2002 Toyota Tacoma

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE NEW TOYOTA RECALL ON THE SIENNA MINI-VANS SPARE TIRE. I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA, IN WHICH THE FRAME WAS RECENTLY REPLACED DUE TO RUST PERFORATION IN CERTAIN STATES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND BACK IN 8/2007 I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND HAD TO CHANGE IT. THE SPARE TIRE RESIDES UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IS SECURED BY A CABLE. WHEN I WENT TO ACCESS THE SPARE, I NOTICED THE WHOLE CABLE AND THE SURROUNDING PIECES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THE TIRE FROM THE CABLE. AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE RECALL ON THE SIENNA FOR THE SPARE TIRE GETTING RUSTY, AND POSSIBLY FALLING LOOSE WHILE DRIVING, I REALIZED THAT MY TACOMA, AND POSSIBLY OTHER VEHICLES THAT USE THIS METHOD, AND ARE EXPOSED TO EXTREME CLIMATE CONDITIONS, COULD TRIGGER A SIMILAR EVENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH ON A WET SURFACE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE RONT END. MOMENTS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED DURING THE ACCELERATION THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NO FAILURES COULD BE FOUND. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MY CURRENT AND PREVIOUS TOYOTA PICK-UP TRUCKS WAS NOT VERY GOOD. FIRST MY PREVIOUS, EARLIER MODEL 98 TOYOTA TACOMA 2WD MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES JUST PRIOR TO THE 60,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY LIMIT. THE FAILURE HAPPENED AT THE SYNCHRONIZER FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL ACCORDING TO TOYOTA TECHNICIAN AT THE TIME. THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS IS THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ONE NEEDS TO SHIFT TO 5TH GEAR FROM NEUTRAL, ONE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING AND THE TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND AT SUCH FREEWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE COULD SUDDENLY STALL, STOP AND MAY GO IN A TAILSPIN. PREVIOUS DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION PER THE WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE ANOTHER TOYOTA TACOMA PICK-UP 4X4 HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE A TOYOTA DEALER PREVIOUSLY SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR POWERTRAIN AND AROUND 55,000 MILES BUT DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROBLEM EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEY HAVE FIXED IT. BUT THIS TIME AROUND THEY REFUSED. I HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES FROM SEP 2006 UNTIL JAN 2007 AND EVEN CALLED TOYOTA USA REPS ON THE ISSUE. I STILL OWN THE TRUCK AND TO GET AROUND THE SYNCHRONIZER PROBLEM, I HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT BACK TO 3RD, 4TH BEFORE I CAN GO BACK TO 5TH GEAR. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AND TO CON UNWITTING DRIVER UNAWARE OF WHAT TO DO SUDDENLY SHIFTS TO 5TH FROM NEUTRAL THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SQUEAKS/RATTLES LIKE THE SOUND OF GEARS HAVING PROBLEM MESHING OR BREAKING - THUS IN A WORST CASE SCENARIO ONE MAY LOOSE DRIVEABILITY AND CAPABILITY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE DRIVE COULD GET LOST AND MAY RESULT IN A FAILURE. I KIND A GIVE UP ON IT SINCE THE DEALERS AND TOYOTA USA BEFORE DON'T WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO ME. I KNOW THIS CURRENT TOYOTA RECALL MAY RESULT IN THEM LOOKING INTO THIS - SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

GAS TANK SHIELD SEVERELY RUSTED. UNDER SIDE OF GASTANK IS PROTECTED BY A SHIELD/SKID PLATE. IT IS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT WHEN HIT WITH A HAMMER THE HAMMER GOES RIGHT THROUGH. PRESUMABLY THIS SHIELD IS TO PROTECT THE GAS TANK FROM DEBRIS AND STONES ESPECIALLY IF THE TRUCK IS USED OFF ROAD. I DISCOVERED THIS AS I WAS INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK BEFORE DROPPING THE TRUCK OFF AT THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FRAME REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THIS, IT IS APPARENT THAT THE DRIVE AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING ALSO HAVE SEVERE RUST. IF TAPPED WITH A HAMMER THE RUST COMES OF IN SHEETS. THE PARKING BRAKES ACTUATING LEVERS HAVE RUSTED IN PLACE AND CAN NO LONGER BE USED. THERE APPEARS TO BE MORE TO THIS RUST THAN SIMPLE FRAME RUST. THE RUST IS PERVASIVE THROUGH OUT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK. *TR

I TOOK MY TACOMA FOR ITS 95000 MILE SERVICE, AND THEY DISCOVER MY SUB-FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY TRUCK HAS GONE FOR SERVICE EVERY 5000 MILES FOR 7 YEARS AND NO ONE EVER NOTICED THE RUST. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER THE SUBFRAME IN THEIR FRAME RUST PROBLEM. THE DEALER TRIED FOR 2 DAYS TO GET THEM TO INCLUDE THIS IN THEIR 2001-2004 RUST FRAME REPAIR OR BUY BACK PROGRAM. THEY REFUSE. WHY ISN'T THE SUB FRAME PART OF THE WHOLE FRAME. I BELIEVE THE SUB FRAMES SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. *TR

MY WIFE & I WERE TRAVELING INTO BAKERSFIELD, (WE'RE FROM ARVIN, CA) ALONG BEAR MT. BLVD. ON SAT. SEPT. 5, 2009 AROUND 4:00 P.M. AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STEER. INSTEAD OF GOING ON THE FREEWAY, I DECIDED TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE RT. I CAME TO A STOP AND BEGAN TURNING LEFT AT APPROX. 5- 10 MPH & THE R FRONT TIRE FOLDED OUT & THE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED HOME. I ORDERED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON LINE SO I COULD REPLACE THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS NOT ONE ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I AM FURIOUS. I BELIEVE TOYOTA IS LIABLE FOR MY DAMAGES. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED, I HEARD A FEW CLICKING & GRINDING SOUNDS & THOUGHT MAYBE MY POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS BALL JOINT FAILURE, OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT. I HAVE MY OLD DEFECTIVE PARTS. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER WITNESS TO THIS INCIDENCE BESIDES MY WIFE. HE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THIS OCCURRED & HEARD THE LOUD BOOM WHEN THE TRUCK HIT THE GROUND. I HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, AS I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DID. *TR