2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL #05V225000 CONCERNING THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR SIX MONTHS TO GET A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER SO THAT THE DEALER WILL REPAIR THE RECALLED PART.

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA (LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL) SR5 4X4. IN APR I BROUGHT MY TRUCK INTO THE UNIVERSAL TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO TX TO REPLACE A MISSING CLAMP AND FOR A RUMBLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID HE COULDN'T HEAR THE NOISE, AND AGAIN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK IN JUN AS THE NOISE WAS GETTING WORSE. THE LEAD MECHANIC THEN HEARD IT AND SAID THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THAT HE HAS ANOTHER TUNDRA DOING THE SAME THING. I ASKED THAT HE CALL THE TOYOTA TECH LINE TO INQUIRE/REPORT THIS. HE NOTIFIED ME THE NEXT DAY THAT THE TOYOTA TECH PERSON SAID THAT THIS IS A NORMAL SOUND AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. HOWEVER I DO HAVE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS AS I DON'T BELIEVE THIS TO BE A "NORMAL" INDICATION OF WHAT A DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD SOUND LIKE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED A MONTH AGO ON THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. A NHTSA RECALL, #05V225000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DID OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - *NM

FUEL TANK FILLER WAS GIVING AS THE REASON OF MY TRUCKS PROBLEM BEFORE IT WAS LOOKED AT BY A TECHNICIAN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. THE FAULT WOULD CAUSE THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THEREFORE WOULD ALSO BE A HAZARD BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AT THE TIME THE TRUCK WAS BEING FILLED OR FROM ESCAPING VAPORS. THE PART WAS (IS) BEING REPLACED AND IS COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER. *NM

THE ROTORS ON MY 2003 TUNDRA ARE WARPING EVERY 1,000 MILES OR SO. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMEDYING THE ISSUE. *NM

THERE IS A FLAWED DESIGN OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE CAUSING AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS WITH ITS 2003-2004 TUNDRAS. THE PROBLEM AFFECTS FUEL VAPOR EMISSIONS FROM THE GAS TANK. THEY OFFER NO SUPPORT ONCE ONE IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THEIR FAULTY DESIGN/BUILD OF THIS PART. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS SPEWING SULFUR DIOXIDE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE AN UPDATED CONVERTER. THE DEALER COULD ONLY USE THE SAME TYPE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH THEY DETERMINED WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V225000 CONCERNING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HE SPOKE TO THEIR MANUFACTURER, WHO HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE ENGINE SURGED WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP POSITION. AS SOON AS IR ACCELERATED IT SURGED FORWARD. THE ACCELERATION WAS MORE THAN EXPECTED BASED ON THE PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE FIVE TIMES, INCLUDING LUBRICATING THE ENTIRE ACCELERATION SYSTEM, AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAUSING A REDUCED STEERING EFFORT. HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INSTRUCTED HIM TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.*AK