2002 Toyota Tundra Transmission Problems

While backing up a trailer in 4WD low range on an incline, your truck suddenly stopped as if stalled, then lurched backward violently after a loud bang underneath, causing the trailer to jackknife into a tree and flip the truck. This may have been caused by 4WD drivetrain "bind" or "wind-up" — a condition where the front and rear axles lock together under certain conditions and create extreme torque that can suddenly release with violent force. The owner's manual provided no warning about this potential hazard. Addressing this would likely require Toyota to issue service bulletins, update owner's manuals with 4WD bind warnings, or investigate potential drivetrain design changes.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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. *JS

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.

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. *TR

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. *TR

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 . *TR

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. *TR

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.

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

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. *JB

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

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. *TR

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. *TR

RUSTED OUT REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND AXLE. *TR

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. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY TRUCK MADE A BAD SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION A GEAR GRIND CLUNK NOISE. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY ASAP AND PUT IT IN PARK. THERE WAS NO FLUID DRAINING OR ANY THING. WHEN I WENT TO PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WAS HARD TO GO INTO GEAR. BUT IT DROVE OK SO I WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY. FROM THERE MY WIFE PICKED ME UP AND WE DID SOME CHRISTMAS STUFF AND GOT BACK TO THE CAR LATER THAN EXPECTED AND I HAD TO DRIVE IT HOME (APROX 5-7 MILES). AT FIRST IT WAS OK THEN CLUNK GRIND JUMP NEUTRAL IN A BAD SPOT ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ABOUT ANOTHER MILE TO SAFETY IT JUMPED AGAIN AND NO GEARS. I HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF HARMS WAY AND JACKED UP MY BACK. I WAS TRYING TO STAY OFF THE OPERATING TABLE FOR MY BACK NOW IF IM ON MY FEET MORE THAN COUPLE OF HOURS I AM BED RIDDEN FROM DAYS TO WEEKS. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY PERFECT VEHICLE WITH 34000 MILES NOW NEEDING A $4500 TRANSMISSION. I CHECKED WITH SOME SHOPS AND A COUPLE OF DEALERS AND THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING BROKEN MAIN SHAFT, FACTORY DEFECT WEAK MAIN SHAFT. TOYOTA WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. 2002 VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA THE VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE IN CALIFORNIA AND WOULD BE STARTED FROM TIME TO TIME TO KEEP MY WARRANTY AS I AM HANDICAPPED AND COULD NOT GET BACK TO IT. NOW THEY HAD NO INFO ON THIS AND I HAD TO PAY TO FIX A 34K MILE TOYOTA FOR A DEFECT AND NOW GET A BACK OPERATION. *TR

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND CURRENTLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT I TOOK IT TO SAYS THIS PREMATURE FAILURE IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON 2000 TO 2002 TUNDRAS AND REQUIRES COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NEVER OWNED AN AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED ANY TRANSMISSION WORK UNTIL WELL OVER 100,000 MILES. *TR

2002 TUNDRA 6 CYLINDER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH 84,900 MILES ON IT HAD TOTAL FAILURE ON I-10 WHILE GOING 70MPH. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO WORK BUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDDLE DID NOTHING. WE SAFELY PULLED OVER, BUT THE TRUCK WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. I HAD COMPLAINED TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS OF A BUMPING FEELING AND OTHER ABNORMALITIES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT NEITHER DEALER COULD DETECT A PROBLEM. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS TRUCK AS DIRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND IT IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I HAVE ONLY TOWED A TRAILER ONCE WITH THE TRAILER AND CARGO WEIGHING LESS THAN 2000 LBS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS I COMPLAINED OF TO THE DEALER OCCURRED BEFORE I TOWED THE TRAILER. FORTUNATELY, I HAD THE TOYOTA EXTRACARE EXTENDED WARRANTY (7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES) WHICH COVERED THE COST OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION WITH A RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRUCK WAS NOT ABUSED, WELL MAINTAINED, TRANS FLUID WAS CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALWAYS CLEAN. VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN HAVING TO REPLACE. HAVE DRIVEN 3 TOYOTA'S OVER 200,000 MIILES WITH NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. HAVE HEARD OF OTHER TRANS FAILURE IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. ONLY 12 MONTHS WARRANTY ON REPLACEMENT.

ONE WEEK AGO I WAS RUNNING ERRANDS WITH THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA, BUT THE CAR REFUSED TO START ONCE I COMPLETED MY ERRANDS. EVENTUALLY, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT BRACKET AND LEVER WERE BROKEN AND THEREFORE PREVENTED THE GEAR FROM PROPERLY GOING INTO PARK. THE REPAIR SHOP REPORTED SEEING SEVERAL SUCH CASES RECENTLY BUT STATED THAT TOYOTA HAS INFORMED HIM THAT THE PROBLEM RESULTED FROM IMPROPER HANDLING OF THE GEAR SHIFT. I HAD THECAR FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE PROPER PROCEDURE. PERHAPS THIS NEEDED FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *AK

SHIFTING LEVER BROKE OFF INSIDE COLUMN WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO PARK. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SHIFT TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TELL US OF YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON YOUR HUSBAND'S 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. I READ YOUR E-MAIL WITH GREAT INTEREST. AS YOU KNOW, MONITORING AND PROMOTING BOTH THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF AUTOMOBILES IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR MISSION. WE VALUE YOUR HELP IN THIS EFFORT. YOU HAVE PROVIDED US WITH IMPORTANT FEEDBACK ON THE 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA, FOR WHICH I THANK YOU. BECAUSE OF THIS, I HAVE PERSONALLY FORWARDED YOUR E-MAIL TO OUR AUTO TEST AND EDITORIAL STAFF FOR THEIR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION FOR OUR FUTURE REPORTS. I AM SURE THAT THEY, TOO, WILL FIND YOUR E-MAIL TO BE OF VALUE. YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION AND/OR OFFER ASSISTANCE: CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, 2001 S. STREET, NW, STE. 410, WASHINGTON, DC 20009-1160. THE CASE COMPILES INFORMATION ON DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILES, RANGING FROM TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS TO PAINT PROBLEMS. IF YOU WISH, YOU MAY SEND THEM A LETTER SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THEM. SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON YOUR PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE, THEY WILL FORWARD IT TO YOU, ALONG WITH HELPFUL INFORMATION AND ADVICE WITHIN 10 DAYS FROM DATE OF RECEIPT OF THEIR LETTER. THEY ASK, BUT DO NOT REQUIRE, A $.60 SASE TO HELP KEEP THEIR COSTS DOWN. OR, YOU CAN VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 400 SEVENTH STREET, SW, WASHINGTON, DC 20590, 1-800-424-9393 OR 1-202-366-0123. THE NHTSA ASSURES COMPLIANCE BY DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MOTOR VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS WITH MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS, AUTOMOBILE RECALLS, AND AIRLINE PROBLEMS. YOU MAY WISH TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR INTEREST IN CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG. *JB

THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE I WAS SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE METAL SUPPORT SURROUNDING THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLY DISABLED AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THE SHAFT SUB-ASSEMBLY, THE TUBE SUB-ASSEMBLY, THE SUPPORT TILT STEERING ASSEMBLY, AND SOME SCREWS, BOLTS AND WASHERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED TO SAVE THE OLD PARTS. *NM

TOYOTA 2002 MR2 SPYDER: SEQUENTIAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION (SMT) CREEPING WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR. THIS HAPPEN TO THE CAR IN DEC OF 2004 BUT WENT AWAY BY ITSELF AFTER A WEEK. I REPORTED TO FREMONT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CA BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. AGAIN ON APRIL 15TH 2005, THE SMT CREEPING RECURRED. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE ECU BUT CREEP IS STILL EXIST. AGAIN, THE DEALER PERSISTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. ACCORDING THE MANUAL BOOK, IT STATES THAT UNLIKE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SMT DOES NOT CREEP. PLEASE HELP. *NM

ONCE YOU COME TO A STOP DURING NORMAL BREAKING, AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BREAK PEDAL TO START MOVING FORWARD, THERE IS A ?THUMP? AS IF YOU ARE BEING HIT FROM THE REAR. THIS IS SIMILAR AS BEING REPORTED IN ODI?S 10089480 AND 10092834. DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL IN TRUCKS, THAT IT IS THE NATURAL SPACING IN THE DRIVE SHAFT WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE.THE ONLY WAY FOR THE PROBLEM NOT TO OCCUR, IT TO GLIDE TO A SMOOTH STOP.*AK

2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4X2 SR5 WITH UNDER 18,000 MILES, AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE WHILE IN DRIVE AND NO LOAD, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHILE ROLLING A LOUD CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE EMINATES FROM THE REAR END AS IF GEARS WERE SLIPPING. VEHICLE SELDOMLY DRIVEN AND ALMOST NEVER PULLS ANY LOADS, NEVER ABUSED OR WRECKED AND MAINTAINED REGULARLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2002. LAKESIDE TOYOTA INFORMED ME TODAY 9-20-04, THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRUCK AND THAT THEY SIMULATED IT WITH ANOTHER TRUCK.*AK

MY AXLE IS BEING REPLACED ON MY 2002 TUNDRA. MY LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT ADMIT OR DENY THIS. IT SEEMS THAT THIS COULD BE A REAL SAFEY ISSUE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

MY STAKE-BED TRUCK'S AXLE BROKE. THE TRUCK HAD UNDER 12,000. IT WAS REPAIRED IN ODESSA, TX AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME THE CONVERSIONS ON THE TRUCK ARE TOO MUCH FOR THE TRUCK. THAT IS WHY THE AXLE BROKE. HE STATED THAT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF BODILY INJURY AND OR DEATH. NOW THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND I WAS AGAIN TOLD BY AN EMPLOYEE OF I-10 TOYOTA THAT THE TRUCK IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE WEIGHT IT'S CARRYING. OF COURSE HE SAID THAT WAS ONLY HIS OPINION.

THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE FRON DRIVE TRAIN BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE VIHICLE IS COLD AND GOES AWAY AFTER SEVERAL MILES OF DRIVING. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAY IT IS A NORMAL CONDITION AND WILL NOT WORK TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT IS COMMING FROM THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL.*AK

AT 20,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SHIFT VERY HARD AND THE CEL CAME ON. DEALER SAID THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ERROR CODE FROM THE OBD II STATED "MIS SHIFT". IT TOOK 7 WEEKS TO GET THE PART.*AK

THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR, AND IF IT DID MOVE OUT OF GEAR, IT ABRUPTLY DOWN SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WHILE DRIVING.*AK 2002 TOYOTA SPYDER) *JB