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

Supplier is what regional tech told me and I also heard/read elsewhere. Cannot recall where though. The same rear diff that howls.

 

Right. I just wanted to know if the fix has showed up at the dealers.

My truck was at the shop and I had a rental, but I went back and got my truck after a week. I didn't sign any paperwork though.

 

New poster here. I brought my 2017 Taco in for a 5000 mile maintenance this past Friday... bought the truck brand new in October of last year. After waiting for 2 hours, the service advisor called me to the back and explained the recall and that they had to keep my truck for an indefinite amount of time. I wasn't going to combat them on it because I don't want to waive any rights associated with damage or injury now that I've been more or less officially informed of the recall.

They called Enterprise to get me. I stayed calm throughout. I don't like making a scene in public, but I knew I would do more research once I got home and take matters from there.

They put me in a Camry with one of the better interior packages, but after stewing on it for a weekend I just got more and more pissed off. I called and told them I need a truck, at the absolute minimum I'll take an SUV. I left a voice mail with the rental manager and I will call back twice daily until I get it or at the absolute minimum a response I'm satisfied with.

I find it absolute horse shit that I go in to get a tire rotation and 2 hours later I'm driving home in a Camry. That's an unacceptable level of communication and the reason why I'm demanding to be upgraded. I use my truck as a truck very frequently, in fact I'm about to take a road trip to the mountains in Tennessee this week. Not only that, but I feel like demanding an upgraded rental is doing my small part to increase the pressure on Toyota.

I'm hopeful that a fix will be issued when Toyota supposedly informs owners via mail later this month. I'm concerned about the time frame of getting my truck back, but more concerning than that is the fact that I may have bought a dud of a vehicle that will have no resale value when it's all said and done. If there is an issue this serious so soon, I have no clue what the future holds.

This isn't the first issue I've had either. I'm having a very annoying squeak coming from the steering column/front left wheel when it's hot outside and I go over a bump or make a turn. I'm also having an annoying vibration coming from the speaker area on the front passenger side. On top of that, I saw another recall recently got issued as well. Very concerning.

 

Took mine in for the 15,000 service and service advisor told me I needed to schedule appointment for the rear end recall. Brought the truck in today for the recall and was told there is another recall for the crankshaft position sensor, but they don't have the fix yet.....

 

It sucks and it sours your experience with the vehicle and Toyota doesn't it? I've been dealing with issues since 300 miles into ownership.

I sincerely hope Toyota fixes these trucks sooner than later. The good news is: the value of the trucks doesn't seem to be impacted by any of this. I guess there are enough fanboys who will buy them and sing their praises even if the rear ends explodes or their hoods flutter in a breeze.

I checked on KBB to see what my truck would be worth, you know because I'm considering my options, and it's showing just $2-3k less than I paid. I'm not sure if I'd actually get that but its fairly decent all things considered.

As far as squeaking up front. A guy just posted a thread on bad frame mounts.. specifically up front like you are describing. Thats one part the dealership should have on hand.

 

No. Unless we are talking about the Hubble Telescope main mirrors, every surface will have imperfections.

It has nothing to do with fanboys, except on this forum lol. The fact is the vast majority of Tacoma owners don't have a clue of any issues. Why? They don't come to TW and they depend on their dealers - or Toyota - to give them factual information. I have a neighbor who has a 2016 Limited. He works and drives his truck. He doesn't come here and has no interest in anything "enthusiastic" about his truck. He is just an owner... like 90% of the people.

Some of these guys here get all bent out of shape when in reality it's just an issue. Pretty much every vehicle has some issues. The vaunted 4Runner has *gasp* issues. The Airbag recall is a cluster... and that is a real issue. The truth is the Tacoma is a good little truck. Sure, some issues are frustrating, especially to those unlucky few that have multiple issues. Overall though, most have no problem and are oblivious to the stuff that TW members live and die for.

 

Ok... to your first point, that's what the gasket is supposed to be for... to deal w/ the imperfections and make sure the seal is good.

To your second point... I understand that pretty much any manufactured product will have some issues somewhere at some time. What I have an issue with is the dealership (mine is terrible) and Toyota not having a solution to this issue and I call BS on that. At this point, you don't recall that many vehicles without having some idea of what is going on and having a start to the solution. Someone pointed out that there is probably a ton of paperwork that they are working on and I could actually believe that... that would make SOME sense at this point.

I remember when I was at the Canton plant when Nissan had the 4-cylinder piston ring issue and there were engines all over that plant in various degrees of dismantlement (is that a word?) and they worked their tails off to get them fixed. This was just to fix a leak and you could even check to see if the fluid was low and top it off. They knew what the problem was and fixed it... not too bad in my opinion.

What is Toyota doing on the trucks running off the line right now in Texas and Mexico? What are they doing differently to make sure that the rear diff is fine?? If they have a solution there, they know what the problem is and are using good parts now. So... if they know what the solution is for the trucks they are building now, why can't they tell us what we need to do w/ ours?

This issue on the rear diff ticks me off since I just want an answer and I'll fix it myself. Screw the dealership and Toyota... I had my dealership tell me the pictures I showed him of my leaking rear diff were not an issue and "your truck is 110% fine"... WTF?!?!

 

Right now there has been no official recall yet right? No official communication with owners from Toyota? Voluntary on Toyota's part. Let's say you are one of those 90% who are just regular owners, driving around fat, dumb and happy. Now, if you just happen to take it to the dealer, they will check it. Chances are there is nothing wrong and you go away. Now let's say you get it checked and there is an issue and they want to keep it and give you a rental. That's the worst I've heard so far. The vast majority though are just driving around now oblivious to any possible rear diff issue. They will continue to do so and in a month or so they will hear from Toyota WHEN TOYOTA HAS A FIX. They will schedule an appointment, go get it fixed in an hour and be on their way. That is what will happen to most owners.

 

I appreciate the info... will search the board for this and have it corrected by the dealer.

There's definitely a lot of fear mongering and emotions going on around here. My family has a lot of Hondas and Acuras which are considered very reliable by the general public. All of them have had several recalls. None of them have involved the hostage like takeover with indefinite course of action like this Tacoma recall which is where most of it is stemming from, but if it wasn't this issue it would be something else. I fully expect several more recalls over the life of the truck, but that was something I expect before I buy any vehicle.

My biggest issue, by far, is the lack of communication and the bait and switch pulled by my dealership. I called them 2 days before the appointment to reschedule for that Friday because I was going on a 1200 mile trip and wanted my tires rotated prior and they made absolutely no mention of it even then. Other than that, I've gotten recalls in the past, no big deal.

 

Mine was a "mis-aligned" front cab mount. Easy fix at the dealer.

G.

 

Yeah, but that same "CYA" will turn into a "Mea Culpa" for Toyota, should any diffs fail at any time after the date of releasing their recall information. Corporate seems to be swinging a double-edge sword here and I think they know it. Hence the hostage taking.

 

Does anyone know, are the late 2017 Tacoma TRD models free from recalls , I heard the late model are supposed to be recall free!

 

Sorry, but I don't think it is quite as common and simple of a fix as you make it out to be.

If it was common and simple they wouldn't need to be holding customer vehicles for over a month to get the common and simple fix installed.

I think there will be a lot more info coming out on this issue eventually, especially after the OR and MT trucks get included in the recall as they are experiencing the same issue albeit seemingly at a lower rate.

 

Oh it’s common alright.
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/07/22/bmw-stop-sale-m-cars-report/

“Originally, BMW said that approximately 202 vehicles were affected, but Bimmerpost reports that the number has now increased to around 3,800 cars. According to forum members, there is a possibility that a recall is in the near future, as some have taken delivery of affected vehicles produced during the time frame.”

When I first heard about our recall, I actually went underneath my vehicle to look at my diff to check for leaks and I found none.
I then started to walk away shaking my head, but then I realized that this wasn’t coming from the usual suspects here at TW, It was coming from Toyota. I therefore grabbed my tools, got underneath again to start to check and found some loose fasteners at the top.

And that was my oh chit moment!

The realization that after all that wolf crying here TW by the same usual suspects, the wolf was actually staring at me. And that may also explain why it hadn’t started to leak yet, but I proceeded to tighten them in sequence and torque stages.

So yeah, that’s all there’s to it, problem solved.

There’s going to (always) be a small percentage that will be subject to manufacturing defects, that’s just part of life, but it will be a very small number, probably way below 1% as per modern manufacturing expected standards.
And most if not all those (defects) I suspect will be here at TW.
Sadly when things are well, we most overwhelming don’t hear that, so there’s usually no balance in “the force” here.

But all will be well, of that I have no doubt because remember, the “Toyota force” is with us.
Cheers!

 

Then my question remains...

If it's so common and simple, why are they holding vehicles for over a month?

It's taking over a month to tighten some bolts to a correct torque value?

It's taking over a month to get a differential gasket?

If it just needs retorquing and a gasket, are there no bolts and gaskets available at the factory where they are assembled?

If that's all that's required, one would think Toyota would go so far as to put a hold on production to get the parts to vehicles that have already been sold, you know, to keep current customers who have already outlaid $$$ happy instead of trying to lure potential new customers who may or may not shell out $$$.

Holding vehicles for over a month for what is apparently $10 in parts is not a good way to lure potential new customers.

 

Absolutely no way corperate stops production to help current customers. That would hurt quarterly earnings.

It is very possible that the rear carrier is warped and Toyota is looking for a cheaper solution than replacing it.

 

Agreed that corporate would not stop production unless there is an inherent design flaw and every truck coming off the line is guaranteed to fail (with a large number before warranty expires).

But if the carrier is warped, it is not quite the common and simple fix.

 

Not all dealers are holding the vehicles, you can read that right here on this tread.

But some (stealers) obviously are for whatever reason, maybe they don’t quite understand the meaning and spirit of the directive, who knows, I can’t read those narrow minds or motives.
But I do know we don’t have a major sinister mass problem, just the usual few that will always have regardless of any recalls.

The one thing I do know for sure is that this is a simple operation gone fubar.