2002 Toyota Tundra Electrical Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11528828

Incident

Jun 22, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HUBERT VESTER TOYOTA (3712 RALEIGH RD PKWY W, WILSON, NC 27896, (252) 291-5300). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PROVIDING A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE ALARM SYSTEM WAS INTERFERING WITH THE IGNITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11104199

Incident

Jun 27, 2017

TRUCK NEEDED SENSOR REPLACED FOR SAFETY INSPECTION STICKER (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON). MECHANIC FOUND FRAME UNDERNEATH TO BE SO RUSTED HE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WORKING ON THE TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY AGREED THE TRUCK IS RUSTED TO POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. THEY TOOK PICTURES TO SEND CORPORATE FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT APPROVAL. REQUEST WAS DENIED. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY AGREED TO ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER. I WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH TRUCK IS UNSAFE, THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO SINCE CAMPAIGN IS CLOSED. I HAD THE TRUCK SPRAYED AS INITIAL RECALL STATED. I RECEIVED NO OTHER RECALL OR REQUESTED SERVICE INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA. I NOW HAVE A TRUCK WITH LOW MILEAGE THAT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING TO MAKE SURE THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE SAFE OR CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD SHOULD PARTS OF MY FRAME START FALLING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I FIND THIS PRACTICE VERY NEGLECTFUL ESPECIALLY FOR A LARGE CORPORATION. I HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OTHERS ARE IN THE SAME POSITION WITH THEIR TUNDRA. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO RECTIFY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702435

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE OXYGEN SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10490195

Incident

May 9, 2012

Mileage

36,000 mi

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 COMMINGLED 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365111

Incident

Nov 5, 2010

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LAMP CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE. OTHER DRIVERS WAVED DOWN THE CONTACT AND RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, THE FIRE WOULD HAVE REACHED THE GAS TANK AND RESULTED IN THE COMBUSTION OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID

10237734

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

102,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10229647

Incident

Jun 2, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES WATER ENTERS THE WATER TIGHT JOINTS IN THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSES THE PINS TO CORRODE AND SHORTS OUT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145016

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

****NOTE: REGARDING A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SINCE THIS IS NOT AN OPTION I CHOSE TUNDRA BECAUSE THIS IS THE CLOSEST TO THE SEQUOIA SIZE. THE VSC TRAC-OFF SYSTEM TURNS ON WHEN DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, DRY FREEWAY. THE TRUCK LOST SPEED AND IT STARTED MOVING TO NEXT LANE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO CRASH. I TOOK IT IN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK AGAIN. I AM AFRAID THAT NEXT TIME THAT HAPPENS ON THE BUSY LOS ANGELES FREEWAY, I COULD BE THE VICTIM OF A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY CAUSED BY THE VSC MALFUNCTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118720

Incident

Apr 28, 2005

Mileage

38,000 mi

REGARDING 2002 SEQOUIA. SINCE SEQOUIA NOT AN OPTION, CHOSE TUNDRA AS IT WAS CLOSEST TO VEHICLE TYPE. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT SPEED LIMIT, THEN CAR FELT AS IF VEERING OFF TO THE LEFT, IT WAS HARD KEEPING STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AND THEN I NOTICED THAT THE TRAC OFF AND VSC LIGHTS WENT ON. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, FAIRLY SMOOTH SURFACE IN THE CENTER LANE, WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. HAD TO PULL OF FREEWAY AND TURN OFF VEHICLE AND THEN RESTART TO RESET THE CAR. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND THE CAR WILL STEER NORMALLY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, THIS HAS HAPPENED A SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118719

Incident

Apr 29, 2005

Mileage

38,000 mi