2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA Complaints

TAKATA RECALL - I GOT THE RECALL AND WENT TO MY DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT, 4-01-14, (59,317MILES) GOT ANOTHER RECALL TO REPLACE THE INFLATOR AIR BAG PART (3-13-15). THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER (3-31-2015). I CAME BACK AND SHOWED THEM THE CHECK LIGHT ON FOR THE AIR BAG. THE SERVICEMAN COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I WAITED ABOUT AN HOUR AND HALF FOR THEM TO FIX THE CHECK LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS RECALL STARTED WHILE MY TRUCK WAS STILL WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID I'M OUT OF WARRANTY BACK IN 3-31-15 WHEN I SHOWED THEM THE CHECK LIGHT AND I TOLD THEM IT HAPPENED WHEN THE SERVICEMAN REPLACED THE TAKATA INFLATOR. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY FOR ANY OF THIS, THEY PROBABLY JUST LEFT A WIRE OFF. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY TRUCK SINCE THEN AND I'M AFRAID THE AIR BAG WILL EXPLODE ANYTIME OR WHEN I HIT A BUMP. I NEED A GOOD DEALER TO FIX IT AND PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR IF I NEED IT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND THEY SAID, " ....OH, YOUR WERE OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN THEY INSTALLED IT..". ARE THESE PEOPLE STUPID OR WHAT????? *TR

I WAS RECENTLY APPROACHING A RED-LIGHT ABOUT A MILE FROM WORK WHEN I UNEXPECTEDLY & SUDDENLY WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK. I NEARLY COLLIDED WITH TRAFFIC IN MY LANE & HAD TO VEER INTO THE OPPOSING LANES TO AVOID A COLLISION. TURNS OUT MY BRAKE-LINES FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST WHICH I'VE RECENTLY COME TO LEARN IS A PROBLEM ON THESE PARTICULAR TRUCKS. I'VE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE EVEN WITH VEHICLES WITH WELL OVER 200K MILES ON THEM LET ALONE WELL-LESS THAN 80,000; EVEN FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER. MY DEALER HAD TO RETRIEVE THE TRUCK FROM MY JOB(130-MILE ROUND TRIP) & HE EVEN STATED HE HASN'T SEEN BRAKE LINES FAIL LIKE THIS ONE DID & SPECULATED IT WAS DUE TO THEM SITTING NEAR THE FRAME WHERE ROAD-SALT & "[XXX]" COLLECTS WHICH CAUSES THEM TO PRE-MATURELY ROT OUT, POTENTIALLY(OBVIOUSLY) CAUSING THEM TO BURST. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER ITS WARRANTY BUT THE NEAR-MISS I ENCOUNTERED WITH IT NEVER, IN MY OPINION, SHOULD'VE HAPPENED PARTICULARLY WITHOUT WARNING OR WITH THE PRESENT MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ON THE DASH DID WORK BUT ONLY AFTER ALL FLUID SHOT OUT OF IT & BRAKING WAS SUDDENLY NOT ENOUGH TO STOP IN TIME. I'VE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER(TOYOTA) ABOUT THIS & WAS RUN AROUND TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN AS THERE'S NO DOUBT STILL MANY OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROADS. I HAVE NO PICTURES TO UPLOAD BUT MY DEALER CAN VERIFY THE REPAIRS DONE AFTER THIS HAPPENED. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2003 TUNDRA FRAME IN 2009 WAS DETERMINED TO BE IN OK CONDITION ,THAT IS A RESULT OF LOW MILES , THE FRAME IS NOW 6 YEARS OLD WITH VISIBLE RUST AS I MENTIONED TO MY FALMOUTH TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER ,WITH THAT I GOT A RUST PREVENTATIVE COMPOUND . THIS COMPOUND WAS TO STOP THE RUST , I WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF THAT WAS THE CASE , NOW JANUARY 2017 WITH JUST 98000 MILES AND COSMETICALLY A CLEAN TRUCK WITH MY EXPECTATIONS ONLY 1/3 USED , THE NEXT 200,000 MILES I EXPECTED TO PUT ON THIS TRUCK WILL NOT HAPPEN AS FALMOUTH TOYOTA SHOWS ME THE FRAME WORK AROUND THE GAS TANK BRACKETS IS READY TO FAIL ALONG WITH OTHER VISIBLE HOLES AND CRACKS IN OTHER PORTIONS OF THE FRAME , WHY AM I NOT PROTECTED ? IT'S A KNOWN FAILURE AND ALL FAMES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED NOT A SELECTED FEW , PLEASE I WANT RESULTS . I WAS SOLD ON TOYOTA WHEN THEY ADVERTISED A TRUCK OR CAR STOPPING ON A BRIDGE AND PHOTOGRAPHED THE ODOMETER AT 500,000 , MY GUESS IS THAT IS A THING OF THE PAST AS THEY MADE THERE BILLIONS OF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT RECOGNIZED MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLES FRAME WAS MODERATELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TECHNICIAN SERVICED THE VEHICLE WITH AN ADHESIVE ON TOP OF THE CORRODED FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SIX YEARS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V444000 (STRUCTURE) BUT THETECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF CORROSION AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,913.

IN MAY 2016, I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA FROM A USED CAR DEALER. IN OCTOBER, AS I WAS CHANGING THE OIL, I NOTICED A RUST HOLE IN THE FRONT SECTION OF THE FRAME AND AS I FURTHER INSPECTED, THERE WERE RUST HOLES AND CRACKS IN THE FRONT SECTION OF THE FRAME. I CHECKED THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED IN 2012. I THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY REVIEWED MY CASE AND SENT IT TO A CASE MANAGER. THE CASE MANAGER CONTACTED ME 2 DAYS LATER AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND IT HAD EXPIRED. THIS IS TROUBLING TO COMPREHEND BECAUSE A CO-WORKER OF MINE WHO OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TRUCK HAD HIS FRAME REPLACED, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, IN 2015. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY TROUBLING BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO POTENTIALLY INJURING MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IF THE FRAME WERE TO FURTHER CRACK OR SPLIT. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY "WANT OUR CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A GREAT OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE, SO WE ARE PLEASED TO RESOLVE LITIGATION IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS THEM AND DEMONSTRATES THAT WE STAND BEHIND THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF OUR VEHICLES." I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE CONSIDERING THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE MY SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS.

EXTREME RUST AREA ALL AROUND REAR DIFFERENTIAL, PITTING IN METAL, AND ALSO THE SPARE WHEEL TIRE EXTREME RUST.

PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA JULY 2016. FRAME WAS UNDERCOATED BY TOYOTA AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUES AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING SOME OF MY OWN MAINTENANCE UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHILE UNDER, I NOTICED LARGE AREAS HAD THE CRC TREATMENT CHIPPING AND PEALING OFF. I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (PRIORITY TOYOTA CHESAPEAKE, VA) THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CORROSION PROTECTION HAS EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY COULD DO. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GREASE MY PROPELLER SHAFT, I WAS ON MY CREAPER TRYING TO PULL MYSELF UNDER THE VEHICLE. I GRABBED PART OF THE FRAME, IN FRONT OF THE LEAF SPRING PERCH. WHILE GRABBING THIS SECTION OF FRAME AND PULLING MYSELF UNDER THE TRUCK, THE FRAME CRUMBLED IN TO MY HAND. THERE WERE A LOT OF RUST FLAKES, LARGE AND SMALL, I COLLECTED AS MUCH OF THE RUST AND FLAKES AS I COULD AND STORED THEM IN A ZIP LOCK BAG. THE SIZE OF THE DETERIORATION WAS ABOUT 7" LONG AND PERFORATED ABOUT 9/16" NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE C CHANNEL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME ON THIS VEHICLE PARTICULARLY IN REGARDS TO BRAKING SYSTEM, FRAME CROSS MEMBERS AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SOON AFTER TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED. I TOLD THEM MY VIN AND OTHER INFORMATION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL BACK IN 1 BUSINESS DAY. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM TOYOTA TODAY 10/27/16 AND A REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA IS NO LONGER SUPPORTING MY VEHICLE FOR ANY CAMPAIGNS. I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER LITERATURE REGARDING THE FRAME CORROSION PROGRAMS FOR TUNDRAS, HOWEVER, TOYOTA WILL NOT LET ME HAVE THIS INFORMATION. AT THIS POINT TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THEIR POORLY DESIGNED VEHICLE. PLEASE DO NOT BUY TOYOTAS BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL BE FAILURES AND TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. *TR

I AM A RETIRED TOYOTA MASTER DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICIAN. I HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE LINES ON MY 2003 TUNDRA-WITH 79,962 MILES. THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. MY BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS TOWING A TRAILER IN HEAVY, CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING 35MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN PROCEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS ROOM TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT SO I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. THEN, AS I WAS REPLACING THE LINES, I SAW A FLUID LEAK UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THE GEAR OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY THE ONLY REMEDY IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. ALSO THE POWER STEERING LINES HAVE ALSO RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. THE FRAME HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED-UNDER RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED IS OF VERY LOW QUALITY CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.IE; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL LOCK-UP, LOSS OF VEHICLE BRAKING DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS. I AM AMAZED THAT TOYOTA MOTOR CO. WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT THEY SOLD-WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO. ONE QUICK LOOK UNDER A 2003 TUNDRA IS ALL IT TAKES TO SEE THAT LOW/POOR QUALITY HARDWARE AND MATERIALS WERE USED. WITHOUT REPAIR AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF ABOVE STATED COMPONENTS SOMEONE WILL GET INJURED-POSSIBLY FATALLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE TRUCK. A DIFFERENTIAL IS NOT AN ITEM ONE EXPECTS TO EVER REPLACE-"SORRY BUT YOUR WARRANTY'S EXPIRED". THANK YOU. SINCERELY, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I AM A RETIRED TOYOTA MASTER DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICIAN. AS I WAS REPLACING MY REAR BRAKE LINES ON MY 2003 TUNDRA-WITH 79,962 MILES, I SAW A FLUID LEAK UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THE GEAR OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY THE ONLY REMEDY IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. THE FRAME HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED-UNDER RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. ALSO THE POWER STEERING LINES HAVE ALSO RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED IS OF VERY LOW QUALITY CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.IE; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL LOCK-UP, LOSS OF VEHICLE BRAKING DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS. I AM AMAZED THAT TOYOTA MOTOR CO. WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT THEY SOLD-WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO. ONE QUICK LOOK UNDER A 2003 TUNDRA IS ALL IT TAKES TO SEE THAT LOW/POOR QUALITY HARDWARE AND MATERIALS WERE USED. WITHOUT REPAIR AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF ABOVE STATED COMPONENTS SOMEONE WILL GET INJURED-POSSIBLY FATALLY. MY BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS TOWING A TRAILER IN HEAVY, CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING 35MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN PROCEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS ROOM TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT SO I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE TRUCK. A DIFFERENTIAL IS NOT AN ITEM ONE EXPECTS TO EVER REPLACE. OWNERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THESE FAILURES FOR YEARS. THANK YOU.SINCERELY,....