2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA Complaints

MY 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH ONLY 73000+ MILES ON IT HAS SIGNIFICANT RUSTING IN THE TRUCK BED. THE TRUCK IS NOT USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND IS ONLY USED FOR PERIODICALLY CARRYING NORMAL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. THERE IS ALSO SIGNS OF SIGNIFICANT RUSTING UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. SINCE TOYOTA HAD A RECALL WITH CERTAIN TACOMA'S FOR A SIMILAR CONDITION, I AM VERY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY OF THIS TRUCK. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IT CURRENTLY HAS 101,200 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW AND WHEN I REACHED 15,000 MILES THE SHIFT COLUMN TO THE RIGHT OF THE STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED OFF IN MY HAND. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT AND IT TOOK THEM THREE WEEKS TO FIX BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED NOT TO HAVE A TOOL NEEDED TO REASSEMBLE THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COLUMN. AT APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MILES THE COLUMN AGAIN SNAPPED OFF DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER BECAUSE I HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT FIXED IT. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE NEW DEALER OVER COVERING THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY WHICH THEY DID EVENTUALLY DO. ONCE AGAIN THE SECOND DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE NEARLY 3 WEEKS AND ONCE AGAIN THEY CITED THE LACK OF THE APPROPRIATE TOOL TO REASSEMBLE THE COLUMN. THEY ACTUALLY SAID THEY HAD TO FABRICATE A TOOL TO MAKE THE REPAIR. AND FINALLY YESTERDAY, THE COLUMN HAS SNAPPED FOR A THIRD TIME. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS IS NOT OCCURRING IN A FIT OF RAGE, NOR AM I AGGRESSIVELY HANDLING THE SHIFT EACH TIME I ENGAGE THE TRUCK INTO DRIVE. BOTH DEALERS CLAIM THAT THIS REPAIR IS UNHEARD OF AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS WHICH IS PROBABLY TRUE. I WANTED TO REPORT IT TO YOU ALL IN CASE THERE WERE ADDITIONAL REPORTS COMING FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU. MARC A. LAPIERRE *TR

2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS SERIOUS FRAME ROT. THE PAINT ON THE FRAME HAS BUBBLED UP AS THE RUST HAS PROLIFERATED LEAVING THE ENTIRE FRAME IN A COMPROMISED STATE. THE REAR AXLE AND LEAF SPRINGS ARE COMPLETELY COATED IN RUST. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DRUM BRAKE LOCKED UP DUE TO CORROSION, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACING A TIRE AND BRAKE SHOES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEALER SERVICED SINCE DAY ONE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OIL CHANGES. *TR

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP TRUCK, , FROM A LOCAL DEALER ON DECEMBER 2, 2002. ON 9/9/05, I DISCOVERED VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE FRAME AND BRACKETS THAT ATTACH TO THE FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME HAD 37,488 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TODAY THE MILEAGE IS 47,569 MILES AND THE RUST CONDITION IS GETTING WORSE. I BROUGHT THIS CONDITION TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THIS DEALERSHIP AND HE CONCURRED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH A REP WHO GAVE ME CASE NUMBER 200509090921. BOTH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. REFUSED TO REPAIR THE EXCESSIVE CORROSION. DUE TO THIS CONDITION, THIS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TRUCK WILL HAVE FRAME ROT ,CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION TO OPERATE. IN 2005, TWO INDEPENDENT AUTOBODY SHOPS INSPECTED MY TRUCK AND GAVE ME ESTIMATES TO REPAIR THE RUST. *TR

HAVE A TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH FRONT BRAKES THAT ARE WARPED. VEHICLE HAS EXTREME VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAS A TSB ISSUED FOR THIS BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA ACCESS CAB. I RECENTLY WAS PUTTING MY 5 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER INTO THEIR BACK SEAT AND SHE PUT HER HAND UP TO STABILIZE HERSELF AND THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY BELT HARNESS AND CASING WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME CAME COMPLETE OFF OF THE FRAME. THERE WAS NO UNDUE STRESS PUT ON THE HARNESS OR CASING AND NO PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THERE IS NOW A HOLE WHERE THE BOLT WAS ONCE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 12-12-08 AT 8:30 AM. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR. I TOOK IT IN AND THE SERVICE GUY WAS VERY KERT AND SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE A MINIMUM OF 3 HOURS AND COST $104.00. FINDING THIS UNACCEPTABLE, I TOLD HIM I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE A BASIC PART OF THE CAR'S SAFETY LOOKED AT. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT IS A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. BUT IT IS A SAFETY BELT! MY OTHER SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CREEKS WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT ONE AS WELL. I AM GLAD I DID NOT FIND OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY BELT WAS DEFECTIVE DURING THE COURSE OF AN ACCIDENT. ANY ASSISTANCE AND/OR GUIDANCE YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AS WELL WHO TOLD ME THAT IT IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL ON 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS SON HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND WAS INJURED. *NJ THE CONSUMERS SON HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE RIGHT FRONT OF HIS TRUCK DROPPED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND HIT A RETAINING WALL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE LOWER BALL JOINT PROBLEM 9 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT.*JB

I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA LIMITED 4X4 TUCK HERE ON GUAM. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING SHAKING SINCE ABOUT 2005. ALL THE RECALLS SUPPOSILY HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALER EX: LOWER BALL JOINT REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DISCONNECTED BY DEALER. SHAKING BECAME MINIMAL, BUT NOW MY TRUCK SHAKES MORE THAN EVER. I EVEN HAD ONE OF THE DEALER'S MECHANICS TEST DRIVE THE TRUCK WITH ME. HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE ROAD IS BUMPY. I EVEN DROVE ON A NEWLY PAVED ROAD AND THE SHAKING WAS EVEN MORE NOTICABLE. I TOLD HIM TO LOOK AT THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR AT THE BED SHAKING. THAT'S WHEN HE AGREED WITH ME. THE DEALER HAD MY TRUCK FOR FOUR MONTHS OR SO TRYING TO FIGURE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SHAKING WITH NO PREVAIL. HINCE, I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE COMPENSATING OF BRAKING AND SHAKING OF MY TRUCK. I AM REALLY FED UP TAKING MY TRUCK IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALL MY RECORDS OF SERVICE ARE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER. I HOPE YOU CAN FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND HELP ME OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V225000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 24, 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR ANOTHER FAILURE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OUTSTANDING REPAIR FOR THE BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRST DEALER ONLY INSPECTED THE BALL JOINTS INSTEAD OF REPLACE THEM AS STATED ON TOYOTA'S WEBSITE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO GO TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL INSPECTION. THE DEALER THEN SCHEDULED A SECOND APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT WHEN HE ARRIVED FOR THE REPAIR, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED THE FIRST TIME. CURRENTLY, THE RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE REPAIR WORK HAD BEEN PERFORMED, WHICH IS INCORRECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,270.

NARRATIVE: 1. NORMAL DRIVING 2. CRACKED EXHAUST FLANGE(S). 3. NOTHING, YET. *TR