Rear Differential locked up while doing 55MPH

I hope all the comments of doubt are wrong, cause this would be a pretty fucked up thing to joke about. I however, have to bring up the same doubts about this story that several others have addressed. Im going to assume you are speaking of the main stretch of the 110 NB, north of the 105, the main non-toll lanes. That stretch of freeway has basically a quarter to zero width of breakdown lane on the underside. What is next to the #1 lane is basically a concrete wall and the pilings that hold the upper deck of the freeway. There are times when im on that freeway before 6am, heading to LAX, when it is packed with traffic. Even on the elevated portions, what is to your left are the toll and metro silver line lanes. There is no place where you are not either in a wall or in traffic when a fishtail would take place. Doing this at 55mph at 9am. Either you had an angel with its hand on your truck, or your story is just false. You would not had the room for evasive maneuvers and for surrounding traffic to stop in time, not unless you were going what is a more like 35mph which is a more realistic 9am speed for the 110.

I again really hope you are just blessed and this did happen exactly as you said, but from reading everything you posted, it simply does not add up. Not only from the freeway incident, but that you did not notice a oil stain where you park, or the dealer would not have notated such a leak when in for the other services.

I realize no one here has the right to demand any documentation for you, but i personally would love to see pics/scans of the dealer report and police report. It would put a lot of this to bed.

 

The fucks going on in here

 

Well, like I said Caligula, I could care less if you believe me. There was no oil where I park so I am skeptical that the bolts came loose but the other option is that they shipped the truck with so little oil that after a year it ran dry.

If you were heading to the airport, you were on the 110 south. This happened well after the 105 merges with the 110 n. It was just as you approach the 101 interchange. There are two overpasses and about a half of a breakdown lane with a concrete center divider. It had rained all night but had stopped by that time. I had been diverted off of the 110 by waze and drove through the city. I had just gotten back on the 110. There was minimal traffic and I took the opportunity to increase my speed and move into the #1 lane as I wanted to get around the jam that usually happens at the 101. I was heading for the 5 North. It had been raining so I didn't want to go too fast and I felt that 55 was a safe speed. I do keep on eye on my odometer and my mirrors while I drive. I was in the #1 lane. The rear of the truck went to my right into the #2 lane and as I slid I must have been far enough away from the retaining wall when I swung back around so that I did not hit it. I have no idea who was around me or how they reacted, I just know that when I came to a stop, I was in the #1 lane and tried to get closer to that wall but since the wheels were locked up, the truck wouldn't move much. I do have a guardian angel because it was a miracle that I did not have a collision or worse. I called for a tow and I called 911. CHP arrived and sat behind me to help keep me safe since I was half in the lane. There was no report created because it was just a breakdown. The only other witness I have as to the fact that I was in the #1 lane is a co-worker who drove by on the way to the office. I realize that this is a difficult story to believe but this happened and it scared the crap out of me. I haven't done donuts since I was a teenager and even then I wasn't doing 55. This is the last time I defend myself to anyone on this site.

Since this happened to a woman in Glendora as well, I'd like to hear from her or anyone else that this has happened to.

 

Because #Turdgen.
seriously when you fanboys finally gonna admit these things are massive piles of dump?

Side note: kudos to you mods for not taking down a thread showing a Tacoma in a dangerous situation. That's a change from the norm, usually these are deleted as fast as they are posted...wouldn't want the truth out there too long I guess.

 

NOTE: I only read the first page and this page, so I might be repeating stuff already said. Apologies.

If the alleged incident happened, this sounds similar to the rear differential grenading issues that would occur with the 2nd gens. There are no warning signs, the back end just locks up such that the wheels are frozen. The reason for this is that some of the assembly that went through Mexico didn't get the ring gears set right in the differential, and they eventually shred. I was with a friend when this occured. He was offroading at the time, but nothing out of the ordinary for us to do. Rear just gives out. He could move 30ish feet forward before the wheels would lock, then he could reverse for 10ish feet, and then repeat.
I haven't kept up on this issue to see if it's still around (8 years or more??), but low fluid from the factory could appear the same. If properly sealed, why would anything leak?

 

Thanks for that info. I was not aware of the 2nd gen problem. I wish I had video of the truck being pulled onto the flatbed. The wheels were locked and would skid then the diff would pop and they would turn a little bit, maybe a foot or two, then lock up again.

 

I hope Toyota comes back with an honest report about their findings. I would have insisted on taking photos of the differential as it was removed. However, I can see that someone not familiar with what to look for would not make such a request. The photos would have corroborated the story Toyota is giving you. With this being such a safety issue, I could see them going very vauge on the analysis to try and prevent legal issues.

Have you reported this to the NTHSA? They might want to get involved...
https://www.nhtsa.gov/


Edit: I should have looked. I see your report. Good deal...it will put some pressure on Toyota I hope.

 

Sorry if this has been posted before....but found in NTHSA database...

NHTSA ID Number: 10894234

Incident Date June 29, 2016

Consumer Location POMONA, CA

Vehicle Identification Number 3TMAZ5CN8GM****

Summary of Complaint

CRASHNo

FIRENo

INJURIES0

DEATHS0

WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON THE 210 FREEWAY IN GLENDORA, CA AT APPROX 35MPH THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN AND VIOLENT STOP AND VEERED SLIGHTLY INTO THE LANE TO MY RIGHT. I WAS NOT BRAKING AT THE TIME. REAR WHEELS HAD LOCKED AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRAGGED TO THE SHOULDER AS REAR WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, AND SEEMED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY.

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF GLENDORA IN GLENDORA, CA FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD LEAKED OUT, AND IT ALONG WITH THE REAR TIRES HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 4500 MILES ON IT. IT HAD NOT HAD ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE NOR ANY OTHER SERVICE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CAUSED BY EXTERNAL DAMAGE, AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE PART HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY SEALED.

VEHICLE HAS NO WARNING SYSTEM OR DASH LIGHT TO COMMUNICATE A LOSS OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AS IT WOULD WITH OIL, TIRE PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, ETC.

 

Lovely

 

yes, I did. But I just noticed that I stated the date incorrectly as the 4th.

 

I recall there being that issue on the first couple years of 2nd Gens, if memory serves me it was caused by improper heat treatment and some teeth would shear off the ring gear usually when the back tires were spinning or bouncing off the surface.

 

subbed

 

better trade your Tacoma in on a Chevy Colorado before its too late, you could be the next one

 

Exactly, that whole final drive needs to be removed and disassembled to see what happened. I REALLY would love to see a scan of the dealer reports.

I would refuse to take the truck back. Tell them you are keeping the Prius until they either give you a new truck or a refund. They can store the truck until the problem is rectified. If you get an attorney, they will need to start sending declarations to your financiers, im not sure what the laws would be on the car note you are responsible for.

As the previous poster said, use this as an opportunity to build a relationship with the dealership owner, not the service employees who just want to clock out before they have to do too much paperwork. The owner is the only one with the power to do anything significant here with your truck.

 

Sorry, I was half asleep when I was typing this morning.

 

Yeah, I'm kind of confused why everyone thinks OP is lying I can easily see this happening.