2002 Toyota Tundra transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING OIL DUE TO FAULTY METAL USED IN MANUFACTURING. DIFF. IS LEAKING THRU RUST HOLES IN HOUSING METAL AND NOT THRU SEALS.

NHTSA complaint #11319432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE REAR AXEL AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING/CASTING IS CORRODED THRU SUCH THAT OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENTIAL HUB ONTO THE ROADWAY AND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF GEAR OIL WITHIN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND AXELS. AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THIS OIL WAS OBSERVED ON THE SPARE TIRE (MOUNTED UNDER THE BED) AND UP THE BACK OF THE BUMPER. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT ONE DEALERSHIP I APPROACHED TO DISCUSS THE COST OF REPAIR INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS OBVIOUSLY SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED/MANUFACTURED COMPONENT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THE HIGH COST, BUT IT IS NOT DRIVEABLE AS THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL NOT HOLD GEAR OIL.

NHTSA complaint #11309429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CHAIN THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S TOYOTA OF GLEN BURNIE (7167 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061 (410) 761-9000) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000.

NHTSA complaint #11253378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

WHEN PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK ON A ROADSIDE, THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER SNAPPED AND STOPPED WORKING, MAKING IT UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS INCLUDING PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. UPON REMOVING THE COVER OVER THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HAD INDEED BROKEN COMPLETELY LOOSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #11172327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE TIP OF THE LEVER TO FIND THAT IT WAS FRACTURED FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF VISALIA, 922 S BEN MADDOX WAY, VISALIA, CALIFORNIA 93292) WAS CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA complaint #11093913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS RUSTED SO BAD THAT OIL IS SEEPING THROUGH RUST PITS. THE FRAME IS ALSO RUSTED AND HAD TO HAVE IT WELDED. ALSO LOST THE SPARE TIRE DUE TO RUST.

NHTSA complaint #11048586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2017 AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL WAS BEGINNING TO LEAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. FURTHER INSPECTION OF UNDERCARRIAGE DO TO A NOISE UNDER VEHICLE FOUND THAT THE FRAME AND BODY MOUNT HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO RUST CAUSING A HOLE IN THE BODY MOUNT CAUSING THE CAB TO FLEX AND BOUNCE ON THE FRAME. VEHICLE TREATED BY TOYOTA FOR EARLIER RECALL DUE TO RUST OF THE FRAME AND GIVEN A 5YR EXTENDED WARRANTY. BODY OF VEHICLE IS FREE OF RUST, FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE.

NHTSA complaint #11035707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A ROAD ~35 MPH WHEN MY REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ABRUPTLY COME TO A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10981121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

REAR AXLE SEALS HAVE FAILED FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. WHEN THEY FAIL, THE REAR BRAKES BECOME COATED WITH OIL, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10915985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

FREQUENTLY FROM A PARK POSITION AND THEN SHIFTING AND TURNING SEEMS TO LACK RESPONSIVENESS.

NHTSA complaint #10898947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE BRAKE APPLIED, UNEXPECTEDLY THE COLUMN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER COMPLETELY BROKE LOOSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE COLUMN BRACKET AND HOUSING WERE BOTH FOUND TO BE FRACTURED, WITH THE BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE HOUSING. THIS RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10667142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE HAS "GROWLING" NOISE COMING FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. NOISE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH VIBRATION IN STEERING AND AFFECTS STOPPING AND ACCELERATION AS FAULTY PARTS BIND IN GEARING. THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT HAS OCCASIONALLY LOCKED ONE WHEEL WHILE TURNING, FORCING VEHICLE WEIGHT TO ONE SIDE. IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS VEHICLE HAS SLID WHILE CORNERING. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AS SEVERAL OWNERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. DIFFERENTIAL IS REPLACED AS A LAST RESORT BY THE MANUFACTURER AND ONLY COVERS THIS FAULTY PART(S) UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10662073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS RUSTED AND LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10630959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR TO LEAVE A GAS STATION THE ENTIRE SHIFTER MECHANISM BROKE OFF AT THE MOUNT WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTER 1 GOOGLE SEARCH IT SHOWS THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH MY TUNDRA TRUCK (MANY POSTINGS AND COMPLAINTS-ISSUES). I WAS IN A PICKLE TO MOVE MY VEHICLE AND WAS NOT SAFE IN DOING SO.

NHTSA complaint #10610869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I NOTICED A POOL OF OIL UNDER MY REAR AXLE. I INSPECTED IT AND SAW THAT THE WELDS WERE FAILING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. I HAD THE FRAME AND BRAKE LINES REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL AND THIS IS CLEARLY RELATED TO THE RUST PROBLEMS (I HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACE LAST MONTH DUE TO RUST) BUT TOYOTA WON'T FIX IT UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. I HAD IT REPAIRED (THE WHOLE AXEL REPLACED) AT A LOCAL GARAGE FOR APPROX. $2,340. WITH THE POWER STEERING RACK REPAIR THAT COMES TO ~ $3,300 IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. THE GARAGE SAID THEY SEE THESE PROBLEMS ALL THE TIME ON THE TUNDRAS WITH THE FRAME RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10553991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE REAR TRANSAXLE HUB DOES NOT HAVE A BOLT ON COVER, BUT IS WELDED SOLID TO THE AXLE CASTING. I NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND AND INVESTIGATION REVEALS THE HUB COVER HAS RUSTED THRU, ALLOWING OIL TO RUN OUT. IF ALL OF THE OIL HAD DRAINED OUT AND THE VEHICLE DRIVEN,THE AXLE COULD HAVE SEIZED UP,CAUSING A SERIOUS VEHICLE CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.TOYOTA WAS NOTIFIED VIA LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THEY DENIED ANY COVERAGE. BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND THE SAFETY ISSUE,AND THE FACT IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE, MAKES ME WANT TO COMPLAIN. THE LEAK WAS TEMPORARILY PLUGGED WITH EPOXY, BUT HAS RECENTLY FAILED AGAIN. NOVEMBER 23,2013 .CHECKING VARIOUS INTERNET WEB PAGES, THIS APPARENTLY IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS ALL TOYOTA TRUCKS AND MOST YEAR MODELS, NOT JUST TUNDRA.WITH THE FRAME RUST THRU AND CROSS MEMBER RUST THRU RECALL,ALL OF THESE RECALL AREAS ARE WITHIN INCHES OF MY RUST THRU / PERFORATION OF EVEN THINNER SHEET METAL IN A CRITICAL LOCATION. PLEASE REVIEW .

NHTSA complaint #10553593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE. THE SHIFT LEVER WENT LIMP AND NO LONGER CHANGED THE DRIVE SELECTOR. I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO DRIVE AND GOT IT HOME AND PARKED IT. I HAVE NOT CALLED THE DEALER YET.

NHTSA complaint #10461229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I AM THE OWNER OF TWO TOYOTA VEHICLES. VEHICLE ONE IS A 1992 TOYOTA PICKUP EXTENDED CAB 4X4 3.0 V6 WITH 220,000 MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT WITH 124,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE TWO IS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5 4.7 V8 WITH 47,000 MILES I BOUGHT IT WITH 39,000 MILES ON IT WITH ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE NEW FRAME IS INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK BUT I HAVE NOTICED NOW THAT MY REAR AXLE HOUSING IS COMPLETELY ROTTED AND RUSTED OUT AND LEAKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. THE STRUCTURE OF THIS IS NOT SAFE AND I TRAVEL AN AVERAGE 6,000 MILES A MONTH FOR WORK. MY 1992 TOYOTA TRUCK WITH 219,000 MILES REAR AXLE IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN THE 2002 TOYOTA. I HAVE SPOKE WITH TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION. THERE SHOULD BE A LAW SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA FOR NOT REPLACING THESE REAR AXLES BECAUSE THE SAME METAL WAS OBVIOUSLY USED ON THE FRAME THAT WAS REPLACED. I HAVE NOW SEEN MANY OF THE SAME TRUCKS AROUND MY TOWN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS RECURRING SITUATION. IT IS IN TOYOTA'S BEST INTEREST TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS A CLASS ACTION AGAINST THEM.

NHTSA complaint #10454785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE HOUSING BROKE AWAY FROM THE SHIFT LEVER. AS A RESULT, HE SHIFTER BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR BOX HOUSING HAD A STRETCH FRACTURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA complaint #10433490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE A 2002 TUNDRA SR5 WITH ~65K MILES. THIS MORNING WHEN I TRY TO PULL ON THE DRIVE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE TO MOVE FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE SHIFT HANDLE SNAPPED OFF UNEXPECTED - BROKE. TOYOTA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ~$600.00 TO REMOVE AND REPLACE WITH A USE STEERING COLUMN (IF THE USE CAN BE FOUND), AS THE NEW STEERING COLUMN WILL COST OVER $1K. I BELIEVE THIS IS APPEAR TO BE A FLAWED DESIGN FOR ATTACH THE SHIFT LEVER. THE SHIFT LEVER HANDLE SHOULD BE OUT LIVE THE TUNDRA WITH ONLY ~65K MILES. I NEED HELP TO GET TOYOTA TO COVER THIS DESIGN DEFECT AS THIS COULD RESULT SAFETY AND COSTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10429024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BROKE LOOSE FROM THE COLUMN INTERNALLY AND BROKE INTO SEVERAL PIECES.. THE LEVER WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING METAL HOUSING WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,800. UPDATED 10/5/11 *CN UPDATED 10/24/11

NHTSA complaint #10420911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING SUPPORT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE , THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE FREE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. DESPITE THE FAILURE THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED HOME, HE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE CAST ALUMINUM COMPONENTS SUPPORTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER APPEARED TO BE FLAWED.

NHTSA complaint #10368976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OIL LEAK AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE. AFTER HE INSPECTED, HE SAW THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING THE OIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE AXLE HOUSING HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY, THUS LEAKING OIL. . THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK AND DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/19/11

NHTSA complaint #10359437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA AND I HAVE HAD APPROXIMATELY FIVE OCCASIONS WHERE I HEARD A CLUNK WHILE DRIVING THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 2010. ON AUGUST 13, 2010, I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I HAD DRIVEN THE TUNDRA APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES, I PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY TO REFILL WITH GASOLINE AND AS I SLOWED DOWN TO THE PUMP, THE TUNDRA BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY SHAKE AND STALLED. I THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE UP WHICH STARTED WELL AND I CUT IT OFF TO REFILL WITH GASOLINE. ONCE I BEGAN TO TAKE OFF, THE TUNDRA BEGAN TO SHAKE AGAIN AND STALLED, NOT MORE THAN 1/10TH OF A MILE FROM THE PUMP. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND WHEN I PUT THE TUNDRA IN GEAR, THE TUNDRA CONTINUOUSLY STALLED NO MATTER WHETHER IN DRIVE, NEUTRAL OR REVERSE. EVERY TIME I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN A GEAR, IT WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES. MY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10350428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT'S SIMILAR TO OTHER NHTSA ODI REPORTS. THE PROBLEM - WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS FAIRLY COMMON WITH THIS 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA - STARTED WITH ROUGH SHIFTING AND CLUNKING NOISES IN THE POWER TRAIN AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. THE ODD SOUNDS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THEN BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND THEN FINALLY RESULTED IN FAILURE AT AROUND 111,000. THE TRANSMISSION QUIT AT A HIGHWAY INTERSECTION STOP 140 MILES FROM HOME IN JANUARY, 2010. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO PROPER GEAR AFTER STOPPING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER IN VICTORIA, TEXAS ON SATURDAY EVENING FOR REPAIR WORK THAT WAS EVENTUALLY DONE FOUR DAYS LATER AT A TOTAL OUT-OF-POCKET COST OF NEARLY $4,000 (PARTS, LABOR, RENTAL CAR, TOWING; DOES NOT INCLUDE MISSED WORK)...THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY BY MY TOYOTA DEALER. SO THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO SOON, AS MY OTHER TRUCKS (FORD, DODGE, AND EVEN NISSAN) NEVER REQUIRED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN HARM'S WAY ALONG A RURAL HIGHWAY. SO MY NEXT PICKUP TRUCK WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BE A TOYOTA.

NHTSA complaint #10326559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND AXLE.

NHTSA complaint #10308261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER A LOCAL MECHANIC FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL DUE TO RUST/ROT. DURING THE DEALERS INSPECTION, THEY ALSO NOTED A GAS SMELL AND SUSPECT THAT THE GAS TANK OR GAS LINES ARE LEAKING ALSO. THE DEALER DID A FRAME INSPECTION AND WHILE THE WHOLE FRAME IS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED, THE FRAME PASSED THE RECALL TEST BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN PERFORATED YET. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO EVEN REMOVE THE DIFFERENTIAL PLUG BECAUSE THE WHOLE UNIT WAS SO RUSTY. I HAVE BEEN UNDER THE TRUCK AND PERSONALLY SEEN THE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME, FUEL SYSTEM, AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. AMAZINGLY, THE BODY PANELS HAVE LITTLE OR NO RUST AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. DURING PREVIOUS DEALER VISITS WE WERE VERBALLY TOLD THAT THE RUST WAS NORMAL. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR GAS TANK/LINES AND NEW DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, ETC. WAS APPROXIMATELY $7000. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS DONE ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE AND WAS PLANNING ON HAVING THE TRUCK FOR A LONG TIME. IT CURRENTLY HAS 89,101 MILES ON IT. THE EXCESSIVE RUST IS NOT NORMAL AND I FEEL THAT THE FRAME AND SOME ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS ARE DEFECTIVE. I FEEL THAT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THESE DEFECTS THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I'M GUESSING THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SELL AND IF I DID, IT WOULD BE AT A GREATLY REDUCED VALUE. I PURCHASED A TOYOTA TRUCK BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION FOR BUILDING LONG LASTING, HIGH QUALITY VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT IN LIGHT OF THESE DEFECTS THAT THEY MISREPRESENTED THEIR PRODUCT.

NHTSA complaint #10305905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT MY 2002 TOYOTA MAY BE RECALLED DUE TO THE SPARE TIRE MOUNTING BEING RUSTED. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE THE GAS TANK THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER AND FUEL LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE TOYOTA RELIABILITY REPUTATION. WOULD YOU PLEASE REVIEW THE FREQUENCY OF RUST ON THESE AREAS AND ISSUE WHAT EVER RECALLS APPROPRIATE.

NHTSA complaint #10293470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I WOULD OCCASIONALLY HEAR A SLIGHT "CLUNK". SOUNDED LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS FIRST OCCURRED AROUND 85K MILES. THEN AGAIN ABOUT A YEAR LATER. AFTER THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME, I TOOK THE CAR A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THEY REPORTED THAT THE OVERDRIVE GEAR BEARING WAS FAILING AND THIS WAS COMMON ON THE EARLY TUNDRAS. APPARENTLY THE NEEDLE BEARING BEGINS TO FALL APART AND EVENTUALLY THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION COSTS JUST ABOUT AS MUCH AS REPLACING IT AND THERE WAS ALREADY DAMAGE TO THE GEARS. END RESULT -- I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AT 100K MILES. IF THIS IS TRULY A COMMON FAILURE, IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA PUT THESE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT WASN'T UP TO THE TASK. I RARELY HAUL HEAVY LOADS OR TRAILERS AND CONSIDER MY USE OF THE TRUCK TO BE VERY GENTLE. HARDLY ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE EARLY DEMISE OF A TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10293263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.