2002 Toyota Tacoma Suspension

I recently lost both front wheels in two different incidents within a month. Early August drivers side ball joint failed on me. And on September 25th the passenger side failed on me on the freeway almost causing a collision with a mercedes and a semi truck.

As I was pulling out from being parked the truck just dropped to the floor on the drivers side. When I got out to see what happened? My wheel broke off at the lower ball joint yesterday evening. I had to wait 2 hours for a tow. I had no warning or symptoms prior.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while an independent mechanic was servicing the vehicle, the contact was informed that the rear sub frame was severely rusted at the spring shackle on the driver's side. The vehicle was then taken to an auto body shop, where it was determined that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel separated from the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control of the steering and drove into the opposite lane. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the front suspension ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the front shocks, front tires, and front brakes were also damaged during the failure, and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 443,000.

ONGOING RUSTY DETERIORATION OF FRAME. HAVE HAD SECTIONS CUT OUT AND PLATES WELDED 3X. PURCHASED IN 2003. SAME DEALER CLAIMS RECALL SENT. NOT RECEIVED BY ME. HAVE HAD OTHER RUST PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTAS, AND HAD RESPONDED TO SAME. THIS WAS TO BE MY LAST VEHICLE AS I AM 77, ON SS, DRIVE LESS THAN 5,000MPY, TRUCK HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH MAJOR REPAIR FREE LIFE TO OUT LIVE ME! HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY MY GARAGE NOT TO DRIVE-CANNOT GO ONTO THE LIFT ANYMORE! HAS BEEN BEYOND REPAIR FOR YEARS-WON'T PASS STATE INSPECTION. AM FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER, WHICH I CAN ILL AFFORD. HERE IS REPAIR RECORD. 2/27/2015-FRAME RAIL REPAIR $500. AT 2016 INSPECTION ORIGINAL DEALER QUOTED $1,000 TO REPAIR FRAME, STATED RECALL HAD BEEN SENT AND IGNORED, AND GOT VERY BELIGERENT INITALLY AND DURING SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALLS. REPAIR LOCALLY $800. AGAIN $700 IN 2017. BY 2018 SHOCK MOUNTS WERE RUSTED OFF AND SHOCKS REMOVED. HAS NOT PASSED INSPECTION SINCE. STILL COUNTRY DRIVING NOT MORE THAN 20 MI. EVERYTHING RUNNING FINE-NO PROBLEMS. WOULD EXPECT ANOTHER 100,000 NEEDING NO MORE THAN A CLUTCH AND ANOTHER TIMING BELT. I WAS EVEN WILLING TO SPENT $13,000+ FOR A NEW FRAME ONLY TO DISCOVER BY VIN THAT COMPLETE FRAME WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IF YOU WOULD CHECK OUT TACOMAWORLD WEBSITE, THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. RE: HAVING TO JUNK TRUCK THAT HAS MANY MILES YET TO RUN. I KNOW TOYOTA SUED FRAME MANUFACTURER. HAS 'WIPED THEIR HANDS' OF THE ENTIRE AFFAIR; SO I DON'T REALLY EXPECT ANYTHING TO COME OF THIS. BEING AN AIR FORCE VET ON SS AND PTSD DISABILITY I CONSIDERED APPEALING TO TOYOTA DIRECTLY BUT FELT IT A WASTE OF TIME. APPEAL GOING INTO TRASH UNOPENED! ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE THOUSANDS OF US LOYAL TOYOTA BUYERS WHO HAVE IN ESSENCE EATEN THEIR VEHICLES!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER INDEPENDENTLY TO THE RIGHT, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CALLED HER HUSBAND WHO ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION) WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,544.

FRAME IS ROTTED, SHOCK SEPARATED FROM FRAME

DRIVING ON LOCAL STREET, 25 MPH, THEN HEARD CLUNKING SOUND WHEN HITTING ROAD BUMPS. MECHANIC INSPECTION REVEALED SHOCK MOUNT COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT OF FRAME AND EXCESSIVE RUST AND ROTTING THROUGHOUT THE REAR FRAME. TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP SO WILL HAVE REPAIR PRIVATELY AND WELD NEW SLEEVES TO THE FRAME. TOYOTA HAS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ITS' CUSTOMERS BY USING INFERIOR METALS IN ITS' FRAMES FOR MANY YEARS.

THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS SHOWING SUBSTANTIAL RUST AND CORROSION

MY FRAME IS JUST RUSTED OUT IN THE BACK END IT'S NEVER BEEN FLOODED ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL AND I HEARD ABOUT THE FRAME RECALLS BUT MY VIN COMES BACK WITH NO RECALLS I JUST NEED TO SEE IF THIS CAN BE INVESTIGATED I KNOW PEOPLE WHO DID QUALIFY AND THERE FRAMES WERE PERFECTLY FINE BUT MINE IS JUST FALLING APART

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SUDDENLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

I DRIVE A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE I THOUGHT WAS A LOOSE PICK UP BED (SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT LEGAL BUT HIGH SPEED COMING HOME FROM WORK). STOPPED AND NOTED MY TRUCK FRAME HAD BROKEN IN TWO PLACES OVER THE REAR AXEL AND GAS TANK AREA. THE BROKEN SIDE OF THE FRAME WAS JUST SITTING LOOSELY ON THE L REAR LEAF SPRINGS. LUCKILY I STOPPED TO CHECK THE PICKUP BED. I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR EVEN KILLED OR WHAT'S WORSE COULD HAVE LOST CONTROL AND HURT SOMEONE ELSE. I KNOW TOYOTA HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT FRAME QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES WITH THESE MODEL TACOMAS IN THE PAST. I DID HAVE A FRAME CHECK IN DEC. 2010 ON A RECALL NOTICE AND IT WAS FINE. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP NO FURTHER ACTION WAS NEEDED. NOW I FIND AFTER TALKING TO TOYOTA CORPORATE, THE FRAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDERCOATED AT THAT TIME. (THEY CLAIM TO HAVE SENT 5 LETTERS ADVISING ME OF THIS.NONE OF WHICH I RECEIVED, AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AT THE SAME ADDRESS FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS). LOOKING AT THE INTERNET FORMS CONCERNING TACOMAS, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS COCK AND BULL STORY. WHY WOULD I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TRUCK IN FOR PROTECTIVE UNDERCOATING IF INFORMED BY TOYOTA AFTER ALL READY RESPONDING TO A RECALL INSPECTION ONLY A FEW WEEKS EARLIER?. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC PROBLEMS. I THINK TOYOTA CORP IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SITUATION BY ORIGINALLY INSTALLING DEFECTIVE FRAMES THEN NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH ON RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS PROPERLY AND ACTUALLY STONE WALLING OWNERS CALLING WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE FRAMES WITH AN EXTENDED 15 YEAR WARRANTY.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. I HIT A POT HOLE MY TRUCK BECAME VERY LOOSE AND HARD TO HANDLE. I GOT HOME AND INSPECTED THE TRUCK. I FOUND THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTS ON BOTH SIDES PULLED/ RIPPED THE FRAME! MY BACK AXEL ALSO SLID BACK ABOUT 2"! I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T GET HURT, BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. I ONLY WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE AXEL WOULD HAVE CAME TOTALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE REAR OR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE REAR SHOCK WAS CORRODED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

I AM A CANADIAN CITIZEN, CURRENTLY THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA AND HAVE ACCESSED THIS SITE TO INFORM OTHER OWNERS BUT HAD TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT UNDER THE PREVIOUS OWNERS NAME. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND RETURNED TO CANADA. IN LATE 2011 I WAS ADVISED THAT MY VEHICLE FRAME WAS STARTING TO SHOW SEVERE RUST CORROSION. I TOOK STEPS, AS ADVISED, TO HAVE IT UNDERCOATED BUT WHEN TAKING IT IN FOR INSPECTION THIS YEAR, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DO A TEMPORARY FIX BY HAVING THE FRAME WELDED BUT THAT WOULD ONLY BE IN THE SHORT TERM. IN PURSUING THIS WITH TOYOTA USA I'VE TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PUT ON THESE VEHICLES WHICH EXPIRED IN 2011 AND SINCE THEY DIDN'T HAVE IT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DO EVERYTHING TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I AM AWARE THEY HAVE REPLACED MANY FRAMES FOR SIMILAR VEHICLES AT THEIR COST OR PAID OUT THE CUSTOMERS BY BUYING BACK THE VEHICLES. SO MANY CUSTOMERS ARE FRUSTRATED WITH TOYOTA, ME INCLUDED AND THEY'VE ADVISED ME SINCE IT ISN'T REGISTERED IN THE US CURRENTLY THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING. ON THE OTHER HAND, CHECKING WITH TOYOTA CANADA THEN THEY SAY I HAVE TO RESOLVE THE MATTER WITH TOYOTA USA. TALK ABOUT PASSING THE BUCK BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN NORTH AMERICA SINCE 2002 AND WAS BUILT IN CALIFORNIA. WHY SHOULD THIS MATTER? IT'S STILL A TOYOTA. POOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BALL JOINT HAD FAILED, SIMILAR TOTHE DEFECT LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON THE LEAF SPRINGS AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VIN QUALIFIED FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) BUT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

WHILE DRIVING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AT 5MPH, AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN, APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND JUST AFTER A SPEED BUMP, I HEARD AND FELT A LOUD NOISE, LIKE DRIVING OVER A CONCRETE BLOCK. I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND USING A FLASHLIGHT SAW THAT THE WHEEL WAS BENT AT AN ANGLE AND THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET IT OUT OF THE ROAD AND BACK TO OUR DRIVEWAY. *TR

2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER STATES AS HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELL APART WHILE DRIVING. AXLE DUG INTO THE STREET CAUSING THE BALL JOINTS TO SEPARATE FROM THEIR KNUCKLE SLEEVES. SUSPENSION FELL APART DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TIRE TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *JB

THE BALL JOINTS AND SUSPENSION ON MY 2002 TOY TACOMA FELL APART WHILE MAKING A ROUTINE TURN ONTO MY STREET! THE BALLJOINTS SEPARATED AND THE FRONT AXLE DUG INTO THE STREET, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEEL TO THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LINE! HAD THIS HAPPENED 5 MINUTES EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65 MPH INSTEAD OF IN A RESIDENTIAL TRACT DOING 20 MPH! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE FRAME FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE, LEAVING THE WHEEL CONNECTED BY THE BRAKE LINE ONLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V225000-SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE HIS VIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD POP WHILE TURNING RIGHT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER. HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DISCONNECTED FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND FOLDED BENEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT RECALL 05V225000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) DID NOT INCLUDE HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING OUT OF A CURVE IN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE WHEEL SUDDENLY DISENGAGED AND ROLLED UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V225000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 156,0000.

MY WIFE & I WERE TRAVELING INTO BAKERSFIELD, (WE'RE FROM ARVIN, CA) ALONG BEAR MT. BLVD. ON SAT. SEPT. 5, 2009 AROUND 4:00 P.M. AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STEER. INSTEAD OF GOING ON THE FREEWAY, I DECIDED TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE RT. I CAME TO A STOP AND BEGAN TURNING LEFT AT APPROX. 5- 10 MPH & THE R FRONT TIRE FOLDED OUT & THE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. WE HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED HOME. I ORDERED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON LINE SO I COULD REPLACE THEM. THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS NOT ONE ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I AM FURIOUS. I BELIEVE TOYOTA IS LIABLE FOR MY DAMAGES. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED, I HEARD A FEW CLICKING & GRINDING SOUNDS & THOUGHT MAYBE MY POWER STEERING WAS GOING OUT. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS BALL JOINT FAILURE, OR I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT. I HAVE MY OLD DEFECTIVE PARTS. I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER WITNESS TO THIS INCIDENCE BESIDES MY WIFE. HE LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THIS OCCURRED & HEARD THE LOUD BOOM WHEN THE TRUCK HIT THE GROUND. I HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, AS I WOULD HATE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DID. *TR