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2003 Toyota Tundra Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2003 Toyota Tundra, and owners have filed 399 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
399
owner complaints to NHTSA
26 / 3
complaints citing a crash / fire
14–16
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota Tundra

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 19V741000 Reported 928,220 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012…

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.…

  2. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 18V883000 Reported 168,993 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or…

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,…

  3. Air bags

    NHTSA 15V285000 Reported 1,973,468 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an…

    Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy…

  4. Air bags

    NHTSA 15V286000 Reported 1,069,055 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S.…

    Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy…

  5. Underbody shields (structure)

    NHTSA 09V444000 Reported 110,000 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Toyota is recalling model year 2000-2003 tundra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia,…

    Remedy: Toyota is asking owners of the affected vehicles to remove the spare tire from under the vehicle until a remedy can be obtained. Dealers will inspect the rear cross member and related components, including the brake…

  6. On-off switch assembly (air bags)

    NHTSA 05V254000 Reported 156,111 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Certain pickup trucks fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, 'child restraint anchorage systems.' these vehicles have a manual air bag on-off switch to disable the front passenger air bag and do not have a child restraint lower anchorage system in the front passenger seat. This…

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the manual air bag on-off switch, replace the owner's manual, and affix a new sun visor air bag warning label. The recall began in early january 2007. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

  7. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 05V225000 Reported 768,379 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

399 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Toyota Tundra have filed 399 complaints with NHTSA; 26 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 99,453 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 45 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“NHTSA Campaign 09V444000 for 2000-2003 Toyota Tundra to address severe corrosion on the rear frame cross-member section or rear brake lining proportion valve. Vehicle was apparently treated with CRC i”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 30, 2026 · Structure

“Getting Airbag light on . Went to Modesto Toyota and they installed new clock spring strap in steering wheel. After installing the airbag light came back on . I again went back to dealer with same iss”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 16, 2026 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Toyota Tundra (Tundra 2WD, Tundra 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined14–16 mpg
City / Highway13–15 / 16–18
FuelRegular
EPA classStandard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 3.4/4.7 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Toyota Tundra model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Tundra model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1999 Toyota Tundra01
2000 Toyota Tundra31,011
2001 Toyota Tundra2415
2002 Toyota Tundra3482
2003 Toyota Tundra7399
2004 Toyota Tundra8466
2005 Toyota Tundra12376
2006 Toyota Tundra10545
2007 Toyota Tundra12390
2008 Toyota Tundra12327
2009 Toyota Tundra1238
2010 Toyota Tundra15163
2011 Toyota Tundra10134
2012 Toyota Tundra3156
2013 Toyota Tundra585
2014 Toyota Tundra493
2015 Toyota Tundra450
2016 Toyota Tundra5120
2017 Toyota Tundra578
2018 Toyota Tundra8100
2019 Toyota Tundra974
2020 Toyota Tundra446
2021 Toyota Tundra224
2022 Toyota Tundra13429
2023 Toyota Tundra13409
2024 Toyota Tundra10342
2025 Toyota Tundra5137
2026 Toyota Tundra132

Checking a specific 2003 Toyota Tundra

How do I know if my 2003 Toyota Tundra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2003 Toyota Tundra; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V225000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.