2002 Toyota Tundra

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 70-75 MPH AND VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT CORRECT. THE OWNERS CHANGED SEATING ARRANGEMENTS, AND THE WIFE TOOK OVER DRIVING AFTER ONE HOUR AND A HALF. THE OTHER DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS PULLING HER INTO AN 18 WHEELER THAT WAS TRAVELING BESIDES HER. THE INTERSTATE WAS FLAT THAT THEY WERE TRAVELING ON. SHE WAS TRYING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AND GET AWAY FROM THE 18 WHEELER. THE STEERING WAS UNCONTROLLABLE BEFORE THEY CRASHED. THE NEXT THING THAT THE OWNER REMEMBERED WAS THAT THEY WERE GOING OFF THE ROAD, WITH ONE TIRE IN THE DIRT, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTS FLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING UP STRAIGHT ACROSS BOTH LANES THAT THEY WERE TRAVELING. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. . THE OWNER'S HUSBAND WAS KILLED IN THIS ACCIDENT, AND THERE WERE TWO INJURIES WHO WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. THE OWNER HAD JUST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND AWARE OF THE ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP REIMBURSED THE OWNER ON THE REST OF HER EXTRA EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE OWNER HAS NOT TALKED TO TOYOTA. ALSO, THE OWNER BECAME AWARE OF NHTSA RECALL. 05V225000. *AK *TT

The Toyota Tundra 2002 truck did NOT deploy driver's side and passenger's side airbags in a collision consisting of frontal and left-sided collision with immobile objects, with frontal/top profound impact from standing tree. The car was up to date on its inspections and maintenance. The breaks, though appropriately checked and tested, would take longer than normal to break the vehicle. The seatbelt, if pulled hard enough, would easily dislodge from buckle, coming undone. The driver of this vehicle collided as described above and due to the failure(s) of the safety mechanisms in place, resulted in the death of the driver. The driver was restrained with seatbelt, however dislodged from buckle upon impact and NO airbags deployed. The issue(s) have been confirmed by the police report, the county police documented. The vehicle has been inspected by police officers, and possibly others, including the employees of the towing company. There was NO indication thats the airbag deployment was either "off" if possible, and or indications of airbag defect. No messages or lights were indicated for the failure of the deployment of the airbags. No messages or lights were indicated for the defect and or failure of the seatbelt not remaining intact with force. The person in reference PASSED AWAY on impact at scene. The failures of the safety mechanisms put into place for this vehicle are absolutely unacceptable and beyond subpar.

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).

My original owner 2002 Toyota Tundra Truck was being backed up in reverse with a utility trailer attached up a very, very moderate incline on a driveway pushing the trailer onto a gravel pad ALONGSIDE (parallel) the driveway. As it started to spin gravel the truck was put into a 4 wheel Drive LOW RANGE. This is in keeping with the TOYOTA owners manual publication 0M34417U Part Number 01999-34417 Print date 02-0109-01. We followed the manual instruction on 4 WD operation. Within a few feet the truck stopped as if the wheels had hit a curb and there was no further movement no matter the accelerator pedal position and the engine speed was unchanged as if it was in a stall. All of a sudden there was a loud bang underneath the truck and the truck raced rearward 8-10 feet jackknifing the trailer into a tree and upending the truck and trailer. We contacted Toyota on the incident and they had a third party look at the truck for brake condition, floor mat placement and throttle freedom at the body shop & Toyota closed the complaint file. Toyota IGNORED the circumstances and description of the incident in closing the complaint. We have been a very long time TOYOTA truck family and have owned SIX Toyota 4 wheel drives plus a Lexus all-wheel drive. In doing our own evaluation and investigation we have found that the truck went into a 4-wheel drive "wind-up" or "bind" and found information related on it from ASE Certification sites. NO MENTION of this potential issue is provided in the owners manual! We found that the torque from this can be over 4,000 ft/lb. and possible magnified even more by low range. When this bind suddenly is released the movement can be violent as happened here. Why is this not talked about in the owner manual? Why does Toyota ignore this reality? Indeed, the Toyota Rep. Mr. Ronald Inton said "he never heard of anyone backing up in 4 Wheel Drive"! WHAT?? We have the vehicle, photos, Toyota denial all available for review,.

Sudden maximum acceleration accompanied by brake failure, without warnings, occurred on my 2002 Toyota Tundra 4.7L V8 causing loss of control of the vehicle, which ended in a rollover crash, resulting in total loss of the vehicle and injury to me. While departing a 25 mph zone (sign read "END 25 SPEED LIMIT") on a relatively straight section of the road, I very gently accelerated from 20 mph to 30 mph. As soon as the vehicle reached 30 mph, sudden maximum acceleration occurred. Taking my foot off of the gas pedal, first I verified that the gas pedal was not stuck or blocked, but the gas pedal was in the fully up position. I then pressed the brake pedal very hard, but it was locked in the fully up position and the brakes would not engage. I then verified that nothing was blocking the brake pedal underneath it. At that point, around 3 to 4 seconds after the sudden acceleration began, I had entered the first turn of a 30 mph "S" turn at a high rate of speed, while acceleration continued at the vehicle's maximum acceleration rate beyond my control with the brakes not engaging. In order to avoid collision with a camper motor home and a small car following it, I went into the oncoming traffic lane at the second turn of the "S" turn. My truck fish tailed and struck a reflector marker on the left side of the road. To avoid going down a 50+ foot, nearly straight down drop on the left side of the road, I turned right. To avoid striking the motor home, I turned left, then right again to try to gain control. My truck rolled on its left side and landed upright on the right side of the road. It had been accelerating at its maximum acceleration rate with the brakes failing to engage and fish tailing the entire time. The problem appeared to be a catastrophic failure of the electronic throttle control and/or related electronic systems.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE SPEEDED UP OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A SHED IN HIS YARD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP. THAT COLLISION LOOSENED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNREPAIRED IN THE PARKED CONTACT'S YARD. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. *BF*JB*JB

I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 5 ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 70MPH AND AS I WAS ON THE CAUSEWAY THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAME OFF CAUSING MY FRONT TIRE TO COME OFF AND IT RESULTED IN A CRASH THAT TOTALLED MY TRUCK AND DAMAGE TO ME AS WELL .

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE DRIVER LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED A WEEK BEFORE THE CRASH OCCURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA/SR5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATED FROM THE KNUCKLE, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, HE SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL# 05V225000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,000.

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA FRONT BRAKE SEVERE FRONT END SHIMMY WHEN BRAKING,CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF ROAD INTO GUARD RAIL. TOYOTA REFUSED TO ADMIT TO FRONT BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN IN WARRANTY AND NOW OUT. WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS WITH THESE CALIPERS NOT ENOUGH DEATHS OBVIOUSLY TO WARRANT RECALL. *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OF OUR NEW TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK TURNED ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. ITS REPRESENTATIVE WROTE IN ITS EVALUATION THAT MY SON HAD ABUSED ITS USE AND DID NOT REPAIR/REPLACE THE PART. ONE EVENING, WHILE MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE ON THEIR WAY TO A CLASS FIELD TRIP, THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT OF THE TRUCK BROKE OFF WHILE TRAVELING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT ON A PUBLIC ROAD CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO COME OFF. TRAFFIC STOPPED BEHIND AND ALLOWED MY SON TO MANEUVER IT SAFELY ON THREE TIRES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE TRUCK FLIPPED ON ITS LEFT SIDE. MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO SURVIVE THIS HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH MODERATE INJURIES. SOME WITNESSES STOPPED TO HELP THEM OUT OF THE TRUCK. THE PARAMEDICS AND THE SHERIFF CAME TO THE SCENE AND HAD OUR TRUCK TOWED TO THEIR IMPOUND FACILITY. WE TOWED OUR TRUCK FROM THE IMPOUND GARAGE TO A STORAGE FACILITY. MY SON FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BUREAU OF AUTO REPAIR AND ONE OF THEIR TECHNICIANS CAME TO THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE TRUCK FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND INFORMED US OF AN IMPENDING RECALL ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THAT SAME WEEK, WE GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE LOWER BALL JOINT. ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF LATER, WE TOWED OUR TRUCK AND MET WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AT ONE OF THEIR ORANGE COUNTY DEALERSHIPS TO INSPECT THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE TO OUR TRUCK. WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEIR CLAIMS DEPARTMENT REGARDING OUR CASE, I CALLED THE PERSON BACK AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH HIM. I PLACED ANOTHER CALL TO HIM. UP TO NOW NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING OUR CASE. *TR UPDATED 09/30/08. *JB

THE FRONT END STEERING RACK LET GO, THEN THE BALL JOINTS LET GO AND THE WHOLE FRONT END FELL OUT CAUSING 4,500.00 IN DAMAGE AS WELL AS INJURY TO MY BACK. *JB

DT: THE OWNER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH WHILE TOWING, AND COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING FROM GUARD RAIL TO GUARD RAIL. WHEN THE OWNERS CAME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RIGHT SIDE UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE PASSENGER WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A WEEK WITH BROKEN RIBS AND OTHER INTERNAL INJURIES WHILE THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SHOCK AND A CONCUSSION. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES FROM THE AIRBAG. BOTH ARE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THE OTHER THERAPY TREATMENTS. THE DRIVER IS STILL SUFFERING FROM HEADACHES. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THE WRECK. NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS TO THE VEHICLE WITH HANDLING. THERE WAS NO WOBBLING OR ANY INDICATION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. *AK *SC

ICY ROAD CONDITIONS CAUSED A DIRECT COLLISION OF MY 2002 TUNDRA WITH A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE FRONT BUMPER RADIATOR AND ALL PARTS IN BETWEEN WERE PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE FROM THIS IMPACT; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN DRIVER INJURIES.*AK

VEHICLE HAS DRIVER & PASSENGER AIR BAGS - IN FRONT END COLLISION AT 45 MPH NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK SO DRIVER HIT STEERING COLUMN WITH FULL IMPACT - THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. NLM

Was told about the recall awhile ago and they said that my frame was ok. But now I have a perfectly good truck in good condition other than a rusted frame. Had some work done and mechanic said it is unsafe to drive due to rusted frame. They know of the defect and only replace a few and it looks like others are dealing with what I am.

AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY IN A SERIOUS HEAD ON COLLISION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A "VERY" STEEP GRADED AND WINDING GRAVEL ROAD THAT REQUIRED CONSISTENT BRAKING AND AS I WAS MAKING A TURN TO NEGOTIATE A RIGHT TURN ON A CURVE, MY STEERING ALL OF A SUDDEN FAILED TO EXIST. THE STEERING WHEEL SERIOUSLY RESISTED MY TURNING IT. I WAS FORCED TO APPLY THE BRAKES QUICKLY TO ATTEMPT GOING OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DOWN A DEEPLY SLOPED RAVINE OF ABOUT 20 FEET OR SO. THE TRUCK STOPPED WITH THE FRONT WHEELS "JUST OVER" THE EDGE BUT DID STOP BEFORE GOING "OVER". LUCKILY I HAD A "COME-ALONG" WITH ME AND WAS ABLE TO CRANK THE TRUCK BACKWARDS ENOUGH TO GET THE FRONT WHEELS BACK ON TO THE ROAD SURFACE. I HAVEN'T CARRIED THAT WITH ME IN YEARS ! I HAD TO BABY THE TRUCK ABOUT A MILE AT VERY LOW SPEED TO GET BACK IN TO TOWN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS/IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I "COULD NOT" MAKE A TYPICAL TURN AT VERY SLOW SPEED AND NOT USE THE OPPOSING SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT THE TRUCK HOME AND SHUT IT DOWN. I SUSPECTED A POWER STEERING LEAK AND CHECKED TO FIND IT WAS OUT OF FLUID. I USED MY FRIENDS VEHICLE TO BUY POWER STEERING FLUID, FILLED IT, CHECKED AND FOUND FLUID SPRAYING OUT OF BOTH ENDS OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "RACK" OR TUBE? IT TOOK LESS THAN A FEW "SECONDS" FOR IT TO DRAIN TOTALLY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO LEARN THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON. I DID A CLOSE PHYSICAL INSPECTION TO FIND MUCH CORROSION. THIS TRUCK WAS THE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL FOR AND RECEIVED A NEW CHASSIS AS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE CORROSION. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE ! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I MADE A SUDDEN LANE CHANGE TO AVOID AN OFFICER I BELIEVE WAS RETURNING TO THE HIGHWAY AND A CAR SUDDENLY CAME TO A STOP IN FRONT OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND THE CAR BUT IT MOVED IN MY PATH AGAIN AND WE HIT AT FULL SPEED. I HIT MY NOSE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND TOTALED THE OTHER CAR. I AM BOTHERED BY THE FACT THAT MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THESE ARE ORIGINAL AIRBAGS. I DRIVE IN FEAR OF ANOTHER ACCIDENT THAT COULD SAVE MY LIFE AND THE AIRBAG DOES DEPLOY. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4X4 SINCE 2002. IN JULY OF THIS YEAR I EXPERIENCED A NEAR WRECK WHEN I HYDROPLANED AND WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. WHEN I TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL I FELT AS IF THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO ROLL AND I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT COLLIDE WITH ANYTHING I DID HAVE SOME DAMAGE TO THE REAR AXEL WITH NOISES COMING FROM IT. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL GARAGE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND THEY FOUND NOTHING. NOT STOPPING THERE I CRAWLED UNDER AND I FOUND A BROKEN LINK BOLT ON THE RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE LINK BOLT I FOUND THAT THE LINK HAD RUSTED TO LESS THAN HALF OF IT'S ORIGINAL DIAMETER WHICH LEAD TO ITS FAILURE. TAKING THIS ISSUE UP WITH A TOYOTA DEALER I HAD THEM REPAIR BOTH SIDES OF THE SWAY BAR LINKS. WHEN THE LEFT LINK WAS REMOVED IT TOO WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN. THE DESIGN OF THE LINKS ARE SUCH THAT WATER AND ROAD SALT CAN SETTLE IN THE BUSHINGS CAUSING THEM TO RUST. THE BROKEN LINKS ARE LIKELY WHY I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR END GEARS AND AXLE. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN FOR SAFETY INSPECTIONS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. IF PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS CAN'T DETECT THIS PROBLEM THAN HOW CAN AN OWNER AND HOW CAN THESE OWNER'S FEEL SAFE WITH THESE UNDETECTABLE PROBLEMS. I HAVE SAVED THESE PARTS AND FEEL THAT THEY ARE WORTHY OF CLOSER INSPECTIONS. *TR