2008 Toyota Tacoma

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER. AS I WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE STEERING COLUMN FELL DOWN CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO TURN CAUSING A WRECK WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRING THE STEERING COLUMN. TOYOTA HAS BEEN JERKING ME AROUND FOR 3 MONTHS. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN REPAIRED AS FAR AS BODY WORK BUT TOYOTA TELLS ME THAT I WILL RECEIVE A LETTER WITH THEIR DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL REPAIR THE STEERING COLUMN. 4 WEEKS AGO THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A LETTER. I AM STILL WAITING. WHEN I CALL THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF MY CASE AT TOYOTA (CASEY) HE NEVER RETURNS MY CALLS. MY CASE NUMBER IS 1603142032. CASEY'S NUMBER IS 800-331-4331.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE REAR CROSS MEMBER FRAME. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR CROSS MEMBER FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,598.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY FAILED. MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR COVERED UNDER RECALL 12V092000 BUT NOT THIS VIN. PROBLEM STARTED WITH VOLUME CONTROL ON STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING. ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING. SOON AFTER THIS ALL THE ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS INCLUDING HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. I REMOVED AIRBAG AND STEERING WHEEL AND FOUND THE RIBBON CABLE INSIDE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY SEVERED (SEE PHOTO). I INSTALLED A NEW CLOCKSPRING P/N 843060E010 AND EVERYTHING IS NOW WORKING.

THIS TRUCK WAS RECALLED FOR PREMATURE FRAME CORROSION. AT THE DEALER'S INSPECTION THE VEHICLE WAS PRONOUNCED AS BEING STRUCTURALLY SOUND. HOWEVER, AT THE CORPORATIONS EXPENSE THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SENT ELSEWHERE FOR FRAME ANTI CORROSION TREATMENT. I PICKED UP THE TRUCK A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AND FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AS FAR AS ALLOWING THE TREATMENT TO CURE OUTSIDE FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THIS REPAIR WAS DONE IN JANUARY F THIS YEAR. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE FRAME TREATMENT HAD NOT CURED AS A STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL PERSISTED WHICH WAS PHYSICALLY NAUSEATING. IT IS NOW MAY 5TH AND THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP (WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED) FOR AN UNRELATED RECALL REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE SAY THE TREATMENT WILL EVENTUALLY CURE AND STOP SMELLING. THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CLAIMS TO HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. THE DEALER SENT THE VEHICLE OUT FOR A TOYOTA CORPORATION AUTHORIZED TREATMENT THAT APPARENTLY DID NOT WORK. THIS HAS MADE THE VEHICLE NOT USEFUL FOR ME ANY LONGER; I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH MY PRIMARY VEHICLE HAVING BEEN MADE USELESS UNLESS I INTEND TO BE MADE ILL WHILE DRIVING IT. THE VEHICLE WAS MORE USEFUL, EVEN WITH MINOR FRAME CORROSION, BEFORE THIS TREATMENT WAS DONE AND I FULLY EXPECTED TO HAVE THE USE FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEALS WERE CORRODED AND THE POWER STEERING JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA RECALL: 14V-604 (LEAF SPRINGS RECALL) I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE MY LEAF SPRINGS REPLACED AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER FROM TOYOTA. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BAYRIDGE TOYOTA IN BROOKLYN NY TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. WAS NEVER TOLD THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE TWO VISITS AND THE FIRST VISIT WAS ONLY FOR AN INSPECTION. THEN WHEN I WAS TOLD THE SERVICE WOULD TAKE ANOTHER TWO WEEKS IN ORDER TO GET THE PARTS IN, I WAS FORCED TO DECLINE THE SERVICE TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES AND THE NATIONAL PEOPLE WERE FRIENDLY AND RESPONSIVE AND THE BROOKLYN DEALERSHIP AT BAYRIDGE MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK WITH. THE TOYOTA RECALL LETTER ALSO NEVER MENTIONS TWO VISITS. IT ONLY SAYS THE SERVICE WILL REQUIRE TWO HOURS. THE TRUCK WAS DROPPED OFF FOR A DAY AND WAS RETURNED WITH A LIST OF OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER ACTUALLY WROTE DOWN IF THE LEAF SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEY ONLY LISTED THE EXTRA WORK THEY WANTED TO ADD ON. ALSO WHILE SETTING UP THE APPOINTMENT WITH BAYRIDGE TOYOTA THEY GAVE THE IMPRESSION THE WORK WOULD BE DONE DURING THE TIME IT WAS DROPPED OFF THE THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME.

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE REPORTED THIS VEHICLE GOING FULL THROTTLE ON ITS OWN WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. YESTERDAY, I WAS AT TEXACO GAS STATION AT BOLD SPRINGS RD AND HWY 81 IN BOLD SPRINGS, GA. FILLED UP GAS TANK, STARTED ENGINE, HAD FOOT ON BRAKE, PUT IN DRIVE, AND THROTTLE WENT WIDE OPEN, SPINNING REAR TIRE. I SHUT IGNITION KEY OFF AND RE-STARTED. PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF. I HAVE AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TECHNICAL DEGREE, AND AM CURRENTLY A PARTS SPECIALIST FOR GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOL BUS SHOP. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS IN THE ECM AS IT CONTROLS THE THROTTLE. I INTEND ON WRITING MY CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR, COPYING TOYOTA DEALER IN STONE MOUNTAIN, GA AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA. THE LAST E-MAIL I RECEIVED FROM YOU ON INCIDENT # 10817501, STATED; "EVERY COMPLAINT IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY, REVIEWED IN DETAIL AND ANALYZED FOR DEFECTS TRENDS. YOUR COMPLAINT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS TO INFORM NHTSA, OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS AND MANUFACTURERS ABOUT POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERNS. SUCH INFORMATION HELPS SAVE LIVES, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV WITH YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND OTHERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY." I HAVE YET TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO SAVE LIVES. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL ON RECALL FROM 09/2014 FOR LEAF SPRINGS BREAKING AND PUNCTURING FUEL TANK. PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE FROM DEALER. I KNOW TOYOTA HAS GONE BEFORE CONGRESS MORE THAN ONCE ON 2002 - 2011 VEHICLES RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL, AND PAID $4.3 BILLION IN FINES. HOW DO I GET SOME OF THAT MONEY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE?