2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA Electrical System Problems

Sudden maximum acceleration accompanied by brake failure, without warnings, occurred on my 2002 Toyota Tundra 4.7L V8 causing loss of control of the vehicle, which ended in a rollover crash, resulting in total loss of the vehicle and injury to me. While departing a 25 mph zone (sign read "END 25 SPEED LIMIT") on a relatively straight section of the road, I very gently accelerated from 20 mph to 30 mph. As soon as the vehicle reached 30 mph, sudden maximum acceleration occurred. Taking my foot off of the gas pedal, first I verified that the gas pedal was not stuck or blocked, but the gas pedal was in the fully up position. I then pressed the brake pedal very hard, but it was locked in the fully up position and the brakes would not engage. I then verified that nothing was blocking the brake pedal underneath it. At that...

TRUCK NEEDED SENSOR REPLACED FOR SAFETY INSPECTION STICKER (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON). MECHANIC FOUND FRAME UNDERNEATH TO BE SO RUSTED HE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WORKING ON THE TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO LOCAL DEALER AND THEY AGREED THE TRUCK IS RUSTED TO POINT OF BEING UNSAFE. THEY TOOK PICTURES TO SEND CORPORATE FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT APPROVAL. REQUEST WAS DENIED. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY AGREED TO ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER. I WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH TRUCK IS UNSAFE, THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO SINCE CAMPAIGN IS CLOSED. I HAD THE TRUCK SPRAYED AS INITIAL RECALL STATED. I RECEIVED NO OTHER RECALL OR REQUESTED SERVICE INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA. I NOW HAVE A TRUCK WITH LOW MILEAGE THAT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING TO MAKE SURE THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE SAFE OR CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE OXYGEN SENSOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LAMP CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S KNOWLEDGE. OTHER DRIVERS WAVED DOWN THE CONTACT AND RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THE FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES, THE FIRE WOULD HAVE REACHED THE GAS TANK AND RESULTED IN THE COMBUSTION OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. TOYOTA STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO INDICATED WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND HAVE NOT ILLUMINATED SINCE. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT IS FASTENED THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE PANEL ILLUMINATES REGARDLESS. THERE IS ALSO A RUST ISSUE ON THE ON THE REAR DOORS CAUSING A STRUCTURE DAMAGE. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIPS THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE HAS WARRANTY ON HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF CURRENT DATE.

****NOTE: REGARDING A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SINCE THIS IS NOT AN OPTION I CHOSE TUNDRA BECAUSE THIS IS THE CLOSEST TO THE SEQUOIA SIZE. THE VSC TRAC-OFF SYSTEM TURNS ON WHEN DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, DRY FREEWAY. THE TRUCK LOST SPEED AND IT STARTED MOVING TO NEXT LANE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO CRASH. I TOOK IT IN AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY TRUCK AGAIN. I AM AFRAID THAT NEXT TIME THAT HAPPENS ON THE BUSY LOS ANGELES FREEWAY, I COULD BE THE VICTIM OF A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY CAUSED BY THE VSC MALFUNCTION.*AK

REGARDING 2002 SEQOUIA. SINCE SEQOUIA NOT AN OPTION, CHOSE TUNDRA AS IT WAS CLOSEST TO VEHICLE TYPE. DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT SPEED LIMIT, THEN CAR FELT AS IF VEERING OFF TO THE LEFT, IT WAS HARD KEEPING STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AND THEN I NOTICED THAT THE TRAC OFF AND VSC LIGHTS WENT ON. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, FAIRLY SMOOTH SURFACE IN THE CENTER LANE, WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. HAD TO PULL OF FREEWAY AND TURN OFF VEHICLE AND THEN RESTART TO RESET THE CAR. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND THE CAR WILL STEER NORMALLY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, THIS HAS HAPPENED A SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.*AK