2018 Toyota Tundra Electrical System

While descending a steep grade towing an 8,000lb travel trailer using appropriate hill descent braking techniques, an error message came on the dash indicating a trailer wiring, type, or connection fault. From this point forward, I had no trailer brakes and was left with truck brakes only. I got the truck/trailer combination to the bottom of the grade safely, however this could have been catastrophic for an inexperienced driver or in a different situation. Upon further investigation, this is a common problem with Toyota Tundra’s, and acknowledged by Toyota in TSB # T-SB-0036-19 issued on April 1, 2019. The dealer and Toyota Customer Service will not acknowledge this, and states it is something only covered under the 3 year warranty. My question for you, the NHTSA, is how would this not be considered a safety issue, when the issue comes on unexpectedly under less than ideal circumstances, especially when Toyota has acknowledged that there is a problem with their brake controller. This is a safety issue, not a warranty issue. Toyota will be held accountable for any injury or death caused by my vehicle in this situation.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE SENSORS RANDOMLY MALFUNCTION AND FLASH FALSE WARNING LIGHTS. MY TRUCK WILL TELL ME TO BRAKE AND BEEP ALARMS AT ME EVEN IF NOTHING IS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AROUND 10 TIMES, AND ONE TIME MY TRUCK SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES ON THE INTERSTATE FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY THIS WAS AT NIGHT WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND. MYSELF AND MANY OTHER FOLKS HAVE HAD SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM AND TOYOTA DOES NOTHING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.

I PURCHASED A 2018 TOYOTA, TUNDRA TRUCK IN 1/2018. ON 3/5/19 AT APPRX 8 AM. I ASSUME AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED BENEATH THE CENTER CONSOLE. WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ON MY DRIVEWAY, AROUND 8 AM, A FIRE STARTED INSIDE THE TOYOTA.THE FIRE COULD NOT BE EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER AND CONTINUED TO GROW AND ONLY AFTER A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED WAS THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. THE FLAMES HAD CONSUMED THE PLASTIC IN THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT. THE FIRE HAD RUN ALONG THE SAME PATH THAT THE WIRE RUN WHICH COULD BE VISUALLY SEEN. WE TRIED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE A DISTANCE FROM A BUILDING BUT COULD NOT SHIFT IT FORWARD ONLY BACKWARDS. WE CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE AND AFTER INSPECTION THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE HAS BEEN NO AFTER MARKET ADDITIONS TO THIS VEHICLE. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON3/8/19. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA (#[XXX]) THEREAFTER. IT IS NOW MAY 2018 AND TO DATE WE DO NOT HAVE OUR CAR BACK NOR KNOW OF THE STATUS OF OUR CLAIM. AS AN FYI THE TRUCK WAS SERVICED ON 8/2018 AND THEY ADVISED US THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRUCK BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY ON THIS SAME NEW CAR - SOMETHING ABOUT NOT KEEPING THE CHARGE. THE FIRE WAS ON 3/5/19 AND IT IS NOW 5/3/19 AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED ON THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS AT PRODUCT LIABILITY. ONE MY PHONE CALL TODAY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN I WOULD HAVE MY TRUCK BACK OR THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE TRUCK'S APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 20K. I WAS ADVISED BY MY STATE'S AG THAT I WAS OBLIGATED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE ANSWERS AND I WOULD LIKE MY 2018 TOYOTA AS IT SHOULD BE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

I PURCHASED A 2018 TOYOTA, TUNDRA TRUCK IN 1/2018. ON 3/5/19 AT APPRX 8 AM. I ASSUME AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED BENEATH THE CENTER CONSOLE. WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ON MY DRIVEWAY, AROUND 8 AM, A FIRE STARTED INSIDE THE TOYOTA.THE FIRE COULD NOT BE EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER AND CONTINUED TO GROW AND ONLY AFTER A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED WAS THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. THE FLAMES HAD CONSUMED THE PLASTIC IN THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT. THE FIRE HAD RUN ALONG THE SAME PATH THAT THE WIRE RUN WHICH COULD BE VISUALLY SEEN. WE TRIED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE A DISTANCE FROM A BUILDING BUT COULD NOT SHIFT IT FORWARD ONLY BACKWARDS. WE CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE AND AFTER INSPECTION THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE HAS BEEN NO AFTER MARKET ADDITIONS TO THIS VEHICLE. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON3/8/19. A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA (#1903113498) THEREAFTER. IT IS NOW MAY 2018 AND TO DATE WE DO NOT HAVE OUR CAR BACK NOR KNOW OF THE STATUS OF OUR CLAIM. AS AN FYI THE TRUCK WAS SERVICED ON 8/2018 AND THEY ADVISED US THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRUCK BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW BATTERY ON THIS SAME NEW CAR - SOMETHING ABOUT NOT KEEPING THE CHARGE. THE FIRE WAS ON 3/5/19 AND IT IS NOW 5/3/19 AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ADVISED ON THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS I WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS AT PRODUCT LIABILITY. ONE MY PHONE CALL TODAY THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN I WOULD HAVE MY TRUCK BACK OR THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE TRUCK'S APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 20K. I WAS ADVISED BY MY STATE'S AG THAT I WAS OBLIGATED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE ANSWERS AND I WOULD LIKE MY 2018 TOYOTA AS IT SHOULD BE.

TOYOTA'S PRE COLLISION SENSOR IS UNRELIABLE AND INTERMITTENTLY PRODUCES AN ERROR "PCS SENSOR UNAVAILABLE -- CLEAN SENSOR". THE SAFETY PORTION OF THIS COMPLAINT COMES WHEN DYNAMIC CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. WHEN THE SENSOR NO LONGER DETECTS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THERE IS CLEARLY THERE, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED BEFORE THE ERROR SHOWS ON THE DASH CLUSTER IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET ABOVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW. I EXPECT AND REALIZE THAT THIS SITUATION COULD OCCUR, AND I AVOID USING THE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, IF SOMEBODY NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS FAULT IS USING THE PCS SENSOR AND DOES NOT REALIZE THIS PROBLEM, THEY WILL END UP REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, POSSIBLY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED BEFORE THE SYSTEM SHUTS ITSELF OFF AND LETS OFF THE THROTTLE. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. SEVERAL OTHERS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS HAVE DESCRIBED SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHERE ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN NARROWLY AVOIDED BECAUSE OF THIS FAULT. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE PULLED CODES FOR A FORWARD CAMERA COMMUNICATION ISSUE. A NEW CAMERA HAS BEEN ORDERED AND WILL BE INSTALLED NEXT WEEK.