The 2003 Toyota Tacoma is arguably the best off-road pickup of its model year, and it’s one of the most reliable older trucks on the road today. But the ride is a bit rough, and the comparable GMC Sonoma costs about half the price.
Is the 2003 Toyota Tacoma a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – Tacoma drivers are a loyal bunch, and for good reason. The 2003 edition is a fun off-roader and a capable work truck at a good price.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – You can just about move apartments in a single trip with this truck, but even the larger cabs are a tight fit for a full crew.
- Reliability 9/10 – You’re going to have a hard time finding a Tacoma driver who regrets the purchase. One of the most likely vehicles in any class to hit 300,000 miles.
- Safety 6/10 – Adequate for 2003, but with dated safety tech, lousy rollover ratings, and mediocre overall crash test scores.
- Gas Mileage 8/10 – The 2.7L engine gets 19/21 miles to the gallon, city/highway, which is pretty darn good for a 2003 pickup.
- Value 8/10 – The 2003 Tacoma is priced fairly in the mid-range. At the lower pricing end it’s one of the best deals on the market today.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?
Consumer Reports praise the Tacoma’s efficient powertrain and name it as possibly the best off-road pickup for 2003. But they state that clumsy handling, rough riding, and worrying rollover tests make it a poor choice for daily-driver.
Kelley Blue Book users give the 2003 Tacoma a 95% recommendation, with drivers praising the truck’s long-lasting transmission and safe structure. Taco fans are notoriously loyal, but there were a few red marks for early frame rust and failing door handles.
Edmunds found the 2003 Tacoma flexible, with special praise for the off-road performance. They felt that the base trim levels could have been a little more generous with basic features, and the Xtracab should have been a four-door.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma Have?
The most common major problem being reported on the 2003 Tacoma’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration page: Premature frame rust. This is more common in colder states where you have a lot of road salt. If you’re buying in a region like the Midwest or New York State, you’ll want to check the undercarriage.
A handful of drivers have reported issues with the throttle body. As one owner puts it: When you ease off the accelerator, the truck will lose all throttle response. From there you have to wiggle and work it in and out until it starts working again. A new throttle body typically runs more than a thousand bucks, before labor.
Powertrain complaints are scarce, with one report from mid-2016 stating that the transmission jerked suddenly after the car hit a bump. A 2014 incident reports the shift lever failing. The Tacoma is known for its longevity, but you should expect some minor transmission issues now and then after you pass 200,000 miles.
Altogether, the 2003 Toyota Tacoma has just 5 recalls and 353 complaints on file with the NHTSA. Most 2003 pickups will have at least twice as many recalls and complaints as that.
How Long Will the 2003 Toyota Tacoma Last?
The 2003 Tacoma will usually last 200,000 miles at the least, and could get to 300,000 miles with fastidious maintenance.
RepairPal report that an older Tacoma should cost around $357 a year in maintenance, with the most expensive common repair being a new transfer case shift motor, starting at around $1,326.
How Is the Technology?
The entertainment technology is very dated. The entry level options are a radio with four speakers, or radio/tape player with six. The S-Runner’s CD player is about as fancy as it gets here. Just one more reason why the Tacoma isn’t really a daily driver.
Safety tech is basic but adequate for 2003. Full airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, and not much else. The truck meets any reasonable expectations for a 2003 pickup, but it makes no attempt to exceed those expectations.
Is the 2003 Toyota Tacoma a Good Value?
The 2003 Toyota Tacoma is an excellent value, having earned our Owner’s Choice award for the model year.
With fair purchase pricing averaging $6,163 for a base model with a regular cab and a six foot bed, it may seem a bit on the pricey side for such an old truck. But if it has 150,000 miles on it and the previous owner took good care of it, you might just double that before it reaches retirement age.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?
The 2003 Toyota Tacoma is available in three models from the stripped-down Base to the entry-level PreRunner to the S-Runner, which has air conditioning.
With the bare-bones Base you’re getting:
- Fabric seating trim
- Center console with dual and rear cup holders
- Two auxiliary power outlets
- Front and rear mud guards
- AM/FM radio
The entry-level PreRunner adds:
- Optional tape cassette player with six speakers
- 15 inch silver styled steel wheels
- Manual air conditioning (in V6 models)
The S-Runner is technically the top of the line, adding:
- Manual air conditioning
Most of the features that come standard on trucks from this model year are offered in packages, like the Limited Package which adds cruise control and power windows, or the Enhancement Package which adds cassette players and air conditioning to lower trims.
All you can really do now is look for a used model that already has these features equipped. Even the higher-end Tacomas are pretty bare. These are work trucks first, and second and third. They’re awesome at what they do, but Toyota really weren’t thinking about comfort and convenience with these pickups.
What Engines Come In the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?
- The starter engine in the 2003 Tacoma is a 2.7L inline-four producing 150 horsepower and 177 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic and configured in rear wheel drive. This can tow up to 3,500 pounds with a payload capacity of 1,375 pounds.
- Next up is a 3.4L V6 producing 190 horsepower and 220 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic in four wheel drive, and it can tow up to 5,000 pounds with a payload capacity of 2,005.
What Colors Does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Toyota Tacoma?
The 2003 Tacoma is comfortable enough for work trips and outdoor exploration. The ride can be a bit stiff if you’re taking long road trips, and the suspension is built for gravel, hills, and broken roads more so than streets and highways.
An Xtra cab only has about 50 inches of hip room, so while the truck is advertised to seat 4-5 adults, 4 adults is more realistic. Anymore than that and there’s going to be a lot of elbows and knees bumping into each other.
You’ll definitely want to check under the truck to make sure the suspension isn’t rusted through. The truck rides stiff as is, and if the shocks are totally corroded you might as well be riding on bricks.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma Have?
The short bed is 61.2 inches long, while the long bed is 74.4 inches. Both beds are about 16 inches deep and 57 inches across. In 2003, the Tacoma was still considered a compact pickup, and in that size class it’s punching above its weight. Almost anything you might carry in an F-150 or a Ram, you can carry in a Tacoma.
Inside the cab is another story. There’s not that many spots to pack your phones or set your drinks. The best rule of thumb here may be if you can’t put it in the bed or the glove compartment, put it in your pocket or leave it at home.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Tacoma was the second to last of the 1st Generation for the iconic pickup, with the compact design being swapped for a mid-size starting with the 2005 model year.
1995: Toyota introduced the Tacoma in early 1995 to replace the Hilux. As rugged as the Tacoma may be, it was actually intended to improve the ride quality and comfort over the Hilux, featuring smoother suspension and roomier cabs.
1996: Toyota remodeled the headlights in the rear wheel drive trims from recessed to a flush design for 1996.
1997: Rear wheel drives models got a new grille for 1997, but no major mechanical changes.
1998: A new off-road package was introduced, adding a locking rear differential.
1999: Seatbelts were updated according to new standards, with pretensioners and force limiters.
2000: 2000 saw the introduction of appearance packages and some new paint options.
2001: The Tacoma got a visual tweak for 2001 with new grilles.
2002: No major changes were made for 2002 as Toyota was finalizing designs for the second-gen at this point.
2003: Anti-lock brakes became standard and child restraint systems were improved.
2004: No changes for 2004 as Toyota was about to launch the mid-size version for 2005.
How Does the 2003 Toyota Tacoma Compare to the Competition?
Comparing a 2003 Tacoma to that year’s Ford Ranger, the Ranger specs are comparable across the board, give or take a few points here and there. The Tacoma can tow up to 5,000 pounds, the Ranger can tow up to 5,860. The Ranger Edge Plus gets 18/21 miles to the gallon, city/highway, the Tacoma S-Runner gets 19/24. Typical listing prices are about the same, too, but the Ranger is reported to be a smoother ride, and the Tacoma is the preferred off-roader.
The GMC Sonoma is likewise comparable on specs, but sells at around half the price of a Tacoma. The Sonoma also features more creature comforts like CD players in the lower trim levels. On the other hand, the Sonoma doesn’t have the same reputation as a Tacoma for longevity.
2003 was a pretty good year for compact trucks and you can’t go wrong with any of the pickups listed above. The Taco is the best off-roader, the Sonoma is priced to move, and the Ranger may be the best all-arounder.
