Toyota Recalls 690K Tacomas Over Rear Suspension Issues

by Cameron Aubernon

Published: September 30th, 2014

toyota recalls 690k tacomas over rear suspension issues

Own a 2005 through 2011 Toyota Tacoma? It may be under recall due to rear suspension issues.

Toyota informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of its plans to recall 690,000 2005-2011 Tacoma 4×4 and Pre-Runner trucks to fix the leaf springs in the rear suspension. The possibility is there for a leaf to fracture “due to stress and corrosion,” then make contact with other components once moved out of place.

Should said component be the fuel tank, a puncture could occur, leading to fuel leaks with the potential for fire to occur if an ignition source is nearby.

Toyota will notify owners by mail, and the fix will be provided free of charge.

#MY2005 #MY2011 #ProductRecalls #Tacoma #TacomaPre-Runner #Toyota

Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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9 of 13 comments

Lou_BC on Sep 30, 2014

I recall (no pun intended) breaking a leaf on my first truck (A Ranger). my dad had the same thing happen on a 3/4 ton he had. Sh!t happens but unfortunately no one seems to take personal responsibility for any of it any more.

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- APaGttH on Sep 30, 2014
  
  Ehhh, seeing how this goes to a 2011 model year, and a 2011 could still potentially be covered in a 3/36 warranty period - I would say this goes beyond "personal accountability." I wouldn't expect my suspension to rust out on any vehicle that is less than 10 years old - let alone 3. Ya, I read there have been no fires or accidents up to this point. Doesn't mean there hasn't been a spring failure or corrosion on a 2010 - 2011 model to the point some service techs have gone, "uh-oh, that ain't right."
  
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- Quentin on Sep 30, 2014
  
  @APaGttH More likely, the 2011 parts are the same as the early parts, so it would have the same condition as it ages rather than having them right now. Just because they are recalling the 2011s doesn't mean that the 2011s are failing in the field. If it is using the same part, it should be expected to eventually have the same condition and thus should be recalled. It should also be noted that the 2012 Tacoma got a refresh. It is possible that the manufacturing of the leaf spring was a model year change that went with the refresh and the changed spring doesn't have the condition.
  
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- Lou_BC on Sep 30, 2014
  
  @APaGttH - there is a difference between a flawed product and sh!t happens. I am well aware of that,but it seems that more and more of the burden of abuse or misuse is being shifted on to the car makers and that sours the relationship with the consumer. If find that it has gotten to the point that if I want to get something checked or repaired under warranty it has to be approved by some minion in a head office in a separate part of the country. I went through that with the grill on my F150 and a strut bushing on my wife's Sienna. If I break something and it is my fault I will man up and get it fixed myself or live with it. I don't like being in the position to have to argue with a car company rep because of someone else's abuse or more specifically abuse of the system. I'm not a Toyota apologist and there must be a pattern of fracture with these springs........ Where does the line get drawn? and who gets to hold the chalk?
  
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- MBella on Oct 01, 2014
  
  I also had a broken leaf on my Ranger. I heard it's pretty common.
  
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- Agroal on Oct 09, 2014
  
  Not sure if you're still following this over a week later but here goes. My 2000 Tacoma was included in the frame rust issue back in 2011. Technically it wasn't a recall. Toyota offered to pay me $15,500(best possible KBB value times 1.5) to buy it back and crush it. Twelve years of driving a truck I paid $19,000 for brand new back in Dec.1999 and technically it depreciates only $3,500. Needless to say, I accepted their offer quicker than a fart leaves a fan factory. I was planning on driving the older truck into the ground. I put the $15K down on a new 2011 Tacoma. I don't see the Detroit three doing that.
  
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Wmba on Sep 30, 2014

I bet most of the Model T's still in existence haven't had a leaf in the cart suspension break, so this is pretty poor on Toyota's part. Occasional breakage from overload we can all understand, but a recall? Not good. Of course, my first 1974 Audi liked to break coil springs, and an acquaintance had the driver's side front coil fail on his 2010 VW Golf TDI. Which scared the hell out of him, driving on the highway at the time. Lucky it didn't puncture the tire. So VW, as usuao, has its quirks as well.

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Low_compression on Sep 30, 2014

My buddy's Tacoma (05) is also subject to the frame recall. I have been underneath it a few times (once recently to change the trans fluid in an attempt to remedy the prematurely failing 3rd gear syncro - another big issue that should be subject to a recall) and there is an alarming amount of frame rust. Multiple places behind the front suspension that you can stick fingers through. I was shocked that a 21st Century vehicle could that badly. So, I'm not at all surprised by this recall. He's going to end up with a new truck at this rate.

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Halftruth on Oct 01, 2014

I own a '12 and I am surprised to see how rusty certain components already are. I also noticed (in the winter) there are parts of the frame and connecting hardware that will hold quite a bit of salt/dirt/road grime. I clean it out but you would be amazed how much stuff is in there. I would say near a small handful of gunk can be removed from two areas on top of the frame over the rear axle. I can totally see rust becoming a problem within ten years if these areas are not cleaned out. But who cleans that stuff out anyways (idiots like me do but we are the minority for sure)? At least they are recalling them.

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