2002 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE LEAF SPRINGS AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,500.

WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AT 5MPH, AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN, APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND JUST AFTER A SPEED BUMP, I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE, LIKE DRIVING OVER A CONCRETE BLOCK. I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND USING A FLASHLIGHT SAW THAT THE WHEEL WAS BENT AT AN ANGLE AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND BACK TO OUR DRIVEWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE EXAMINED WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 09/02/11*LJ UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN

THE SECOND TOYOTA TACOMA I HAVE OWNED IN ONE YEAR FAILED ON 02/28/2011. BOTH FRAMES FAILED DUE TO RUST. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE DISCOVERED DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. TOYOTA BOUGHT BACK THE FIRST TRUCK LAST SUMMER, SO I DECIDED TO BUY ANOTHER LATER MODEL TACOMA. THE SECOND TACOMA PROBLEM OCCURRED ON A LIFT AT AUTO CHOICE IN DERRY NH. THE TRUCK BENT IN HALF WHEN THE LIFT WAS RAISED. THE MECHANIC HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS AND HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A THING. LUCKILY, HE WAS NOT UNDER THE TRUCK AND FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE TRUCK FOR MY FRAME REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY. IRA TOYOTA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND GAVE ME A LOANER. I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME . IN TALKING TO MY FATHER, MECHANIC FRIENDS AND LEGAL FRIENDS AN ISSUE KEPT COMING UP - IF THE FRAME IS THAT CORRODED, IT WOULD FOLLOW THAT PARTS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WOULD BE CORRODED AS WELL. THIS PRESENTS AN ALARMINGLY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. I WOULD ADD THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO THE SAFETY OF THIS PROCEDURE AS WELL AS A MEDIA REQUIREMENT MADE THAT TOYOTA RUN ADVERTISEMENTS ON TV, RADIO AND PRINT WARNING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. MY TRUCK LOOKS IMMACULATE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. HAD I NOT DONE AN OIL CHANGE, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER COMPONENT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE FRAME, IT HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND SUPPORTS EVERYTHING. THIS ISSUE NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IRA TOYOTA IS THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE 603-657-2422. *TR

2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER STATES AS HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. AXLE DUG INTO THE STREET CAUSING THE BALL JOINTS TO SEPARATE FROM THEIR KNUCKLE SLEEVES. SUSPENSION FELL APART DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS. INCLUDING THE GAS TANK SKID PLATE, HAD TO REPLACE REAR BUMPER ALREADY AS WELL. ALSO HAD TO WIRE UP THE SKID PLATE SO IT WON'T FLY OFF INTO SOMEONE'S WIND SHIELD. BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER IN MARCH AND THEY INSPECTED IT AND SAID ALL IT NEEDED WAS PAINT, SO THEY PAINTED IT. NOW JUST 8 MONTHS LATER AND THE SKID PLATE IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF! JUST WAITING FOR MY BRAKES TO FAIL SOME DAY. *TR

THE BALL JOINTS AND SUSPENSION ON MY 2002 TOY TACOMA FELL APART WHILE MAKING A ROUTINE TURN ONTO MY STREET! THE BALLJOINTS SEPARATED AND THE FRONT AXLE DUG INTO THE STREET, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LINE! HAD THIS HAPPENED 5 MINUTES EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH INSTEAD OF IN A RESIDENTIAL TRACT DOING 20 MPH! *TR