2003 Toyota Tacoma Acceleration Problems

Which parts fail

• Accelerator pedal
  4
• Cruise control
  1

Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  522%
• 25k–50k
  417%
• 50k–75k
  29%
• 75k–100k
  14%
• 100k–150k
  626%
• 150k+
  522%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owned a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving up the driveway at 5 MPH and turning into the garage, the accelerator pedal was depressed but went down to the floorboard and became stuck. The contact lost control of the vehicle, and the vehicle crashed into the fence gate and the corner of the neighbor's residence. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injury sustained. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard, where it was totaled. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Tl*- the contact purchased on 07/29/03 a 2003 Toyota Tacoma four door dbl cab. The first failure occurred on 4/25/04 while slowly pulling into a parking place with and lightly accelerating, the engine revved so fast the truck drove over the parking strip and crashed into a pillar on the sidewalk, causing $5000.00 worth of damage to truck, and $6000.00 damage to the pillar. During the second occurrence on 10/09/06 vehicle stopped at a red light and the engine accelerated so the contact put it in to neutral and engine revved faster. The driver then shifted the vehicle back into drive and engine returned to normal in a couple seconds. During third occurrence on 02/05/07 while stopping at a red lightthe engine revved and went back to normal before the contact5 could turn off the key. If there had been a car in front of the contact's vehicle it would have caused a crash. …

While driving down the highway, I moved into the left lane to pass another car. When I stepped on the accelerator the nose pitched forward and the engine felt like it was not getting any gas. I was able to press the accelerator nearly all the way to the floor to continue getting power to the engine, but the first 2/3 of the pedal stroke were completely unresponsive. A check engine light came on and it was diagnosed as a throttle body issue. After doing some research, this seems to be a well documented issue on a number of Tacoma forums. The cost to replace will be $1400 dollars new or $400 dollars used. I am skeptical to purchase a refurbished part due to the known issue with it. This has happened a total of 6 times in 3.5 years of owning the vehicle and seems to occur in colder weather. Typically after pulling over and shutting the car off for 30 seconds, the issue is gone. …

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. Researching online after discovering this, it seems there is a major issue with the 2003/2004 trucks with this electronic throttle control system hybrid. This is extremely dangerous and I would have thought this would have been recalled based on the known issues with Toyota's throttle control systems in the past. The system does not throw a check engine light code when this happens.

Loss of accelerator due to bad throttle position sensor/throttle body. When you ease off the accelerator the vehicle will lose all throttle response. Then you have to "work" the accelerator in and out until it starts responding again. It happens on take off or anytime you back off on the accelerator. It has cut off on me trying to pull out into traffic and I almost got hit! It has happened on the interstate and I had to try to work my way over with no throttle and try not to get run over! It now happens every time I drive it. Toyota doesn't sell a new tps for this vehicle now ( a $40 to $50 part)Toyota will be happy to sell me a new throttle body for $1400 and that doesn't include labor. I thought manufacturers were required to provide parts for their vehicles.

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

I was the number 3 vehicle at a red light. First car went through (thinking the light had changed). Second car moved into first place. I started to follow and when I realized he had stopped I applied my brakes. I could feel the truck lurch even though I was still pressing the brakes as hard as possible. I slammed into him and caused damage to both vehicles. My foot was not on the gas pedal at all.

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.

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.

Intermidiot loss of throttle responce, from standing at light or stop sign and from acceleration. Hesitation during acceleration until pedel is pressed fully and ossulation while driving at a steady speed on hwy. * warning codes present**

Acceleration complaints in other Tacoma years