2000 Toyota Tundra Steering Problems

Lower ball joints must be replaced under a recall. Toyota has told me to contact you to look into it for me and to ask them to recall the part in question for my vehicle. My vehicle is a 2000 Tundra. Models from 2001-06 had a recall for lower ball joints. My truck has the exact same faulty part numbers as the later models. Part numbers are: 43340, 43330 for left and right. This part failing leads to catastrophic failures that causes the entire front end to fall to the ground and the wheels to smash into the fender wells. My truck has very low mileage and is starting to show signs of this failure. My biggest concern is safety especially with an older vehicle. A quick search on the internet will show you this happening to countless other 2000 tundras. This vehicle has been well cared for but this doesn’t fall under routine maintenance when the part has these known issues. My case number with Toyota is under my name [XXX] and the file number is [XXXXXXXX]. Thank you and feel free to reach out to me with more questions if you need to via email: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT RECALL OR LACK THEREOF. THERE IS A CURRENT RECALL FOR TOYOTA TUNDRAS YEAR 2002-2004 BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE 2000-2001 THAT HAVE LOWER BALL JOINTS OF THE SAME DESIGN. MINE FAILED AND SO HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY. MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER FAILED LOWER BALL JOINT. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF THE RESULT OF WHAT A FAILED BALL JOINT LOOKS LIKE AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT IMAGE WITH THE HYPOTHETICAL OF TRAVELING 65-70 MPH THE DAMAGE CAN THEN ESCALATE TO CATASTROPHIC OR EVEN DEATH. NOT ONLY FOR PASSENGERS BUT FOR OTHERS TRAVELING THE SAME ROAD. WHEN THE BALL JOINT FAILED I WAS LUCKILY TRAVELING 25-30 MPH TO GET ON TO THE FREEWAY, BUT IT FAILED BEFORE I WAS AT FULL HIGHWAY SPEED. I SPOKE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HERE AND THEY CLAIM THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE 2000-2001 YEAR TUNDRA'S, WHICH IS CONCLUSIVE OF THE RESEARCH I DID PREVIOUSLY. I ALSO CHECKED ON THE DESIGN OF THE BALL JOINTS AND THE DESIGN IS IDENTICAL BETWEEN 2000-2002. YET THE DEALER REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR TO THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE FAULTY LOWER BALL JOINT.

FRAME RECALL - THE FRAME ORIGINALLY RECEIVED THE CRC COATING FROM KERRY TOYOTA DURING THE FRAME RECALL (UNKNOWN RECALL NUMBER AND TIME OF APPLICATION). THE COATING HAS FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING RACK MOUNTS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO RUST. THE BOLT AND MOUNTING POINT ARE STILL TOGETHER, BUT BROKEN FROM THE CROSSMEMBER. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN HOW THE STEERING WAS OPERATING. IT WAS CAUSING ME TO WONDER AROUND IN MY LINE. I FELT I HAD VERY LITTLE CONTROL ON THE STEERING. ONCE I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK, IT WAS APPARENT AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. THERE IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT FRAME ASSEMBLY WHERE THE MAIN CROSS MEMBER IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. THIS IS ALSO WHERE MAIN SUSPENSION COMPONENTS MOUNT TO THE FRAME. I BELIEVE THE CRC COATING HAS DONE NOTHING TO PREVENT THE RUST FROM DESTROYING THE FRAME AS IT WAS DESTROYED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE ARE OTHER SUB CROSS MEMBERS SUFFERING THE SAME RUST DAMAGE ALONG THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. THERE ARE TWO MOUNTS WHERE THERE IS COMPLETE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE FRAME AND CROSSMEMBER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING HOUSING SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. UPDATED 7/14/15*CN UPDATED 10/16/217*CN

TRUCK IS VERY HARD TO STEER AT LOW SPEEDS AND DOESN'T CORRECT WHEN COMING OUT OF A TURN. STEERING WANTS TO FREEZE UP WHEN MAKING A U TURN. I'VE HEARD THAT THE BALL JOINTS CAN SNAP AND SEND THE TRUCK CAREENING OUT OF CONTROL. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE SOMETHING SAFE FOR TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES AND CANNOT HAVE A MALFUNCTION LIKE THIS HAPPEN. *TR

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 1-28-2015 MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA,WITHOUT WARNING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SLAMMED TO THE GROUND SLIDING TO A DEAD STOP THE TIRE JAMMED UNDER THE BODY OF THE TRUCK,VERY FRIGHTENING TO THINK WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING FASTER OR IF ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING TOWARDS YOU OR FROM BEHIND,AFTER CALLING A TOW TRUCK AND GETTING THE VEHICLE OFF THE GROUND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE BALL JOINT FAILED. *TR

ON SATURDAY, 11/1, I STARTED MY TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY, DROVE FORWARD, AND TRIED TO TURN ONTO THE ROAD, BUT I COULDN'T TURN. I BACKED THE TRUCK INTO MY DRIVEWAY AGAIN. I LOOKED IN THE TRUCK'S MANUAL, BOUGHT THE DEXRON FLUID THAT IT RECOMMENDED, AND PUT IT IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR, BUT THE TRUCK GROANED WHEN I TRIED TO TURN IT. THE NEXT DAY, I PUT MORE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, BUT I COULD NOT TURN IT. WHEN I CALLED THE MECHANIC ON MONDAY, HE SAID TO HAVE IT TOWED IN. BEFORE IT WAS TOWED, I PUT MORE FLUID IN IT. IT LEAKED ALL OVER THE BED OF THE TRUCK THAT HAULED IT TO THE MECHANIC. AFTER IT WAS AT THE MECHANIC'S SHOP, HE SAID THAT BOTH POWER STEERING LINES WERE BROKEN. HE SAID IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE TUNDRA. I WAS GRATEFUL THAT THEY DIDN'T BREAK WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A WRECK. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT KNOWN PROBLEMS OUGHT TO BE SUBJECT TO RECALL AND PAID FOR BY TOYOTA. THEY SHOULD NOT BE LEFT TO THE OWNER TO FIND OUT BY ACCIDENT.

MY 2000 TUNDRA TRUCK IS DENIED A SAFETY INSPECTION FOR CORROSION OF THE VEHICLE FRAME. TOYOTA CORP LIMITED RECALL TIME PERIOD 4-2010 TO 2012 RESULTED IN A DELIBERATE FAILURE AND NULLIFY EFFECTIVE REPAIRS TO THE SUBSTANDARD MATERIALS USED ON THE STEERING, SUSPENSION AND VEHICLE FRAME INTEGRITY. I CONTACT TOYOTA CORP 1-800-331-4331, [XXX], SUPERVISOR CASE MANAGEMENT DEPT. FOR HELP TO ADDRESS THE N.H.T.S.A SAFETY CONCERNS AND COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT OF 2010 WITH TOYOTA CORP, 2000 TUNDRA RECALL. THIS LETTER IS AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO N.H.T.S.A REQUESTING A FOLLOW UP INVESTIGATION BASE ON TOYOTA CORP FAILURE TO COMPLY EARNESTLY AND AN INEFFECTIVE RECALL TIME PERIOD, TO ENSURE PUBLIC HIGHWAY SAFETY CONCERNS OF TOYOTA TUNDRA OWNERS WITH VEHICLE DEFECTS NEEDING A SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF POTENTIAL HAZARD OF FALLING SPARE TIRE, FUEL TANK, DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS, LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS. TOYOTA CORP "SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN" IS INEFFECTIVE AND DISINGENUOUS. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMEROUS ONLINE TESTIMONY DATA AND COMPLAINTS TO THE N.H.T.S.A. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE FRAME AND TIRES FELT AT IF THEY WERE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS CORRODED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NOT CORRECT. TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA NEWBURGH NY FOR SAFETY RECALL REPLACE FRAME WAS TOLD AT TIME HAD TO DO POWER STEERING AS LEAKING AND RUST AND ENTIRE COST I HAD TO PAY THOUGH COMPAIN STATES THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE OR THEY WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION, I SHOWED THEM. NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DO & HOPE TO RECOUPE LATER, YEAH RIGHT. TRUCK WENT IN COMPLETE FRAME WAS DONE REMARKABLE FAST, OBVIOUS WHY, AS I DROVE HOME THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN PUT BACK ON FRAME CORRECT THAT WAS CLEAR TO THE EYE BUT DRIVING IT THE CHALLENGE TO REMAIN ON ROAD SAFE.THE DEALER NYS CERTIFIED INSP. SITE ALSO PASSED THIS VEHICLE. THE TRUCK HAS SO MANY MORE SAFETY ISSUES AFTER COMPLETION ITS A JOKE THANKS NHTSA. NOT TO MENTION THE MALFUNCTION OF MANY COMPONENTS THAT WORKED PRIOR, CALLED DEALER AND COMPLAINED, THEY ALSO INFORMED ME AS REPLACE BEING DONE THAT THE EXHAUST HANGING BY THREAD DUE TO RUST BRACKETS ETC THE COST TO REPAIR $6000.00 IF I BRING IT BACK THEY WILL SURELY VIOLATE ME AGAIN, I CANT AFFORD $/AGGRAV. NHTSA HAS DONE NOTHING FOR ME BUT THEY CONTINUE TO COMPAIN ON THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE WE AS CONSUMERS ARE THESE TRUCKS NEED BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. TOYOTA CORP. N DEALER LAUGHED WHEN I STATED CALLING NHTSA GO AHEAD THEY WONT DO ANYTHING, FILLED W TOYOTA CUSTOMER HOTLINE ANYWAY KNOWING THEY ARE IN BED WITH NHTSA. MY ? WHO & WHERE ARE THESE FINES BILLLIONS OF $ GOING, SURELY NOT TO THE OWNERS OF VEHICLES. MR. STRICKLAND I DARE U TO DO YOUR TAXPAYING JOB & GET ME N OTHERS RESULTS TAKE THESE AND ANY OTHER VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD BEFORE MY OR HEY MAYBE YOUR FAMILY IS INVOLVED IN FATALITY. ARE ROADS ARE NOT SAFE, THIS AGENCY IS FAILING EVERYONE THAT TRAVELS OVER THE ROAD. ANY ATTORNEY WILLING TAKE PRIVATE CASE I GOT DOCUMENTS N SOME [XXX] NHTSA STINKS BIG IN THIS WHO DO U REPRESENT WHO RU ACCOUNTABLE TO I WANT ANSWERS MR.STRICKLAND CONTACT INFO NOWHERE WHY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAD A RECALL LETTER FROM TOYOTA REGARDING FRAME RUST. IT WAS TO BE DONE AT NO CHARGE. WHEN THE DEALER INSPECTED THE FRAME, THEY SAID THE TRUCK QUALIFIED FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE. WHEN THE WORK WAS BEGINNING, HOWEVER, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL STATING NUMEROUS PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE DESTROYED DURING THE FRAME REPLACEMENT PROCESS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT NEGOTIABLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. THESE INCLUDED ALL SHOCKS, TIE RODS AND ENDS FOR $350. ALSO, THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE STEERING RACK AND RADIATOR CAP FOR AN ADDITIONAL $650. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION TO TRY TO GET THE REAL STORY OF WHAT IS COVERED AND WHAT MAY NOT BE COVERED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDER BODY SHIELDS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DISASSEMBLED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND INSTALLED A NEW CHASSIS, PER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS HE COULD NO LONGER TOW HIS TRAILER. IN ADDITION, THE EVAP SYSTEM AND THE RACK IN PINION WARNING CODES WERE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY DID NOT CAUSE ANY OF THE NEW ISSUES WITH THE CODES ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT WHATEVER THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD STAND BY THEIR DECISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TR

STEERING RACK RUSTED, NO POWER STEERING. *JS

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT CONNECTING RODS WHICH CONNECT THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS TO THE FRONT TORSION BAR ON MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4X4 HAVE BROKEN OFF WHERE THE ROD EXTENDS THROUGH THE TORSION BAR. THIS VEHICLE IS USED PRIMARILY FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR DRIVEN ABUSIVELY IN ROUGH TERRAIN. *TR

2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING VEHICLE RUST *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE PASSED THE INSPECTION RUST RECALL. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE STRAPS THAT HELD THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH AND FAILED AFTER THE INSPECTION. ALSO, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAT $800 FOR A NEW STEERING RACK. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS EXTREMELY LOW AND REFILLED THE FLUID. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL AND BELIEVED THE RECALL WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE HE HAD EXPERIENCED IN THE VEHICLE, STATING THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE POSSIBLY WAS AFFECTED BY A DEFECTIVE FRAME (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V444000: STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDERBODY SHIELDS). THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY AT THE DEALER WHERE UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FRAME FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

I HAD A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA SHIPPED FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO WHERE I LIVE IN MONTANA. I BOUGHT IT FROM A AUTO SALES THERE WHEREBY ASKING THEM BEFORE I EVEN CONSIDERED BUYING IT IF IT HAD ANY RUST ISSUES. I WAS TOLD NO AND THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD THROUGHOUT THE DEALING PROCESS I WAS CONFIDENT THAT THEY WERE BEING UPFRONT WITH ME. I HAD IT SHIPPED TO MY SON IN DENVER AND HE SHUTTLED IT TO ME IN SHERIDAN, WYOMING, WHERE I PICKED IT UP AND DROVE IT HOME TO MONTANA. AFTER INSPECTING IT WHEN I GOT HOME I WAS STUNNED TO FIND THE EXTENT OF THE RUST ON THE FRAME AND VARIOUS PARTS. ONE OF THE BRACKETS THAT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME THAT HOLDS THE STEERING STABILIZER IS ALMOST GONE. AFTER TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE THAT OWNS A BODY SHOP HE INFORMED ME ABOUT FRAME RUST ISSUES ON EARLIER YEAR TUNDRA'S IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, MASSACHUSETTS BEING ONE OF THEM. HE ALSO INFORMED ME ABOUT RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. AFTER GOING ONLINE AND READING ON THE TOYOTA WEBSITE WHAT THE RECALL INVOLVES I AM VERY SAD TO FIND IT ONLY TALKS ABOUT A REAR CROSSMEMBER THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE. THIS DOESN'T COME CLOSE TO THE EXTENT OF THE RUST ON THIS FRAME AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. THIS IS MY HARD EARNED MONEY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FACT NOT BEING ABLE TO TRUST PEOPLE THAT YOU DEAL WITH HAS MADE THIS EVENT A NIGHTMARE. II HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE STEEL THAT TOYOTA USED IN THESE FRAMES FOR THE RUST TO BE THIS BAD. *TR

THE RUST ON MY 2000 TUNDRA EXTENDS TO MORE THAN JUST THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THAT MY LOCAL DEALER REPORTED AND TOYOTA IS WILLING TO REPLACE. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK TODAY AND A LOT OF THE FRONT END IS RUSTED AWAY. THE STEERING RACK HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF HAVING A HOLE IN IT THAT PUMPS POWER STEERING FLUID ONTO THE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT ABOUT TREATMENT AT A TOYOTA DEALER IN REGARDS TO REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT REAR SHACKLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING LIFTED, THE FRAME BROKE BECAUSE IT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE CONSUMER THEN LEARNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR FRAME CORROSION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS, THE FRONT LOWER ARMS, REAR SHOCKS AND STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS RELATED TO THE BROKEN FRAME. BUT, TOYOTA REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY OTHER REPAIRS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND DECELERATING THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.