2003 Toyota Tacoma Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 1%of 360 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 87,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the seats of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma, 1% of the 360 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 87,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The front seats on my 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 xtracab rock on their tracks when I drive on rough surfaces. I took the vehicle to my nearest dealer and they said they would apply a shim in order to solve the noise problem. However the shims were already installed during manufacturing, so the dealer said they could not fix the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10058153, filed 2004-02, 1,000 miles“The metal bar inside the seat headrest is coming through the cloth. There is no padding between the metal bar and your head. In a crash you would hit the metal bar inside the headrest with your head. Other people on the internet have complained of the same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10747708, filed 2015-08, 96,000 miles“The foam inside the driver's head rest has deteriorated so a steel bar is covered by only fabric and no foam. It creates a hazard because in case of a rear end crash, the driver's head will impact a steel bar instead of a foam pad. I contacted Toyota. They consider it out of warranty and want almost $500 for a new head restraint. This is like saying the seatbelts or airbags don't have to work for the life of the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10457143, filed 2012-05, 78,000 miles“Foam in head restraints have deteriorated to the point where the steel bar is only covered by the fabric of the head restraint. This should be considered a safety hazard. If a person in a car accident was to have their head hit the head restraint, serious injury would occur because of the exposed steel bar.”
NHTSA complaint #10543088, filed 2013-09Related service bulletins
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 2 | 2% |
| 2024 | 5 | 3% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 3 | 4% |
| 2020 | 2 | 2% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 2 | 1% |
| 2017 | 10 | 4% |
| 2016 | 22 | 7% |
| 2015 | 3 | 3% |
| 2014 | 3 | 3% |
| 2013 | 4 | 3% |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% |
| 2004 | 2 | 0% |
| 2003 | 5 | 1% |
| 2001 | 3 | 1% |
| 2000 | 4 | 2% |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma
181 complaintsSuspension
66 complaintsAir bags
28 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsVehicle speed control
26 complaintsFuel system
22 complaintsTires
21 complaintsBrakes
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology