NHTSA Complaint #10491552 — 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA

AS THE DRIVER APPROACHED A RED LIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. HE PLANNED TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, PULL OVER TO INVESTIGATE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HE ACCELERATED AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL POPPED OFF THE AXLE AND ROLLED AWAY. THE TRUCK FELL AND HIT THE PAVEMENT. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THREE LUGS BROKE OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY AND WERE NOT LOCATED AT THE SCENE. TWO LUGS REMAINED BUT BROKE OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE HAD FOUR NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON 12/27/12, AND OIL CHANGE AND NEW BRAKES INSTALLED ON 12/31/12. AT THE TIME THAT WORK WAS DONE, THE MECHANICS DID NOT OBSERVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE LUGS. THE WHEELS ARE ALLOY AFTERMARKET INSTALLED BY THE DEALER BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE POLICEMAN ON THE SCENE SAID THE DRIVER WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED IF THIS HAPPENED FIVE MINUTES EARLIER WHEN HE WAS STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. IS THIS INCIDENT RELATED TO THE ISSUES OUTLINED IN THIS CASE?: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:05E077000 VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MAKE:TOYOTA VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT MODEL:20" ALLOY WHEEL MFG COMPONENT DESC:WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS MFG INVOLVED IN RECALL:TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. TYPE OF REPORT:(E) VEHICLE MFG RESPONSIBLE FOR RECALL:TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION REPORT RECEIVED DATE:12-22-05 DEFECT SUMMARY: CERTAIN TOYOTA TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TOYOTA RACING DEVELOPMENT (TRD) 20" ALLOY WHEELS SOLD AND INSTALLED BY TOYOTA DEALERS AS AN AFTERMARKET ACCESSORY WHEEL. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE LUG-NUT HOLES WERE NOT MACHINED TO THE APPROPRIATE SPECIFICATION WHICH WILL REDUCE THREAD ENGAGEMENT. THESE WHEELS MAY NOT MAINTAIN THE APPROPRIATE TORQUE SPECIFICATION REQUIRED SECURING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: THIS MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO WHEEL FAILURE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. *TR