2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA Steering Problems

I need to have rear shock replaced. They found that the bracket holder rusted thru . Shock was fine . The Rear frame corrosion and separation, spare tire frame corrosion is really bad. I have had this truck since 2004 . I absolutely love my truck. I am deeply saddened that all the care I took still didn’t prevent all this damage .

The frame on my tundra has rusted out so bad that the engine mounts are rusted through, my truck only has 86k miles please help this is our daily driver to get to work and take the kids to school

I was turning down a residential street and when I was getting up to speed. About 30 miles per hour. My truck jumped up a couple times like I hit a pit hole. I got out to inspect and see what I hit but the street was freshly paved 2 years before it was smooth as butter. I look at the truck and find out my passenger tire had fallen off. Upon further inspection I see my ball joints failed and try tire came off. It snapped the cv axle in half ripped and the brake line and abs module off and broke the frame bracket for the rack and pinon. As a result my insurance totaled my vehicle out.

THE WHOLE CHASSIS FRAME FOR MY TRUCK IS SIGNIFICANTLY AND DANGEROUSLY RUSTED AND IT IS BREAKING APART WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME, MY FAMILY, AND OTHER DRIVERS. THIS ALSO HAS LEAD TO MY BREAKS LINES FAILING DUE TO RUST WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ME NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP ON A RED LIGHT. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUST DAMAGE TO THE CHASSIS FRAME AND IN SOME PARTS OF THE CHASSIS FRAME THAT WERE WELDED FROM FACTORY HAVE BROKEN OFF. IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CHASSIS FRAME PIECES HAVE STARTED TO FALL OFF AND THERE ARE HOLES THROUGH THE CHASSIS FRAME WHERE THERE SHOULD NOT BE HOLES. PARTS THAT SHOULD BE SOLID STEEL HAVE HOLES THROUGH IT. THE RUST IS SO BAD ON THE CHASSIS FRAME THAT IT HAS RUSTED OUT THE FUEL LINES AS WELL JUST LIKE IT DID THE BRAKE LINES. SECTIONS WHERE THE ENGINE MOUNTS GO IN THE CHASSIS ARE ALSO HEAVILY DAMAGE DUE TO RUST. THE RUST IS SO BAD I HAVE STEP THROUGH PARTS OF THE BED OF THE TRUCK WHEN STANDING ON IT. THERE ARE ALSO HOLES ON THE BED OF THE TRUCK WHERE YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE GROUND DUE TO THE RUST DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

A RECALL LETTER WAS SENT FOR 2003 TUNDRA FOR UNDERCOATING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS THERE FOR THREE DAYS. I WAS TOLD NOTHING ELSE WAS NEEDED. I BROUGHT ATTENTION TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT FRAME RECALL. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THAT RECALL ALTHOUGH THE YEAR AND MODEL WAS ON THE SITE. SECOND ISSUE OF CONCERN, ENTIRE STEERING LINE REPLACED. THERE WAS A LACK OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE HOUSED FOR THREE DAYS AT DEALERSHIP. FAST FORWARD TODAY, 25 SEPTEMBER WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY SERVICE MANAGER OF LARGE AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST AND VEHICLE WAS NOT ROAD WORTHY. LAYERS OF RUSTED METAL CRUMBLED IN MANAGER'S HAND. AS A CONSUMER PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP FOR HELP TO RESOLVE ONGOING CONCERNS. I AM A FEMALE RETIRED VETERAN PLEADING FOR HELP. I LOVE MY VEHICLE PERFORMANCE IS THE REASON THE MILEAGE IS 260,000 (+). YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CONCERN WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED.

Mileage: 264,400

STEERING COLUMN SHIFT BRACKET BROKE IN 3 PLACES WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, MAKING SHIFTING IMPOSSIBLE. SEE PICTURES FROM 2 OF 3 FRACTURE LOCATIONS, 3RD FRACTURE IS AT AN ATTACHMENT SCREW (NOT SHOWN). THIS IS CAUSE BY AN PUNDERDESIGNED PART MADE OF INFERIOR CAST ALUMINUM. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON TUNDRAS AND OTHER TOYOTA MODELS WITH SAME DEFECTIVE BRACKET. THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT MUST BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY TOYOTA WITH A REDESIGNED PART.

Mileage: 111,035

ENTIRE FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST DESPITE ANTI-RUST/CORROSION INHIBITOR APPLIED IN 2010-2012. SMALL HOLES ARE NOW PRESENT IN FRAME AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 108K MILES. RECENTLY, THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS IT RUSTED OUT. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED RUST ON OTHER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, INDICATING THAT RUST HAD MADE THE SYSTEM WEAK AND BRITTLE. COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF CORROSION INHIBITOR HAS NOW MADE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A CORRECT ALIGNMENT. THE RUSTED FRAME WILL SOON, IF NOT ALREADY, DIMINISH THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY. TOYOTA INSTITUTED A FRAME RECALL CIRCA 2010 FOR JUST THIS ISSUE. SOMEHOW THIS VIN WAS OMITTED. THE CORROSION INHIBITOR HAS PROVED INEFFECTIVE. I AM REQUESTING THAT NHTSA DEMAND TOYOTA INSTITUTE ANOTHER RECALL FOR THE EXCLUDED VINS. THESE OMITTED TUNDRAS, IN THEIR CURRENT POOR FRAME CONDITION, PRESENT A HAZARD TO DRIVERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS AND MUST BE REPAIRED.

Mileage: 108,000

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK SHUTTING DOWN. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE MADE TO GUARANTEE THERE WORK AND/IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MASSIVE RECALL ON THE IGNITION AND STEERING SYSTEM.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). I HAD THE FRAME INSPECTION RECALL PERFORMED IN 2012 AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME IS OK SO THEY COATED THE FRAME WITH UNDER COATING. A FEW MONTHS LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HIT A JOINT ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENDED UP IN THE NEXT LANE. AS I AM IN THE BUSINESS I PUT THE VEHICLE IN THE AIR THAT EVENING AND FOUND THE STEERING RACK MOUNT WAS DETACHED FROM THE FRAME DUE TO RUST. I THEN SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. I WAS TOLD AGAIN THE FRAME IS OK.. I DID EXPLAIN TO THE DEALER THAT I HAD TO WLD A STEEL PLATE TO THE FRAME SO THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. THEY STILL SAID THE FRAME IS OK AND THEY WOULD RE SPRAY THE FRAME AS A GESTURE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS AND EMAILS TO TOYOTA SINCE THEN BECAUSE JUNE OF 2016 I FOUND RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME IN 2 DIFFERENT SPOTS.. THERE IS A RECALL TO REPLACE THE FRAME IF THERE ARE PERFORATIONS IN THE FRAME DURING THE INSPECTION. HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN TOLD SEVERAL TIMES THEY WILL NOT ASSIST ME ANY FURTHER ON THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU [XXX] [XXX] *DL

Mileage: 120,000

I AM A RETIRED TOYOTA MASTER DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICIAN. I HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE LINES ON MY 2003 TUNDRA-WITH 79,962 MILES. THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. MY BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS TOWING A TRAILER IN HEAVY, CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING 35MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN PROCEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS ROOM TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT SO I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. THEN, AS I WAS REPLACING THE LINES, I SAW A FLUID LEAK UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THE GEAR OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY THE ONLY REMEDY IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. ALSO THE POWER STEERING LINES HAVE ALSO RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. THE FRAME HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED-UNDER RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED IS OF VERY LOW QUALITY CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.IE; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL LOCK-UP, LOSS OF VEHICLE BRAKING DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS. I AM AMAZED THAT TOYOTA MOTOR CO. WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT THEY SOLD-WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO. ONE QUICK LOOK UNDER A 2003 TUNDRA IS ALL IT TAKES TO SEE THAT LOW/POOR QUALITY HARDWARE AND MATERIALS WERE USED. WITHOUT REPAIR AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF ABOVE STATED COMPONENTS SOMEONE WILL GET INJURED-POSSIBLY FATALLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE TRUCK. A DIFFERENTIAL IS NOT AN ITEM ONE EXPECTS TO EVER REPLACE-"SORRY BUT YOUR WARRANTY'S EXPIRED". THANK YOU. SINCERELY, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 79,962

I AM A RETIRED TOYOTA MASTER DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICIAN. I HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE LINES ON MY 2003 TUNDRA-WITH 79,962 MILES. THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. MY BRAKES FAILED AS I WAS TOWING A TRAILER IN HEAVY, CITY TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING 35MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN PROCEEDED TO STOP SUDDENLY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS ROOM TO MANEUVER TO THE RIGHT SO I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE LESS FORTUNATE. THEN, AS I WAS REPLACING THE LINES, I SAW A FLUID LEAK UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT THE GEAR OIL IS LEAKING THROUGH THE HOUSING. UNFORTUNATELY THE ONLY REMEDY IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE/DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. ALSO THE POWER STEERING LINES HAVE ALSO RUSTED THROUGH WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY EXPENSE. THE FRAME HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED-UNDER RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED IS OF VERY LOW QUALITY CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.IE; LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO DIFFERENTIAL LOCK-UP, LOSS OF VEHICLE BRAKING DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL DUE TO RAPID FLUID LOSS. I AM AMAZED THAT TOYOTA MOTOR CO. WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT THEY SOLD-WITHOUT BEING FORCED TO. ONE QUICK LOOK UNDER A 2003 TUNDRA IS ALL IT TAKES TO SEE THAT LOW/POOR QUALITY HARDWARE AND MATERIALS WERE USED. WITHOUT REPAIR AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF ABOVE STATED COMPONENTS SOMEONE WILL GET INJURED-POSSIBLY FATALLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE TRUCK. A DIFFERENTIAL IS NOT AN ITEM ONE EXPECTS TO EVER REPLACE-"SORRY BUT YOUR WARRANTY'S EXPIRED". THANK YOU. SINCERELY, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 79,962

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART RELATED TO THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 261,000.

Mileage: 261,000

GEAR SHIFTER BROKE WHILE TRYING TO PLACE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFTER UP TO THE PARK POSITION IT BROKE WHEN IT GOT TO NEUTRAL. I WAS STRANDED AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO CALL SOMEONE TO COME HELP ME GET IT HOME. WHEN LOOKING UP ON YOUTUBE THERE ARE OVER 27,000 VIEWS ON ONE POST ABOUT THIS. THIS IS FAULTY PARTS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED.

Mileage: 148,740

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED, AN ABNORMAL WINDING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE WHERE THE SHIFT CONTROL GOES INTO THE STEERING COLUMN, WHERE IT CONNECTS HAS BROKEN. THIS IS A PIECE OF METAL THAT HAS AGAIN SNAPPED MAKING IT UNABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR. WHAT HAPPENS IF I WAS IN DRIVE AND COULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK? I HAVE HAD THIS FIXED TWICE BEFORE, ONCE WHEN I WAS STUCK ON THE ROAD AND ONCE TOWED TO TOYOTA. *TR

Mileage: 124,505

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA WHICH DEVELOPED AN EXHAUST LEAK. THE AFT OXYGEN SENSOR BECAME DETACHED FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THE ATTACHING HARDWARE WAS MISSING, IT CORRODED. I INSPECTED OTHER HARDWARE AND NOTICED THE STEERING SHAFT ATTACH POINT HAS SEVERE CORROSION. THE HARDWARE THAT ATTACHES THE SHAFT TO THE STEERING GEAR RACK AND PINION IS HALFWAY CORRODED AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL. IF THE HARDWARE FAILS LOSS OF STEERING WILL OCCUR. I LIVE IN NEW YORK AND THE TRUCK HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRUCK IS IN GREAT SHAPE BUT FRAME AND ASSOCIATED PARTS HAVE CORROSION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE OWN A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH 47,000 MILES ON IT AND ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. ON FRIDAY WHILE PUTTING THE TRUCK INTO REVERSE IN A PARKING LOT, THE SHIFT MECHANISM SNAPPED OFF IN MY HAND. OUR CERTIFIED TOYOTA MECHANIC CAME AND MANAGED TO GET IT INTO DRIVE AND DRIVE IT TO HIS SHOP,AND IN OPENING THE STEERING COLUMN, FOUND THE ENTIRE THING WAS BROKEN WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. OUR MECHANIC, WHO IS A CERTIFIED TOYOTA MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. AS WITH ANOTHER COMPLAINT LODGED ON THIS PROBLEM, IT IS NOT AS IF THE MECHANISM HAS EXPERIENCED ROUGH HANDLING IN ANY WAY. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

THE FRAME ON MY 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA IS RUSTING BADLY. TOYOTA WAS UNABLE TO ALIGN MY FRONT END DUE TO RUST, AND IT HAS CAUSED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM TO COMPLETELY FREEZE UP AND THE BRAKE WILL NOT WORK. IT IS A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM, I HAVE NO BRAKE. TOYOTA TRIED TO FREE UP THE BRAKES BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO. THEY GAVE ME A CAN OF LUBRICANT AND TOLD ME TO KEEP LUBING THE FROZEN SECTION. THEY WERE COMPLETELY UNABLE TO ALIGN MY FRONT END. *TR

Mileage: 79,318

TL*- WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPHTHE 2003/TOYOTA/TUNDRA RAN INTO THE RETAINER WALL BECAUSE THE TIE ROD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SNAPPED, LIFTING THE TRUCK. ON JANUARY 11 2006 THE DEALER FIXED THE RECALLED TIRE ROD END AND BALL JOINT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ROD ITSELF, THEY DID NOT. HE HAD THE TRUCK FOR SEVENTEEN DAYS WHEN THE TIE ROD SNAPPED. THIS ALMOST KILLED HIS ENTIRE FAMILY. HIS WAS TOLD TO CALL THE HOT LINE BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 41000.*AK

Mileage: 41,000

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT CAUSING A REDUCED STEERING EFFORT. HE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INSTRUCTED HIM TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.*AK

THE BUSHINGS USED TO ATTACH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING TO THE FRAME IS TOO SOFT, CAUSING THE STEERING LINKAGE TO MOVE. THE STEERING LINKAGE IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE FRAME AND I HAVE TO OVERSTEER AND IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE FEELING OF FLOATING. *JB

Mileage: 35,400

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE TIE ROD BROKE, THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT ON FLIPPED UNTO ITS SIDE.*AK

Mileage: 500