Toyota Tundras Recalled Over Safety Issue

Anyone who owns a Toyota Tundra pickup take note: Approximately 110,000 of the vehicles are being recalled by the Toyota Motor Corp and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) because of major safety concerns. The Tundras are being recalled because excessive corrosion may impact the rear cross-member on the truck, which can be a significant problem in cold-weather states that treat their roads with salts and other de-icers in the winter.

Prior to the Tundra recall, the NHTSA had been investigating complaints about corrosion in the frame of the pickup trucks. After a thorough analysis, the NHTSA and Toyota Motor Corp. stated that the corrosion can affect the truck’s rear brakes, leading to a failure of the braking system. The corrosion problem affects the model years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

According to the NHTSA, the recall involves Tundras that are registered in 20 states and the District of Columbia. These are considered to be cold-weather states that routinely use materials on the roadways that can cause the corrosion. They include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Toyoto is advising Tundra owners to remove the spare tire mounted under the truck until they can bring the vehicle to a dealer for inspection and repairs. In addition to the possibility of brake failure, there is a possibility that the spare tire may separate itself from the rear cross-member and drop onto the road, creating a road hazard, according to a statement by the automaker.

Toyota will be informing Tundra owners by post in December that they should bring their trucks to a dealership for inspection and free repairs, which may include replacement of the affected area of the frame or application of a rust-resistant compound to the frame.

These Tundras are not the only ones that have been recalled lately. In late September, 2007-2010 Tundras, along with several other Toyota models, were recalled because the floor mats can block the accelerator. Owners were told to remove the driver’s side floor mats to prevent the gas pedal from becoming stuck. Today Toyota announced that it will replace gas pedals on the 3.8 million vehicles recalled. Those models include Avalon (2005-2010), Tacoma (2005-2010), Lexus ES350 (2007-2010), and Lexus IS250/350 (2006-2010), along with the 2007-2010 Tundras. Consumers who have questions about the Toyota recall can call Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

SOURCES:
National Highway Traffic Safety Commission
Toyota Motor Corp.