Topic: Toyota recalls SUVs and pickups

[UmroAyyar]

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/172863

WASHINGTON – Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems.

Toyota said the recall involves 2004-2006 Tundra trucks and 2004-2007 Sequoia full-size SUVs. The automaker has received reports of 11 accidents and six injuries connected to the recall, said Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong.

The automaker said there was a possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle and stay in the centre of the lane. Drivers may also notice more noise coming from the front suspension, Kwong said.

Toyota recalled about 775,000 pickups and SUVs in May 2005 – one of its largest recalls ever – because of similar problems with the front suspension. The recall included 2002-2004 model years of the Tundra and Sequoia.

[Trainman]

Didn't Dodge have a similar problem?

Oh, these are Toyota's, not supposed to be Dodge quality      

[Snowman]

This looks like the stresses of tying to overtake GM are starting to surface.

[ktm525]

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/172863

WASHINGTON – Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 533,000 Tundra pickup trucks and Sequoia sport utility vehicles because of potential steering problems.

Toyota said the recall involves 2004-2006 Tundra trucks and 2004-2007 Sequoia full-size SUVs. The automaker has received reports of 11 accidents and six injuries connected to the recall, said Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong.

The automaker said there was a possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint that could make it difficult to steer the vehicle and stay in the centre of the lane. Drivers may also notice more noise coming from the front suspension, Kwong said.

Toyota recalled about 775,000 pickups and SUVs in May 2005 – one of its largest recalls ever – because of similar problems with the front suspension. The recall included 2002-2004 model years of the Tundra and Sequoia.

This and article with the less than 100% glowing review of the used Tundras on this site.Hmmm. My Toyota 4*4 had numerous recalls with the front suspension. At least Toyota is handling it much better than Dodge so far. Toyota = acknowledge and fix. Dodge = deny deny deny then move when class action lawsuit launched.

[Trainman]

This and article with the less than 100% glowing review of the used Tundras on this site.Hmmm. My Toyota 4*4 had numerous recalls with the front suspension. At least Toyota is handling it much better than Dodge so far. Toyota = acknowledge and fix. Dodge = deny deny deny then move when class action lawsuit launched.

That is a good distinction, Toyota seems to own up to its mistakes more readily than some others (except for the sludge issue maybe).  Some ethics in the way they do business anyway.

[Mitlov]

This and article with the less than 100% glowing review of the used Tundras on this site.Hmmm. My Toyota 4*4 had numerous recalls with the front suspension. At least Toyota is handling it much better than Dodge so far. Toyota = acknowledge and fix. Dodge = deny deny deny then move when class action lawsuit launched.

That is a good distinction, Toyota seems to own up to its mistakes more readily than some others (except for the sludge issue maybe).  Some ethics in the way they do business anyway.

I wouldn't say that they handled the LATCH tether safety regulation violation in the Tundra very well.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/06/nhtsa-makes-toyota-modify-seat-latch-recall/

[ktm525]

I think it was reasonable. I loved the end of the article which says that Toyota would fit latch attachments to the front seat for owners who want them...As soon as Toyota figures out how to. Would you trust those Latch attachments?

Only a Melon-head would put a carseat in the front seat of a double-cab anyway. Only reason to do so is if you had three seats in use in the back already. News flash, if you have 4 kids in child seats you really should be looking at a minivan.

[Mitlov]

Only a Melon-head would put a carseat in the front seat of a double-cab anyway. Only reason to do so is if you had three seats in use in the back already. News flash, if you have 4 kids in child seats you really should be looking at a minivan.

The affected trucks are "access cabs."  "Access cabs" are extended cabs, not double cabs.



Good luck fitting a rear-facing seat in the back of that.

[Cord]

Toyota = acknowledge and fix.

It took a class action lawsuit before Toyota agreed to settle with millions of sludge victims.

Toyota seems to own up to its mistakes more readily than some others (except for the sludge issue maybe).  Some ethics in the way they do business anyway.

Let's not split hairs here. Years ago the mere presence of a recall for Ford , GM, or Chrysler was proclaimed as evidence of their lack of quality/engineering/ethics. Now that Toyota is having their share of recall/lawsuit issues, everyone qualifies them as "not a serious issue" or spins them into a positive, "well at least they are willing to own up to the problem."

The backlash is truly under way. And I don't think Toyota will come out unscathed. Having said that, I really don't much care what happens to individual corporations. But I do find it fascinating how so many people identify with the company that makes the car they drive. I mean how many people take insults toward Microsoft, Sony, or General Electric personally? But insult Toyota and watch the defenders rally.

And some people think branding doesn't work.

[Trainman]

Toyota = acknowledge and fix.

It took a class action lawsuit before Toyota agreed to settle with millions of sludge victims.

Toyota seems to own up to its mistakes more readily than some others (except for the sludge issue maybe).  Some ethics in the way they do business anyway.

Let's not split hairs here. Years ago the mere presence of a recall for Ford , GM, or Chrysler was proclaimed as evidence of their lack of quality/engineering/ethics. Now that Toyota is having their share of recall/lawsuit issues, everyone qualifies them as "not a serious issue" or spins them into a positive, "well at least they are willing to own up to the problem."

The backlash is truly under way. And I don't think Toyota will come out unscathed. Having said that, I really don't much care what happens to individual corporations. But I do find it fascinating how so many people identify with the company that makes the car they drive. I mean how many people take insults toward Microsoft, Sony, or General Electric personally? But insult Toyota and watch the defenders rally.

And some people think branding doesn't work.

In my experiences, Japanese designed/made vehicles have been significantly more reliable than non-Japanese, regardless of what name plate is on it.  The two best I have ever owned were a 1985 Toyota Corrola and a 1988 Mercury Tracer (Mazda 323 clone but still with a Ford nameplate).  The only non-Japanese vehicles that have been not too bad are the full size trucks I have owned (leased): 1997 F250 light duty and 1999 F250 light duty.  But as they were only 2 year leases, they did not have many km's on them so long term who knows.

Our Sienna has been good, but not as good as the Corrola or Tracer.  The Pathfinder has been good as well, but not as good as the Sienna but much better than the Bronco II's for the same kind of use (off-road).

The rest (Chevy Corsica, Mercury Mystique and Ford Bronco II x2) had more than what I would consider "normal" problems.  And the Mystique was a German design, built in Kentucky.

All the above is based as I said, on my experience.  Not a scientific study of a large group of vehicles so take it as you wish.

[G0dspd]

Back in May 2005 ... ealier models same problem.

880,000 Tacoma and Tundra pickups and Sequoia, Landcruiser and 4Runner SUVs built between May 2001 and December 2003 will be recalled to fix front-suspension ball joints that could wear faster than they should. If the ball joint fails, it could "hamper steering."  789,000 units were sold in North America. Recalls happen to everyone.

The backlash is truly under way. And I don't think Toyota will come out unscathed. Having said that, I really don't much care what happens to individual corporations. But I do find it fascinating how so many people identify with the company that makes the car they drive. I mean how many people take insults toward Microsoft, Sony, or General Electric personally? But insult Toyota and watch the defenders rally.

I don't know if it's a taste of things to come from Toyota but it could be the result of growing pains.  Also, people taking it personal when something negative is said about their brand or "cult attacks" is 75% of the action on this forum. 

[dr_spock]

I think it was reasonable. I loved the end of the article which says that Toyota would fit latch attachments to the front seat for owners who want them...As soon as Toyota figures out how to. Would you trust those Latch attachments?

Only a Melon-head would put a carseat in the front seat of a double-cab anyway. Only reason to do so is if you had three seats in use in the back already. News flash, if you have 4 kids in child seats you really should be looking at a minivan.

You can't really fit some car seats in the back of an access cab.   Booster seats could work.   Anyway, on the Toyota Tacoma 4x4 access cab, you would have to use the front passenger seat.   There is a mount point in the back row for the tether strap of a forward facing car seat.   You can turn off the front passenger airbag with the truck's key.  I imagine it would be the same with the Tundra access cab. 

You can't take a minivan off-roading on grandpa's farm.  It won't make it pass the first ditch.   

[barrie1]

Actually you could if you were to put a 4whl drive drivetrain under it as it has been done  before and actually GM brought it out many years ago in this version. 

[ktm525]

Only a Melon-head would put a carseat in the front seat of a double-cab anyway. Only reason to do so is if you had three seats in use in the back already. News flash, if you have 4 kids in child seats you really should be looking at a minivan.

The affected trucks are "access cabs."  "Access cabs" are extended cabs, not double cabs.



Good luck fitting a rear-facing seat in the back of that.

Whoops I missed the Access cab thing. But why bring up Tacoma's when the recall was for Tundra's?
I agree the Tacoma is useless to haul kids, hell it is useless to haul adults over 5'8" unless you like sports car seating in your pickup truck.

I had no problem fitting a rear-facing seat in the back of my CLUB CAB Dakota which I am sure is more cozy than a Tundra Access cab. Of course it would only fit in the center position or behind the passenger seat as I am 6'2" and the driver seat was too far back. I fit three kid seats in the back of the Club Cab. One infant bucket in the center, one rear-facing convertable seat behind the passenger and a forward facing booster behind the driver. It was tight but it was doable, of course not ideal but OK for occasional use.

[RobVal]

Toyota's quality dropped down in the last years

[Mitlov]

Whoops I missed the Access cab thing. But why bring up Tacoma's when the recall was for Tundra's?
I agree the Tacoma is useless to haul kids, hell it is useless to haul adults over 5'8" unless you like sports car seating in your pickup truck.

That's a photograph of a TUNDRA Access Cab, like those in the recall.  Not a Tacoma.  I'm not the one who mentioned the Tacoma, just for the record.

[ktm525]

noted