2001 Toyota Tundra Suspension

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started making a metallic cracking sound, and the steering wheel was pulling to the right. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 285,643.

Toyota Corporate is refusing to acknowledge my Tundra's eligibility for remedy under a safety recall and campaign. My Tundra is experiencing the failure mode outlined in the safety recall 90M and extended safety campaign Tundra BXD. The spare tire crossmember of the frame is almost entirely rotted through with rust and is barely connected at this point. My Tundra's VIN number falls within the VIN range table's indicated in the recall and campaign documentation, and meets the criteria of currently being registered in an eligible cold-climate state. By all accounts, it should be eligible to receive remedy under this campaign. However Toyota has on multiple occasions just told me that "Safety Recalls are Service Campaigns are VIN-specific" and that VIN does not report as eligible. I've provided photo evidence of the issue and the documentation, yet Toyota refuses to acknowledge my truck's eligibility for repair under this program. Safety recalls are to prevent safety incidents from occurring due to known design or manufacturing defects. My truck is experiencing a known and documented defect. Toyota has a process for fixing it. However they're refusing to fix mine because of a mis-match in the VIN database. Safety issues don't affect "VIN numbers", they affect vehicles, the people who drive them, and others out on the roads.

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right and front driver's side wheel detached from underneath the vehicle, causing the vehicle to skid across the highway before coming to a stop. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the front driver's side ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that there was damage to the subframe of the vehicle caused by the detached wheel. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 233,500.

I feel vehicle's frame is not safe... starting making a metal cracking noise due excessive corrosion .. rear frame portion is been treated under recall but the front looks really bad we can't even change suspension parts due the possibility on getting a serious frame problems. I keeping my truck with low mileage and not planning on selling it, very clean inside. I understand frame replacement it is an option if the frame is really bad and mine is getting onto that stage...

Lower ball joints(right and left hand sides) very serious safety concern. this is my family vehicle and has been with the family since 2005-06. members from the tundra forums are concerned about this issue with toyota tundras. yes toyota has a recall for their 02-06 tundras and tacomas and sequioas of the same year. my car doesn't qualify for the recall. this recall is not covered for the 2000-2001 tundras,tacomas, and sequioas. dont understand why. they all have the same part numbers. i have seen and witnessed the aftermath of this failed ball joint. some are fatal and some leave you stranded. we need to have this deadly issue resolved with toyota. help me and help all other toyota tundra owners who are in this same situation as I am. thank you

My frame is broke . Right at the passenger front tire

2001 Tundra (4.7 Engine); frame badly rusted in rear. Told on Aug. 3, 2021 that it would fail the next inspection. I put my VIRIN into the NHTSA site but couldn't find any recalls.

BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE ISSUES AND BROKEN LEAF SPRING AND THEY TOLD ME MY FRAME WAS CRACKED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF GRAND RAPIDS (2555 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512) FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000(STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS SEVERE CORROSION ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT HE HAD TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER CONTACTED BY A SERVICE ADVISOR WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FRAME AND THAT FRONT CROSS MEMBER WAS TOO CORRODED NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TO BE PLACED ON THE LIFT TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON 11-5-2019 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA, DOWN A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING, BREAKING NOISE AND THE RIGHT FRONT OF MY TRUCK COLLAPSED AND TRUCK VEERED TO THE RIGHT. MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS THAT I HAD A BLOWOUT. THERE WAS ENTRANCE TO CIRCLE K APPROXIMATELY 40-50 FEET AWAY. SKIDDING ALONG I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND OFF THE STREET. WHEN I GOT OUT TO CHECK I SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD COLLAPSED UNDER THE VEHICLE HAD SKIDDED ON THE TIRE AND RIM. THE TIRE WAS STILL HOLDING AIR BUT WAS SCRAPED DOWN TO THE CORD. THERE WERE NO POTHOLES OR ANY DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, PRIMARILY JAPANESE, AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED. BALL JOINTS WERE COMPLETELY BROKEN AND ALSO RUINING ABS SPEED SENSOR AND BRAKE HOSE. SEE ATTACHED INVOICE. MECHANIC ALSO DID A DIAGNOSIS ON THE ENTIRE FRONT END. ON 11-14-2019 PER THE ADVICE OF MY MECHANIC I HAD THEM REBUILD L BALL JOINTS AND LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARM. SEE ATTACHED INVOICE. I STILL HAVE NOT REPLACED THE R CONTROL ARMS WHICH THEY HAVE ADVISED I DO ASAP. IT WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT MYSELF OR NO ONE ELSE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *LN VEHICLE WAS TOWED.*JB

I WAS DRIVING AND I HEARD LOUD NOISE WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, PULLED OVER TO LOOK AND SAW THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK RUSTED THROUGH THE CROSSMEMBER AND HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE BED.I WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SLOWLY,NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS 157,000 MILES, NOW WHAT DO I DO?

MY BALL JOINTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED THIS MORNING WITHOUT WARNING (NO KNOCKING/RATTLING/VIBRATION/ETC.). LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING 15 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE BALL JOINTS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I AM WORRIED FOR FUTURE INCIDENTS THAT WOULD NOT BE SO LUCKY AND HAPPEN ON A HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH OR MORE (WHICH I WAS DOING 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING). I UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT THIS IS A SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND LIKELY TO KILL PEOPLE. NORMAL BALL JOINT WEAR LOOSENS THE BALL JOINT AND MAKES A RATTLING NOISE, THIS ISSUE BINDS THE BALL JOINT WITH NO WARNING AND BREAKS IT OFF. I CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS DECLINED ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO TRENDING AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT WEAR AND TEAR. THIS WAS IN SPITE OF KNOWLEDGE I HAVE OF OVER 533,000 RECALLS OF BALL JOINTS ON SIMILAR MODELS WITH SIMILAR SUSPENSIONS. THE TOYOTA PERSONNEL I SPOKE WITH WOULD NOT EVEN ADMIT TO ANY RECALLS OF SUCH LIKE INCIDENTS. TOYOTA SEEMED COMPLETELY UNCONCERNED AND EVEN WORRIED THAT IF THEY PROVIDED INFORMATION LIKE THIS TO OTHER TUNDRA OWNERS THAT THEY WOULD BE "LIABLE" AND EXPECTED TO PAY TO HAVE THEM FIXED. IT SEEMED TOYOTA WAS HAPPY TO SIT BY AND WATCH THE NEXT WHEEL GO FLYING OFF THEIR TUNDRAS/SEQUOIAS (AND POTENTIAL FATALITY) AT THE RISK OF HAVING TO COMMUNICATE AN ISSUE TO CUSTOMERS. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO KNOW THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXISTING BALL JOINT ISSUE, I WOULD HAVE PERFORMED A PM ON MINE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.

THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THESE FIRST GENERATION TUNDRAS ARE ALL PRONE TO EARLY FAILURE WHEN USING ANY OTHER BRAND THAN OEM. I HAVE TALKED TO DOZENS OF FIRST GEN OWNERS AND ALL AGREE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE TRUCKS ARE A HUGE WEAK POINT. I HAD MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL COME OFF OF MY TRUCK WHILE TURNING DOWN A STREET IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY TUNDRA. THE WHEEL WENT ABOUT 50 FEET AND STOPPED BY COLLIDING WITH A PARKED CAR. THE SUSPENSION OF MY TRUCK ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ROAD.

FRONT LOWER LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE AT 40 MPH WHILE CROSSING RR TRACKS.THE TIRE/HUB COMPLETELY TORE LOOSE TEARING OFF BRAKE LINE.AND JUST LUCKILY AVOIDED A DEADLY HEAD-ON COLLISION.THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED.THIS PROBLEM MUST BE ADDRESSED.MY PROBLEM IS L ALSO OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHICH HAS THE SAME FRONT BALL JOINTS.THIS IS TOTAL BULL. I WOULD HAD SENT A PICTURE,BUT THE TRUCK LEFT THE SCENE ON A FLAT BED TRAILER.

2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. FRAME RUSTED OUT. 194,000 MILES. INSTALLED NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM IN FALL 2017. FRAME WAS OK HAD SOME SURFACE RUST. ON MEMORIAL DAY I INSTALLED NEW CALIPER, ROTOR, & SHOES. AT THAT TIME I COULD SEE THE FRAME WAS BAD, I COULD PUT FINGER THROUGH THE FRAME. TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

THE L/F LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS WHICH NEED TO BE REPAIRED AND REPLACED: L/F LOWER BALL JOINT; L/F KNUCKLE POPPED OUT FROM UPPER BALL JOINT; RACK PINION ASSEMBLY BIND AND TWISTED WHEN LEFT FRONT COLLAPSED; L/F AXLE SHAFT POPPED OUT AND GREASE OUT; L/F CALIPER HOSE BROKEN; ALIGNMENT NEEDED AS PART OF REPAIR. DUE TO FAILURE OF L/F BALL JOINT, SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDS REPLACING R/F LOWER BALL JOINT TO AVOID ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND DANGER OF INJURY DUE TO AUTO CRASH. FORTUNATELY, THE BALL JOINT AND ALL OTHER DAMAGE DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL DRIVER HAD EXITED INTERSTATE AND WAS JUST PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, OTHERWISE, A SERIOUS CRASH COULD HAVE ENSUED WITH INJURY TO DRIVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING WITH THIS BALL JOINT FAILURE, TRUCK HANDLED NORMALLY UNTIL ABRUPT FAILURE IN PARKING LOT. EXPENSE TO REPAIR NEARLY $5000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SLID 100 FEET INTO THE MEDIAN AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE UPPER BALL JOINT FRACTURED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHING. THE A ARM, RIM, TIRE, CALIPERS, AND UPPER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V22500 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 268,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 304,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WAS SPRAYED WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COMPOUND ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE); HOWEVER, THE COATING WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 3/30/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CROSSMEMBER WAS REPLACED AND THE FRAME WAS SPRAYED. UPDATED 7/8/2015 *JS

AFTER HAVING TIRES PLACED ON 2001 TUNDRA, THE MECHANIC & HIS SUPERVISOR ADVISED ME TO GO TO NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER DUE TO CONCERNS OF RUST COMPROMISING FRAME. [IN APRIL 2012, THE FRAME RECEIVED A CORROSIVE RESISTANT COMPOUND DUE TO SAFETY RECALL 90M AS TOYOTA DID NOT FEEL THE FRAME QUALIFIED FOR A FULL FRAME REPLACEMENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT CRC WOULD PREVENT THE RUSTING THAT INITIATED THE RECALL]. UPON ARRIVING AT THE TOY DEALER, THE STAFF IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED AN INSPECTION AS THEY HAD SEVERAL INCIDENCES OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF CRC'S FAILURE TO PREVENT RUSTING. THE INSPECTOR LOCATED A HOLE ON THE FRAME'S FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS ADVISED TO CONTACT TOY HEADQUARTERS ASAP AS THE FRAME COULD FOLD UP UPON MYSELF & PASSENGERS IN A COLLISION. I CONTACTED TOY HEADQUARTERS ON 8/12/15 AND SPOKE WITH SHAE AND THEN ADRINA, WHO ULTIMATELY ASSIGNED ME TO CASE MANAGER, AUTUMN. WHEN AUTUMN CONTACTED ME 2 DAYS LATER, SHE INFORMED ME THAT I "HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGN IN APRIL 2012 AND THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED IN DECEMBER 2012." SHE EXPLAINED THAT "ONCE THE CAMPAIGN HAS EXPIRED, THE FRAME IS NOT COVERED." SHE EXPLAINED TOYOTA WOULD DO NOTHING TO ASSIST FURTHER. I EXPLAINED THAT TOY'S CRC "REMEDY" HAD FAILED TO STOP THE RUST ISSUE WHICH INITIATED THE ODI INVESTIGATION AND SUBSEQUENT RECALL. THE CRC HAD ONLY MANAGED TO MASK THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE "CAMPAIGN" EXPIRED AND TOYOTA WAS NO LONGER LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO ADDRESS THE STILL-EXISTING PROBLEM. RESEARCH INFORMED ME THAT MYSELF AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2000-2003 TUNDRA OWNERS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED FRAME DETERIORATION DESPITE THE APPLIED CRC. THUS THERE ARE POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF TUNDRAS ON THE ROAD WHICH ARE RISKING THE SAFETY OF OWNERS AND OTHER DRIVERS SIMPLY BECAUSE TOYOTA CAN SAY THEY "ADDRESSED" THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE INTERVENTION FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HOPE NHTSA WILL CONSIDER RE-OPENING AN INVESTIGATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE AXLE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

WHILE TRAVELING VERY SLOWLY DOWN A SMOOTH, DRY DIRT ROAD MY DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING FAST IN TRAFFIC. THE TRUCK IS AT A REPAIR SHOP RIGHT NOW. I CONTACTED TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN A REPLY. ON TOYOTA'S OFFICAL WEB SITE I ENTERED MY VIN TO SEARCH FOR OUTSTANING RECALLS AND GOT THIS ANSWER, " THERE ARE NO OPEN SAFETY RECALLS OR SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGNS FOR YOUR VEHICLE." AFTER AN INTERNET SEARCH, I LEARNED VERY QUICKLY THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH FIRST GENERATION TUNDRAS. WHY ON EARTH HASN'T TOYOTA ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT I WAS GOING SLOW AND NOBODY WAS HURT OR KILLED. WITH THE NUMBER DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURES BEING REPORTED, THERE ARE SURELY THAT MANY MORE THAT ARE NOT BEING REPORTED. HOW CAN TOYOTA LEGALLY NOT ADMIT THERE IS A FLAW AND MAKE THESE TRUCKS SAFE FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE? *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO STRESS ON THE BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED AT 276,343 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLIANT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 286,911.