NHTSA Complaint #10286735 — 2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA

THE 2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB WITH 5.7 LITER ENGINE WAS EXPERIENCING VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF WIRING HARNESS, TRACTION CONTROL ECU, WHEEL SPEED SENSORS THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. A FACTORY TECHNICIAN WAS BROUGHT IN TO LOOK OVER THE VEHICLE. THE FACTORY TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK WERE BECAUSE SEVERAL SENSORS HAD LOST CALIBRATION DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DISCONNECTED. THERE IS NO INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL NOR ANY WARNING SIGNS ON THE VEHICLE THAT PROVIDE ANY CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS TO THE OWNER OR A SERVICE PROVIDER THAT DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY MAY RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CALIBRATION OF SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION HAS CLARIFIED THAT THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY IN THE FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL. A REVIEW OF SEVERAL TOYOTA REPAIR PROCEDURES, WHICH REQUIRE THE BATTERY TO BE DISCONNECTED CONTAIN NO WARNING TO CHECK SENSOR CALIBRATION. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEMS OF THIS VEHICLE. WHEN IT FAILS, THE OPERATOR MAY LOOSE THROTTLE AND BRAKING CONTROL. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SHUT DOWN THE THROTTLE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION, THUS NEARLY CAUSING A T-BONE COLLISION. *TR