2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA Complaints

MY 2000 TUNDRA FRAME HAS SUBSTANTIAL RUST ON IT. TODAY I FOUND MY SPARE TIRE HANGING. THE A ARM THAT HOLDS THE SPARE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES AND NO LONGER HAD ANY SUPPORT FOR THE BED. I LOOKED OVER THE TRUCK AND ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SUPPORT BRACKETS FOR THE LEAF SPRINGS IN THE REAR ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH MAKING THE VEHICLE A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVE. THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE REST OF THE FRAME APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY RUSTING OUT AS WELL. I DELIVERED IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER TODAY FOR THEM TO LOOK AT. *TR

LATE SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER OF LAST YEAR I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY FAMILY HOME FROM THE GRANDPARENTS. WE FELT A SOUND LOUDER AND PROBLEM WORSE THAN A POT HOLE. IT WAS A NORMAL ROAD PAVED. IT WAS IN WEBSTER, MA. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE FINE UNTIL LATE JUNE THE TRUCK STARTED TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (TRI-STATE TOYOTA SCION AND DODGE). I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LADY. SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE RUST PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH BOTH THE TACOMA'S AND TUNDRA'S AND SAID THE WOULD CHECK MY TRUCK OUT FOR FRAME CORROSION. WITHOUT SHOWING ME THEY SAID THERE WAS NONE. THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WAS A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT. IT THEN GOT INSPECTED BY AN AUTOBODY SPECIALIST. PRECISION AUTO REPAIR LOOK AT IT AND SAID THE FRAME IS JUNK JUST LIKE THE TACOMA'S. I ASK JIM AUDETT THE OWNER FOR A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE SO I COULD SEND TO TOYOTA. THE POWER STEERING RACK HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND CHUNK'S OF THE FRAME (METAL ARE FALLING OFF THIS TRUCK). THE INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY THE CORROSION AND IS NOT A ROAD WORTHY VEHICLE. I SPENT $19,000 FOR THIS TRUCK IN EARLY JANUARY 2007 ABOUT 14 MOTHS BEFORE TOYOTA DID THE RECALL ON THE TACOMA'S. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND BY THE DEALER AND TOYOTA FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN AND SENT TO ATTORNEY GENERALS OF BOTH MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT TO INFORM THEM OF THIS POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD TO ALL. IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOUR AGENCY COULD LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE TOYOTA IS RELUCTANT TO STAND BEHIND THIS POOR QUALITY VEHICLE. THEY HAVE DENIED THERE WAS ANY CORROSION. THE PICTURES PROVE BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM. YOU CAN VIEW THE PICTURES AT WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM AND LOOK UP USER NAME RUSTYTUNDRA007. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ALSO WWW.PICKUPTRUCKS.COM WROTE AN ARTICLE ON THE TRUCK TOO. THIS TRUCK WAS ALSO FEATURED ON WCVB TV IN BOSTON MA. WWW.THEBOSTONCHANNEL.COM HAS POSTED REPORT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FRAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 06/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 06/17/09.*JB

MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5 HAS HUGE AMOUNTS OF FRAME RUST ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE, INCLUDING HOLES IN THE FRAME. THIS WAS FOUND WHEN I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED WHEN THEY TRIED TO ELEVATE THE TRUCK ON THE LIFT, THE LIFT ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE FRAME. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE AUTO MECHANIC FOUND MOST OF THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND LARGE CHUNKS OF RUST WERE FALLING OFF THE FRAME, AS HE WAS INSPECTING IT. THE AUTO MECHANIC INFORMED ME THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOLD ME TO NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS, BUT WAS INFORMED CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO COVER THE RUSTED FRAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 9 YEARS OLD WITH 113K MILES. OTHER THAN THE RUSTED FRAME SAFETY ISSUE, THE TRUCK LOOKS AND RUNS GREAT. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER STATED THE FRAME SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED AFTER 9 YEARS, EVEN IF I DO LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND. MY TRUCK IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I CAN'T DRIVE IT, I CAN'T TRADE IT IN, AND I CAN'T SELL IT. PER YOUR SITE AND OTHER TRUCK FORUMS, THERE ARE MULTIPLE (HUNDREDS?) TOYOTA TUNDRA COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS NOT ADDRESSING. I WOULDN'T EXPECT THIS LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FROM ANY AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY, BUT I'M VERY UNPLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT TOYOTA IS NOT BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MANUFACTURING QUALITY ISSUE. I NOW HAVE BEEN INFORMED THIS FRAME ISSUE MAY BE SIMILAR TO THE TACOMA FRAME ISSUE THAT TOYOTA PROVIDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR. EVIDENTLY THE FRAMES OF THE 2000-2001 TUNDRA TRUCKS WERE MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME FACILITY THE TACOMA FRAMES WERE MANUFACTURED, THAT ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I'M HOPING YOUR AGENCY CAN ASSIST ME AND THE MANY OTHERS, WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA, AS WELL AS INFORMING THE OTHER TUNDRA OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE, BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A MAJOR ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DEATH. I'M HOPEFUL YOU ARE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH CORRECTING THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA WAS HAVING FRAME ROT ISSUES WITH YEAR 2000 TUNDRAS, MUCH LIKE TACOMAS OF THE SAME YEAR. FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA WAS ASKING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR TUNDRAS TO LOCAL DEALERS AND HAVE THE FRAME INSPECTED. TANSKY TOYOTA HERE IN COLUMBUS, OH INSPECTED THE FRAME ON MY TRUCK AND FOUND HIGHER THAN USUAL FRAME ROT. THEY ALSO FOUND A HOLE THAT HAS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH THE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF TRUCK. TANSKY'S INVOICE NUMBER FOR THE INSPECTION IS TOCS247283. I ALSO NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF AMERICA TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS AND GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER THROUGH THEM WHICH IS 0905115613. WAITING TO SEE WHAT TOYOTA DOES FOR TUNDRA OWNERS SINCE THEY BOUGHT BACK THE TACOMAS THAT WERE RUSTING. *TR

TO MUCH FRAME RUST ON MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH 75000 MILE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. *TR

* 2000 * TOYOTA * TUNDRA * FRAME FRAME ROT/RUST AROUND CROSS MEMBERS/SHOCK TOWERS/FRAME. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A FLAT PARKING LOT AND THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME, THE PARKED CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT A SIGN. NO PERSON WAS INJURED. I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THE PEDAL WAS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED. THE SECOND TIME, ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILE A CLAIM. I INTEND ON BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO REPORT IT, BECAUSE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE FATAL. *TR

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA AND WAS DRIVING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 95 IN MAINE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK SUDDENLY LIFTED UP OFF THE PAVEMENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. WHEN I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I LOOKED INTO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE A TIRE BOUNCING ERRATICALLY ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC. CARS WERE BRAKING AND SWERVING TO AVOID COLLISION WITH THE TIRE AND FORTUNATELY IT CAME TO A REST AGAINST THE MEDIAN GUARDRAIL WITHOUT CROSSING INTO SOUTHBOUND LANES AND WITHOUT DAMAGE TO VEHICLES OR INJURY TO DRIVERS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY BREAKDOWN LANE AND INSPECTED THE TRUCK TO FIND THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AND A LARGE CORRODED HOLE EXISTED IN THE FRAME FROM WHICH THE TIRE HAD BEEN MOUNTED. I RETRIEVED THE TIRE AND PLACED IT IN THE BED. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO RECEIVED AN EVALUATION FROM A MECHANIC OF WHAT WENT WRONG AND IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED. THE TOYOTA DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING SIGNIFICANT FRAME CORROSION OF TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCKS OF THIS MODEL YEAR, SIMILAR TO THAT OF TACOMA'S WHICH HAD BEEN RECALLED. THEY WERE UNSURE THAT THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE COULD BE SUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE CORROSION AND PERFORATION. THEY DID SAY THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION REGARDLESS. IT IS CLEAR THAT CORROSION TO THIS EXTREME EXTENT ON TOYOTA TUNDRA FRAMES WARRANT ATTENTION FROM THE NHTSA, DUE TO THE CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER THIS DEFECT POSES TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. IF SPARE TIRES FALL FROM THE FRAME MOUNT IN THIS MANNER, DRIVERS OF THIS MODEL YEAR TOYOTA TUNDRA AND SURROUNDING VEHICLES AT THE TIME OF AN INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE ARE AT EXTREME RISK OF SEVERE INJURY AND/OR DEATH. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THIS INCIDENT (CASE # 0905118853) AND SAY THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO PROGRAM AT PRESENT TO RECALL ANY OF THE VEHICLES DUE TO THE CURRENTLY LOW NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD STUTTER OR JERK OCCASIONALLY OVER A THREE WEEK PERIOD OF TIME/APPROX 500 MILES OF DRIVING. WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. TORQUE CONVERTER WAS LOCKED UP REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR