GVWR: Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Make: TOYOTA
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING, CALIFORNIA, INC.
Manufacturer Id: 1063
Model: Tacoma
Model Year: 2003
Note: Standard Cab, Chassis: With 1/2 ton Independent Front Suspension
Plant City: Fremont
Plant Company Name: TABC Inc.
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: California
Series: RZN161L/VZN160L
Trim: DELUXE
Vehicle Type: TRUCK
Wheel Base Type: Short
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I EXPERIENCED A CASE OF UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION IN MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. IT OCCURRED ON FEB 25, 2010. I STARTED MY VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE NORMALLY. MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE. I LET IT IDLE FOR A SHORT WHILE UNTIL THE IDLE RATE WENT UNDER 1500 RPMS. I SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE AND THE IDLE SPEED WENT UNDER 1000 RPMS. FOOT IS STILL ON THE BRAKE. I LET IT BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE ONTO THE DRIVEWAY AND THEN ONTO THE STREET TURNING THE WHEEL PARTIALLY TO ALIGN MYSELF INTO THE STREET TO BEGIN TO DRIVE AWAY. FOOT IS STILL ON THE BRAKE WHEN I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. AS SOON AS I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE IT ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE BRAKE , BUT I REALIZE THAT THE BRAKE WILL NOT STOP IT. I HAD TO MAKE A QUICK TURN TO AVOID RUNNING ONTO THE CURB/MAILBOX AND THEN I QUICKLY SHIFTED IT INTO NEUTRAL TO BRING IT TO A STOP. IT CAME TO A STOP AND I LOOK DOWN AT THE TRANSMISSION AND I ACTUALLY SHIFTED IT THROUGH NEUTRAL INTO REVERSE. BUT, IT AT LEAST WAS STOPPED. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN AMES, IA AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I TOOK IT IN ON MAR 4, 2010. THEY SAID THEY RAN ALL SORTS OF DIAGNOSTICS ON IT AND IT CHECKED OUT FINE. THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA AND OPENED UP A CASE NUMBER AND WOULD LET ME KNOW WHEN THEY KNEW SOMETHING MORE. MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE FLOOR MAT RECALL, BUT THE SAME DEALER LOOKED AT IT LAST YEAR AND SAID THE FLOOR MAT WAS FINE. IT WAS NOT ON THE FOOT PEDAL RECALL. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS TRYING TO HIDE WITH THESE OTHER RECALLS. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN AND BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ASAP. *TR
2003
STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
TOYOTA HAS RECALLED MY TRUCK DUE TO A RUSTED OUT FRAME. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS ELECTED TO REPLACE MY FRAME WITH A NEW FRAME. THIS LARGE PROCEDURE HAS LEFT ME INSECURE ABOUT THE OUTCOME. THIS TRUCK IS NOW 10 YEARS OLD AND AS SOON AS THE START WRENCHING ON ALL THE SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO DISASSEMBLE AND RE ASSEMBLE MY TRUCK I AM AFRAID THAT THEY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF EXISTING COMPONENTS DUE TO ADDED WEAR AND TEAR. THE DEALER WILL NEED TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL BRAKE LINES AND GAS LINES THAT HAVE BEEN SET IN PLACE AND HAVE EXTENSIVE CORROSION THIS WILL LEAD TO PREMATURE FAILURE AND UNSAFE OPERATION. MOST MECHANIC KNOW THAT A RUSTED AND SET BOLT THAT HAS NOT BEEN MOVED FOR 10 YEARS HAS A 50% CHANCE OF REMOVAL. IN ORDER TO REMOVE SUCH A "STUCK" BOLT THEY WILL NEED TO APPLY HEAT AND IMPACT AND MAY WEAKEN THE EXISTING PARTS, STEEL, AND BOLTS TO LOWER LEVELS OUT OF TOLERANCE THAT THE VEHICLE AS DESIGNED ORIGINALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THIS SERVICE IS COMPLETED IN A LOCATION WITH OUT THE CONTROLS, QUALITY ASSURANCE AND TESTING THAT IS IN PLACE IN A FACTORY WHERE NEW VEHICLES ARE BUILT. THERE IS UNCERTAINTY THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL BE ASSEMBLED, TESTED, AND INSPECTED ACCORDING THE MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES FOR A FACTORY PRODUCED VEHICLE. THIS LEADS TO UNCERTAINTY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT OPERATE WITHIN THE INTENDED MANUFACTURES GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY, ROLL OVER PROTECTION, AND CRASH PERFORMANCE. I PROPOSE THAT A TOTAL FRAME RECALL AND REPLACEMENT (OR ANY LARGE INTEGRAL PART THAT WILL IMPACTED THE VEHICLE OPERATION) ON ANY VEHICLE SHALL NOT BE ALLOWED GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY DESCRIBED. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THERE APPEARED TO BE AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL BOOT THAT WAS NOT APPARENT PRIOR TO THE FRAME REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE.