This Problem Across All Years
I WAS RETURNING FROM A SHORT TRIP AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 35 MPH. THE FRAME, BODY AND STEERING COMPONENTS ARE ALL RIDDLED WITH RUST. I HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS THAT HAD FAILED DUE TO RUST, INCLUDING A FUEL PUMP WHOSE DESIGN TRAPPED MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK UNTIL FUEL WAS LEAKING ON THE ROADWAY. THE REAR BUMPER RUSTED OFF. TOYOTA TRUCKS OF SIMILAR TYPE AND YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT NOT THE 1996 T100. TOYOTA FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW.TOYOTA WILL NOT BACK THIS PRODUCT. *TR
I WAS RETURNING FROM A SHORT TRIP AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 35 MPH. THE FRAME, BODY AND STEERING COMPONENTS ARE ALL RIDDLED WITH RUST. I HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS THAT HAD FAILED DUE TO RUST, INCLUDING A FUEL PUMP WHOSE DESIGN TRAPPED MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK UNTIL FUEL WAS LEAKING ON THE ROADWAY. THE REAR BUMPER RUSTED OFF. TOYOTA TRUCKS OF SIMILAR TYPE AND YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS, BUT NOT THE 1996 T100. TOYOTA FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS BRAND NEW.TOYOTA WILL NOT BACK THIS PRODUCT. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR WORK, THE STEERING SHAFT FRACTURED AT THE PITMAN ARM WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR WORK, THE STEERING SHAFT FRACTURED AT THE PITMAN ARM WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH IN A PARKING LOT. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
(1) WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A POP. I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WALKING BEHIND ME AND THUMPED MY TRUCK TO LET ME KNOW THEY WERE THERE. APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED UNUSUALLY FREELY, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS MOVING. I WAS MOVING ACROSS THE OPPOSITE LANE OF THE ROAD, AND HEADING FOR A HILL, SO I USED MY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE I GOT OUTSIDE AND WATCHED THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHILE I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE FREE OF ANY CONNECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL! (2) THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WAS A BROKEN STEERING RELAY ROD. IT BROKE AT A POINT CLOSE TO THE POWER STEERING BOX, IN THE SAME PLACE THAT OTHER STEERING RELAY RODS ON VEHICLES SIMILAR TO MINE HAVE BROKEN. THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RELAY ROD WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE PART, AS PROVEN BY THE DIFFERENCE IN ROCKWELL HARNESS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROD TO THE OTHER,(ROCKWELL HARDNESS OF 31 ON ONE SIDE, AND 13 ON THE OTHER SIDE), AT THE BREAK. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE; A. THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE STEERED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. B. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED WHEN I FOUND I COULDN'T STEER MY VEHICLE, WHICH WAS HEADED FOR A HILL. C. I AM WORRIED THAT OTHER DRIVERS OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS PART MAY UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSE STEERING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE, CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH. E. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE WITH TOYOTA, BECAUSE THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOOK MY REPORT SAID THAT THEY HAD NO HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART, YET THREE SIMILAR INSTANCES HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA. (3) THE STEERING RELAY ROD WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE (PN 45451-34010). THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PART, AS WELL. THIS WAS ON A1996 TOYOTA T100.*AK
(1) WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A POP. I THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WALKING BEHIND ME AND THUMPED MY TRUCK TO LET ME KNOW THEY WERE THERE. APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD MY VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER OFF THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED UNUSUALLY FREELY, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS MOVING. I WAS MOVING ACROSS THE OPPOSITE LANE OF THE ROAD, AND HEADING FOR A HILL, SO I USED MY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE I GOT OUTSIDE AND WATCHED THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHILE I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE FREE OF ANY CONNECTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL! (2) THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY WAS A BROKEN STEERING RELAY ROD. IT BROKE AT A POINT CLOSE TO THE POWER STEERING BOX, IN THE SAME PLACE THAT OTHER STEERING RELAY RODS ON VEHICLES SIMILAR TO MINE HAVE BROKEN. THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING RELAY ROD WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE PART, AS PROVEN BY THE DIFFERENCE IN ROCKWELL HARNESS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROD TO THE OTHER,(ROCKWELL HARDNESS OF 31 ON ONE SIDE, AND 13 ON THE OTHER SIDE), AT THE BREAK. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE; A. THE VEHICLE COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVEN, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE STEERED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. B. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED WHEN I FOUND I COULDN'T STEER MY VEHICLE, WHICH WAS HEADED FOR A HILL. C. I AM WORRIED THAT OTHER DRIVERS OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS PART MAY UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSE STEERING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE, CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH. E. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE WITH TOYOTA, BECAUSE THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOOK MY REPORT SAID THAT THEY HAD NO HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS PART, YET THREE SIMILAR INSTANCES HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA. (3) THE STEERING RELAY ROD WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE (PN 45451-34010). THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE BROKEN PART, AS WELL. THIS WAS ON A1996 TOYOTA T100.*AK
CONSUMER STATES STEERING LINKAGES FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES STEERING LINKAGES FAILED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
STEERING ROD CRACKED AND SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A LONG TERM DEFECT AND OLD RUST DEPOSITS. *TT
STEERING ROD CRACKED AND SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A LONG TERM DEFECT AND OLD RUST DEPOSITS. *TT
NAR 1/15/2003. THE FRONT STEERING ROD FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE PART SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A LONG TERM DEFECT, THERE WAS A HALF MOON CRACK WITH OLD RUST DEPOSITS. *JB
NAR 1/15/2003. THE FRONT STEERING ROD FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE PART SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A LONG TERM DEFECT, THERE WAS A HALF MOON CRACK WITH OLD RUST DEPOSITS. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WAS IN TRAFFIC MAKING A U TURN AND HEARD A NOISE. BOTTOM OF STEERING COLUMN BROKE LOOSE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY WAS IN TRAFFIC MAKING A U TURN AND HEARD A NOISE. BOTTOM OF STEERING COLUMN BROKE LOOSE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET CAN CRACK, THEN BREAK, CAUSING FAILURE OF CLUTCH PEDAL. *AK STEERING BRACKET BENT, DEALER REPLACED BRACKET AND INSTALLED NEW BOLT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES DUE TO A FAULTY STARTER ASSEMBLY. *SLC
CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET CAN CRACK, THEN BREAK, CAUSING FAILURE OF CLUTCH PEDAL. *AK STEERING BRACKET BENT, DEALER REPLACED BRACKET AND INSTALLED NEW BOLT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES DUE TO A FAULTY STARTER ASSEMBLY. *SLC
CONSUMER WAS PULLING FROM A PARKING SPACE AND SUDDENLY STEERING LINK BAR SNAPPED IN HALF AND CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS PULLING FROM A PARKING SPACE AND SUDDENLY STEERING LINK BAR SNAPPED IN HALF AND CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK