2001 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS TILTED CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPRING SHACKLE FRACTURED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

AFTER BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES, THE 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK WAS BEING BACKED INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN STEERING SUDDENLY LOCKED. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. I DETERMINED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000) FOR THIS ISSUE, WITH THE FOLLOWING CONSEQUENCE: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. IT SEEMS THAT OUR VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE FOR WHICH VEHICLES WERE RECALLED BY TOYOTA. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA, I WAS TOLD THAT OUR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. WE HAD TO SPEND THE MONEY AND TIME TO FIX THE FAILED BALL JOINT AND ARE CONSIDERING REPLACING THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT PROPHYLACTICALLY AS WE NO LONGER TRUST THE WHEELS TO REMAIN ON OUR TRUCK. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WHEEL COME OFF A CAR. IF THE WHEEL HAD DISENGAGED FROM OUR CAR 2 MINUTES PRIOR, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA IS NOT INCLUDING OUR CAR IN THE RECALL - EVEN THOUGH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR WHICH THE RECALL WAS ISSUED (FOR OUR VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR) OCCURRED ON OUR CAR. IF THE ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS, SOMEONE WOULD HAVE DIED AND A LAWYER WOULD BE CONTACTING TOYOTA AND NHTSA. PERHAPS THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED! *TR

HI, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR MY VEHICLE AS I LOVE MY TACOMA AND HOW IT DRIVES AND WORKS FOR ME IN MY DAILY LIFE. AS I HAD TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL ON MY SPARE TIRE CABLE, THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE MAN HAD TOLD ME THAT IN MY FRAME OF MY VEHICLE THERE IS A LARGE RUSTED OUT HOLE. SINCE THEN, I REALLY HAVEN'T FELT SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ANYWHERE AS I'M AFRAID THAT MY FRAME WILL BREAK AND CAUSE A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT. I'VE ALSO HAVE HAD IN THE PAST WHERE MY DAD'S VEHICLE (1998 TOYOTA TACOMA) WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT THING (FRAME ISSUE). AS FOR MY VEHICLE, I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND MY BROTHER WAS THE FIRST. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HERE IN THE MINNESOTA WEATHER ALL ITS LIFE TIME. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, IF NOT, I WILL PUSH THIS FORWARD WHERE I WILL GET SOME ATTENTION TO MY VEHICLE, MY SAFETY, AND OTHERS. AND PLUS, I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS INTO A LEGAL MATTER AS I LOVE MY TOYOTA. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2011 AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR FRAME RUST. BY THE TIME I GOT AROUND TO SCHEDULING AN APPT, I WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD ENDED. NOW, HOWEVER, THE FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND IS STARTING TO GIVE WAY AT THE REAR SHACKLE. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE HAS BECOME A SERIOUS HAZARD TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME BUCKLING. IF THE RECALL WAS PUT INTO EFFECT, TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND NOW IT HAS BECOME A SERIOUS LIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED TO THE POINT OF MAKING IT SAFE, BUT FEEL THAT I WAS NOT GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS DONE UNDER THE LIMITED TIME LEFT ON THE RECALL WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FRAME CONSTRUCTION IS EVIDENT BY THE FACT THAT THE BODY HAS ALMOST NO CORROSION PRESENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THE HEAVY FRAME STEEL THAT SHOULD NOT BE CORRODING LIKE THIS. THERE IS CURRENTLY ALSO AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE REAR TIRE CARRIER - WHICH IS RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE THAT I THINK TOYOTA IS OBLIGATED TO ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTING TOYOTA DOES NO GOOD, AS THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT HAS NOW RUN OUT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A SEVERE DEFECT PRESENT IN THE FRAME THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AND NOW REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DANGEROUS LIABILITY FOR ANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR

I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS ALERTED TO THE FRAME CORROSION. I CAN ACTUALLY PUSH MY FINGER THROUGH THE RUST AND FRAME, HOLES ARE VISIBLE IN THE FRAME. THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I FEAR OF SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE VOLUNTARY BUYBACK PROGRAM FOR FIXING THIS WAS EXPIRED. I AM NOW LEFT WITH AN IMMACULATELY CLEAN CAR IN PRISTINE SHAPE THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND I AM LEERY OF EVEN SELLING TO SOMEONE ELSE REGARDLESS OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE FRAME. REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ARE POPPING UP ALL OVER AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AS A SERIOUS MATTER AND SUBJECT TO SAFETY RECALL. LESSER ISSUES HAVE HAD RECALLS AND IT HAS BEEN LEFT UP TO TOYOTA TO PROVIDE VOLUNTARY BUYBACK PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF BEING MANDATED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

FOLLOWING ROUTINE SERVICE INSPECTION ON 4/2/2014, SIGNIFICANT PERFORATION OF MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 TRUCK FRAME WAS IDENTIFIED, DUE TO CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH RUSTING. ACCORDING TO A 2012 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC, NO INDICATION OF RUST WAS NOTED DURING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE INSPECTION. ALSO, NO HARD COPY DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING AN ALLEGED VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS CORROSION OF FRAME. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CASE WORKER ASSIGNED, HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY HARD COPY DOCUMENTATION OF SAID VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN NOTICE REGARDING CORROSION OF TRUCK FRAME; IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE CASE WORKER DID SAY HE COULD PROVIDE 'VERBAL' CONFIRMATION THAT NOTIFICATION WAS SENT TO MY RESIDENCE AT THE TIME. AT THIS TIME, I AM CURRENTLY CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION, PENDING FURTHER REVIEW OF CASE. *TR

I HAD MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMP, STARTED ACCELERATING TO GET UP TO SPEED. AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH THERE WAS A LOUD BANG/POP NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FRONT LEFT DROPPED DOWN. I HUNG ON TO TRY AND KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AS IT TOOK AN SHARP LEFT HAND TURN TOWARDS A POLE. EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR I WAS ABLE TO SOME HOW GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE HIT THE POLE WHERE MY 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS RIDING. I HAD THE TRUCK CHECKED FOR RECALLS IN LATE 2008 WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE REPORT SAID BALL JOINT RECALL WAS VIN # SPECIFIC AND THAT THIS TRUCK WAS NOT IN THE VIN RANGE. AFTER THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, I CALLED TOYOTA HOTLINE FOR ASSISTANCE AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE SAME CONDITION, AND PART THAT IS FAILING ON THE VEHICLES IN RANGE THEY SAID, "THAT SENSE THE RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC, THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO, AND WE CAN'T JUST ADD A VEHICLE TO THE RECALL". SO, NOW I'M STUCK WITH A WRECKED VEHICLE, BUT VERY THANKFUL THAT I DIDN'T HIT THE POLE WHERE MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ALL TACOMA'S THAT CONTAIN THIS STYLE BALL JOINT BE FIXED BEFORE SOME ONE DOES GET KILLED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT ABOUT 5 MPH, MY LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT (DRIVER SIDE) SEPARATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING CAUSING MY TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL AS THE ENTIRE TRUCK COLLAPSED ONTO MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE, BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION WAS NO LONGER HOLDING IT UP. IN THE EVENT THAT I HAD BEEN GOING MUCH FASTER (POSSIBLY EVEN TEN MILES PER HOUR) I FEEL THAT THE WHEEL WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. I THEN FOUND OUT TOYOTA HAD MADE A RECALL ON THIS PART AND WHEN I CONTACTED THEM, I WAS APPARENTLY 2 WEEKS PAST THE RECALL WINDOW. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED DUE TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF THESE TRUCKS THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. WHEN THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILS, IT IS A CATASTROPHIC EVENT THAT CAN VERY EASILY RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR