Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
TIRES
01010101/01/2001618383Subject regarding tmmi / bridgestone issue summary and question and answer sheet. *jb04/12/2001
01010101/01/2001618349Subject regarding a small number of p265 / 70r16 bridgestone dueler ht tires exhibiting a slight cosmetic surface blemish. *jb04/12/2001
TC0003110/16/2000618350Toyota announced that a small number of p265 / 70r16 bridgestone dueler ht tires, may exhibit a cosmetic surface blemish along the sidewalls. *tt04/12/2001
TIRES - TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
PG0050308/19/200310003563Spare tire carrier operation. various modlels including the 2004 landcruiser and 4 runner. *tt10/23/2003

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
TIRES - TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
PE09049TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.10/06/200901/26/2010FRAME CORROSION09V444000
 This investigation was opened based on 20 reports of model year (my) 2000 and 2001 vehicles experiencing severe corrosion of the frame, resulting in either under-body mounted spare tire separation or rear brake failure.the failure report counts shown above are for my 2000 and 2001 vehicles only.by letter of november 16, 2009 toyota has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (09v-444) of approximately 110,000 model year (my) 2000 through 2003 tundra vehicles.the affected recalled vehicles were sold or are currently registered in the district of columbia and the states of ct, de, il, in, ky, ma, md, me, mi, mn, nh, nj, ny, oh, pa, ri, va, vt, wi, wv.toyota alleges high amounts of road salts are used in these areas and excessive corrosion of the rear cross-member (to which the spare tire is mounted) can occur and cause the spare tire to separate from the vehicle and can also lead to rear brake failure.toyota stated: toyota has tentatively concluded that the root cause is a combination of factors, including usage in areas where road salt is applied, inadequate vehicle maintenance (i.e., not following the recommendations in the owner's manual), the design of the rear cross-member, and manufacturing issues.the design of the rear cross-member is such that it is open on the top side and susceptible to accumulation of dirt, water and road salt.manufacturing issues of the rear cross-member related to the coating process also affect its corrosion resistance.toyota also states that owners of my 2000 through 2003 vehicles in states not covered by the recall will be notified on how to obtain the same inspection and repair as the recalled vehicles, free of charge.further toyota states: please note that while toyota has not determined a defect exists in 2004 through 2006 my tundra vehicles, toyota plans on initiating a field action in the near future to prevent future corrosion on those vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the affected region at no cost to the owner.by letter of january 8, 2010 toyota has notified the agency that it amended its defect information report for safety recall 09v-444 to include the fuel tank mounting system (i.e., fuel tank support straps and fuel tank mounting cross-members) in the safety recall.toyota states: toyota has not decided that the fuel tank mounting system in those vehicles contains a safety-related defect within the meaning of federal motor vehicle safety law.rather, toyota is taking this action at odi's request and to avoid future disagreement with odi with respect to this issue.my 2007 and newer tundra vehicles are not included in any of toyota's actions as the rear cross-member in those vehicles have been redesigned so that it is open on the bottom.the actions taken by toyota are sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist in the subject vehicles.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
PE09049TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION10/06/200901/26/2010FRAME CORROSION09V444000
 This investigation was opened based on 20 reports of model year (my) 2000 and 2001 vehicles experiencing severe corrosion of the frame, resulting in either under-body mounted spare tire separation or rear brake failure.the failure report counts shown above are for my 2000 and 2001 vehicles only.by letter of november 16, 2009 toyota has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (09v-444) of approximately 110,000 model year (my) 2000 through 2003 tundra vehicles.the affected recalled vehicles were sold or are currently registered in the district of columbia and the states of ct, de, il, in, ky, ma, md, me, mi, mn, nh, nj, ny, oh, pa, ri, va, vt, wi, wv.toyota alleges high amounts of road salts are used in these areas and excessive corrosion of the rear cross-member (to which the spare tire is mounted) can occur and cause the spare tire to separate from the vehicle and can also lead to rear brake failure.toyota stated: toyota has tentatively concluded that the root cause is a combination of factors, including usage in areas where road salt is applied, inadequate vehicle maintenance (i.e., not following the recommendations in the owner's manual), the design of the rear cross-member, and manufacturing issues.the design of the rear cross-member is such that it is open on the top side and susceptible to accumulation of dirt, water and road salt.manufacturing issues of the rear cross-member related to the coating process also affect its corrosion resistance.toyota also states that owners of my 2000 through 2003 vehicles in states not covered by the recall will be notified on how to obtain the same inspection and repair as the recalled vehicles, free of charge.further toyota states: please note that while toyota has not determined a defect exists in 2004 through 2006 my tundra vehicles, toyota plans on initiating a field action in the near future to prevent future corrosion on those vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the affected region at no cost to the owner.by letter of january 8, 2010 toyota has notified the agency that it amended its defect information report for safety recall 09v-444 to include the fuel tank mounting system (i.e., fuel tank support straps and fuel tank mounting cross-members) in the safety recall.toyota states: toyota has not decided that the fuel tank mounting system in those vehicles contains a safety-related defect within the meaning of federal motor vehicle safety law.rather, toyota is taking this action at odi's request and to avoid future disagreement with odi with respect to this issue.my 2007 and newer tundra vehicles are not included in any of toyota's actions as the rear cross-member in those vehicles have been redesigned so that it is open on the bottom.the actions taken by toyota are sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist in the subject vehicles.the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
TIRES
12/01/200220000104/17/2001
 The tires were defective. scc *jb
12/30/2001112/31/2000
 When driving in wet weather conditions at 40 mph, consumer was attempting to avoid a flooded area, when the consumer suddenly lost control of vehicle, upon impact of hitting an end post, the driver and passenger side air bags failed to deploy, driver sustained head and chest injuries.*ak consumer stated when trying to get over to avoid the flood, the vehicle rapidly accelerated on its own, consumer believes the cause of failure may have been the 2 tires on the passenger side may have come off the rims, causing loss of control of vehicle. *jg tire information (b.f. goodrich p265/70r16)
TIRES - TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
01/04/2010970001
 The spare tire separated from the cross member on my 2001 tundra. fortunately i was at slow speed. i now know you have opened an investigation but wanted to be sure to log the issue. my truck is no longer drivable and toyota has told me that they do not have the parts to fix it yet. i think it is time that you require toyota to replace the frame and all associated components. this is not isolated to just the rear crossmember, there is rust throughout the whole underside of the vehicle. *tr