Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2004 Toyota Tundra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 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.
The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words
VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES AND THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM SEEM TO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND PROCEEDING DOWN AN INCLINE, TRAVELLING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED.
VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE DOWN A STEEP HILL AND NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED TO DO TO STOP THE VEHICLE NOTHING HAPPENED. IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE RIGHT HAND TURN. VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLED OVER AND REVERSED IT'S POSITION. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS TRAPPED IN A RUNNING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE LEAKING AND UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HAD TO WAIT 30N MINUTES FOR EMS/FIRE RESCUE TO ARRIVE. EXTRICATION TOOK ANOTHER 25-30 MINUTES. TRANSPORTED TO TRAUMA CENTER, YORK, PA.
REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS LEAKING OIL. EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED AND SNAPPED. THE RIMS HAVE OXIDATED. LEAF SPRINGS HAVE ALSO RUSTED VERY BADLY.
VEHCILE WAS REACLLED AND THE FRAME WAS REPAIRED FOR POTENTIAL ROT. NOW HE REAR DIFFERENTAIL IS ROTTING OUT AND LEAKING OIL. IT APPEARS TO BE AN EXTENSION OF THE RECALL FOR THE ROTTING FRAME. LOOKING TO SEE IF THER HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS SIMILAR
LEAKING OIL OUT OF MY REAR AXLE HOUSING IT IS ON THE MILD STEEL THAT IS WELDED TO THE CAST AXLE VERY POROUS LEAKING A LOT OF OIL
MY FRAME IS RUSTING ALMOST INTO, I DON'T THINK IT WAS INSPECTED WELL, AND NOW THE REAR AXLE HOUSING IS RUSTED SO BAD IT'S LEAKING FLUID
REAR END FAILURE DUE TO RUST PROBLEM KNOWN TO TOYOTA. THEY REPLACED FRAME WITH NO CONSIDERATION FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. DRIVE TRAIN LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. FOUND BELL HOUSING ON REAR END RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING FLUID TO RUN OUT! DANGEROUS. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BAD PRODUCT! WELDED BELL HOUSING, CANNOT REPAIR. PLEASE HELP!!!! ALMOST CAUSED WRECK! CARS SWERVED TO AVOID COLISION.
FRAME RUSTING AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING OUT. FRAME IS CORRODING FROM RUST. REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEVERAL PIN HOLES CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. THESE ARE BOTH KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE GEN 1 TUNDRA'S. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THE FRAME RECALL CAMPAIGN ENDED IN 2015. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE FRAME RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL FRO THE DIFFERENTIAL BUT THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR TUNDRA'S USED IN NE USA WHEREBY ROAD SALT IS USED IN WINTER. THE SALT CAUSES FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL RUST BECAUSE MATERIAL USED BY TOYOTA IS OF POOR CORROSION RESISTANCE QUALITY. THE CONSUMER IIS ON THEIR OWN. TOYOTA WON'T DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH IT'S THEIR FAILURE TO BUILD THE VEHICLE FIT FOR IT'S INTENDED USE.
THE FRAME IS RUSTING APART. THE REAR END HAS RUST HOLE THROUGH IT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION BECAUSE IT HAD QUARTER SIZE HOLE RUSTED THROUGH IT.
TAKATA RECALL REAR HOUSING HAS MANY PIN HOLES AND IS LEAKING GEAR LUBE
RUSTED REAR DIFFERENTIAL. RUSTED FRAME AT FRONT RIGHT SWAY BAR. CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM JUST LIKE THE 2003 MODEL. I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE I CAN'T DRIVE.
I TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT NEEDED SHOCK ABSORBERS. ONCE ON THE LIFT WE FOUND THE ENTIRE REAR SECTION WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT WITH SEVERAL MAJOR PARTS JUST HANGING FROM THE FRAME. TOYOTA CLAIMS THEY SENT RECALLS IN 2015 HOWEVER I DID NOT GET THEM. I DID RECEIVE A VERY RECENT RECALL FOR AN AIR BAG AND FRONT COIL SPRINGS, WITHIN A WEEK THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE RECALL. AT NO TIME WAS I INFORMED OF THE DANGEROUS ISSUE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. I CALLED TOYOTA TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. I AM VERY LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE REAR COMPONENTS COULD HAVE FAILED AT ANY TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY WERE QUITE RUDE WHEN WE SPOKE. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY RECOURSE I MAY HAVE, THE COST TO REPAIR MY TRUCK IS IN EXCESS OF $4,000. I AM RETIRED WITH A LIMITED INCOME AND DEPEND ON MY TRUCK TO PICKUP FARM SUPPLIES AT MY HOME. I LIVE IN MD AND RELY ON THE TRUCK WHEN IT SNOWS OR THE ROADS ARE ICY. TOYOTA CLEARLY HAS A PAST OF NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, THEY KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THE QUALITY OF THE METAL MATERIALS WERE INFERIOR. THEY WAITED 11 YEARS BEFORE THEY RECALLED SOME OF THEIR TRUCKS. I DO NOT WISH TO BE RUDE HOWEVER, I FIRMLY BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS NO REGARD FOR THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCT OR THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR POOR ENGINEERING. IT IS MY HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER OR DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE IF CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. [XXX] TELEPHONE [XXX]. IF YOU WILL PROVIDE YOUR ADDRESS I WILL SENT PHOTOS. SORRY I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD THEM TO YOU. THE DATE THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE CENTER IS 5/6/16, IT IS STILL THERE AS IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TOYOTA RECALLED MY TUNDRA FOR A RUSTED FRAME. DEALER TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN APRIL. THEY PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR, BUT NO OTHER UPDATE OR CONTACT UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN THE FRAME ARRIVED. NOW NEARLY COMPLETE, THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $8000 FOR ADDITIONAL PARTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL WHICH THEY CLAIM IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE VEHICLE PASS INSPECTION AND ROADWORTHY YET MANY OF THESE PARTS WERE UNAFFECTED PRIOR TO THE RECALL. AT NO TIME DID TOYOTA EVER INFORM US OF ADDITIONAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. TWO OF THE ITEMS ARE CRITICAL TO THE VALUE AND DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR. THEY INCLUDE THE REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL WHICH I BELIEVE FAILED DUE TO THE SAME RUSTED ISSUES AS THE FRAME. THE ADDITIONAL PARTS AFFECTED WERE THE BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKES SEIZED FROM 6 MONTHS OF NON USE AND MAINTENANCE BY THE DEALER, THE REAR BRAKES WERE FAILED BY FLUID LEAK FROM REAR AXLE WHILE IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER FOR 6 MONTHS. IN SHORT, AFTER GETTING A NEW FRAME, THE DEALER WAS HOLDING TRYING TO CHARGE $8000 IN EXTRA REPAIRS OR THEY WOULD RETURN ME A TRUCK THAT HAD A NEW FRAME BUT WAS STILL INOPERABLE IN THE CONDITION UNDER WHICH IT WAS STORED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE AND RETURNING IT IN AS GOOD OR BETTER CONDITION THAN THEY RECEIVED IT, BUT INSTEAD IT LOST 1005 OF ITS VALUE. I CANT DRIVE IT, I CANT SELL IT. IT HAS A NEW FRAME BUT NOW HAS NO DIFFERENTIAL OR BRAKES IT HAS LOST ALL MARKETABLE VALUE, WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRADED IN OR SOLD PRIOR TO THE "FRAME REPLACEMENT" THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RIGHT ALL THE WRONGS" OF TOYOTA'S DOING. I HAVE FULL SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUCK FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT AND FIX MY TRUCK SO I CAN DRIVE AGAIN, OR BUY ME OUT, OR OFFER ME A TRADE ALLOWANCE THAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE. THIS TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 1504140934.
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH UNSAFE TO DRIVE. RECEIVED VERY FIRST LETTER IN JULY ABOUT A RECALL. IT IS SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 AND THE RECALL ENDED AUGUST 31, 2015.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FUEL VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FUEL TANK STRAP COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE FUEL TANK EXHIBITED A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE TO ROLL AND CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
I AM DISABLED AND I KEEP RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES ABOUT AIRBAGS, AND FRAME RECALLS FROM TOYOTA, BUT THE LOCAL DEALERS TELL ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THEM. I AM UNABLE TO CARRY ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF SAFETY ADVISORIES AND THIS IS AFFECTING THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE, AND RISK OF INJURY TO MYSELF AND ANY PASSENGERS I MAY CARRY, AND INSURANCE COVERAGE BECAUSE OF THE RECALL NOTIFICATIONS. I SUFFERED DILIGENTLY TO PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND NOW I FIND IT'S AN UNSAFE PIECE OF JUNK THAT I CANNOT USE. I REALLY WANT THIS VEHICLE FIXED OR REPLACED WITH ONE THAT IS NOT UNSAFE.
THE ENTIRE FRAME AND UNDER SIDE OF THE TRUCK TO INCLUDE BRACKETS, CABLES, FITTINGS, AND EXHAUST ARE SO RUSTED AND FLAKING OFF THAT I'M CONCERNED THAT THE TRUCK MAY BREAK APART DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED FROM LOWE TOYOTA IN WARNER ROBINS, GA AND HAD NO IDEA THAT THE TRUCK WAS A RUSTED OUT DISASTER WAITING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN !!
RUST ON EVERYTHING UNDER THE TRUCK AS WELL AS THE REAR BUMPER. PARTS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF RUST AND/OR RUST PERFORATION OR NEED TO BE REPLACED: 1) ENTIRE FRAME ' PERFORATION GREATER THAN 10MM FOUND ON PASSENGER SIDERAIL 2) REAR DIFFERENTIAL (LEAKING FROM RUST PERFORATION) 3) BRAKE LINES 4) POWER STEERING LINE (LEAKING FROM RUST) 5) SKID PLATE (SUPPORT BRACKETS RUSTED - FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING) 6) BRAKE CALIPERS (MULTIPLE TIMES) 7) COIL SPRINGS 8) AXLES (FRONT AND BACK) 9) CONTROL ARMS 10) CV- JOINT 11) BOOTS 12) HITCH RECEIVER 13) EXHAUST 14) MUFFLER 15) CAMBER BOLT 16) MULTIPLE SETS OF TIRES (UNABLE TO ALIGN TIRES PROPERLY DUE TO RUSTED/SEIZED CAMBER BOLT) CAUSING PREMATURE TREAD WEAR. 17) BRAKE DRUMS (WARPED AND PITTED) 18) WHEEL BEARING 19) TRUCK TAILGATE SUPPORT WIRES ' WIRES RUSTED AND BROKE. TAILGATE WON'T OPEN/CLOSE WITHOUT EXTREME EFFORT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. 20) SHOCKS/STRUTS 21) SEALS, BRACKETS, NUTS AND BOLTS - THE PARTS LISTED ABOVE IS NOT COMPLETE. BASICALLY, EVERYTHING YOU SEE UNDER THE TRUCK IS SUFFERING FROM EXTREME RUST AND/OR PERFORATED. *TRUCK HAS HAD A HORRIBLE SHIMMY FOR YEARS THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT, PARTICULARLY BAD WHEN TOWING. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE TRUCK. IMPROVED SLIGHTLY WHEN REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND AXLES WERE REPLACED. MOST LIKELY RELATED TO FRAME WARP OR INSTABILITY. *TRUCK HAS HAD ISSUES WITH GETTING IN AND OUT OF 4WD. INCONSISTENT WITH HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET IN AND OUT OF 4WD. THERE IS A LOUD AND JARRING CLUNK WHEN ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING 4WD. *TRUCK FEELS LIKE IT IS ON THE VERGE OF GOING OUT OF CONTROL WHEN A HOLE OR BUMP IS HIT. THE TRUCK WILL LITERALLY JUMP SIDEWAYS. *TRACTION STABILITY CONTROL COMES ON RANDOMLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR HOLE. ANOTHER MYSTERY TO MECHANIC. *TR
EXCESSIVE RUST PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE. JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND ASSOCIATED PARTS BECAUSE RUST CAUSED DIFFERENTIAL LEAK. COST WAS OVER 3,500. REPLACED RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS. TAILGATE WIRE RUSTED AND BROKE. OPENING MECHANISM TO TAILGATE IS RUSTED AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT (IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPEN/CLOSE. REAR BUMPER IS RUSTED THROUGH, AND NOT SAFE TO STEP ON. HITCH RECEIVER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CANNOT REMOVE HITCH NOW. SKID PLATE AND BRACKETS RUSTED THROUGH - SKID PLATE FELL OFF. DEALER JUST INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND WILL BE REPLACING THE ENTIRE FRAME BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE RUST. *TR
REAR AXLE-HOUSING ROTTED THROUGH . DEALERSHIP KNEW THIS ON INSPECTION OF FRAME ON MAY 20 2014.CORPORATE OFFICE WAS MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS SITUATION. UPDATED 4/24/2015 *JS
MASSIVE GENERALIZED RUST UNDER VEHICLE. THIS IS AFFECTING THE FRAME, SUSPENSION, ALL LINES, EXHAUST, ALL METAL FITTINGS, WHEELS, BRAKES, SPARE TIRE. MY MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO PROCEED AND SUGGESTED WE NO LONGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THIS IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RUST RECALL WHICH IS IN EFFECT FOR TUNDRA TRUCKS EXACTLY LIKE THIS ONE , BUT OFF BY A COUPLE MONTHS BY MANUFACTURING DATE. OUR TOYOTA DEALER DID NOT HAVE A SUGGESTION OR ANSWER FOR HOW TO FIX THIS, OTHER THAN TO ASK IF WE WERE INTERESTED IN BUYING A NEW CAR. WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT. THE INSIDE AND UPPER BODY LOOKS NEW. *TR
HAD TRUCK IN FOR OIL CHANGE WHOLE FRAME, DRIVE SHAFT PARKING BRAKE CABLE IS RUSTING THROUGH. *TT
EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRAME, UNDER BODY, AND SUSPENSION. REAR AXLE / DIFFERENTIAL HAS LARGE FLAKING RUST SO BAD THAT IT WILL NOT HOLD LUBRICANT. FILED COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA ON 11/13/2013 AND WAS GIVEN A CASE # AND TURNED IN PHOTOS AT LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN EARLY DECEMBER 2013. CONTACTED TOYOTA IN JANUARY 2014 AND WAS TOLD THAT A RECALL WAS GOING TO BE ISSUED BUT IT WOULD COVER FRAME ONLY AND NO OTHER COMPONENTS WOULD BE COVERED FOR RUST. I PERSONALLY TOOK IT UPON MYSELF NOT TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE AND NOT ROAD WORTHY DUE TO RUST. I ALSO FEEL THAT A COMPANY THAT I HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY HAS LET ME DOWN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE 11/13/2013 AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL PROPERLY REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COLUMN SHIFT PROBLEM OF THE 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA TOYOTA TUNDRA. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING SUPPORT. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE , THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE FREE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE CAST ALUMINUM COMPONENTS SUPPORTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER APPEARED TO BE FLAWED. THERE IS ONLY 81 THOUSAND ON THIS TRUCK. UNSAFE !!!!!!!!! THANK GOD IT DIDN'T BREAK AT 65 MPH ! BUT IT COULD HAVE ! *TR
ON 9/27/13 WHEN MY 2004 TUNDRA WAS BEING CHECKED OUT FOR A RECALL FOR SEVERE FRAME RUST THE RI TOYOTA DEALER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ROTTED THROUGH AND LEAKING OIL AND SAID THAT THIS RUST IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE WHOLE AXLE HAS TO BE REPLACED. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, SHOULDN'T TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE SUB-STANDARD STEEL? SHOULDN'T THIS BE UNDER A SAFETY RECALL FOR OIL LEAKAGE? AS FAR AS I KNOW THE OIL LEAK CANNOT BE FIXED W/O COMPLETE AXLE HOUSING REPLACEMENT AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS A HUGE # OF TUNDRAS. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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