2000 Toyota Tacoma Suspension

The Frame of the truck in the back above the rear tire has rusted out and the Frame has broke.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO VANN YORK TOYOTA (500 EASTCHESTER DR, HIGH POINT, NC 27262) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO A LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

FRAME RUSTED INTO PIECES AND BROKE OFF WAS NOW INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT IT .I WAS NOT INFORMED. DROVE INTO DITCH .TOWED HOME AND WELDED BACK TOGETHER FOR NOW .

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR A RUSTED FRAME IN 2008 OUR 2000 TACOMA WAS INSPECTED AND SAID TO BE OK. RECENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR END, SO WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED US THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT RUST TO THE FRAME AND THE BACK SUSPENSION MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED, LEAVING THE TRUCK UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE INITAL NOISE WAS NOTICED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY.

THE FRAME RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING CAUSING TRUCK TO BEND LIKE A BANANA AND POSING A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN IN MOTION THE DANGER IS THAT THE PICKUP COULD VEER IN ANY DIRECTION, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE THE ROAD OR CROSS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HAPPENED OVER YEARS; DISCOVERED 3/29/17

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BLOW OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 270,000.

PURCHASED TRUCK USED. HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN ON THE REAR FOR RUST THRU. MINE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU, BROKEN. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS PER BODY SHOP. TOYOTA OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE - HOW CAN THEY NOT? SUPPOSEDLY THIS ONE WAS INSPECTED IN 2011 AND WAS OK. THERE IS NO WAY THAT IT WAS OK IN 2011 AND IS NOW BROKEN, RUSTED THRU AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THE REAR END SHIMMYS SO BAD DUE TO BROKEN COMPONENTS, RUSTED THRU, THAT IT IS A DANGER TO DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, AN ABNORMAL DRAGGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 177,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SHAKE FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACTED DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVE LINE FAILED FROM THE REAR END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LINE, SPRINGS, AND SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

PROBLEM: DEFECTIVE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. ON 4/27/05 HAD RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING REPLACED, MILEAGE ON VEH. 51261 ON 7/18/06 HAD LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING REPLACED, MILEAGE ON VEH. 56,586 BOTH LEAF SPRINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THEY RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THE STEEL BANDS WHICH HELD THEM TOGETHER BROKE. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HWY EACH TIME A LEAF SPRING BROKE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT ONE OF THE LEAFS DIDN'T SWING INTO THE REAR WHEELS, IF SO IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THE VEH. NEW, I'M THE SOLE DRIVER, IT'S USED SOLELY FOR TRANSPORTATION , NEVER USED FOR CONSTRUCTION OR OFF ROAD PURPOSES. I BELIEVE TOYOTA USED VERY POOR QUALITY STEEL IN MAKING THESE LEAF SPRINGS & BANDS OR A POOR HEAT TREATING PROCESS TO STRENGTHEN THE STEEL OR BOTH. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME & CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. P.S.TOYOTA DID REPLACE THE FIRST LEAF SPRING AS A GOODWILL GESTURE, BUT DIDN'T REPLACE THE SECOND ONE. *TR

IN THE PAST 23 MONTHS THE BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED, CAUSING WHEELS TO FALL OFF, ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE FIRST WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH IN SEPTEMBER 2006. AT THAT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT VERY LOW SPEED CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE BUT REQUIRING OVER $900 IN REPAIRS. SECOND WAS THE DRIVER SIDE IN AUGUST 2008. THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING DOWNHILL AT UNDER 40 MPH ON GRAVEL ROAD WHEN THE WHEEL FELL OFF [TAKING AXEL, BREAK LINE AND CV JOINT WITH IT]. THE TACOMA SLID OUT OF CONTROL FOR MORE THAN 100' BEFORE COMING TO REST. TOWING AND REPAIRS TO GET THE TRUCK BACK ON THE ROAD CAME TO $1,053. THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL DAMAGE IN THE WHEEL WELL AND THE DOOR IS NOT FITTING PROPERLY BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY A REPAIRMAN AS OF YET. *TR

THE TRUCK BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD BANGING SOUND FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I FOUND THE LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN AND THEN TWISTED AND WEDGED UNDERNEATH THE SKIDPLATE TO THE GAS TANK. I HAD TO USE A CHISEL TO GET THE BROKEN SPRING OUT FROM UNDER THE GAS TANK. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THIRD LEAF SPRING FAILED . AS A RESULT, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER BROKE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, SUDDENLY THERE WAS CRACKING, THEN A METALLIC CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER SLOWED THE TRUCK DOWN, DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE TRUCK. THE NEXT MORNING , THE CONSUMER COULD VISUALLY SEE THE BROKEN LEAF SPRING, BECAUSE THE SPRING WAS STICKING INTO THE GAS TANK, BUT DIDN'T PENETRATE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE SPRING BROKE BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW, DUE TO THE SPRINGS BEING ASSEMBLED IN CORRECTLY. IF THE TRUCK WAS TOWING A TRAILER AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, THIS COULD OF RESULTED IN A ROLL OVER. *NM

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, A LOUD NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND VEHICLE JUMPS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL, A CHARACTERISTIC IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. *AK

REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE. *AK

THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 75MPH CAR SWAYED RIGHT TO LEFT.*AK SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD A LEFT REAR TO RIGHT FRONT SWAY ON ROUGH SURFACES. CONSUMER FEELS THIS VEHICLE IS OF POOR DESIGN THAT WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *JG

THERE IS EXTENSIVE ROCKING IN VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE 4 TIMES, STATED THERE WAS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

ROLLING MOTION WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON VARIOUS ROAD TEXTURES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, AND WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST, CONSUMER IS SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK. CONSUMER IS HAVING A REAR SWAY BAR INSTALLED IN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YD

THE VEHICLE ROCKS AND SWAYS BACK AND FORTH LIKE IT'S GOING GO TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT IS WORST IN WINDY CONDITIONS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED ALL FOUR SHOCKS AND HAS HAD THE TRUCK ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD NOT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE UNDER THE WARRANTY, BECAUSE TOYOTA SAID NOT TO. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME. IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA TRUCK SENSE 1988. TALKING TO THE SERVICE REP AND TEST DRIVING IT WITH ONE OF THERE MECHANICS AND THEM ALL SAYING THERE IS SOMTHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENION AND ALSO CHANGING THE SHOCKS TO TRY AND ALIEVIATE THE PROBLEM, BUT YET REFUSE TO DO ANYMORE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IS SOMETHING I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ME.THANK YOU. *AK

MY DRIVER SIDE MIRROR IS HARD TO FOCUS AND I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I AM IN DANGER BY DRIVING A TRUCK WITHOUT THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR, SO FAR I WAS GOING TO HAVE TWO ACCIDENTS. I ALSO ASKED SOME PEOPLE TO DRIVE MY NEW TRUCK TO SEE THE MIRROR, INCASE I WAS WRONG, THEY DID AND FOUND OUT THAT THE MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE. ABOUT TEN PEOPLE TESTED THE MIRROR AND SAID THE SAME THING. THAT SHOULD SHOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ME. PLEASE HELP ME SOLVE THIS PROBLEM EITHER BY HAVING GOVERNMENT ENGINEERS LOOK AT THE MIRROR OR IN SOME OTHER WAY. *AK

SUSPENSION IS DEFECTIVE. WHENEVER VEHICLE HITS A BUMP VEHICLE WILL REBOUND TWICE. SHOCKS WILL BOUNCE OFF OF BUMP, INSTEAD OF CONTROLLING IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS UNDER SERIOUS WHEATHER CONDITIONS, AND CAN CAUSE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK