NHTSA Complaint #10161800 — 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA

WE RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL FOR ALL TOYOTA TUNDRAS BETWEEN THE YEAR 2002 TO 2004 BECAUSE OF FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT (SSC50J). BECAUSE OF THE RECALL, WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND WENT TO THE SERVICE LOCATION GIVEN IN THE NOTICE. THE APPOINTMENTS FOR BOTH WERE MADE AND USING OUR VIN NUMBER TOLD US THAT BOTH OUR TRUCKS DON'T NEED SERVICING AND SO DISMISSED BOTH, IN FLORIDA AND NEW YORK. ON FRIDAY, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK IN NEW YORK AND WAS ABOUT TO ENTER A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE TIRE FELL OUT. WE ARE INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE PART PUT IN BY THE MANUFACTURER. BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STEER AWAY FROM A MAJOR COLLISION. BASICALLY WE WERE VERY LUCKY THIS TIME. IMAGINE IF IT WERE SOMEONE, MYSELF INCLUDED, WITH LESS EXPERIENCE WHO HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING, OR IF MY HUSBAND HAD ALREADY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY. ANYWAY WE TOWED THE TRUCK TO OUR PERSONAL SERVICE MECHANIC, WHO CHARGED US $70 FOR THE TOW. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THE FRONT BALL JOINT CAME OUT AND SO THE TIRE CAME OFF. THE TIRE WING AND THE LINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, THAT WAS ALL. THE NOTICE GAVE A PHONE NUMBER, 888.270.9371, WHICH WE CALLED. WHEN WE GAVE THEM OUR VIN NUMBER, THEY TOLD US THAT OUR TRUCKS WERE NOT INCLUDED FOR SERVICE PER THE RECALL, SO THEY WILL NOT SERVICE OUR TRUCKS. SO FAR, OUR TRUCK IN FLORIDA DID NOT HAVE THE SAME ACCIDENT, BUT I AM VERY UNEASY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM THE ONE THAT USES THE TRUCK IN FLORIDA AND SINCE WE PURCHASED THE TWO TRUCKS AT THE SAME TIME. AS OF NOW, THE DAMAGED TRUCK IS BEING HELD AT THE MECHANIC'S UNTIL WE CAN HAVE OUR TRUCKS SERVICED. OTHERWISE, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY OVER $1000/ PER TRUCK TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IN WHICH CASE WE FEEL IT IS ONLY RIGHT TO BE FULLY REIMBURSED FOR THOSE SERVICES. *NM