NHTSA Investigation EA06014

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE

IN A LETTER DATED JANUARY 18, 2007, TOYOTA NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A SAFETY DEFECT IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 THROUGH 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA AND MY 2004 THROUGH 2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 15, 2003 AND NOVEMBER 17, 2006 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 07V-013). ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, ?IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, DUE TO POSSIBLE IMPROPER FINISHING OF THE BALL JOINT, SUCH AS THE ASPECT OF THE BALL STUD SURFACE, SOME BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENTAL DETERIORATION OF THE INTERNAL LUBRICATION. THIS MAY CAUSE THE BALL JOINT TO WEAR AND LOOSEN PREMATURELY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, REDUCED VEHICLE SELF-CENTERING, AND NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IN EXTREME CASES, IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.?TOYOTA WILL INSTRUCT OWNERS TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO ANY TOYOTA DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CLOSED, AS TOYOTA IS RECALLING THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.ODI WILL MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDY AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.