Recalls

CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
09V444000TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.from 01/13/1999 to 09/13/2003V (Vehicle)11000005/03/2010ODITOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.11/18/200911/18/2009
Defect SummaryToyota is recalling model year 2000-2003 tundra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia. excessive corrosion of the rear cross member may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the truck bed which would present a road hazard that could cause a crash. also, corrosion of the rear cross member could affect the rear brake lines and the proportioning valve resulting in diminished braking capability.
Consequence SummarySeparation of the spare tire and diminished brake capacity could increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryToyota is asking owners of the affected vehicles to remove the spare tire from under the vehicle until a remedy can be obtained. dealers will inspect the rear cross member and related components, including the brake lines, and replace them if necessary. if the cross member does not need to be replaced, it will be sprayed with a corrosion protection compound. these services will be performed free of charge, however multiple visits to the dealer may be required. the safety recall is expected to begin on or about april 30, 2010. owner may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NotesToyota safety recall no. ssc90/90m.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .

Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STRUCTURE - BODY
0010003/29/200210006062Ivan stewart signature edition body kit. toyota racing development. *tt04/14/2004
BO0060203/01/2002631797Subject regarding front seat cover damage. *slc06/20/2002
STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD
AX0040308/06/200310003560Accessory hood protector. *tt10/23/2003
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
TC-12-00603/12/201210046399Toyota: see document search button for owner letter. in certain cold climate areas, with high usage of road salt, frames of trucks would exhibit more than normal rust corrosion, causing perforation of metal. models 2000-03 tundra.10/11/2012

Investigations

NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
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
STRUCTURE
06/01/2010175000
 My 2002 tundra and my sisters 2001 tundra have been recalled twice for rust issues, the first was for gas tank and straps, the second for frame rust. we brought our trucks to herb chambers in auburn ma. for the second time we were told they were fine. exception was they wanted me to bring my 2002 back because they were replacing gas tank straps in all recalls as a precaution. the problem with this is that they told my sister no such thing. our vehicles are only 8 years old, both gas fill doors rusted shut and we had to break them open to get gas and then replace the locks, my battery housing rusted and i almost lost my battery. our runners are rusting, the side of my truck is rusting, we both find rust lines on the road or in the garage along the sides of our trucks. a bracket rusted and severed my brake line when i took a turn, my sisters power steering line was severed by a rusted part. yet our cars are fine. i was also told that with the tacoma's we looked for perferations with a hammer and a pick like tool but with the tundra we will visually inspect for perferations so you won't have to wait long. my issue is why do i now need gas tank straps? perhaps this will help if any future issues arise. plain and simply i think that toyota is not being up front and that is dangerous. thank you
04/06/2010480001
 I have a 2002 toyota tundra that is leaking gas. initially i noticed a fuel smell when i walked by the truck which progressed to seeing fuel on the ground. if i put too much gas in the truck, over 1/2 tank, you can see the fuel leaking through the 4x4 fuel tank protective cover. i had the truck put on a lift and was told that fuel was leaking from the seam of the tank. i recently took my truck to toyota in response to the recall re:excessive frame rust and my truck passed that inspection. i have less than 51,000 miles on this truck and i am afraid to drive it on the highway. i have lived in ma for 22 years and have never had a fuel tank problem. on 04/06/10 i took my truck to a required yearly inspection. my check engine light was on and the garage told me that my vehicle had failed the emissions test. i have been following other owners reports online and have noticed that more people are reporting leaking fuel tanks. extensive research indicates that aftermarket gas tanks are not available for this model/year so i must have toyota either do the work, or minimally, get the part from them. based on their recent reputation, i am not thrilled about taking my truck back to them. i have 60 days from the failure date to get it repaired and reinspected to avoid losing my registration! i need this truck to be safe for me and all the other drivers that i encounter. can you please look into this safety concern? *tr
03/17/2010
 My 2002 tundra recall on the frame. passed rear cross member inspection, however the rest of the under body is severally corroded. dealership is telling me that the truck needs about $4500 to pass inspection? the front end is rusted out. as of now, my truck is still at dealership, waiting for toyota rep to inspect my tundra. i feel that im geeting the bad end of this recall. i need help.
09/01/2009600001
 Frame of truck is rusting so bad, i don't know if truck is structurally sound! *tr
03/01/2008600001
 2002 toyota tundra. excessive underbody and frame rust. driven mainly in wisconsin. first noticed march 2008. *tr
10/07/20091
 Yesterday, had $1300.00 work done on my 2002 toyota tundra. mechanic advised me that my springs need replacement as they are completely rusted. this evening, susan wornick of channel 5 investigative team, did a report on toyota tundras rusting out. specifically springs and frame. ms. wornick informed any owners of tundras (2000-2001 and possibly 2002) to file complaint with nhtsa. hence this email. *tr
09/13/2009575001
 I have had the tundra and 5th wheel trailer combination since they were both new in 2002 and towing has been excellent. this trip however, i hit a 'bump' on rt. 93 southbound (heavy traffic) in medford, ma and the spare tire broke off of the holder. it proceeded to bounce up into the front compartment of the trailer and then dropped down and lodged between the trailer's axles. at least no one was injured except the vehicles. i had about $5,000 in repair bills relating to the 'accident'. my concern is that the spare tire/wheel had never been off of the tundra and they were 'new' except for their age. it appears that the amount of rust on the tire hanger bracket was a major cause of the wheel dropping. i have pictures and the replaced parts for your inspection if desired; you can see rust-out holes right through the bracket! i am concerned that this could be happening to many other tundra's of a similar age. i would like to at least offer some form of warning to other owners. after toyota's email response, basically saying this was never heard of before and calling the holder bracket a 'cover', i sent a second email: my concern now is that you have referred to the rusted-out bracket that holds the tire under the truck's bed (part # 51900-0c010 on my repair invoice.) as a 'cover'; i'm hoping that we are speaking of the same piece of equipment. my suggestion involves safety more than warranty or money. if other tundra's have the same rotting out of that bracket, other tires will fall off of those trucks. by the way, my tundra looks like new and is in excellent condition; so i'm presuming that others may be even worse and that my vehicle is likely in average or better condition. if this truly is a potential issue for others, at least warning them to evaluate it would be appropriate; i surely would have appreciated it! *tr updated 03/25/10 *bf
01/03/20021
 I have a 2002 toyota tundra that has been rusting away since the day i bought it new off the lot. it started with the wheels rusting. i brought this up to the dealership many times and they said nothing could be done about it. next was the tailgate and now the underside of my truck looks like a 20 year old vehicle that was sitting for years. i have heard and read that other tundra owners are having the same problem and i agree that toyota needs to do something about this. toyota's are not cheap, i bought this vehicle because i thought the quality was suppose to be excellent. i also have a claim in with toyota. *tr
09/21/20041
 3 interior door handles broke off completely starting in 2004 front passenger door, then in 2005 right rear passenger, 2006 the driver handle broke. toyota did not want to repair said it was not a manufactures defect. everything is plastic and cheaply made, i had to pay for repair, feared that in an event of an accident i would be be able to exit my vehicle unless i rolled window down and opened door from outside handle. *tr
STRUCTURE - BODY
02/28/201267000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 09v444000 (structure) and after the repair, the corrosion protection undercoating that was supposed to remedy the failure peeled off and allowed the frame to rust. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
02/28/201267000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 09v444000 (structure) and after the repair, the corrosion protection undercoating that was supposed to remedy the failure peeled off and allowed the frame to rust. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 67,000. mah
02/28/201267000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the vehicle was included in the recall under nhtsa campaign number: 09v444000 (structure). after the recall remedy was performed by the dealer the corrosion protection under coating that was applied to the frame was peeling off. the contact noticed the frame was corroding. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 67,000. da
04/01/2012150000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while parked, the contact noticed corroded holes throughout the frame. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) however, the manufacturer advised that the vehicle did not qualify for repairs under the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
04/01/2012150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while parked, the contact noticed corroded holes throughout the frame. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) however, the manufacturer advised that the vehicle did not qualify for repairs under the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000. kmj
04/01/2012150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while parked the contact noticed corroded holes throughout the frame. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) that may be related to the failure. the contact stated the vin was included in the recall. the manufacturer stated the vehicle did not qualify for the recall repair and refused to provide a reason in writing. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 150,000. da
05/09/2012150000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. after the repairs, the contact noticed that the rear cross member was rusted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer refused to further inspect or repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted and the contact was awaiting a response. the failure and current mileage was 150,000.
05/09/2012150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs. after the repairs, the contact noticed that the rear cross member was rusted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer refused to further inspect or repair the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted and the contact was awaiting a response. the failure and current mileage was 150,000. kmj
05/09/2012150000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that he received a recall notice (nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000). he took it in for repaired. he notice that the rear cross member was still rushed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer refused to look at the vehicle. the manufacture was contacted and his waiting on answer. the failure and current mileages was 150,000.jp
03/15/2012140000
 Severe frame rust causing rusting on brake lines, rusting and hole in the gas tank, steering rack, and rear axle is almost rusted threw. the frame rust is very severe and at this point i am sure it is a safety concern.
07/01/2010130000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while parked, the contact noticed the frame and underbody was corroded. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) but was advised by the manufacturer that the recall only pertained to vehicles in certain states and that his vehicle was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
07/01/2010130000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while parked, the contact noticed the frame and underbody was corroded. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) but was advised by the manufacturer that the recall only pertained to vehicles in certain states and that his vehicle was not included in the recall. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000. kmj
07/01/2010130000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while parked the contact noticed the frame and underbody was corroded. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and members:underbody shields) that may be related to the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the recall only pertained to vehicles in certain states. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 130,000. ds
09/26/2011128000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the steering wheel would shake abnormally. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic and located the failure as the steering rack being corroded. the manufacturer advised the steering rack failure was not recalled and denied any assistance with the repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and the current mileage was 128,000. kmj
09/26/2011128000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated the steering wheel shake the vehicle was taken to the local garage whom performed a diagnosed and located the failure at the steering rack corroded. the manufacturer advised the steering rack failure was not recalled and denied assistance with the repair. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin information was not available. the failure and the current mileage was 128,000. li
09/02/2011162052
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the rear frame mounts were rusted and the rear cab of the vehicle was no longer connected properly. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs under nhtsa recall campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and memebers: underbody shields), but was advised that the frame mounts were not included in the recall and would have to be repaired at the owner's expense. the failure mileage was 162,052.
09/02/2011162052
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the rear frame mounts were rusted and the rear cab of the vehicle was no longer connected properly. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs under nhtsa recall campaign id number: 09v444000 (structure: frame and memebers: underbody shields), but was advised that the frame mounts were not included in the recall and would have to be repaired at the owner's expense. the failure mileage was 162,052. kmj
12/24/201053935
 Took my 2002 tundra to a local toyota dealer for a second time to inspect frame after being told by an independent licensed mechanic that my frame was perforated/rotted, the rear end housing was leaking, the spare tire hanger was broken,(tire missing), all heat shields were either broken,loose or missing and front brakes were in need of being replaced again. front brake rotors, pads and calipers were replaced 11/09/07. all of this had occurred since 05/06/2010 when the truck was last on his lift. harr toyota performed a frame inspection and verified all of the above failures. they also did the frame crossmember inspection in 01/10 and the truck passed. they specified that the frame failure was @lt rail/trans mt. they also said the rt ft sway bar link was broken, and noticed an exhaust leak. they declared that in spite of the frame failure it was safe to drive just don't do any offroading! so i guess that hitting a pothole would not be advised.! they told me that the brakes were unsafe, and not covered under any recall. i am very upset at the condition/value of my truck. i am also very upset that nhtsa is letting toyota get away with the warranty enhancement of replacing the frame only of these trucks. toyota and its dealers denied the rust problem for years. my problem started when the vehicle was still under warranty, and i was blamed for the failure. in the years that toyota has denied a problem with the tundra, the frame rust has infected, most if not all, of the truck. both bumpers are rotting off. the gas tank had to be patched (05/2010) because it was leaking fuel from a rust spot under one of the support straps. toyota will replace other compromised parts at the owners full expense. in my opinion they are using the frame replacement to generate part sales and repair business to help defer costs. nhtsa- please force a more comprehensive recall! !
03/17/2010
 My 2002 tundra recall on the frame. passed rear cross member inspection, however the rest of the under body is severally corroded. dealership is telling me that the truck needs about $4500 to pass inspection? the front end is rusted out. as of now, my truck is still at dealership, waiting for toyota rep to inspect my tundra. i feel that im geeting the bad end of this recall. i need help.
11/15/2009500001
 2002 toyota tundra sr5 has significant rust damage to undercarriage of vehicle. the damage is located on frame components including cross members, brake lines, spare tire holder, suspension parts, front & rear bumpers where they attach to the frame, etc. the bottom of the vehicle is totally covered in rust. *tr
09/05/2009140000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. while driving approximately 40 mph the spare tire disengaged from the rear spare tire carrier without warning. he pulled over to the side of the road. the tire was retrieved from the roadway. the carrier bracket had fractured because of severe corrosion. the manufacturer was notified of the malfunction. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 140,000. the current mileage was 141,841.
10/27/2009650001
 Dealer discovered rust all over my toyota tundra truck. he said he has never seen that. *tr
10/15/20091250001
 The spare tire just fell off the truck when the tire carrier rusted through. *tr consumer is adding picture. 10/26/09. *nj
06/02/200550000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the lights on the instrument panel to indicated what gear the vehicle is in suddenly shut off and have not illuminated since. he also noticed that when the driver's seat belt is fastened the warning light on the panel illuminates regardless. there is also a rust issue on the on the rear doors causing a structure damage. when he took the vehicle into the dealerships they informed him that they were unable to provide assistance despite the fact that he has warranty on his vehicle. the failure mileage was 50,000. the current mileage was 100,000. the vehicle has not been repaired as of current date.
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
12/14/201053900
 Tl. the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated the rear end housing is leaking causing the transmission to malfunction. the contact took the vehicle to a independent mechanic to add gear oil to the transmission but that did not remedy the problem. the oil leak is due to the excessive rust on the frame of the vehicle. the contact has not taken the vehicle to the dealer. the contact stated the vehicle needs the entire frame replaced and the manufacturer will not provide any assistance with the repair. the failure mileage was 53,900. jo
11/05/2010114000
 2002 toyota tundra recalled for frame rust issues. took nearly 5 months for repairs, even with multiple calls to dealer and corporate. vehicle needed further repairs when returned for broken right front stabilizer bar. then failed sticker inspection because of dry rot in tires presumably from sitting so long? 1) nhtsa needs to set a reasonable time frame for vehicles to be repaired once recalled. five months is unacceptable. (2) nhtsa should review whether commingling old rusty 're-usable' parts with a new solid frame isn't in fact creating another issue causing the older parts to fail (there are many reports by bloggers of other things breaking or needing repair post the frame replacement . i personally feel less safe post recall than before (3) nhtsa should be doing post recall follow ups to ensure that toyota is properly repairing recalled vehicles, especially toyota's given their recent history. there are reports out there that things like tow hitches are not being replaced because they were 'after market' and in my case, the side steps were simply thrown in the back of the truck because they were too rusty to re-install. they also did not replace front and rear shocks and struts which have to have been compromised by the other rust issue? and (4) toyota has some severe customer service issues that it needs to address.
08/31/201085600
 I noticed a leak in the differential of my 2002 toyota tundra. an independent mechanic verified my observation that the differential was rusted through. i contacted two toyota dealers. only one was responsive with the information that toyota isn't going to pay for the repair. a search online reveals that my situation is not an isolated incident. i am stunned that no government agency involved in safety and consumer protection is on this. the truck has about 80000 miles on it. the body is excellent. the frame is fair and of course the differential/rear axle housing is dust. the vehicle is a potential road hazard and to protect ceo salaries possibly, there is a lack of government and corporate action--if there is any separation there. as evidenced by my situation and those of many others.
07/15/200980000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra .the contact stated that the cross members holding the truck bed is rusting.the dealer was contacted and they stated to bring in the vehicle for diagnosis. there have been no repairs and no diagnosis as of yet to the vehicle. the failure mileage was 80000 and the current mileage was 92000.cv
06/09/201098000
 Tl-the contact owns 2002 toyota tundra. the rear axle housing has rotted through and failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and stated they have to replace all the gears and the rear axle housing unit which will cost over $1700 at his expense. the manufacturer was contacted and a case was file and inform him there is no program to repair his vehicle under a warranty and he has ton pay for the repairs. the failure and current mileage was 98,000....mw
05/02/2010131129
 Brought my 2002 toyota tundra to a dealer for the saftey recall that i received. i was informed that the frame was ok, and the rear cross-member was ok too. well, i received a call that the dealer had the part for me! i didn't order the part or did they tell me that the spare tire hanger was defective. it is part of the rear cross member assembly, and should be part of the re-call. they want me to pay for the part & labor to put it in, and the told me that it is not covered by the re-call. no offer was made by the dealer...
03/25/201098190
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact received a recall notice for 09v444000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields). the dealer advised that the vehicle did not exhibit signs of rust and did not make repairs. the manufacturer advised the contact that he should have the repairs performed on the vehicle. the failure mileage was 98,190 and the current mileage was not available.
05/04/2010
 Severe corrosion of vehicle frame and frame cross members, front end parts, and attachment hangers to frame of 2002 toyota tundra which will result in eventurally weakening and failure of the above mentioned items causing a possible accident, injuries and possibly death.
04/15/201069980
 The steering rack on my 2002 toyota tundra rusted out, burst and caused a power steering failure while driving. this is a permanant failure and the toyota dealership advised not to drive the vehicle. nothing was offered to fix it without a $1400 repair bill
03/22/20100
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra she stated that there is corrosion on the entire frame of the vehicle. the contact received nhtsa recall # 09v444000 recall notice; structure frame and members, underbody shields and notified the dealer. the dealer stated that the vehicle would not be repaired due to the cross member being corroded through out the entire frame. the failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 200,000.
03/20/201080000
 The frame on my 2002 toyota tundra is rusting away. i have removed rust pieces as large as 11 inches long and 1'8 inch thick. i tow a 7000 pound trailer and i fear the frame will fail. the body looks new and i have only 80,000 miles on the truck.
03/17/2010
 My 2002 tundra recall on the frame. passed rear cross member inspection, however the rest of the under body is severally corroded. dealership is telling me that the truck needs about $4500 to pass inspection? the front end is rusted out. as of now, my truck is still at dealership, waiting for toyota rep to inspect my tundra. i feel that im geeting the bad end of this recall. i need help.
11/18/20091558001
 The spare wheel/tire fell off my 2002 toyota tundra as i passed over a speed bump (at a very low speed) whilst leaving an apartment complex. i was unaware of having lost the wheel but my son, who lives in the complex, saw the incident & called me - by the time he called i was on the highway driving at high speed - if the wheel had fallen off whilst i was on the highway the consequences could have been catastrophic. i submitted a report (case # 208366) to nhtsa 11/25/09 after going on line & discovering that corrosion was an issue with the frame of this vehicle & that other incidents of a similar nature had been reported & that toyota were preparing a remedy. on 01/10/10 i contacted my local toyota sealer & was advised to bring in the vehicle at my convenience when the spare wheel would be safely secured within the truck bed pending a permanent fix for the problem. *tr
02/03/2010890001
 My 2002 toyota tundra truck is not drivable at this time. the truck was brought to toyota dealership after a local mechanic found fluid leaking from rear differential due to rust/rot. during the dealers inspection, they also noted a gas smell and suspect that the gas tank or gas lines are leaking also. the dealer did a frame inspection and while the whole frame is excessively rusted, the frame passed the recall test because it had not been perforated yet. the dealer did not want to even remove the differential plug because the whole unit was so rusty. i have been under the truck and personally seen the excessive rust on the frame, fuel system, and suspension components. amazingly, the body panels have little or no rust and in very good condition. during previous dealer visits we were verbally told that the rust was normal. the repair estimate for gas tank/lines and new differential housing, etc. was approximately $7000. i purchased this truck new and have always done all required maintenance and was planning on having the truck for a long time. it currently has 89,101 miles on it. the excessive rust is not normal and i feel that the frame and some associated components are defective. i feel that due to the nature of these defects that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and i'm guessing that it would be difficult to sell and if i did, it would be at a greatly reduced value. i purchased a toyota truck because of their reputation for building long lasting, high quality vehicles. i feel that in light of these defects that they misrepresented their product. *tr
01/22/2010760001
 Considerable rust on frame of 2002 tundra sr5 4x4. the frame actually has holes caused by rust on one of the main support structures on the driver side. *tr
12/17/20091331681
 Excessive frame rust and safety issue around steering rack mounting and corrosion to steering rack itself. *tr
04/10/2002150000
 Tl*the contact owns 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the chassis and the frame along the brake lines and mounts have rust on them. the rust has caused the vehicle to detach from the frame while driving which could cause a crash to occur. the speed is unknown. the contact has notified the manufacturer regarding this issue. the contact is concerned that the vehicle will fall apart at any time and cause a crash to occur. the failure mileage was 150,000. the vin # was not available at the time of the complaint.
11/15/2009500001
 2002 toyota tundra sr5 has significant rust damage to undercarriage of vehicle. the damage is located on frame components including cross members, brake lines, spare tire holder, suspension parts, front & rear bumpers where they attach to the frame, etc. the bottom of the vehicle is totally covered in rust. *tr
11/23/20091068001
 I have a 2002 toyota tundra sr5 4x4 pick-up truck. on 11-23-09, my spare tire and the support/frame broke and fell off the vehicle while i was driving . i would like to contact a dealer to remedy this problem, and also have my truck inspected for any other potential safety defects. thank you for your help! *tr
06/09/20091100001
 I find it interesting that my 2002 toyota may be recalled due to the spare tire mounting being rusted. i have been very disappointed with this truck since the gas tank the rear differential cover and fuel lines have rusted through. i bought this vehicle due to the toyota reliability reputation. would you please review the frequency of rust on these areas and issue what ever recalls appropriate. *tr
11/19/20091
 I have a 2002 toyota tundra pu that was built it 2001. the frame of the vehicle is experiencing severe rust. pieces of rusted metal have fallen from the vehicle
10/14/2009780001
 I was under my 2002 toyota tundra inspecting the frame. i noticed severe frame rust on parts of the frame and cross member. not just surface rust severe rust. my concern is that the rust is so severe that it has compromised the integrity of the frame and therefore the safety of the truck. there has been nothing done yet to correct this problem. *tr
11/05/2009750001
 Frame rust and rot coming up through the bed of the truck from the frame rails. also rust and rot on majority of undercarriage including spare tire area and suspension members. *tr
11/10/2009830001
 Frame rust concern and rear brakes / parking brakes needing to be repaired due to rust... my concern is the ongoing investigation into severe rust problems. i bought the truck used (2 yrs. old). the truck was not previously undercoated. the truck in service date is oct 01. i bought it used in 02. i then had it undercoated and have done so every fall since then. my concern is what may be going on underneath the undercoating that i can't see. also, i had to have the rear brakes tore apart and rebuilt due to rusting components. *tr
11/07/2009846681
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i got under my 2002 toyota tundra trd sr5 extra cab to assess the rust this past weekend. i was dumbfounded! control arms, front wishbone, suspension brackets, and rear differential look like a shipwreck that's been under the sea for 100 years. the rear differential housing has rusted completely through and is leaking through the side of the housing! the spare tire holder is so rusted the wheel is about to fall off. all shields and safety guards have fallen off or will soon. i bought the truck new in nov of '01. it now has 84,000 miles. i've had all recommended services performed at the dealer.they never mentioned the rust although they do a safety inspection at every service. i've always washed off the salt in the winter. the body panels show no rust at all and the outside of the truck looks like new. i have taken excellent care of this vehicle. i had a chevy truck kept under the same conditions that after 15 years and 250,000 miles looked nothing like this. i cannot drive this truck in this condition. *tr
11/09/20091
 Toyota tundra 2002 - frame rust my 02 tundra only has 60k miles on it and the rust underneath is causing parts connected to the frame to flake off as well as parts of the frame. the smaller pieces for example the spare tire holder is almost turned to dust. are you investigating this problem with 2002 model's ? i was told that 2000-1 have been. *tr
10/27/2009650001
 Dealer discovered rust all over my toyota tundra truck. he said he has never seen that. *tr
09/18/2005101001
 Rust on undercarriage. *tr
10/13/2009739001
 Front drivers side sway bar link is corroded through. no accident or injury but only because i knew what was going on after i saw the broken link and drove accordingly. after further investigation we find that the brake calipers are corroded beyond salvage and the frame has heavy rust in a number of areas. it is clear that this truck will be worthless in a few years due to the heavy corrosion and we will all be lucky if someone is not killed due to corrosion damage causing something to fall off and cause a wreck. *tr
05/19/200892000
 Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact was performing maintenance on the vehicle to replace the shock absorbers when he detected that the main frame exhibited severe rust corrosion. the corrosion progressed over a period of time and resulted in thinning and warping of the frame. the vehicle is in the process of being taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. the manufacturer has been notified. the contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. the failure mileage was 92,000. the current mileage was unavailable.
09/01/20091827631
 Report of severe rust to the frame structure of toyota tundra pickup. upon discovery of corrosion owner called toyota and was advised to take vehicle to dealer for frame inspection. frame was inspected and one large hole was made by dealer in frame on front drivers side. upon questioning of dealer owner was told that the hole was minor compared to holes found on other tundra pickups. dealer said truck was ok to drive, but upon doing research it seems that truck would not have passed inspection if hole had been visible 1 week before. there is a clear issue with frame construction and upon contacting toyota after inspection toyota claims that there is no program to address issue and will not comment on vehicle safety with this intense frame corrosion. at this time there is no document provided by either dealer or toyota that states in writing that truck is road worthy and safe to drive. *tr
07/01/2009114000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. when the contact took the vehicle to be state inspected, he was informed that the front passenger suspension sub-frame was rusted and had holes. as a result, the vehicle failed inspection. the contact took the vehicle to a repair shop to be welded, but the mechanic stated that this was not possible. he then took the vehicle to the dealer and they advised him not to drive the vehicle because it could not be repaired. report number 0906143367 was filed with the manufacturer, but they would not assist. the current and failure mileages were 114,000.
04/22/2009400001
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the vehicle failed inspection due to a fracture on the frame caused by excessive rust. the manufacturer advised the contact to speak with a dealer. the dealer stated that since the vehicle exceeded its warranty they would not assume any responsibility. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 40,000. updated 05/15/09 *bf updated 05/18/09.*jb
10/31/2002650010/02/2002
 Cab separated from chassis. cab is attached to chassis at 4 flanges welded to frame. 2 each 10 mm bolts connect cab to each flange. a 71 mm hole exists in flange between the 2 each 13 mm holes for the 10 mm bolts. only 6 mm of flange steel exists between 13 mm holes and 71 mm hole. cab separated by tearing 10 mm bolt nuts through the 13 mm holes at the 6 mm dimension. it has been my experience in aircraft structureal repair that the minimum dimension for hole spacing is 3 hole diameters (i.e., hole spacing should have been approximately 30 mm instead of 6 mm).
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS
05/04/201139000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact stated that the front area of the frame was rusted significantly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer previously for a repair under nhtsa campaign id number 09v444000 (structure: frame and members: underbody shields), the technician inspected the vehicle and advised that the recall repair was not necessary. he also noticed that the fuel tank straps exhibited rust corrosion and they were replaced. the failure was not diagnosed or repaired for the most recent frame defect. the failure mileage was 39,000.
01/01/19011
 2002 toyota tundra. consumer requests reimbursement *tgw the consumer stated toyota did send him a check for $ 61.63. but, they didn't reimburse for his time for installing the fuel support strap that had completely rusted. when he contacted toyota, he was informed it was their policy to only pay for installation when a business performed the installation not individuals. the consumer stated the dealer was busy and couldn't install the strap, so he and a friend performed the installation. *jb
05/03/201087000
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota tundra. the contact referenced recall 09v444000 (structure: frame and members: under body shields) for which he received a recall notice. he took the vehicle to an authorized dealership where the vehicle was inspected and he was informed that the vehicle was fine. the contact stated that the vehicle was rusting and flaking in the rear cross member but the dealer did nothing. while driving at approximately 50-60 mph, the vehicle made a clunking noise and shook from the front end. the vehicle had not been taken to the dealer for the failure at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was approximately 87,000. the current mileage was approximately 89,000.

Some parts © 2024 Advameg, Inc.
Based on public records. Inadvertent errors are possible.
This web site is not associated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by and has no official or unofficial affiliation with the vehicle's manufacturer.