NHTSA Complaint #10565302 — 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE METAL STRAPS USED TO SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE HAD RUSTED AND FRACTURED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT SECTION OF THE FUEL TANK TO HANG FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRACTURED METAL STRAP WOULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. ..UPDATED 04-22-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS CHARGING HIM $1900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TWO MORE STRAPS BROKE, WHEN THE DEALER PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE RACK, WHICH CAUSED THE TANK TO FALL PULLING OUT THE GAS LINES AND WIRING, AS WELL AS CRACKING THE TANK. UPDATED 04/23/14.