2005 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, OVER TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

STEERING IS DIFFICULT, AS IF NO POWER STEERING EXISTS. I CHECKED ONLINE AND SAW OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I LUBRICATED THE LOWER PART OF INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, AND IT SEEMS TO WORK OK FOR NOW. IF THE PART IS RUSTED, I'M AFRAID THE STEERING WILL GO OUT ALTOGETHER AND CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO RUST. IS THIS MORE OF THE SAME PROBLEM?

STEERING GOT VERY STIFF AND I HAD TROUBLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE. I WAS ALMOST WAS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. ONCE I GOT THE TRUCK TO THE ROADSIDE I CHECKED FOR A FLAT TIRE, BROKEN POWER STEERING BELT AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AND CONDITION. EVERYTHING WAS OK, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL VERY HAD TO TURN. I HAD THE TRUCKS STEERING CHECKED OUT AND THE U JOINT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD SIZED UP. TOYOTA PART NUMBER 4520304020 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL TO COVER THIS. THE PROBLEM COMES ON SUDDENLY AND YOU LOSE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.

I HAD COMPLETE FAILURE TO MY RACK AND PINION STEERING DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION TO THE COMPONENT. I WAS PULLING INTO A BUSINESS DOING ABOUT 10 MPH AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. I CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. I CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND ON THE GROUND WAS A PUDDLE OF STEERING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE AND WHEN HE EXAMINED THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAD COMPLETED ROTTED OUT AND BROKE. I ALSO HAD HIM CHECK THE FRAME ON MY TRUCK, SINCE I RECEIVED A TSB BULLETIN ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE CORROSION DUE TO NOT ENOUGH FRAME UNDERCOATING BEING APPLIED IN COLD STATES. HE FOUND A LARGE HOLE BEHIND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE FRAME. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE REST OF THE FRAME AND FOUND SOME SMALLER PERFORATIONS AS WELL. MY QUESTIONS IS IF THE FRAME IS BEGINNING TO ROT AND THEY ARE SELECTIVELY REPLACING THE FRAMES OR VEHICLE IF THEY ARE A DANGER, WHY ARE NO OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THESE FAILING PARTS COVERED AS WELL AND FAILING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ROT OR RUSTING. IF ANY OF THESE COMPONENTS FAILED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEED THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING TO ALL INVOLVED, POSSIBLY LEADING TO SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES THEY PRODUCE AND THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO OWN AND OPERATE THEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STOP PLAYING THE "ITS NOT COVERED OR APPLICABLE" GAME AND TAKE OWNERSHIP AND FIX IT BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED. I HAVE OWNED 5 TOYOTA'S PREVIOUSLY AND FELT VERY SAFE UP UNTIL NOW, NOW I AM NOT TO SURE!

LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. TWO DEALERS PLUS TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS REFUSED SERVICE, SO I HAD TO PAY FOR A PRIVATE SPRING SHOP TO REPLACE THEM. THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN RECALLED BUT TO DATE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT. IN 2014 THE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE FRAME WAS DETERMINED CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. TOYOTA MADE PROMISE TO REPLACE THE FRAME UNDER RECALL IN NOV 2014 BUT TO DATE HAS NOT DELIVERED AND HAS NOT INDICATED WHEN I CAN EXPECT THE REPAIR TO BE MADE. FOR OVER SIX MONTHS NOW I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T SELL OR REPLACE.

THE STEERING IN MY TOYOTA TACOMA BEGAN TO BIND SUDDENLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING YOKE BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT PART APPEARS TO BE AN UPDATED PART WITH A RUBBER BOOT TO PREVENT CORROSION OF THE SHAFT JOINTS. I BELIEVE THE FAILURE OF THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DUE TO POOR DESIGN, CAUSING THE PART TO BEGIN TO FAIL. IF NOT REPLACED AND THE SHAFT OR SHAFT JOINT HAD BROKEN AT SPEED, THIS CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS RUST ON THE STEERING COLUMN THAT REQUIRED FREQUENT LUBRICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS RUSTED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.