NHTSA Complaint #10140855 — 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA

DRIVING NORTH ON ALVERNON IN THE LEFT LANE BETWEEN 37TH AND PALO VERDE THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL OF THE 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL REMAINED UNDER THE VEHICLE ATTACHED TO THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS IS SUSPECTED. APPROXIMATE SPEED WAS 40 MPH. AFTER SEPARATION THE VEHICLE TRACKED STRAIGHT FOR APPROXIMATE 100 FEET, I THEN CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE AND MOVE TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE RIGHT LANE AND STOPPED. DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, WHEEL, FRONT BUMPER, FRONT LEFT PANEL, ABS SYSTEM AND OTHER EXPECTED DAMAGE OCCURRED. NO DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD OR SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN DAMAGE TO THE ROADWAY. AT THIS TIME THERE ARE NOT RELATED PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR INJURY TO MYSELF (I WAS ALONE WHEN THIS OCCURRED) OR ANYONE ELSE. TOYOTA AT THIS TIME HAS REFUSED TO MAKE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 05V225000 FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, BUT CURRENTLY DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2001 YEAR FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *NM