NHTSA Complaint #10503679 — 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA

TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A FRONT END INSPECTION DUE TO A STEERING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY STIFF DURING TURNING AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. ASKED FOR A THOROUGH FRONT END INSPECTION OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED STEERING LINKAGES, ETC. DEALER ADVISED THAT ALL WAS OK BUT THAT FRONT END WOULD NEED TO BE ALIGNED. PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE UPON RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE. DROVE ANOTHER 600 + MILES AND WHILE DRIVING TO A LOCAL BUSINESS AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND WEDGED UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HOUSING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED AND THE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR. AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AS A COMPLAINT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT DISCOVER THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS IN THEIR CARE FOR A STEERING/FRONT END DISCREPANCY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH TODAY, DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 - 2004 TUNDRA FRONT END. *TR