2003 Toyota Tacoma Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 26about this part
- Share
- 7%of 360 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 92,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma, 7% of the 360 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 92,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving my vehicle 2003 Toyota Tacoma on highway 156 downhill to hollister, ca I was going approx 65 MPH and it just jerked back and lost power I was only able to go 40mph no higher , the engine light has not turned on and it seems I am getting no kind of diagnostic error of what could be wrong.”
NHTSA complaint #10872458, filed 2016-06, 246 miles“Coming to a stop approx 2 MPH the engine suddenly revved very loudly and the truck show forward. The brakes did not stop the truck. I swerved to avoid the campsite we were at and hit a tree very hard. The engine however continued to rev loudly and I shifted to park. With the engine still very loud and the wheels spinning I had to shut the engine by removing the key.”
NHTSA complaint #10532725, filed 2013-07, 188,707 miles“I was driving down the highway experience loss of power such as fuel push the throttle down a couple of times it pick back up happened to more times within 10 mi1nutes it did not throw a code been checking it may relate to a throttle body problem been reading about problems with the throttle body do not want this to happen in heavy traffic or pulling out in front of traffic please let me know what or how to take care of this problem”
NHTSA complaint #10897349, filed 2016-08, 200,000 miles“There is a serious hazard with the throttle body where hitting the gas pedal when accelerating will sometimes cause the truck to act as though you took your foot off the pedal - turning left with oncoming traffic almost caused an accident when the truck did not accelerate as you would expect when pressing the gas pedal. I had my mechanic try to diagnose the problem before looking up the symptoms online, and he traced it to the actuator in the electronic throttle body system. …”
NHTSA complaint #10734645, filed 2015-07, 101,000 miles“While driving in traffic the throttle stuck at above normal idle and the check engine light came on. I was able to exit the traffic but the idle would not come back to normal curb idle. What my mechanic has told me is that the throttle body assembly has failed and they can only get the part from the dealer. If this had happened on the freeway the outcome could have not been so good. I hope Toyota is aware of this problem and going to address the situation.”
NHTSA complaint #10555835, filed 2013-12, 108,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10045140Jun 13, 2012Toyota: accelerator pedal sensor assembly information regarding the inspection, removal, and installation, if lubrication or oil, is applied.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 15% |
| 2024 | 2 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 4% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 5 | 6% |
| 2020 | 9 | 10% |
| 2019 | 12 | 5% |
| 2018 | 19 | 9% |
| 2017 | 11 | 5% |
| 2016 | 10 | 3% |
| 2015 | 9 | 9% |
| 2014 | 4 | 4% |
| 2013 | 8 | 6% |
| 2012 | 22 | 7% |
| 2011 | 9 | 5% |
| 2010 | 34 | 12% |
| 2009 | 59 | 11% |
| 2008 | 85 | 19% |
| 2007 | 108 | 20% |
| 2006 | 147 | 19% |
| 2005 | 93 | 13% |
| 2004 | 30 | 7% |
| 2003 | 26 | 7% |
| 2002 | 8 | 2% |
| 2001 | 11 | 3% |
| 2000 | 6 | 3% |
| 1999 | 8 | 3% |
| 1998 | 16 | 5% |
| 1997 | 6 | 5% |
| 1996 | 12 | 5% |
| 1995 | 5 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma
181 complaintsSuspension
66 complaintsAir bags
28 complaintsOther or unknown
26 complaintsFuel system
22 complaintsTires
21 complaintsBrakes
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsEngine
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Tacoma
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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