2002 Toyota Tundra Steering Problems

The contact called on behalf of a friend who owns a 2002 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated in 2012 there was an unknown under coding and a plug was repaired on the vehicle. The driver experienced shaking and vibration from the rack and pinion steering while driving at approximately 35 MPH. The driver found power steering fluid leakage and there was a crack in the front passenger side of the engine frame. The contact was unaware of any failure warning lights. The contact stated the transmission functionality was great. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000

NHTSA ID

11471856

Incident

Jun 9, 2022

Mileage

200,000 mi

on June 9th at about 2pm while driving through my neighborhood, my upper an lower ball joints on my 2002 Toyota Tundra separated from my vehicle causing a catastrophic loss of control of truck and tore my hub with tire from vehicle ripping the brake fuel line and shoving entire components up under my Tundra while losing control with no brakes or steering capability. It also destroyed the drivers side front tire. Needless to say if I was say...going 55 to 60 miles per hour on highway...I would not be writing this. Had truck towed to Checkered Flag Toyota and they quoted me a price of over1300$ in repairs... they are fighting me on fixing my truck damages even though said damages were caused by the ball joint recall on the 2002 tundra...recall I D#05v

NHTSA ID

11420722

Incident

Jun 9, 2021

LOUD KNOCK TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE, INNER OUTER TIE RODS CAN SNAP CAUSE AN INJURY OR DEATH. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM EVEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE DIM. AN ONCOMING CAR IS NOT EVEN PHASED WHEN I HAVE MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE VERY WELL WITH THOSE [XXX] LIGHTS THEY'RE ALMOST IN AMBER COLOR TRIED TO USE LENS RENEW DID NOT WORK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11404681

Incident

Mar 24, 2021

Mileage

281,494 mi

LOUD POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE AND MELTING PLASTIC AROUND THEM

NHTSA ID

11352194

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

I HAD MY LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE. LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT. I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LOWER BALL JOINT FOR 02 TUNDRA. SO I DO I GO ABOUT GETTING A REFUND FOR WHAT I HAD TO SPEND. *TR

NHTSA ID

11320738

Incident

Feb 19, 2020

Mileage

229,675 mi

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 .

NHTSA ID

11006273

Incident

Jun 29, 2017

Mileage

220,000 mi

FRIST TIME COMEING DOWN MY ROAD GOING 30 MILES PER HR L RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE TIRE WENT UNDER THE TRUCK. SECOND TIME THE LEFT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE TURNING A CORNER. THIRD TIME IT HAPPEN I JUST GOT OFF OF THE HWY AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. I AM AFIED TO DRIVE IT .

NHTSA ID

10929389

Incident

Sep 20, 2015

Mileage

149,000 mi

COLUMN SHIFTER BROKE AWAY FROM SHIFT COLUMN WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE. ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPOT. HAD TO JUMP ON BRAKE TO AVOID LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10928471

Incident

Nov 9, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

VEHICLE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH IN PLACES AND HAS DETERIORATED BY FLAKING IN OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE FRAME. ALSO POWER STEERING RACK HAS RUSTED THROUGH. THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 61000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA IN LATE OCTOBER, 2016. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AS THEIR RECALL ON THE FRAME WAS GOOD ONLY UNTIL 12-31-2012.

NHTSA ID

10925754

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

60,500 mi

VEHICLE MADE WHINING NOISE AFTER GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. MOVED A FEW FEET AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. LEAKING TRAIL OF FLUID UNDERNEATH. PRIVATE MECHANIC CONFIRMED TODAY THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 137K MILES. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. I HAD JUST BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10915530

Incident

Oct 9, 2016

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHEN STARTED TRUCK, HEARD UNUSUAL WHINING NOISE. STARTED DRIVING AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. STOPPED IN PARKING LOT AND FOUND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING OUT ON GROUND. ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SHOWING EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND LEAKING FLUID. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO TOYOTA DEALER. THEY ESTIMATE $1200 FOR AFTER MARKET REPAIR, AND $1600 FOR REPAIR WITH TOYOTA PARTS. TRUCK NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL REPAIRED. 2002 TUNDRA SR5

NHTSA ID

10747102

Incident

Aug 6, 2015

Mileage

219,000 mi

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

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME APART FROM MY BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. MY WIFE AND I SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY WITH SPARKS SHOOTING EVERYWHERE. WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO A STOP ONCE THE VEHICLE DUG ITSELF INTO THE DIRT OF THE MEDIAN. IT WAS SUCH AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR MYSELF AS I HAVE HELD THE NAME "TOYOTA" TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD BEFORE ALL OTHER AUTO MAKER. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I AM NOW DOING RESEARCH AND THERE HAD BEEN A SIMILAR RECALL IN 2005. I MOVED TO A DIFFERENT STATE DURING THIS TIME AND DID NOT RECEIVE OR KNOW OF A RECALL NOTICE. I SERVICE ALL OF MY VEHICLES MYSELF AND VERY SELDOM TAKE THEM INTO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618281

Incident

Jun 21, 2014

Mileage

230,000 mi

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN, STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ONE OF THE CONNECTIONS ON THE POWER STEERING RACK HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED DUE TO RUST AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS POURING OUT. IF I HAD BEEN GOING AT HIGHER SPEEDS (SUCH AS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR TAKING AN OFF RAMP) IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE RUST IS CLEARLY EXCESSIVE AND HARD TO BELIEVE IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL THAT COVERED THE FRAME AND BRAKE LINES (WHICH I HAD REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL A FEW YEARS BACK AFTER SOME TROUBLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMING IT DID NOT QUALIFY). A LOCAL GARAGE REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AT A COST OF OVER $900. I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE FAILED RACK. I CALLED THE NATIONAL TOYOTA NUMBER AND HAD A CASE MANAGER ASSIGNED TO MY COMPLAINT. THE BEST THAT TOYOTA OFFERED WAS TO HAVE ME TOW IT AT MY EXPENSE TO THE DEALERSHIP 40 MILES AWAY TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT WHILE THE DEALER WAS TELLING ME THEY HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE FAIL AND TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ADMITTING THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THEM IS THEIR FAULT. I HAVE A 1998 COROLLA THAT HAS NO RUST ISSUES AT AFTER THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR MORE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552852

Incident

Oct 14, 2013

Mileage

64,238 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10521977

Incident

Jun 25, 2013

Mileage

129,647 mi

VEHICLE INSPECTED BY DEALER LEAK IN RACK AND PINION. VERY EARLY AT 72,500 MILES. LOOSE LOWER BALL JOINTS. LOWER BALL JOINTS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 10/11/2005 AT 28,000 MILES. IF THEY ARE GOING BAD AGAIN AT 72,500 MILES, THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489456

Incident

Dec 17, 2012

Mileage

72,500 mi

I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR TO LEAVE MY DRIVE WAY, I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE WHOLE "SHIFTER ARM' BROKE OFF. *TT

NHTSA ID

10462600

Incident

Jun 13, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

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

FORTUNATELY I WAS OFF THE INTERSTATE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE...........THE STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN, ACTUALLY CAUSING ME TO TURN INTO THE OUTGOING LANE AT THE STORE ENTRANCE. THERE WAS NO ADVANCED WARNING....JUST NO STEERING ON TURNS AND NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESEVOIR. THE TOYOTA DEAL SAYS THE STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACEMENT.($1600)......AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHERE THE FLUID WENT. THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A 300,000 MILE VEHICLE, NOW STANDS AT 116,457. HAD TO REPLACE A STABILIZER AS WELL DUE TO CORROSION. I JUST SOLD MY 1997 GRAND AM WITH 224,000. AND MY 1988 DODGE CARAVAN HAD 244,000 BEFORE THE TRANSMITION WENT. TOYOTA AND RELIABILITY???????? *JS

NHTSA ID

10458583

Incident

May 8, 2012

Mileage

116,457 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10453786

Incident

Mar 30, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

STEERING RACK ROTTED OUT AND ALL THE POWER STEERING FLUID DRAINED OUT ALMOST INSTANTLY. THANKFULLY I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I CURRENTLY HAVE EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST, A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK FROM RUST, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS ALMOST ROTTED THREW, THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS VEHICLE IS EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. THE DEALER INSPECTS IT REGULARLY FOR THE FRAME RUST BUT THEY HAVE NEVER PROVIDED A FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451785

Incident

Oct 19, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A REPAIR ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V444000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDERBODY SHIELDS). WHILE THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED THE REPAIR, HE NOTICED BOTH STABILIZER LINKS AND THE PARKING BRAKE REAR WHEEL MECHANISM WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION. IN ADDITION, THE RACK AND PINION WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 4/3/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS BROKE OFF, DUE TO THEM BEING RUSTED. THE DRIVER SIDE EMERGENCY BRAKE SEIZED. THE STEERING SHAFT U-JOINT WAS BADLY RUSTED. UPDATED 05/17/12

NHTSA ID

10450777

Incident

Mar 6, 2012

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, THE STEERING RACK FRACTURED FROM THE FIREWALL AND WITH AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE FAILURE, AN UNKNOWN FLUID LEAKED ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10438721

Incident

Dec 2, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

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

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.

NHTSA ID

10428939

Incident

Sep 26, 2011

Mileage

128,000 mi