The Toyota Tacoma is being recalled for rust problems yet again, this time with leaf springs on the rear axle that can corrode, snap off, and move enough to puncture the fuel tank or sever the rear brake line.
About 690,000 Tacoma pickups, specifically 4×4 and Pre-Runner models from 2005–2011, have leaf springs installed above the rear axle rather than below it, and they can fail due to “stress or corrosion.” One of the leaves may separate and contact the fuel tank or brake line, possibly severing one or both with obvious consequences. (The recall officially cites the fuel tank as the consequence; Toyota says it determined that, since 80 percent of braking is accomplished by the front brakes, the broken rear line does “not cause a significant reduction in braking performance in these vehicles.”) After the first reports of broken springs came in from owners across North America starting in 2006, Toyota eventually installed a clip to hold the leaves together starting in October 2010.
The company then ran an investigation between November 2010 and December 2011 to monitor broken leaf springs, but closed it because there weren’t enough gas tanks and brake lines that were actually damaged. Between May and September of this year, Toyota discovered the number of reported broken leaf springs had “increased substantially” and finally decided to conduct a recall. A total of 690,000 trucks are affected in the U.S. Owners will receive notification to get their trucks repaired in November.
In November 2012, Toyota recalled 150,000 Tacomas from 2001–2004 for a rusted spare-tire carrier under the bed that could break and cause the tire to come loose. In 2008, Toyota’s infamous frame rot fiasco on 1995–2004 Tacomas (about 800,000 trucks) was so bad the company had to buy many of them back, conduct extensive frame repairs, and/or extend frame-corrosion warranties by 15 years. The company never issued a recall for that problem.
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Among other serious Tacoma recalls: In April of this year, Toyota recalled the 2009–2010 Tacoma along with six other models for faulty driver’s-side airbags (not related to the Takata recall) and recalled the 2005–2011 Tacoma in August 2013 for loose seatbelt fasteners. In February 2010, the 2010 Tacoma was recalled for front driveshafts that could separate die to cracks formed in the production process.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1wcinjy
via Agya
