Extreme rust area all around rear differential, pitting in metal, and also the spare wheel tire extreme rust.
2003 Toyota Tundra brakes complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 41, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Purchased a 2003 toyota tundra july 2016. Frame was undercoated by toyota and did not seem to be any issues at the time of purchase. After a few months of ownership, I have been conducting some of my own maintenance under the vehicle. While under, I noticed large areas had the crc treatment chipping and pealing off. I called my local toyota dealer (priority toyota chesapeake, va) the service manager said the corrosion protection has expired and there was nothing further they could do. While attempting to grease my propeller shaft, I was on my creaper trying to pull myself under the vehicle. I grabbed part of the frame, in front of the leaf spring perch. While grabbing this section of frame and pulling myself under the truck, the frame crumbled in to my hand. There were a lot of rust flakes, large and small, I collected as much of the rust and flakes as I could and stored them in a zip lock bag. The size of the deterioration was about 7" long and perforated about 9/16" near the bottom of the c channel. I am very concerned about the integrity of the frame on this vehicle particularly in regards to braking system, frame cross members and suspension components. I called toyota customer service soon after to report what happened. I told them my VIN and other information. They said they would call back in 1 business day. I received a call from toyota today 10/27/16 and a representative told me that toyota is no longer supporting my vehicle for any campaigns. I asked the representative for further literature regarding the frame corrosion programs for tundras, however, toyota will not let me have this information. At this point toyota will do nothing to help or provide assistance in repairing their poorly designed vehicle. Please do not buy toyotas because in the future there will be failures and toyota will not stand behind their products. Plain and simple.
I am a retired toyota master diagnostic technician. I had to replace my rear brake lines on my 2003 tundra-with 79,962 miles. The rear brake lines have rusted through which had to be replaced- at my expense. My brakes failed as I was towing a trailer in heavy, city traffic. I was going 35mph when a vehicle pulled out in front of me and then proceeded to stop suddenly to make a left turn into a parking lot. I slammed on the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. I was lucky there was room to maneuver to the right so I was able to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me. I'm sure there have been those less fortunate. Then, as I was replacing the lines, I saw a fluid leak under rear of vehicle. Upon inspection I found the rear differential housing has rusted so badly that the gear oil is leaking through the housing. Unfortunately the only remedy is the replacement of the complete rear axle/differential assembly. Also the power steering lines have also rusted through which also had to be replaced- at my expense. The frame has already been replaced-under recall. It is obvious that the material that was used is of very low quality causing very dangerous situations.ie; loss of vehicle control due to differential lock-up, loss of vehicle braking due to rapid fluid loss, loss of vehicle steering control due to rapid fluid loss. I am amazed that toyota motor co. Will not stand behind the product they sold-without being forced to. One quick look under a 2003 tundra is all it takes to see that low/poor quality hardware and materials were used. Without repair and/or replacement of above stated components someone will get injured-possibly fatally. Please investigate these complaints as soon as possible. These components should last for the lifetime of the truck. A differential is not an item one expects to ever replace-"sorry but your warranty's expired". Thank you. Sincerely, information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Brake system - we purchased our 2003 tundra new in 2003. It didn't take long to experience a pad and rotor problem, but my wife has mostly freeway driven the truck about 90 miles per day. She seldom speeds and has a perfect track record to show for it. When I would drive the tundra, I almost always noticed a braking hop (in the pedal). Unfortunately, she has a tendency to defer maintenance. For the most part, we have put the tundra in the shop for new rotors or new pads(oem) alternately approx. Every 1500 miles. John elway toyota says they can check to see if there's anything they can do . . . Nothing yet. Toyota knows they have a problem with the downgraded braking system on these vehicles. I don't know , but suspect, a completely new, upgraded brake system, including, but not limited to rotors, pads, drums, bearings and calipers be installed. Should I just pay the $2 gs?
Toyota applied a corrosion resistant compound to the rear cross-member assemblies and to the adjacent areas of the frame. This coating has completely peeled off, rendering the exposed corroded metal back to it's original recalled state. This recall occurred in january of 2012, the problem was supposedly fixed by toyota. All of the coating is gone, and, no longer protecting the exposed and corroded metal.
I bought a brand new 2003 toyota tundra and never had any problems with the vehicle until my first cross country retirement trip in september 2013. My planned trip was from tennessee to california. When I reached kingman, arizona (about 1200 miles into the trip), I was traveling uphill on interstate 40 when suddenly the truck accelerated itself to a high RPM and speed. I applied the brakes but they did not respond or slow the truck down. I tried to maintain steering control, but in a split-second, I was thrown off the highway and into the hillside, trees, and bushes. The truck completely rolled over, flipped uphill, and come to a stop facing traffic. The landed driver side down, and was completely totaled. The truck only had 79,000 miles on it. A month later I learned that there was a previous recall done for this type of problem, but did not include the 2003 model. I now wonder how many others were injured due to this problem. I took many pictures of the damages.
Truck was being driven 250mi from destination a to b. While enroute, leaving the highway for a rest stop, the brake pedal went to the floor. Brake failure, unable to properly stop. Had truck towed to a local dealer who identified failure in (2) front steel brake lines. Total $ 428; and of course the situation could have been a lot worse. Vehicle has been maintained, all recommended service intervals, etc. Service tech stated looked to be due to rust - corrosion. I have never had this occur on a vehicle this little mi. And years. I am going to write toyota as well.
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 of vehicle. Photos of 2003 toyota tundra frame, rear cross members, spare tire carrier, rear brake lines & fuel tank mounting system were taken and sent to lead service tech three states away in texas. Was informed extensive frame rust exists on all components (frame, rear cross members, spare tire carrier, rear brake lines & fuel tank mounting system) but it is not covered because vehicle is no longer registered in wisconsin. Purchased this 2003 toyota certified vehicle in wisconsin in april of 2010 and no information was given to me at regarding the federal safety agency investigation or any rust inspections that were performed. Toyota corporation refuses to repair, replace or add corrosion resistant compound to any severely affected rusted components. Significant rust issues exist on this vehicle and still toyota corporation refuses to provide any documentation of their inspections. Toyota corporation will not put in writing that the frame, rear cross members, spare tire carrier, rear brake lines & fuel tank mounting system is safe or road worthy. Deadline for all rust repairs is december 31, 2012. Toyota corporation is stalling consumers to keep from doing any repairs and leaving unsafe rusted 2003 toyota tundra's on the highways. Please initiate a new the federal safety agency investigation regarding this matter for the safety of consumers.
I bought my tundra new in 2003..I bought it to carry the mail as I was informed that it would last longer and hold up better than other makes..I had to replace the front brake pads the first time at about 15,000 miles but was not to concerned as I use them more heavily than most drivers..the next time was about 12,000 miles and this time it was shuttering very bad and I replaced the rotors along with new pads..this has been an on going problem of replacement of parts to elevate the severe shuttering each time thinking I had it fixed..today for the first time I find out that this is not only problem that toyota knew about but possibly have tried to cover because the real fix is very costly ($2000)..they issued a tbs (br004-02) along with 6 or 7 other tsb's about the problems with brakes from year model 2000-2005..I contacted toyota and they told me that if I would have brought the vehicle to a dealer before my 36,0000 warranty expired it could have been fixed..had I known about the service bulletin I would have taken it to the dealer..since the brake parts are not covered under the 36,000 mile warranty I did not take it to the dealer as the first pad replacement seemed to fix the problem..I was informed that maybe if enough people filed a complaint here that toyota would be forced to fix a problem that they new about but did not inform owners about to have repaired..
2003 toyota tundra with excessive frame rust including all rustable components with any connection to the frame. 2011 maine state inspection failed due to rusted emergency brake. The emergency brake had been repaired two years prior for same reason (june 2009).
Extreme warping on front disc brake rotors. Driving down the road and steering wheel shakes almost uncontrollably. This leads to longer stopping distances. I contacted the dealership and they said it is not a recall and it is because the rotors are to small for the size vehicle. I know several other owners with the same problem and had them replaced,but about 2000 miles on new equipment and they warp again. This is very dangerous as I own a toyota tundra and a toyota sequoia and both have the same parts and same problem.
Anti-lock braking system failed: brakes locked under wet conditions. Vehicle slid off road. Vehicle has history of pulsating brake pedal, shuttering and clanging noises under braking.
I read with interest the ap story about problems with brakes on the toyota prius. The first generation tundra (2000-2006) has had front brake problems for years (undersized) and toyota refuses to acknowledge it or issue a recall. The brakes on my 2003 tundra are horrible. They vibrate and shimmy. I had to replace pads and turn the rotors twice already and the vehicle only has approximately 80,000 miles. My mechanic tells me the entire front brakes need to be replaced as the rotors cannot be turned again. Toyota has issued a technical service bulletin on these brakes tsb br004-02 but that's it, and the suggested fix is very expensive. Check out some of the online forums for more information about this annoying, expensive problem. Http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/brakes/65633-upgrade-your-early-tundra-brakes-1-a/ http://www.tundratalk.net/ http://www.yotatech.com/f28/tire-size-stock-2003-tundra-rims-92790/ just in case you are interested... Thanks for listening.
Front rotors keep warpping. Turned the original set at 40000, then replaced them with slotted rotors, which have now warpped. Understand there is a techinncal service bulletin stating the rear brakes do not self adjust, subsequently increasing the brake load on the front, causing the warpping. The real fix might be to fix the rear brakes. Apply the brakes and the front wheels shudder or shimmy offically called "pulsation" increased when braking on a downhill or with some load in the bed. Toyota should fix this!!!
Front brake caliper corrosion leading to reduced braking capability.
The frame on my 2003 toyota tundra is rusting badly. Toyota was unable to align my front end due to rust, and it has caused the emergency brake system to completely freeze up and the brake will not work. It is a complete failure of the emergency brake system, I have no brake. Toyota tried to free up the brakes but were not able to. They gave me a can of lubricant and told me to keep lubing the frozen section. They were completely unable to align my front end.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota tundra. The contact noticed that the main frame of the vehicle was perforated due to severe rust corrosion. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection and they replaced the rusted fuel tank filler neck. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer on a separate occasion. The technician detected a rusted brake backing plate, and the front and rear brakes were replaced. In addition, four new tires were mounted on the vehicle. The technician was unable to perform a tire alignment due to the significant frame damage. The VIN was unable to be entered into the system. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 62,000.
Have a toyota tundra with front brakes that are warped. Vehicle has extreme vibration when braking. Apparently toyota has a tsb issued for this but the vehicle is now out of warranty. This seems to be a common problem from what I have read.
I have a 2003 tundra and the brakes vibrate when applied. This is a safety issue especially in snow slush and rain. I refuse to pay $2,000 for a manufacturing defect. I also see it affects many other owners. Hopefully I don't get hurt!
Excessive vibration while slowing to a stop. Steering wheel shakes and very minor brake pedal pulsation. Front brake pad replacement minimizes issue for short period of time before recurrence.
I have had my rotors resurfaced twice once at 20000 and just now at 40000. Just about went off a cliff last time because of the vibration. Warped rotors every 20000 miles seems quite much.
The rotors on my 2003 tundra are warping every 1,000 miles or so. This is a known safety problem and toyota should be responsible for remedying the issue.
Dt: the consumer complained about a brake problem. At first the front brakes caused the vehicle to shutter when they were applied. Then the brakes faded out, causing the vehicle to not stop in time. The consumer felt that the weight of the vehicle was too much for the brakes. The consumer found that the problem was due to the brakes wearing out too quickly. The front brakes have been replaced once under warranty. Also,the rotors and pads were replaced. The problem first started in june 2004 and at 15,000-20,000 miles. The problem almost caused several accidents. The manufacturer issued five technical service bulletins (tsb) for the front brakes. They had a brake upgrade available for the vehicle. They refused to fix the vehicle under warranty. *ak (11/15/05)
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.
The front rotors and pads have had to be replaced four times because of vibration. Consumer was involved in a rear end collision because of the brakes.*ak
3 days after purchase of vehicle the rotors were warped. Brought vehicle back to dealer they pointed out the fact that there was already a recall on the brakes. The dealer installed the recall parts which consisted of new calipers, resurfacing the existing rotors, and various other axle related parts. The recall service did not include new pads. 3 or 4 days after the recall service the brakes were again warped!!! They stopped fine for just driving around town, but when you have to panic stop at freeway speed, they fade badly and then warp rotors. This complaint isn't about warped rotors as much as it is the brake fade at high speeds. Very dangerous doesn't stop well at all. Please consider a larger pad and better proportioning between the front and the back brakes.
When applying the brakes they pulsate.
While driving at any speed the vehicle vibrated. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the brakes and disc brakes needed to be replaced. However, problem recurred.
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 feature was added to reduce jerky feeling when shifting gears. The issue presents a serious safety issue. When traveling at highway speeds, in an emergency, you can't afford to loose 1.5 seconds of braking time. Additionally, there is the added wear on your front disk brake pads due to the engine trying to maintain RPM while brakes are trying to stop the truck. This issue has been reproduced at the dealer. To check a truck, cruise at 55 or 65 MPH, note the RPM - then if you have to brake hard try to note if the RPM drops immediately or, hangs up for a second or two. Another way to check this is, while parked, race engine to 2500-3000 RPM then switch foot from gas to brake pedal quickly-simulating an emergency stop. Note the RPM and engine sound. You will find the engine still maintaining that 2500-3000 RPM for 1-1.5 seconds. Also, dealer pointed out that unless there are more complaints, toyota 'will not' do anything about this problem. Personally I would like this issue resolved before incident(s) forces us to look seriously at this. Thanks to all mike laudano.
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.
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