2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

I BOUGHT MY TUNDRA NEW IN 2003..I BOUGHT IT TO CARRY THE MAIL AS I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD LAST LONGER AND HOLD UP BETTER THAN OTHER MAKES..I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS THE FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES BUT WAS NOT TO CONCERNED AS I USE THEM MORE HEAVILY THAN MOST DRIVERS..THE NEXT TIME WAS ABOUT 12,000 MILES AND THIS TIME IT WAS SHUTTERING VERY BAD AND I REPLACED THE ROTORS ALONG WITH NEW PADS..THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM OF REPLACEMENT OF PARTS TO ELEVATE THE SEVERE SHUTTERING EACH TIME THINKING I HAD IT FIXED..TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT BUT POSSIBLY HAVE TRIED TO COVER BECAUSE THE REAL FIX IS VERY COSTLY ($2000)..THEY ISSUED A TBS (BR004-02) ALONG WITH 6 OR 7 OTHER TSB'S ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES FROM YEAR MODEL 2000-2005..I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BEFORE MY 36,0000 WARRANTY EXPIRED IT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED..HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER..SINCE THE BRAKE PARTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AS THE FIRST PAD REPLACEMENT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM..I WAS INFORMED THAT MAYBE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE FILED A COMPLAINT HERE THAT TOYOTA WOULD BE FORCED TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY NEW ABOUT BUT DID NOT INFORM OWNERS ABOUT TO HAVE REPAIRED.. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST INCLUDING ALL RUSTABLE COMPONENTS WITH ANY CONNECTION TO THE FRAME. 2011 MAINE STATE INSPECTION FAILED DUE TO RUSTED EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWO YEARS PRIOR FOR SAME REASON (JUNE 2009). *TR

Mileage: 50,464

EXTREME WARPING ON FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS LEADS TO LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT A RECALL AND IT IS BECAUSE THE ROTORS ARE TO SMALL FOR THE SIZE VEHICLE. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD THEM REPLACED,BUT ABOUT 2000 MILES ON NEW EQUIPMENT AND THEY WARP AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I OWN A TOYOTA TUNDRA AND A TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME PARTS AND SAME PROBLEM. *TR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED: BRAKES LOCKED UNDER WET CONDITIONS. VEHICLE SLID OFF ROAD. VEHICLE HAS HISTORY OF PULSATING BRAKE PEDAL, SHUTTERING AND CLANGING NOISES UNDER BRAKING. *TR

Mileage: 177,600

I READ WITH INTEREST THE AP STORY ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES ON THE TOYOTA PRIUS. THE FIRST GENERATION TUNDRA (2000-2006) HAS HAD FRONT BRAKE PROBLEMS FOR YEARS (UNDERSIZED) AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR ISSUE A RECALL. THE BRAKES ON MY 2003 TUNDRA ARE HORRIBLE. THEY VIBRATE AND SHIMMY. I HAD TO REPLACE PADS AND TURN THE ROTORS TWICE ALREADY AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THE ROTORS CANNOT BE TURNED AGAIN. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THESE BRAKES TSB BR004-02 BUT THAT'S IT, AND THE SUGGESTED FIX IS VERY EXPENSIVE. CHECK OUT SOME OF THE ONLINE FORUMS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ANNOYING, EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.TUNDRASOLUTIONS.COM/FORUMS/BRAKES/65633-UPGRADE-YOUR-EARLY-TUNDRA-BRAKES-1-A/ HTTP://WWW.TUNDRATALK.NET/ HTTP://WWW.YOTATECH.COM/F28/TIRE-SIZE-STOCK-2003-TUNDRA-RIMS-92790/ JUST IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED... THANKS FOR LISTENING. *TR

Mileage: 33,531

FRONT ROTORS KEEP WARPPING. TURNED THE ORIGINAL SET AT 40000, THEN REPLACED THEM WITH SLOTTED ROTORS, WHICH HAVE NOW WARPPED. UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TECHINNCAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THE REAR BRAKES DO NOT SELF ADJUST, SUBSEQUENTLY INCREASING THE BRAKE LOAD ON THE FRONT, CAUSING THE WARPPING. THE REAL FIX MIGHT BE TO FIX THE REAR BRAKES. APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT WHEELS SHUDDER OR SHIMMY OFFICALLY CALLED "PULSATION" INCREASED WHEN BRAKING ON A DOWNHILL OR WITH SOME LOAD IN THE BED. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS!!!

Mileage: 40,000

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER CORROSION LEADING TO REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MAIN FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORATED DUE TO SEVERE RUST CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY REPLACED THE RUSTED FUEL TANK FILLER NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED A RUSTED BRAKE BACKING PLATE, AND THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, FOUR NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM A TIRE ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT FRAME DAMAGE. THE VIN WAS UNABLE TO BE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

HAVE A TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH FRONT BRAKES THAT ARE WARPED. VEHICLE HAS EXTREME VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAS A TSB ISSUED FOR THIS BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FROM WHAT I HAVE READ. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

I HAVE A 2003 TUNDRA AND THE BRAKES VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN SNOW SLUSH AND RAIN. I REFUSE TO PAY $2,000 FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I ALSO SEE IT AFFECTS MANY OTHER OWNERS. HOPEFULLY I DON'T GET HURT! *JB

Mileage: 30,000

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE SLOWING TO A STOP. STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VERY MINOR BRAKE PEDAL PULSATION. FRONT BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT MINIMIZES ISSUE FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE RECURRENCE. *NM

Mileage: 35,000

I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS RESURFACED TWICE ONCE AT 20000 AND JUST NOW AT 40000. JUST ABOUT WENT OFF A CLIFF LAST TIME BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. WARPED ROTORS EVERY 20000 MILES SEEMS QUITE MUCH. *NM

Mileage: 42,000

THE ROTORS ON MY 2003 TUNDRA ARE WARPING EVERY 1,000 MILES OR SO. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REMEDYING THE ISSUE. *NM

Mileage: 30,000

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. AT FIRST THE FRONT BRAKES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUTTER WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THEN THE BRAKES FADED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT STOP IN TIME. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO MUCH FOR THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE BRAKES WEARING OUT TOO QUICKLY. THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO,THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN JUNE 2004 AND AT 15,000-20,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED FIVE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB) FOR THE FRONT BRAKES. THEY HAD A BRAKE UPGRADE AVAILABLE FOR THE VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK (11/15/05) *SC

Mileage: 17,500

BRAKES GRAB WHEN VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED THERE SEEMS TO BE MOVEMENT FROM EITHER THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OR AXLE. *JB

THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF VIBRATION. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES.*AK *TT

Mileage: 37,500

THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES BECAUSE OF VIBRATION. CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES.*AK *TT

Mileage: 37,500

3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER THEY POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ON THE BRAKES. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE RECALL PARTS WHICH CONSISTED OF NEW CALIPERS, RESURFACING THE EXISTING ROTORS, AND VARIOUS OTHER AXLE RELATED PARTS. THE RECALL SERVICE DID NOT INCLUDE NEW PADS. 3 OR 4 DAYS AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE THE BRAKES WERE AGAIN WARPED!!! THEY STOPPED FINE FOR JUST DRIVING AROUND TOWN, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO PANIC STOP AT FREEWAY SPEED, THEY FADE BADLY AND THEN WARP ROTORS. THIS COMPLAINT ISN'T ABOUT WARPED ROTORS AS MUCH AS IT IS THE BRAKE FADE AT HIGH SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS DOESN'T STOP WELL AT ALL. PLEASE CONSIDER A LARGER PAD AND BETTER PROPORTIONING BETWEEN THE FRONT AND THE BACK BRAKES.*AK

Mileage: 50

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY PULSATE.*AK

Mileage: 1,000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES AND DISC BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES AND DISC BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

2003 TUNDRA RPM HANG-UP - SAFETY ISSUE HELLO ALL:I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA 3.4, V6, 4X4, 5 SPEED. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IF I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD THE RPM'S ARE MAINTAINED FOR UP TO 1.5 SECONDS BEFORE THE RPM STARTS TO DROP. THIS OCCURS WITH AND WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ON. I'D LIKE TO ALSO NOTE THAT MY LAST TRUCK WAS A T-100 WITH THE 3.4 V6 ENGINE - SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THIS ENGINE SHOULD, IN THEORY, RESPOND. DEALER CLAIMS THIS A COMPUTER ISSUE AND TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A TSB. DEALER ALSO CLAIMS THAT THIS FEATURE WAS ADDED TO REDUCE JERKY FEELING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE ISSUE PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOOSE 1.5 SECONDS OF BRAKING TIME. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS THE ADDED WEAR ON YOUR FRONT DISK BRAKE PADS DUE TO THE ENGINE TRYING TO MAINTAIN RPM WHILE BRAKES ARE TRYING TO STOP THE TRUCK. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPRODUCED AT THE DEALER. TO CHECK A TRUCK, CRUISE AT 55 OR 65 MPH, NOTE THE RPM - THEN IF YOU HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TRY TO NOTE IF THE RPM DROPS IMMEDIATELY OR, HANGS UP FOR A SECOND OR TWO. ANOTHER WAY TO CHECK THIS IS, WHILE PARKED, RACE ENGINE TO 2500-3000 RPM THEN SWITCH FOOT FROM GAS TO BRAKE PEDAL QUICKLY-SIMULATING AN EMERGENCY STOP. NOTE THE RPM AND ENGINE SOUND. YOU WILL FIND THE ENGINE STILL MAINTAINING THAT 2500-3000 RPM FOR 1-1.5 SECONDS. ALSO, DEALER POINTED OUT THAT UNLESS THERE ARE MORE COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA 'WILL NOT' DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE INCIDENT(S) FORCES US TO LOOK SERIOUSLY AT THIS. THANKS TO ALL MIKE LAUDANO. *LA

Mileage: 6,500

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, BRAKES PULSATE, AND VEHICLE IS GOING SIDE TO SIDE. IT IS HARD TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND COULD NO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TUNDRA V6. *AK THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDDING DOORS NOT SHUTTING PROPERLY.*TS

TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK FRONT ROTORS I HAD A PROBLEM AS I BOUGHT THE NEW TRUCK . BRAKES WOULD PULSATE WHEN STOPPING. I WAS TOLD FROM TOYOTA THERE WAS A PROBLEM AT THE FACTORY WITH WARPED ROTORS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND ALL THEY DID WAS MACHINE THE ROTORS DOWN. THE INVOICE SAID"OUT OF ROUND ROTORS. IM' CONCERNED THIS COULD REOCCUR AND CAUSE A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM. I ALSO FOUND A "PLUG" IN MY TIRE. BRAND NEW TRUCK AND THERE WAS A PLUG IN IT. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

Mileage: 1,900