NHTSA Complaint #10138202 — 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA

(1) I LEFT MY WORK AT 6:00 AM THE MORNING OF SEPT. 22 . I HAD ONLY GONE APPROX. 2 MILES AT ABOUT 50 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND SPARKS WERE FLYING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE UNTIL I COULD GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. (2) I GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE OFF AND WEDGED UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I WAS REALLY SHAKEN ABOUT THIS. IN ANOTHER 10 MINUTES I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING HOME THROUGH A REAL WINDY CANYON DRIVE THAT I COMMUTE ABOUT 54 MILES ONE-WAY TO WORK, WITH MOUNTAIN ON ONE SIDE AND A CANYON WITH RIVER ON THE OTHER. I DEFINITELY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE FOUND THE LOWER BALL JOINT DOWN THE ROAD . IT HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SHEERED AT THE THREAD AREA. I CALLED THE BAKERSFIELD TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND MY 2001 TUNDRA WAS NOT COVERED FOR THIS. I ALSO CALLED THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER AND IT WAS NOT COVERED FOR THIS. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY TUNDRA. I HAD NO CLUE AS TO A PROBLEM WITH MY BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINT SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED LIKE THIS. (3) I HAD MY TUNDRA TOWED TO A LOCAL BRAKE AND FRONT END SHOP AND HAD THE WORK DONE THERE. I HAD BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES DONE. IT COST ME $624.00. *JB