2002 Toyota Tacoma

INFO COPY LTR FWD TO TOYOTA REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL, CUSTOMER DISSATISFIED W/QUALITY OF CURRENT TOYOTA VEHICLES. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER TRADED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 4, 2005 AND 4 MONTHS SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON MAY 20, 2005. THE DRIVER HEARD NOISES IN THE FRONT END, LIKE A CLICKING SOUND. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED UPON ITS SIDE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME MINOR INJURIES. THE CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V225000 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THEY WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE PARTS TO BE REPLACED FROM THE RECALL, AND THEY WOULD DO THEIR OWN INSPECTION. TOYOTA CALLED THE CONSUMER TODAY WITH THE REPORT. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END OR THE BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE JOINT BALLS THAT WERE REPLACED. HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS CHEATED IN THE FACT THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE JOINTS BEFORE TOYOTA TOOK THEM. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO DO HIS OWN INSPECTION ON THE PARTS. HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING, AND HE THOUGHT THAT THE POWERING STEERING WAS UNDER STRESS. A POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS WERE TAKEN. . THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF NOW. THE SPEED WAS BETWEEN 25-35 MPH WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED.*AK

NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. PROGRESSIVE, SUCCESSIVE FAILURE OF BOLTS HOLDING LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND SUSPENSION ARM TO THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED SEPARATION OF MENTIONED MEMBER FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL AND OVERTURNING OF SAID VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.*AK

TRANSMISSION-POWER TRAIN.WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED SITUATIONS THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND.....BACK AND FORTH FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 1ST. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. IT HAS 76K MILES ON IT. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*AKL

THE LEFT REAR TIRE (DUNLOP GRANDTREK P265) OF 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA BLEW OUT ON CA 215 FREEWAY (WITH SPEED OF 60-70 MPH). I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT SPUN AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED TO MINOR PHYSICAL INJURY TO THE OTHER VEHICLE'S DRIVER. ORIGINAL TIRES CAME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CARSON TOYOTA (CALIFORNIA). CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP--THEY GAVE US THE RUN-AROUND. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY UNRESPONSIVE STATING THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT, DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRE WOULD BLOW UP ON THE VEHICLE THAT DURING THE SALE--NEVERTHELESS, TO CUT COST ON A $2OK VALUE TRUCK, PUT SUBSTANDARD, DEFECTIVE TIRES, LEAST EXPENSIVE IN THE MARKET. I WILL END UP PUTTING UP THE COSTS FOR REPLACING ALL TIRES WITH MORE RELIABLE TIRES (MICHELIN). I HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE BETTER LAW/LEGISLATION PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND NO ONE WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME INCIDENT THAT OCCURED TO ME.*AK

POWER TRAIN - JUST BOUGHT MY TRUCK ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. DURING THE TEST DRIVE, I WAS EXTREMELY IMPRESSED BY THE RIDE OF MY TACOMA. A FEW WEEKS AFTER I HAD IT, I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. I HAVE TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW, AND EVERYTIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD WAS NORMAL. I WAS TOLD ALL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS DO THIS. THIS IS THE SECOND TOYOTA TRUCK I HAVE OWNED, AND I COULD TELL YOU THIS, THEY DON'T COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION, IT WILL BE MY LAST. I ALSO DRIVE A CELICA (GREAT CAR), BUT IF I LOSE THE TRUCK, THEN I LOSING THE CELICA, AND WILL WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH TOYOTA'S AGAIN!!! *AK