2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA Complaints

WHILE DRIVING, I HAD MY SPARE TIRE FAIL OFF THE CAR DUE TO TUNDRA SPARE TIRE LIFT PLATE ROT. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS CONDITION AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

THE REMEDY APPLIED TO MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA FOR SAFETY RECALL 09V444000 HAS PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK USED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SAFETY RECALL REMEDY HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE FRAME CROSS-MEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE FUEL TANK - A COMPONENT CALLED OUT IN TOYOTA DOCUMENTS RELATED TO 09V444000 - HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS) THIS CONDITION WAS DISCOVERED DURING MY RECENT STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE CROSS-MEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE FUEL TANK CAN BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SINCE RECALL 09V444000 WAS ORIGINALLY INITIATED TO FIX THIS VERY PROBLEM, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD STILL QUALIFY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THE FIX APPLIED WAS A BAND-AID REPAIR THAT DID NOT ADDRESS THE ORIGINAL FAULT. YOUR DATABASE CURRENTLY SHOWS THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY OPEN RECALLS ON MY VIN, BUT THE ORIGINAL FLAW HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION) IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC ROADWAY. IS TOYOTA OBLIGATED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, OR WAS THEIR TEMPORARY FIX (THE APPLICATION OF RUST-PROOFING) ENOUGH TO ABSOLVE THEM OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY FROM THAT DATE ONWARD?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUBERT VESTER TOYOTA (3712 RALEIGH RD PKWY W, WILSON, NC 27896, (252) 291-5300). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PROVIDING A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS INTERFERING WITH THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE TIP OF THE LEVER TO FIND THAT IT WAS FRACTURED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF VISALIA, 922 S BEN MADDOX WAY, VISALIA, CALIFORNIA 93292) WAS CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

TAKATA RECALL. AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AFTER LAST YEARS REPAIR . TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. A 126918 CODE B0103 1.0 CODE IS IN HISTORY. SYMPTOM NOT MALFUNCTIONING AT THIS TIME. DEALER GAVE ESTIMATE ON AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY (ECU REPLACEMENT).

TAKATA RECALL ALTHOUGH CURRENTLY TOYOTA CLAIMS MY TRUCK IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL I HAVE THE SAME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT THAT THOSE WHO ARE PART OF THE RECALL HAVE. I SEARCHED MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR ON LINE AND FOUNDS HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO ARE HAVING AIRBAG ISSUES BUT WE'RE EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL.

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4WD LIMITED ACCESS CAB. IN DEC 2012 BROUGHT TRUCK TO BURNSVILLE TOYOTA FOR RECALL. THEY ONLY SPRAYED RUSTED INHIBITOR PAINT ON FRAME. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT TRUCK INTO LOCAL INDEPENDENT SHOP. THEY SAID BRAKE LINE TO REAR DRUM BRAKES SHOOK LOSE, DUE TO FRAME RUSTING/CORROSION AWAY FROM SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNT. THEY ALSO STATED TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE FRAME AND CROSSMEMBER SUPPORTS ARE CORRODED AND RUSTED BEYOND REPAIR. CALLED BURNSVILLE TOYOTA AND THEY SAID, THAT THE RECALL 3 YEAR WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP. THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND BODY ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT OFFER TO HELP WITH THERE DESIGNED ERROR IN FRAME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SHOCK TOWER WAS RUSTED AND FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE STRUT HOUSING TO FAIL. BOCH TOYOTA (277 PROVIDENCE HWY, NORWOOD, MA 02062, (781) 769-8100) WAS CONTACTED TO PURCHASE THE SHOCK SUPPORT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHOCK SUPPORT WAS PART OF THE SUBFRAME AND COULD NOT BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY. IN APRIL OF 2012, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON STATE ROAD 27, I STARTING SMELLING FUEL IN THE CABIN; WHEN I GET TO MY DESTINATION, ABOUT 7 MILES AFTER, I CAME OUT WITH THE TRUCK STILL RUNNING, NOTICE A LOT OF FUEL UNDER THE TRUCK, I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY AND THE FLOW OF FUEL GRADUALLY STOPPED.

STRUCTURE. 220,000 MILES I TOOL IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE THE TECH CALLS ME OVER TO SHOW ME THE ROTTED FRAME MEMBER'S. I TOOK IT TO TARBOX TOYOTA IN RI, THEY TOOK PICS AND SENT IT TO TOYOTA. THEY ALSO TOLD ME I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA SAID NO OUTSTANDING RECALL ON IT SO I AM OUT OF LUCK. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL EXCEPT FOR THE ONE LISTED TO REPLACE A REAR CHASSIS MEMBER WHICH I HAD DONE. THE KILLER IS I HAVE PUT $5000 INTO IT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THINKING I WOULD HAVE THE TRUCK FOR ANOTHER 10 YEARS...ITS ONLY USED OCCASIONALLY. NOW WHAT DO I DO?