2000 Toyota Tacoma

My son was driving the 2000 Toyota Tacoma across very smooth transition railroad tracks at about 25 mph and the right front ball joint failed, collapsing the suspension. He lost all control and the vehicle skidded to a stop. Had he been going any faster, the vehicle could have rolled over. I have reviewed the recalls for Toyota ball joints and found the there is a 50J recall for 2001-2005 Tacomas. Interestingly enough, the trucks/Tacomas from 1995-2000 have the same ball joint but were not included in the recall. I have tried to work with Toyota directly on this matter and they don't seem to want to help me. This is a safety issue and should be elevated to recall levels for all vehicles with this ball joint.

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that he received a recall notification for an unknown safety recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle did not need the recall repair at the time. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle to the independent mechanic for a repair, he was informed that the entire subframe was corroded. The dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO VANN YORK TOYOTA (500 EASTCHESTER DR, HIGH POINT, NC 27262) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR FOR VERIFYING IF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE REPAIR WAS DONE BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013. THE UNKNOWN DEALER SPRAYED THE FRAME WITH AN UNDERCOAT AFTER INSURING THAT IT WAS NOT RUSTED. THE UNDERCOAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT FRAME FROM ANY FUTURE RUSTING. THE FRAME WAS NOT RUSTED PRIOR TO THE COATING BEING APPLIED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE FRAME STARTED TO RUST WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE AT UNDER THE REAR FENDER WELLS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SUBFRAME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.*DT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 270,000.

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR A RUSTED FRAME IN 2008 OUR 2000 TACOMA WAS INSPECTED AND SAID TO BE OK. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR END, SO WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED US THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT RUST TO THE FRAME AND THE BACK SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED, LEAVING THE TRUCK UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE INITAL NOISE WAS NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY.