2002 Toyota Tundra SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS A DESIGN FLAW. HE CAN DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE FRONT BRAKES TO OVERWORK AND DAMAGE SEVERAL ROTORS. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS FOUR TIMES IN ALMOST FOUR YEARS. THE BRAKES FAIL MORE AT HIGHER SPEEDS (55 MPH) AND IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

I BOUGHT MY 2002 TUNDRA NEW AND EXPERIENCED BRAKE VIBRATION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE VIBRATION HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD (BOUGHT IN NOV 2001) AND IT IS NORMAL. I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS LOGIC, THEN THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK ON IT UNDER WARRANTY (BUT WAS WILLING TO WORK ON IT IF I PAID; GO FIGURE). FIVE YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND HAD TO REPLACE MY PADS SEVERAL TIMES. STOPPING DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY IS GETTING LONGER AND MORE DANGEROUS. I SEE HERE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. WHAT IS THE NHTSA WAITING FOR TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION? FOR A BAD ACCIDENT TO OCCUR AND SOMEONE DIES?

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT HAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE FRONT ROTORS TO WARP, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES MY TRUCK TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY DURING BREAKING AND ALSO HINDERS OVERALL BRAKING ABILITY. AFTER HAVING MY BRAKES SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, I LEARNED THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF MY MODEL TRUCK AND DETAILING HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE COST OF SAID REPAIRS EXCEEDS $2000. I FIND IT ABSURD THAT TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO EXECUTE A RECALL FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM. BASICALLY, THE CONSUMER IS LEFT WITH THREE OPTIONS: 1) PAY $2000+ TO REPAIR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT; 2) PAY FOR BRAKE SERVICE ABOUT EVERY 2 OR 3 MONTHS; OR 3) DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH POORLY FUNCTIONING BRAKES. I, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I, AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH POORLY FUNCTIONING BRAKES, BECAUSE I CANNOT AND WILL NOT AFFORD THE COST OF EITHER OF THE FIRST TWO OPTIONS. IT REMAINS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING HOW TOYOTA CAN GET AWAY WITH RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES BUT NOT ATONE FOR THEIR POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP. ADDITIONALLY, MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT, WHILE THEIR VEHICLES WERE UNDER WARRANTY, THEIR TOYOTA SERVICE FACILITY BLAMED THE BRAKE PROBLEM ON INDIVIDUAL BRAKING HABITS. HOWEVER, AFTER THEIR WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY INFORMED THEM OF THE DEFECT AND OFFERED TO FIX IT AT FULL COST. RIDICULOUS. *JB

BREAKS ON TOYOTA TUNDRAS ARE DEFECTIVE AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT AS STATED IN TSB #BR004-02. MY FRONT BRAKES HAVE WORN OUT PREMATURELY. THE ONLY REASON THAT I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM SOONER IS THAT I MAINLY USE THE TRUCK FOR OCCASIONAL LONG DISTANCE HIGHWAY TRIPS. I AM EXPERIENCING VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THEY WORE OUT PREMATURELY. NUMEROUS OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL. BASED ON SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO AVOID FIXING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE REFER TO THESE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THIS BLOG: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/TOYOTA_TUNDRA.HTML. *NM

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MILE PER HOUR WHEN MY BRAKE STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. AFTER CAREFULLY INSPECTED, I FOUND THAT THREE STUDS WERE BROKEN, TWO FROM THE FRONT LEFT AND ONE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT. A FRIEND OF MINE, AN AUTO MECHANIC, SAID THAT THE STUDS MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROKEN DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR OF THE ROTORS AND LOOSEN OF THE NUTS. WELL, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT MY ROTORS WARPING TOO FAST TO THE DEALER, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM UP SEVERAL TIME, BUT THE SAME THING ANSWER WAS GIVEN TO ME. RECENTLY, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THERE I FOUND OUT THAT ALL THE COMPLAINTS I MADE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT DOCUMENTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY DOCUMENTED IF WORK ORDERS WERE WRITTEN. THAT MEANS I HAVE TO PAY THEM TO DOCUMENT. THE MANAGER SAID HE MAY CONSIDERED REPLACING MY BRAKE SYSTEM IF THE PROBLEM WAS DOCUMENTED BEFORE. TOYOTA HAS HEARD AND READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BRAKE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. *NM

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. BRAKES ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR TRUCK. TRUCK VIBRATES BADLY WHEN STOPPING. THIS WILL BE MY FOURTH SET OF BRAKES IN LESS THAN 92,000 MILES. TOYOTA KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES BUT REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SOMETIMES I WONDER IF THE TRUCK WILL STOP WHEN I LEAVE THE INTERSTATE. *NM

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; A SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR DRUMS WERE PROBABLY OUT-OF-ROUND. DRUMS WERE RESURFACED AND BRAKES WERE GOOD - FOR ABOUT TWO MORE MONTHS. PROBLEM RECURRED - TAKEN BACK TO DEALER. SHOES REPLACED. BRAKES GOOD FOR 2 MORE MONTHS. PROBLEM RECURRED - DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP WHERE DRUMS AND ROTORS WERE MACHINED. BRAKES WERE GOOD FOR ABOUT TWO MORE MONTHS. TRUCK AGAIN SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DISC ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. THE ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE WHOLE FRONT END VIBRATES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH CONSISTS OF REPLACING THE CURRENT ROTORS WITH BIGGER ONES, BUT THE REPAIR ONLY APPLIED TO VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY, THEREFORE NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

MY BRAKES HAVE HAD SQUEALING AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD IT WAS DIRTY ROTORS AND IT COULDN'T BE FIXED. AT ABOUT 12,000 MILES IT BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHEN BRAKING. I WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WERE SHOWING SOME WEAR, BUT IT WAS NORMAL. AT THE 15K MILE CHECK I AGAIN REPORTED THE VIBRATION. AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. NOW AT 23,000 MILES I LEARNED OF A TSB ISSUED FOR THE VIBRATION PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD I NEED A BRAKE JOB, BUT THE TSB ONLY COVERS VEHICLES UNDER 36,000M AND 3 EARS. MY VEHICLE IS OVER 3 YEARS SO I AM TOLD THE TSB DOES NOT APPLY. *JB

VEHICLE PURCHASED 4/22/2002. ALL OF THE PULSATING, VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING DOWNHILL (AS DESCRIBED BY SO MANY IN THE PRECEDING 21 COMPLAINTS UNDER "COMPONENT" SERVICE BRAKES. HYDRAULIC), OCCURRED ON: 8/20. 2002-WARRANTY WEEK., 5/1, 2003-MORE WARRANTY WORK, FINALLY ON 1/5/2006 WENT TO NAPA AUTO REPAIR AND FINALLY PAID FOR A SENSIBLE ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM AND SO FAR A GOOD BRAKING EXPERIENCE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 35,800 MILES!! I HOPE THAT SOMEWHERE IN THIS COMPLAINT I WILL BE ABLE TO SHARE THE REASONED ANALYSIS BY NAPA REGARDING UNSIZED FRONT PADS BEFORE I RUN OUT OF SPACE: LARGER PADS FOR SEQUOIA INSTALLED. SEQUOIA HAS 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES-CURB WT. 5280. TUNDRA-CURB WT. 4518. TUNDRA REAR BRAKES-DRUM. SMALLER PADS IN FRONT THAN SEQUOIA. INITIAL PROBLEMS SEEMINGLY DEVELOP WHEN REAR DRUM SHOES WEAR DOWN UNEVENLY THEREBY PUTTING MORE WEAR ON SMALL FRONT DISCS. NO "FAILURES" OR "DEATHS OR "INJURIES" TO REPORT--(SORRY) BUT ONLY BECAUSE MOST OF US SLOW DOWN BEFORE THE INEVITABLE OCCURS! WARRANTY WORK ON THE TWO DESCRIBED OCCASIONS IS LISTED AS:"F. DISC 1-SD GND COMB:OPPOSITE SIDE REAR BRAKE DRUM (ONE SIDE) R&R OPPOSITE SIDE" IN MAY, 2003 AT 11,611 MI.: "REPLACED CALIPERS PER TSB, RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS, REAR BRAKE DRUM R&R, STRUT SET (2) PARKING BRAKE. REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS". I HOPE THAT MY EXPERIENCE WILL GENERATE SOME MANUFACTURER RECOGNITION AND ADMISSION TO THEIR PROBLEM. THANK YOU, I.L. TURNER. *JB

FRONT BRAKES ARE MAKING MY VEHICLE SHAKE WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA, ACCESS CAB. STARTING AT APPROX. 30,000 MILES, THE BRAKES BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED. CONDITION HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED, AND NOW THE TRUCK FRONT END SHIMMIES CONSIDERABLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS CONDITION, PARTICULARLY WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL OR IN TRAFFIC. *NM

FROM DAY ONE WHEN I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA TUNDRA ON 9/30/02 I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. I BROUGHT THE TRUCK BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO TELL THE SALESMAN THAT I FELT THAT THE BRAKES "SHUTTERED" WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN CITY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND BRAKING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED THE MORE THAT I DROVE THE VEHICLE. THEY CHECKED THE TRUCK THAT DAY AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FINE. NOW, ALMOST 3 YEARS LATER WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES THE BRAKES ARE WORN AND THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED BUT THEY MIGHT REPLACE THE ROTORS. I SEE THAT THERE IS A HISTORY WITH THE ROTORS WARPING AND CAUSING THE PADS TO FAIL PREMATURELY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TOYOTA CAN SIT BACK WITH A BLIND EYE WHEN CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *NM

PURCHASED 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA NOV 2001. JAN 2004 VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE BADLY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT 40+ MPH. WAS TOLD NEEDED BRAKES REPLACED/ROTORS TURNED. NEEDED ROTORS TURNED AGAIN DEC 2004 AND AGAIN JUNE 2005. NOW AUG 2005 SAME PROBLEM. WITH FAST STOPS ON FREEWAY THIS SHAKING CAUSES CONTROL PROBLEMS WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*JB

DT:CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED THEY WERE SPONGY AND IT REQUIRED EXTENDED TIME/DISTANCE FOR THE CAR TO STOP. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES EVERY 3-4,000 MILES. THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE CHANGED IN 3/2005. *AK *NM

I OWN A 2002 TOYATA TUNDRA. I, LIKE MANY, AS I AM NOW FINDING OUT, AM PLAGED BY THE SAME BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT SO MANY ARE EXPERIENCING. BEFORE THE 36,000 MI WARRANTY WENT OUT I TOOK THE RRUCK TO MY DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE BRAKES. THEY REPLACED ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. AFTER A WHILE THE SAME VIBRATING CAME BACK AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY TURNED THE ROTORS AND SAID THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT , I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE AND NEW PADS EVERY TIME. I LOVE MY TRUCK BUT THERE IS NO DOBT THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I JUST NEED A SOLUTION, ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHER TUNDRA OWNERS!!

1.EXCESSIVE BREAK VIBRATION DURING STOPING. THOUGHT TO AT FIRST RELATED TO TIRE BALANCE. 2.FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED FROM HEAT BUILDUP AND IMPROPER VENTILATION. 3.CONTACTED LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ADVISED OF (TOYOTA TSB #BR004-02 BRAKE UPGRADE) AUTHORIZING REPLACEMENT OF: DUST SHIELDS, FRONT ROTORS, CALIPERS,PADS,REAR DRUMS,AND PADS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPAIR WITH MILEAGE BEING 41,000 AS TRUCK IS NOT IN WARRENTY. TOYOTA WOULD LIKE TO REPAIR FOR $1803.25. TOYOTA WOULD NOT COMMENT ON WHY I WAS NOT ADVISED OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WARRENTY EXPIRED. AS OF NOW, HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA SOUTHEAST AND ISSUE NOT RESOLVED. TUNDRA WILL NOW HAVE TO BE REPAIRED OUT- O-F POCKET, AS BREAK FAILURE IS IMMINENT, AND SAFETY IS COMPROMISED. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SUGGEST REPLACING ROTORS WITH PERFORMACE COOLING DISC AND CERAMIC PADS TO MINIMIZE WARPING.

THIS COMPLIANT IS APPLICABLE TO TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCKS ~2000 TO 2003 MODELS. A VERY STRONG BRAKE VIBRATION FELT THROUGH-OUT THE VEHICLE COMING DOWN MOUNTAIN PASSES (I LIVE IN COLORADO). EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE DOWN-SHIFTING THE BRAKE VIBRATION IS FRIGHTENING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO WONDER IF THE VEHICLE WILL BE ABLE TO BE SLOWED AFTER A WHILE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO TOYOTA MOTOR CORP AND IS ADDRESSED IN THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN BR004-02 AND IS ONLY ADDRESSED UPON COMPLAINT BY THE CUSTOMER AND THEN AGAIN ONLY AT NO CHARGE IF THE VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE WARRANTY LIMITATIONS. THE FIX IS A DESIGN CHANGE IN THE FORM OF REPALCEMENT OF THE FRONT CALIPER ASSEMBLY AND THE FRONT ROTORS. THE REAR DRUMS MIGHT ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITH DRUMS OF GREATER MASS AND RIGIDITY, ACCORDING TO THE TSB BR004-02

DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE THE FRONT ROTORS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, AS WELL AS THE REAR DRUMS. *NM

I OWN A 2002 TUNDRA THAT HAS THE BRAKE VIBRATION (WARPED ROTORS) PROBLEM NOW AT 50,000 MILES. THE TRUCK HAD 20,000 MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED AND THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT FIXED, BUT THE PROBLEM OFF COURSE STARTED AGAIN AROUND 40,000 MILES AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WILL ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM TILL 36,000 MILES. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL. *JB

RECURRING BRAKE VIBRATION PROBLEMS WITH 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA ACCESS CAB V8. CALIPERS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN, BUT PROBLEM COMES BACK.

WHEN BRAKING, THE CONSUMER FELT A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END. *JB THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. *SC

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION/SHAKING WHEN BRAKING, ESPECIALLY DOWNHILL, AND MOST NOTABLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE AT 20,341 MILES AND 24,312 MILES REPLACING CALIPERS, ROTORS AND DRUMS, AS WELL AS ATTEMPTS AT RESURFACING BADLY WARPED ROTORS/DRUMS. CONDITION STILL EXISTS AT CURRENT MILEAGE OF 28,128 MILES. FEAR THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF HANDLING, CONTROL, TRACTION OR MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IF BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS THIS ALSO DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED CASE, THIS CONDITION IS LIKELY TO AFFECT VEHICLE REPUTATION AND (RE-SALE) VALUE AS WELL.

BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE, THE PULSATION OF THE BRAKES IS CRITICAL AND DANGEROUS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT APPARENTLY THERE WAS A SERVICE ALERT CONCERNING THE PULSATING BRAKES OF THIS VEHICLE GOOD UP TO 36000 MILES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BRAKES REDONE AT 59000 MILES BEFORE HE RECEIVED THE ALERT. AT 83000 MILES THE PULSATION OF THE BRAKES BECAME DANGEROUS AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE TO TAKE IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECTIVE BRAKES. *TC

TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK HAS RECURRENT BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH WARPING OF THE ROTORS. *AK