Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STEERING
ST0029905/21/1999605915Procedures for improving a steering flutter condition on vehicles within certain vin ranges. *tt08/02/1999
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
5182B09/14/200510016959Steering - power steering gear. repair manual correction. 00400-rm682-u2. *tt10/18/2005

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STEERING
09/21/20121460001
 Previous complaint not correct. took vehicle to toyota newburgh ny for safety recall replace frame was told at time had to do power steering as leaking and rust and entire cost i had to pay though compain states they are responsible or they wouldn't pass inspection, i showed them. no other choice but to do & hope to recoupe later, yeah right. truck went in complete frame was done remarkable fast, obvious why, as i drove home the truck had not been put back on frame correct that was clear to the eye but driving it the challenge to remain on road safe.the dealer nys certified insp. site also passed this vehicle. the truck has so many more safety issues after completion its a joke thanks nhtsa. not to mention the malfunction of many components that worked prior, called dealer and complained, they also informed me as replace being done that the exhaust hanging by thread due to rust brackets etc the cost to repair $6000.00 if i bring it back they will surely violate me again, i cant afford $/aggrav. nhtsa has done nothing for me but they continue to compain on the utmost importance we as consumers are these trucks need be taken off the road. toyota corp. n dealer laughed when i stated calling nhtsa go ahead they wont do anything, filled w toyota customer hotline anyway knowing they are in bed with nhtsa. my ? who & where are these fines billlions of $ going, surely not to the owners of vehicles. mr. strickland i dare u to do your taxpaying job & get me n others results take these and any other vehicles off the road before my or hey maybe your family is involved in fatality. are roads are not safe, this agency is failing everyone that travels over the road. any attorney willing take private case i got documents n some [xxx] nhtsa stinks big in this who do u represent who ru accountable to i want answers mr.strickland contact info nowhere why. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr
09/21/2012146000
 Previous complaint not correct. took vehicle to toyota newburgh ny for safety recall replace frame was told at time had to do power steering as leaking and rust and entire cost i had to pay though compain states they are responsible or they wouldnt pass inspection, i showed them. no other choice but to do & hope to recoupe later, yeah right. truck went in complete frame was done remarkable fast, obvious why, as i drove home the truck had not been put back on frame correct that was clear to the eye but driving it the challange to remain on road safe.the dealer nys certified insp. site also passed this vehicle. the truck has so many more safety issues after completion its a joke thanks nhtsa. not to mention the malfunction of many components that worked prior, called dealer and complained, they also informed me as replace being done that the exhaust hanging by thread due to rust brackets etc the cost to repair $6000.00 if i bring it back they will surely violate me again, i cant afford $/aggrav. nhtsa has done nothing for me but they continue to compain on the utmost importance we as consumers are these trucks need be taken off the road. toyota corp. n dealer laughed when i stated calling nhtsa go ahead they wont do anything, filled w toyota customer hotline anyway knowing they are in bed with nhtsa. my ? who & where are these fines billlions of $ going, surely not to the owners of vehicles. mr. strickland i dare u to do your taxpaying job & get me n others results take these and any other vehicles off the road before my or hey maybe your family is involved in fatality. are roads are not safe, this agency is failing everyone that travles over the road. any attorney willing take private case i got documents n some odellpierce@gmail.com nhtsa stinks big in this who do u represent who ru accountble to i want answers mr.strickland contact info nowhere why.
07/26/20121580001
 I had a recall letter from toyota regarding frame rust. it was to be done at no charge. when the dealer inspected the frame, they said the truck qualified for frame replacement at no charge. when the work was beginning, however, i received a phone call stating numerous parts had to be replaced because they were destroyed during the frame replacement process. i was told it was not negotiable and i would have to pay for them. these included all shocks, tie rods and ends for $350. also, they suggested replacing the steering rack and radiator cap for an additional $650. i have contacted toyota corporation to try to get the real story of what is covered and what may not be covered. *tr
04/04/201270000
 Steering rack rusted, no power steering
01/01/2011115000
 Both left and right connecting rods which connet the lower front control arms to the front torrison bar on my 2000 toyota tundra 4x4 have broken off where the rod extends through the torrison bar. this vehicle is used primarly for highway driving and has not been abused or driven abusivelly in rough terrain
09/28/2010180000
 Tl- the contact owns 2000 toyota tundra. the contact was in a parked position and tried to turn the care over and the vehicle did not start. the contact stated the vehicle had stopped going fully into park for a few days, but they thought it was not a major problem. this time when the contact tried to start the vehicle and move the gear shift into park, the gear broke off. the contact stated the shifter had rusted on the inside of the steering column. the dealer looked at the vehicle and stated the problem was with to part separate parts. the contact did not remember the name of the parts at the time of the complaint. the manufacturer stated they would not repair the parts because the vehicle is too old. the vin was not available at the of the complaint. the failure mileage and the current mileages 180000.rl
04/19/201095000
 I had a 2000 toyota tundra shipped from massachuesetts to where i live in montana. i bought it from a auto sales there whereby asking them before i even considerd buying it if it had any rust issues. i was told no and the conversations i had throughout the dealing process i was confident that they were being upfront with me. i had it shipped to my son in denver and he shuttled it to me in sheridan, wyoming, where i picked it up and drove it home to montana. after inspecting it when i got home i was stunned to find the extent of the rust on the frame and various parts. one of the brackets that is welded to the frame that holds the steering stabilizer is almost gone. after talking to a friend of mine that owns a body shop he informed me about frame rust issues on earlier year tundra's in certain parts of the country, massacheusetts being one of them. he also informed me about recalls associated with this problem. after going online and reading on the toyota website what the recall involves i am very sad to find it only tallks about a rear crossmember that holds the spare tire. this doesn't come close to the extent of the rust on this frame and associated parts. this is my hard earned money and more importantly the fact not being able to trust people that you deal with has made this event a nightmare. ii have to believe that there was a defect in the steel that toyota used in these frames for the rust to be this bad.
02/07/2010800001
 The rust on my 2000 tundra extends to more than just the rear cross member that my local dealer reported and toyota is willing to replace. i looked under the truck today and a lot of the front end is rusted away. the steering rack has rusted to the point of having a hole in it that pumps power steering fluid onto the road. very dangerous. *tr
07/15/20081480001
 Excessive rust. sway bar ends links rusted off. power steering rack rusted thru and leaked needed replacement. exhaust header leak because of rust. several tech's have called it a 'rust bucket' underneath. *tr
07/30/20081251641
 I had to replace my power steering rack due to rust. this was done in july of 2008. when the service tech (actually all in shop) looked at it, they said they had never seen anything like it. the part was literally crumbling in their hands. now in nov. of 2009, i read that toyota is saying that this truck did not receive the proper rust protection when built. i am a long standing toyota owner. this i hoped to handled in a way to make customers satisfied. today i took my tundra (limited 4x4 access cab) to the local dealer (byers in delaware, oh) where it was purchased. they inspected the truck and simply told me it passed the perforation inspection. when i asked about the details, they repeated it passed. as i had read where other owners were losing their spare tire, i asked if the spare was removed for the inspection. the service manager had to ask the tech. the reply was i looked around and through it and 'it' passed. overall, the rust inspection was graded against a simple multi-point inspection report. there was no specific mention of the frame, steering rack, or cross member. one last time i asked about what would happen next as i thought toyota was offering a corrosion treatment. all i was told was it passed. i left not feeling happy or safe. toyota and this dealership needs to focus on their customers. i have reviewed the frame problem on nhtsa, and found several steering rack complaints filed. i believe that the frame is only the beginning of the is rust problem, and that the steering rack and other parts should be reviewed. *tr
08/03/2009712001
 8/3/2009 - steering rack lost all fluid while driving on a highway. able to maintain control, brought to mechanic who replaced steering rack. 09/08/2009 - front brake lines corroded thru and lost all brake fluid while driving,brought to mechanic who replaced front and rear brake lines as all required replacement. 09/11/2009 - shift cable failed (corrosion) - able to get off the road and towed to mechanic. frame and underbody of this truck have excessive corrosion which led to these failures. the integrity and safety of this vehicle is questionable. *tr
06/15/20091650001
 I have a 2000 toyota tundra. it suffers from severe frame and undercarriage rust. the rust and metal is literally flaking off in large sheets. my steering fluid lines corroded and burst causing loss of fluid and power steering at highway speeds last fall. this spring my rusted brake line burst and caused complete loss of brakes. my wife was coming out of a business onto a four lane highway. she had to drive it into a ditch to avert a t-bone collision on the main highway. i can hear unexplainable sounds from the rear frame area and my current mechanic tells me that the vehicle will not be inspected when due. i understand others have had similar problems and i want to assure you that there are many more out there just like me. the vehicle has otherwise been mechanically sound. toyota has no recall notice and i have gone through there process before to no avail. there needs to be a recall insisted upon. *tr
09/29/2009880001
 I have a 2000 toyota tundra that has a rusted out and cracked rear cross member in the frame. the frame member holds the spare tire in place and while changing rear shocks at the end of september i noticed how rusted the cross member and the rest of the frame is, what is left of the cross member is cracking so i no longer have the tire under the truck. a mechanic verified this while he was under the truck replacing the power steering rack that also rusted out .my wife lost the power steering while driving the truck. the mechanic told me he had never seen the power steering rack rust out or that much rust on the frame of a truck with 88,000 on it and that the frame would have to be welded to make it right. i have filed a claim with toyota ( claim # 0910135009 ) and was told they are looking in to it. from what i've herd and read im not the only one with this problem.i would hate to see what would happen if someone lost their spare tire while going down the highway. i have heard that 2000 and 2001 tundra frames were made in the same place the tacomas were and i did receive a recall on my previous truck a 2000 tacoma. thank you for your time. *tr
09/18/20081000001
 Well at 48,000 my master cylinder stopped working. sept of 08 the rack and pinion steering rotted away and i also noticed my frame rotting back in 05.. and now i can peel metal of my frame. i just put 1800 dollars into a dyeing horse... i bought toyota for a reason. they built some trucks on frames knowing they were no good in new england weather.... please help ... *tr
10/15/20091230001
 2000 toyota tundra with 120k miles in concord ma. recently the vehicle was making a noise while turning or hitting a bump. upon inspection found the frame has corroded so badly the torsion bar is no longer attached to the frame. the rear end leaf spring mounts are also close to the point of failure. reported this to toyota an received a case number (case #09102651), was told i would be contacted 3 days ago and have not been contacted yet. also reported this to my local dealer, they said they should be contacted by toyota with my case number, as of yet they have not been contacted either. the only repair will be a new undercarriage. this is my only vehicle. *tr
10/11/20071000001
 I have a 2000 tundra on which the frame is rotting away. can you help by forcing a recall like they did with 95 -01 tacomas. *tr
09/22/2009680211
 I was told by service technician changing my oil that i had some very significant rust on the frame of my 2000 tundra. i have been finding rust flakes on my garage floor and after reading about people having frame failures i contacted the toyota customer center to see if there was any type of recall. they took my information and specifically asked if i had holes in the frame? toyota representative was most cordial but explained that toyota has not yet taken action to address how they might assist tundra owners with this issue. i have scheduled an inspection for my tundra's frame with a toyota dealer for next week. there is rust on entire frame and it is very rusted on the springs and holders. every welded joint has flaking and showing separating layers. i don't believe i will be towing or carrying heavy weight till i'm assured the rust ed parts have proper integrity to support weight and speeds. tell everyone you know to with a 2000-2001 tundra with rust to call toyota!!!!!! and file a complaint here. toyota wants to know, and we need some answers and assistance in making sure frames are safe. *tr
09/19/20091100001
 My 2000 toyota tundra failed inspection due to frame rust. the steering rack rusted through and is no longer attached to the frame. i was told not to drive the vehicle until it is repaired. the frame has many areas that are in similar condition. *tr
08/03/20091007001
 1) power steering rack & pinion metal housing rust through causing total loss of steering fluid and loss of control of vehicle occurred aug 4 09. the repairs of the rack pinion are $1000 2) during inspection mechanic says rust of frame elements and suspension indicates unsafe driving even after repairs of steering gear. *tr
05/09/20091290001
 Toyota tundra year 2000 original owner 129,000 miles frame under motor that steering rack attaches to rusted out to the point where toyota says its unsafe to drive and sent pictures to toyota to open a case. no program yet to fix or compensate owners at this time. maybe in the future there will be not now when what do i do? need your help!
08/02/200888650
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the power steering was loose and leaking fluid. he can only drive between 5-10 miles before having to add more fluid in the vehicle. the leaf springs that are carried to support the vehicle are failing. the failure and current mileages were 88,650.
STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
07/21/19991
 While driving, heard road noise like doors not closing. also, air came through the doors. contacted dealer. *ak new seals were installed around door openings by the dealer. door ajar light comes on at times and electric door locks open due to lock assembly failure. key would not come out of ignition. alarm goes off by itself due to shock sensor shorting out. the vehicle would not start due to battery failure. *yh
STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
07/25/2000111/01/1999
 No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT SECTOR
03/03/200544000207/10/1999
 The shift lever broke off, disconnected from the steering column at about 21000 miles. after i parked the truck, i was not able to shift it to reverse or any other gear. i had the vehicule towed to a dealer and they replaced the shift lever, tube steering, support tilt mechanism, and shaft control. (covered under warranty) at 44, 000 miles. the exact same problem happened. i talked to the dealer and to a toyota corporate representative, they stated since my vehicule is out of warranty, there was nothing they could do for me. i feel toyota should cover the cost of the repair since this is a reccuring problem that is part of the drive train. the shift lever is a part that should last the live cycle of the vehicule. they are well aware of the deffect ; they should bear the cost. *ak
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
10/02/20091
 2000 toyota tundra. consumer states sudden failure in steering due to link failure *tgw the power steering unit leaked fluid out of a hole that rusted in the case.
10/01/2002306/01/2000
 Dt: the contact owns a 2000 toyota tundra. the contact was having problems with the front and rear brakes. he did research and found technical service bulletins (tsbs),tsbbr00402 and tsbbr00403. the pro brakes were not holding and vibrating . this made the stopping of the vehicle seem dangerous. he contacted the dealership, and they told him to bring vehicle in for service, and has currently not done so. he contacted the manufacturer, and they told him that they were not going to do anything about the problem because it was a wear and tear. the vehicle only has 29,000 miles on it. this occurred at freeway speeds, and at hard braking. the tsbs stated that the brakes may not grab , causing the front rotors to overheat and warp. there was a recall 05v225000 on the 2002 toyota tundra for a lower ball joints. also, steering was hard, and when turning the steering wheel it made a pounding sound. the contact has been having brake problems for about three years, and t front suspension problem for about two months. *ak updated 11/29/05. *jb
11/08/2000308/01/2000
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak (dot number: b7jc dc7x tiresize: 265/70 r16)
STEERING - LINKAGES - KNUCKLE - SPINDLE - ARM
06/10/200230000503/15/2000
 When braking it caused excessive vibration within the front end. vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the front rotors/ calipers/ pads, and the wheel bearing of larger size equipments.*ak. also, replaced hub and knuckle.*ak
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
03/01/2008135000107/01/2000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 toyota tundra. while approaching a stop at less than 5 mph, the contact lost control of the steering. he managed to pull the vehicle over and had it towed to the dealer. the dealer stated that the rack and pinion separated from the frame and was unable to be repaired because the frame was rusted. the contact believes that the frame should not be rusted out because the vehicle is only eight years old. the vin and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 135,000.
09/09/2000
 Rack and pinion steering failure, causing front tires to wear excessively. front brakes would grab/vibrate when vehicle got hot, and brakes were applied. vehicle been in dealer shop on several occasions, and informed consumer that nothing was wrong. vehicle taken to an independent repair shop, and it informed consumer of rack and pinion steering problem. please feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak
STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK
11/01/20101
 2000 toyota tundra. consumer writes regarding vehicle rust *tgw the consumer stated his vehicle passed the inspection rust recall. however, one of the straps that held the gas tank rusted through and failed after the inspection. also, the consumer had to pat $800 for a new steering rack. *jb
STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
08/01/1999
 Steering wheel cocked to right, steering wheel not centered. dealer says alignment ok.