RoadVitals

2002 Toyota Tundra Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
34
Latest Dec 2, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 482 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Toyota Tundra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 2, 2024
Crash reported1 injury reported

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,.

NHTSA ID
11628419
Incident
Sep 29, 2024
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2020

REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING OIL DUE TO FAULTY METAL USED IN MANUFACTURING. DIFF. IS LEAKING THRU RUST HOLES IN HOUSING METAL AND NOT THRU SEALS.

NHTSA ID
11319432
Incident
Nov 3, 2019
Mileage
96,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2020

THE REAR AXEL AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING/CASTING IS CORRODED THRU SUCH THAT OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENTIAL HUB ONTO THE ROADWAY AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF GEAR OIL WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND AXELS. AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THIS OIL WAS OBSERVED ON THE SPARE TIRE (MOUNTED UNDER THE BED) AND UP THE BACK OF THE BUMPER. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT ONE DEALERSHIP I APPROACHED TO DISCUSS THE COST OF REPAIR INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS OBVIOUSLY SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED/MANUFACTURED COMPONENT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THE HIGH COST, BUT IT IS NOT DRIVEABLE AS THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL NOT HOLD GEAR OIL.

NHTSA ID
11309429
Incident
Dec 15, 2019
Mileage
186,700 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 5, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHAIN THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S TOYOTA OF GLEN BURNIE (7167 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061 (410) 761-9000) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

NHTSA ID
11253378
Incident
Aug 19, 2019
Mileage
81,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE TIP OF THE LEVER TO FIND THAT IT WAS FRACTURED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF VISALIA, 922 S BEN MADDOX WAY, VISALIA, CALIFORNIA 93292) WAS CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID
11093913
Incident
May 14, 2018
Mileage
153,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 27, 2017

THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT OIL IS SEEPING THROUGH RUST PITS. THE FRAME IS ALSO RUSTED AND HAD TO HAVE IT WELDED. ALSO LOST THE SPARE TIRE DUE TO RUST.

NHTSA ID
11048586
Incident
Oct 10, 2017
Mileage
104,000 mi
Body & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 23, 2017

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2017 AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL WAS BEGINNING TO LEAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. FURTHER INSPECTION OF UNDERCARRIAGE DO TO A NOISE UNDER VEHICLE FOUND THAT THE FRAME AND BODY MOUNT HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO RUST CAUSING A HOLE IN THE BODY MOUNT CAUSING THE CAB TO FLEX AND BOUNCE ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE TREATED BY TOYOTA FOR EARLIER RECALL DUE TO RUST OF THE FRAME AND GIVEN A 5YR EXTENDED WARRANTY. BODY OF VEHICLE IS FREE OF RUST, FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE.

NHTSA ID
11035707
Incident
Oct 6, 2017
Mileage
87,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 27, 2017

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A ROAD ~35 MPH WHEN MY REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ABRUPTLY COME TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID
10981121
Incident
Apr 23, 2017
Mileage
140,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 13, 2016

REAR AXLE SEALS HAVE FAILED FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. WHEN THEY FAIL, THE REAR BRAKES BECOME COATED WITH OIL, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA ID
10915985
Incident
Oct 12, 2016
Mileage
194,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 26, 2016

FREQUENTLY FROM A PARK POSITION AND THEN SHIFTING AND TURNING SEEMS TO LACK RESPONSIVENESS.

NHTSA ID
10898947
Incident
Mar 23, 2016
Mileage
286,200 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 18, 2014

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE BRAKE APPLIED, UNEXPECTEDLY THE COLUMN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER COMPLETELY BROKE LOOSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE COLUMN BRACKET AND HOUSING WERE BOTH FOUND TO BE FRACTURED, WITH THE BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE HOUSING. THIS RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10667142
Incident
Dec 18, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 3, 2014

VEHICLE HAS "GROWLING" NOISE COMING FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. NOISE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH VIBRATION IN STEERING AND AFFECTS STOPPING AND ACCELERATION AS FAULTY PARTS BIND IN GEARING. THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT HAS OCCASIONALLY LOCKED ONE WHEEL WHILE TURNING, FORCING VEHICLE WEIGHT TO ONE SIDE. IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS VEHICLE HAS SLID WHILE CORNERING. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AS SEVERAL OWNERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. DIFFERENTIAL IS REPLACED AS A LAST RESORT BY THE MANUFACTURER AND ONLY COVERS THIS FAULTY PART(S) UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *JS

NHTSA ID
10662073
Incident
Nov 19, 2014
Mileage
160 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID
10630959
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
117,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 16, 2014

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR TO LEAVE A GAS STATION THE ENTIRE SHIFTER MECHANISM BROKE OFF AT THE MOUNT WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER 1 GOOGLE SEARCH IT SHOWS THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH MY TUNDRA TRUCK (MANY POSTINGS AND COMPLAINTS-ISSUES). I WAS IN A PICKLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE AND WAS NOT SAFE IN DOING SO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610869
Incident
Jul 13, 2014
Mileage
155,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 27, 2013

I NOTICED A POOL OF OIL UNDER MY REAR AXLE. I INSPECTED IT AND SAW THAT THE WELDS WERE FAILING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. I HAD THE FRAME AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL AND THIS IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE RUST PROBLEMS (I HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACE LAST MONTH DUE TO RUST) BUT TOYOTA WON'T FIX IT UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. I HAD IT REPAIRED (THE WHOLE AXEL REPLACED) AT A LOCAL GARAGE FOR APPROX. $2,340. WITH THE POWER STEERING RACK REPAIR THAT COMES TO ~ $3,300 IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. THE GARAGE SAID THEY SEE THESE PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME ON THE TUNDRAS WITH THE FRAME RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10553991
Incident
Nov 14, 2013
Mileage
64,649 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 24, 2013

THE REAR TRANSAXLE HUB DOES NOT HAVE A BOLT ON COVER, BUT IS WELDED SOLID TO THE AXLE CASTING. I NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND AND INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE HUB COVER HAS RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING OIL TO RUN OUT. IF ALL OF THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT AND THE VEHICLE DRIVEN,THE AXLE COULD HAVE SEIZED UP,CAUSING A SERIOUS VEHICLE CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.TOYOTA WAS NOTIFIED VIA LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY DENIED ANY COVERAGE. BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND THE SAFETY ISSUE,AND THE FACT IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE, MAKES ME WANT TO COMPLAIN. THE LEAK WAS TEMPORARILY PLUGGED WITH EPOXY, BUT HAS RECENTLY FAILED AGAIN. NOVEMBER 23,2013 .CHECKING VARIOUS INTERNET WEB PAGES, THIS APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS ALL TOYOTA TRUCKS AND MOST YEAR MODELS, NOT JUST TUNDRA.WITH THE FRAME RUST THRU AND CROSS MEMBER RUST THRU RECALL,ALL OF THESE RECALL AREAS ARE WITHIN INCHES OF MY RUST THRU / PERFORATION OF EVEN THINNER SHEET METAL IN A CRITICAL LOCATION. PLEASE REVIEW . *TR

NHTSA ID
10553593
Incident
Nov 8, 2008
Mileage
198,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 11, 2012

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE. THE SHIFT LEVER WENT LIMP AND NO LONGER CHANGED THE DRIVE SELECTOR. I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO DRIVE AND GOT IT HOME AND PARKED IT. I HAVE NOT CALLED THE DEALER YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10461229
Incident
Jun 10, 2012
Mileage
92,853 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 10, 2012

I AM THE OWNER OF TWO TOYOTA VEHICLES. VEHICLE ONE IS A 1992 TOYOTA PICKUP EXTENDED CAB 4X4 3.0 V6 WITH 220,000 MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT WITH 124,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE TWO IS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5 4.7 V8 WITH 47,000 MILES I BOUGHT IT WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT WITH ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE NEW FRAME IS INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK BUT I HAVE NOTICED NOW THAT MY REAR AXLE HOUSING IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND RUSTED OUT AND LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE STRUCTURE OF THIS IS NOT SAFE AND I TRAVEL AN AVERAGE 6,000 MILES A MONTH FOR WORK. MY 1992 TOYOTA TRUCK WITH 219,000 MILES REAR AXLE IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THE 2002 TOYOTA. I HAVE SPOKE WITH TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION. THERE SHOULD BE A LAW SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR NOT REPLACING THESE REAR AXLES BECAUSE THE SAME METAL WAS OBVIOUSLY USED ON THE FRAME THAT WAS REPLACED. I HAVE NOW SEEN MANY OF THE SAME TRUCKS AROUND MY TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS RECURRING SITUATION. IT IS IN TOYOTA'S BEST INTEREST TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION AGAINST THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454785
Incident
Apr 10, 2012
Mileage
47,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE HOUSING BROKE AWAY FROM THE SHIFT LEVER. AS A RESULT, HE SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR BOX HOUSING HAD A STRETCH FRACTURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID
10433490
Incident
Oct 23, 2011
Mileage
137,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2011

I HAVE A 2002 TUNDRA SR5 WITH ~65K MILES. THIS MORNING WHEN I TRY TO PULL ON THE DRIVE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE TO MOVE FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE SHIFT HANDLE SNAPPED OFF UNEXPECTED - BROKE. TOYOTA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ~$600.00 TO REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH A USE STEERING COLUMN (IF THE USE CAN BE FOUND), AS THE NEW STEERING COLUMN WILL COST OVER $1K. I BELIEVE THIS IS APPEAR TO BE A FLAWED DESIGN FOR ATTACH THE SHIFT LEVER. THE SHIFT LEVER HANDLE SHOULD BE OUT LIVE THE TUNDRA WITH ONLY ~65K MILES. I NEED HELP TO GET TOYOTA TO COVER THIS DESIGN DEFECT AS THIS COULD RESULT SAFETY AND COSTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429024
Incident
Oct 6, 2011
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 6, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. AFTER HE INSPECTED, HE SAW THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING THE OIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE AXLE HOUSING HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY, THUS LEAKING OIL. . THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK AND DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/19/11

NHTSA ID
10359437
Incident
Sep 20, 2010
Mileage
89,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 18, 2010

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA AND I HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY FIVE OCCASIONS WHERE I HEARD A CLUNK WHILE DRIVING THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2010. ON AUGUST 13, 2010, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I HAD DRIVEN THE TUNDRA APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES, I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY TO REFILL WITH GASOLINE AND AS I SLOWED DOWN TO THE PUMP, THE TUNDRA BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY SHAKE AND STALLED. I THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE UP WHICH STARTED WELL AND I CUT IT OFF TO REFILL WITH GASOLINE. ONCE I BEGAN TO TAKE OFF, THE TUNDRA BEGAN TO SHAKE AGAIN AND STALLED, NOT MORE THAN 1/10TH OF A MILE FROM THE PUMP. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND WHEN I PUT THE TUNDRA IN GEAR, THE TUNDRA CONTINUOUSLY STALLED NO MATTER WHETHER IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. EVERY TIME I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN A GEAR, IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES. MY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350428
Incident
Aug 13, 2010
Mileage
89,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 10, 2010

RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10308261
Incident
Dec 15, 2009
Mileage
11,486 mi
Body & structureFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10305905
Incident
Feb 3, 2010
Mileage
89,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 10, 2009

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

NHTSA ID
10291649
Incident
Nov 7, 2009
Mileage
84,668 mi

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