Toyota has been faced with a bevy of problems concerning safety and quality. Among the latest PR nightmares is Toyota’s recall of 110,000 Toyota Tundra pickup trucks from the years between 2000 and 2003 due to corrosion issues.
The Toyota trucks in question have a rear cross member that can potentially rust in cold weather. Corrosion on this cross member can cause the spare tire to come undone and increases the likeliness of an accident. In addition, this structural weakness can also interfere with the Tundra’s rear brake line says Toyota Parts Boston which can of course impair the truck’s stopping distance.
The recall will affect vehicles in colder states, including New York, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. These are areas where temperatures can normally become very low and/or include significant salt use on the road.
Hundreds of complaints concerning the issue have already reached the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, although according to sources among Rochester NH Toyota dealers, no deaths have been reported. As a preventative measure, the NHTSA has encouraged Tundra owners to remove the spare tire immediately prior to getting their vehicles inspected or repaired at a Toyota dealership. A Colorado Toyota dealership reminds customers to contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331 should they have any questions concerning any recall.
For additional information concerning this recall, view the official press release below.
Toyota Announces Safety Recall on 2000 through 2003 Tundra Frame Rear Cross-Member
November 24, 2009 – Torrance, Calif., – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will launch a Safety Recall involving approximately 110,000 Tundra vehicles sold in the United States.Certain 2000 through 2003 model year Tundra vehicles operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use, may exhibit excessive corrosion on the frame rear cross-member. In the worst case, the spare tire stowed under the truck bed may become separated from the rear cross-member. Spare tire separation will create a road hazard for following vehicles and increase the likelihood of a crash.Eventually, excessive corrosion of the rear cross-member may also affect the functionality of the rear brake line at the proportioning valve. If this occurs, it can lead to the loss of the rear brake circuits which will increase vehicle stopping distances and the risk of a crash.In addition to the District of Columbia, the involved cold climate states with high road salt usage are: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.Beginning in December 2009 through early 2010, owners of the involved vehicles will receive a Safety Recall notification via first class mail asking them to take their vehicles to a Toyota dealer for an initial inspection of the rear cross-member. During this inspection, the rear cross-member including the surrounding components such as, the brake line at the proportioning valve (which is mounted on the cross-member assembly) will also be inspected. Based upon the inspection, Toyota will do one of the following at no charge:
- If there is no significant corrosion of the rear cross-member assembly or the rear brake line at the proportioning valve, owners will be notified of that fact and requested to subsequently bring their vehicle back to the dealership so that a corrosion-resistant compound can be applied to the rear cross-member. Toyota will notify the owner when the corrosion-resistant compound is available.
or
- If significant corrosion is detected such that the rear cross-member can no longer safely support the spare tire and replacement components are available, the cross-member assembly will be replaced. In the event replacement components are not available, a temporary solution, such as the removal of the spare tire and securing it to the truck bed, will be performed until parts are available.
In those relatively rare cases where the rear cross-member is significantly corroded and can no longer safely support the spare tire, but the rear cross-member cannot be replaced due to excessive frame corrosion at the mounting location (e.g., if the side rails are too damaged), Toyota will develop an appropriate remedy for those vehicles on a case-by-case basis.This inspection will take approximately 20 minutes depending on dealer scheduling.Until your vehicle is inspected, you may minimize the risk of the spare tire separating from the rear cross-member by removing it. If you choose to do so, please be sure not to be under the rear cross-member or spare tire carrier during the lowering process. In addition, if placing the spare tire in the truck bed or other area of the vehicle, it should be secured when driving.Customers with questions are asked to call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
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