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Air bagsPart report

2003 Toyota Tundra Air bags Problems

Complaints
86about this part
Share
22%of 399 total for the year
Median mileage
118,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 86 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Toyota Tundra, 22% of the 399 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 118,500 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 5 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Takata recall, I was involved in a collision with my Toyota Tundra when a nissan altima failed to stop for a stop sign. At witch point my air bags did not go off. The truck is totaled and so was the nissan! I was driving east on quincy ave. And the nissan was driving south on b st. When she failed to stop at the stop sign.”

NHTSA complaint #11203011, filed 2019-04, 275,000 miles

“I was in motion and driving on a residential street, while operating vehicle at the time of accident. After the collision, the airbag did not deploy. The takata airbag was replaced by the auto manufacturer (Toyota dealership) prior to my above mentioned accident. The auto accident occurred for unknown reasons, possibly brake failure or unexpected acceleration of the car engine.”

NHTSA complaint #11232083, filed 2019-07, 168,168 miles

“I received a Toyota recall letter on 11/24/2014 that my truck is not safe to drive and to get the passenger airbag replaced. The dealer stated on 11/24/2014 they do not have the parts and cannot fix. I called Toyota and they stated the parts will not be available until january 2015 at the earliest. The recall letter states the truck is not safe to drive and I should park it. As my only vehicle how is this possible to have no car for 3 months.”

NHTSA complaint #10660777, filed 2014-11, 105,000 miles

“Takara inflators and driving down a very busy street and had a driver flashing his lights at me. I pulled over to find out that my spare tire underneath my truck had fallen off and bounced into a building. I go back to get it and notice that it had rusted and fell off. I've been having ball joint issues and now my rack and pinion has started to leak because of rust. I've learned about a recall on my frame has been issued. I called Toyota and they said my truck had been looked at and no problem was found. I've got the spare tire and the rusted bracket. …”

NHTSA complaint #11221799, filed 2019-06, 143,000 miles

“In mid december, 2019, I was driving on the interstate and the spare tire dropped from under my 2003 Toyota Tundra. Fortunately, no vehicles were behind me at the time. I was so surprised to see that tire bouncing down the road behind me! That spare tire had never been taken from the carrier. I made an appointment with a Toyota dealer for inspection/recall in early february. They said the corrosion on the cross-member needed to be replaced but the spare tire carrier corrosion issue causing the tire to drop was only for recalls on the tacoma models, I was responsible for the issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11307603, filed 2020-02, 169,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202511%
202421%
202341%
202241%
202114%
202024%
201934%
201855%
201734%
201643%
201536%
201478%
201345%
201296%
201164%
201096%
200938%
200893%
2007144%
200613425%
20058322%
20045011%
20038622%
2002214%
200182%
2000192%

Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Tundra

Body and structure
150 complaints
Suspension
63 complaints
Brakes
41 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
35 complaints
Other or unknown
33 complaints
Fuel system
23 complaints
Steering
22 complaints
Vehicle speed control
12 complaints
Engine cooling
8 complaints
Seat belts
8 complaints
Tires
8 complaints
Wheels
7 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Tundra

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