Toyota recalling 228,000 Tacoma's due to oil leaks and possible loss of control of vehicle

My 16 DCLB was on the list, got 28,500mi, no leaks. I just left dealership, they retorqued diff cover bolts. No problems. The service representative told me what the issue is, there was a problem with some vehicles the diff cover bolts were not tighten properly, and could start leaking. If leaking they would replace gasket, refill diff. If not retorque bolts. Not that big of a issue. I guess worse case scenario, if you did not know it was leaking, and all the oil/grease ran out it would fail lock up and could be a serious issue. I heard about the recall wed. or Thurs. Called dealership, got in this am. So getting your vehicle in without b letter shouldn't be a issue, if not find a different dealership. JMHO

 

what do they 'qualify' as leaking? Is seeping/weeping that most of us see
considered leaking?

 

Yes.

 

that's what I'm hoping. I'd rather not just have the bolts re-torqued, if seeping is
visible, I'm hoping they'll take it apart and put a new gasket in but we'll see. I don't
plan on taking it in until after the letter is sent out & parts are available.

 

My thought is this, if you take it to a dealership, they will fix it under warranty.they get paid by toyota to fix it. If you took it in, and they didn't fix it, you would have documentation that you took it in, if it failed later, and caused a accident. you could prosecute them for libability.

 

A $35K to $40K Japanese truck made with cheap Chinese steel manufactured by low skilled ,low paid workers in Mexico.

 

Here you go: https://www.toyota.com/recall

I'm on the list but I have no signs of a leak.

 

Ouch

 

Yep I was told to wait on the letter due to them not having any parts in stock... Still think they could do a visual inspection and check the bolts until then.

 

yep, that's why I didn't go after talking to the service manager. Letter won't go out till end
of June, any parts needed not expected until July or ???. It could be there for months awaiting
parts......no thanks!

 

At least my '06 was built in Fremont Calif....... by Mexicans!

 

Why are they replacing the bolts? Poor quality? Is there a link to the actual fix procedure?

 

Might deem it "undriveable" due to corporate lawyer talk then you're stuck without a truck tIL parts arrive.

Saving you from yourself they say but in reality preventing further litigation for them if you're out driving later and it locks up sending you into a bus of special needs kids. Wouldn't look good if they evaluated it without repair then turned you loose on society.

 

I got my truck back the day I took it in last Friday. Even though it shows evidence of leaking, they tightened the bolts down and said that Toyota is looking for wet to the touch not wet marks due to a very slow leak. Paper work is in order, if and/or when my back end locks up and sends me off the road I can point the finger to Toyota and the service department. I'm sorry but the fact that I have wet spots on my rear diff means there is a leak, I'm not sure if the dealership is trying to get out of giving me a rental or if that's what Toyota has put out.

I'm not going to continually check my fluid and top it off every 5000 miles, it shouldn't need that kind of baby sitting. I could see every 50000 miles, that might make a bit more sense.

 

I have a feeling that's what many of us with the 'weeping' type of marks will
see as a resolution, I only have 1 or 2 of those marks so I'm expecting just that, tighten
up the bolts & cya later! When the notice comes out I plan to take it in
for nothing other than the paper trail showing I did so.

 

Last I heard was that the leading theory was that it was bad heat treating on the bolts that allowed them to stretch. So, if that's the case, torquing them again will only make the issue worse, so if you haven't taken yours in yet, I'd hold off until they have the official fix. They may already have that, but my dealership I went to did nothing.

 

I took mine in this morning. The OR is not under recall, but I had some seepage. The service foreman took a look and said to tight the bolts to 18 lbs and clean it up.

 

If that's the solution then at 60,000 miles I'm going to go get another vehicle because who knows what else is going to come next. I've had quite a few things fixed and/or replaced since getting this truck in Dec 2015. I like this truck, it has the best interior of the mid sizes out there but I'm not going to risk future issues with the rest of the truck. Unless Toyota can give or discount a 100000 mile powertrain warranty, I just don't feel comfortable keeping this truck anymore. The last 4 vehicles I have bought have been new with under 30 miles on them and none of them have had issues with the exception of the Chrysler 200 and that car was a giant pos. I'm not about to go calling Toyota for a warranty either, I'll see how things play out over the next 4 years or until I hit 60000 and go from there.

 

I'm betting from the looks of mine, they do the same. When she said on the phone -
"IF they feel any parts are needed, we must keep it and parts for this recall will
be available in July or ?????" I replied, ok, I'll just wait for the official notice and bring
it in then, I'm not leaving it with your 2++ months. She was good with that and said,
no problem.

 

Ground a truck for two months is enough to lemon law that sucker in Texas. Probably why they don't want people bringing them in. Other states have similar laws.