NHTSA Complaint #10550176 — 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA

MY 2003 TUNDRA SR5 4X4 ACCESS CAB BROKE DOWN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP DURING INTERSTATE DRIVING IN 2WD AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. UPON A LENGTHY AND EXPENSIVE TOW TO MY MECHANIC, I WAS ADVISED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD FAILED DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST NOT ONLY ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER, BUT OVER THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY. THE RUST WAS SO PERVASIVE IT ALLOWED DIFFERENTIAL FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE CARRIER ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN HEAT AND FRICTION LEADING TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL GEARS. THE TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 48,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF RUSTED FUEL TANK STRAPS. I RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM ANY TOYOTA DEALER EXCEPT TO BE REFERRED TO TOYOTA USA. AS SUCH, I CONTACTED TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA DIRECT ON OCT. 28, 2013 AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER (INCIDENT: 131027-000079). AS EXPECTED, TOYOTA'S ORAL REPLY ON OCT. 29, 2013 FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXCESSIVE RUST THAT IS PLAGUING MANY TUNDRA OWNERS AND IS RESULTING IN EXPENSIVE REPAIR COSTS THAT WOULD ORDINARILY BE UNNECESSARY HAD THE VEHICLES BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED. RATHER THAN SIMPLY APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE AND ADVISE THE MATTER WOULD BE ELEVATED TO MANAGEMENT AND RATHER THAN HIDE BEHIND WARRANTY EXPIRATION EXCUSES, TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITS MALEFICENCE AND IN THE INTEREST OF MAINTAINING ITS REPUTATION AND OWNER BASE, DO THE RIGHT THING AND CORRECT THIS WELL DOCUMENTED DEFICIENCY. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS TYPICAL OF WHAT OTHER OWNER'S ARE REPORTING ON VARIOUS WEB SITES INCLUDING "TUNDRA SOLUTIONS" AND OTHERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT FOR WHICH TOYOTA SHOULD ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD THERE BEEN A REAR END COLLISION OR HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BEEN LOST WHILE STEERING INTO A MUDDY MEDIAN WHERE ROAD CONSTRUCTION WAS IN PROGRESS. *TR