NHTSA Complaint #10402353 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE ! CRUISING AT 30 MPH I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY LEFT FRONT TIRE HITS THE INNER FENDER AND WEDGES AGAINST THE GROUND AND BODY OF MY TRUCK ! LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND OR BESIDE ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET 1/4 OF THE WAY OFF THE ROAD ONLY BLOCKING THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON A 3 LANE ROAD AND A SCHOOL DRIVEWAY ! AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT STOPPED AS THEY WERE ENTERING THE SCHOOL TOLD ME THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO THEM AND THAT I SHOULD CALL TOYOTA. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NO RECALL FOR MY TRUCKS VIN. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME YEAR AND VEHICLE AS MINE BUT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT SAFETY RECALL YEARS ! I AM VERY GLAD THAT I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE HIGHWAY 1/2 MILE AWAY THAT I WAS GOING TO BE TRAVELING ON, AS I MIGHT NOT BE TUCKING MY SON INTO BED TONIGHT ! CALLED A FRIEND AND GOT IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND REPLACED THE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS IN THE SCHOOLS DRIVEWAY TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME. AND NOW NEEDS A NEW SPINDLE, TIE ROD, AND BRAKE LINE NOT TO MENTION ANOTHER SET OF BALL JOINTS. THE SPINDLE WAS BENT AND WAS FORCED BACK INTO SHAPE TO LIMP IT HOME. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PARTS FOR INSPECTION AND RESEARCH. IT IS A REAL SHAME THAT A COMPANY WITH SO MANY YEARS OF RELIABLE AND TROUBLE FREE VEHICLES HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS AND RECALLS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. GUESS THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE INFERIOR PARTS THAT YOUR REPUTATION WAS NOT BUILT ON ! *TR