BEFORE THE RPM STARTS TO DROP. THIS OCCURS WITH AND WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ON. I'D LIKE TO ALSO NOTE THAT MY LAST TRUCK WAS A T-100 WITH THE 3.4 V6 ENGINE - SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THIS ENGINE SHOULD, IN THEORY, RESPOND. DEALER CLAIMS THIS A COMPUTER ISSUE AND TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A TSB. DEALER ALSO CLAIMS THAT THIS FEATU…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047370 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10200087 · 2007-08-20 (August 20, 2007)

BATTERY DRAINS WITH ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHUT OFF IF VEHICLE LEFT SITTING MUCH OVER ONE WEEK. AFTER THIRD VISIT TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10361724 · 2010-10-22 (October 22, 2010)

BATTERY DRAINS WITH ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHUT OFF. IF VEHICLE LEFT SITTING MUCH OVER ONE WEEK IT WILL COMPLETELY DRAIN THE BATTERY TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NO LONGER HOLD A CHARGE. I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 5 TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND FINALLY PUT A QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE NEGATIVE BATTERY POST. I'VE HAD TOYOTA LOOK AT IT TWICE AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361724 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10483681 · 2012-11-08 (November 8, 2012)

TOOK 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA IN FOR FRAME RUST CORROSION PROGRAM 09V-444000. WAS TOLD FRAME AND OTHER COMPONENTS HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND MULTIPLE 10MM HOLES BY LEAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT MY 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA FRAME WAS EXTENSIVELY RUSTED AND UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AND THEY WANTED TO TAKE MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY AND PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. ASKED FOR A PLAN OF ACTION OF THE SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED (CORROSION COMPOUND VERSES FRAME REPLACEMENT) BEFORE GIVING POSSESSION…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483681 at NHTSA ↗