Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Tundra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was turning down a residential street and when I was getting up to speed. About 30 miles per hour. My truck jumped up a couple times like I hit a pit hole. I got out to inspect and see what I hit but the street was freshly paved 2 years before it was smooth as butter. I look at the truck and find out my passenger tire had fallen off. Upon further inspection I see my ball joints failed and try tire came off. It snapped the cv axle in half ripped and the brake line and abs module off and broke the frame bracket for the rack and pinon. As a result my insurance totaled my vehicle out.
I need to have rear shock replaced. They found that the bracket holder rusted thru . Shock was fine . The Rear frame corrosion and separation, spare tire frame corrosion is really bad. I have had this truck since 2004 . I absolutely love my truck. I am deeply saddened that all the care I took still didn't prevent all this damage .
I had the frame inspection recall performed in 2012 and was told the frame is OK so they coated the frame with under coating. A few months later I was driving to work and hit a joint on the highway and ended up in the next lane. As I am in the business I put the vehicle in the air that evening and found the steering rack mount was detached from the frame due to rust. I then spoke to Toyota customer service and explained the situation and I was told to bring the vehicle back in and they would look at it. I was told again the frame is OK.. I did explain to the dealer that I had to wld a steel plate to the frame so the vehicle would be safe to drive. They still said the frame is OK and they would re spray the frame as a gesture for the inconvenience. I have made numerous calls and emails to Toyota since then because June of 2016 I found rust holes in the frame in 2 different spots.. …
The whole chassis frame for my truck is significantly and dangerously rusted and it is breaking apart which is a safety issue for me, my family, and other drivers. This also has lead to my breaks lines failing due to rust which almost caused an accident due to me not been able to stop on a red light. There is significant rust damage to the chassis frame and in some parts of the chassis frame that were welded from factory have broken off. In other sections of the chassis frame pieces have started to fall off and there are holes through the chassis frame where there should not be holes. Parts that should be solid steel have holes through it. The rust is so bad on the chassis frame that it has rusted out the fuel lines as well just like it did the brake lines. Sections where the engine mounts go in the chassis are also heavily damage due to rust. …
A recall letter was sent for 2003 Tundra for undercoating. Vehicle was taken to dealership and was there for three days. I was told nothing else was needed. I brought attention to dealership about frame recall. I was told my vehicle was not under that recall although the year and model was on the site. Second issue of concern, entire steering line replaced. There was a lack of power steering. Vehicle housed for three days at dealership. Fast forward today, 25 September was brought to my attention by service manager of large amount of frame rust and vehicle was not road worthy. Layers of rusted metal crumbled in manager's hand. As a consumer preventive maintenance repairs have been made. I have asked the dealership for help to resolve ongoing concerns. I am a female retired veteran pleading for help. I love my vehicle performance is the reason the mileage is 260,000 (+). …
Entire frame has severe rust despite anti-rust/corrosion inhibitor applied in 2010-2012. Small holes are now present in frame and the vehicle only has 108K miles. Recently, the power steering rack and pinion had to be replaced, as it rusted out. The technician noticed rust on other suspension components, indicating that rust had made the system weak and brittle. Copious amounts of corrosion inhibitor has now made it almost impossible to obtain a correct alignment. The rusted frame will soon, if not already, diminish the vehicle's safety. Toyota instituted a frame recall circa 2010 for just this issue. Somehow this VIN was omitted. The corrosion inhibitor has proved ineffective. I am requesting that NHTSA demand Toyota institute another recall for the excluded vins. …
Tl*- while driving at 55 mphthe 2003/Toyota/Tundra ran into the retainer wall because the tie rod on the passenger's side snapped, lifting the truck. On January 11 2006 the dealer fixed the recalled tire rod end and ball joint. The contact believed that they should have also replaced the entire rod itself, they did not. He had the truck for seventeen days when the tie rod snapped. This almost killed his entire family. His was told to call the hot line by the dealer. The current and failure mileage were both 41000.
Steering column shift bracket broke in 3 places when trying to shift from park to drive, making shifting impossible. See pictures from 2 of 3 fracture locations, 3rd fracture is at an attachment screw (not shown). This is cause by an punderdesigned part made of inferior cast aluminum. There are thousands of reports of this problem on tundras and other Toyota models with same defective bracket. This dangerous defect must be recalled and fixed by Toyota with a redesigned part.
Gear shifter broke while trying to place in park. The vehicle was in drive and as I attempted to move the shifter up to the park position it broke when it got to neutral. I was stranded away from home and had to call someone to come help me get it home. When looking up on youtube there are over 27,000 views on one post about this. This is faulty parts and should be recalled and fixed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tundra. After the vehicle was started, the driver side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown part related to the steering wheel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 261,000.
Steering complaints in other Tundra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2003 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the steering of the 2003 Toyota Tundra, 6% of the model year's 399 complaints. The component named most often is linkages › tie rod assembly (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota Tundra steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2003 Toyota Tundra, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Tundra steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 108,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.