2016 drive shaft breaking

Need some help trying to understand why a drive shaft in a 2016 Tacoma (2wd automatic) with under 40k miles would break off and the rear differential catch fire. I’ve attatched pictures of the break.

I started noticing a mild noise anytime I would press the accelerator past about 45mph. After about a week my vehicle seized up on the highway for a second but then righted itself. As soon as I exited I heard my drive shaft dragging on the pavement and when I pulled over to look there was flames coming from the rear differential.

I know there was a recall on leaky differential and I supposedly had it replaced at my dealship months ago. They haven’t given me a real answer yet as to why this happened but they are trying to say that it was not manufacture error and not covered under warranty but I don’t see any other explanation for it.

 

Tell me you're joking

 

Man I wish....

 

You can see fluid dripping from the drain plug. Has it been doing that?

 

The pinion bearing looks dry, low diff oil due to a leak? Re-read you had the recall done, did they forget to put oil in, lol?

No oil would cause the bearing to overheat and fail. That would lock up the diff, causing the drives shaft to shear.

 

I don’t know if that’s actually leaking. Like I said it was on FIRE! Lucky for me I had a water bottle with me that day that I used to put the fire out. It must have been leaking though to cause that much heat and friction to snap the drive shaft off though right?

 

Yup my thoughts exactly

 

Sub'ed

 

Wow, how can the dealer claim it isn't covered by warranty when they did recall work on the diff? I'd bet someone messed up and forgot to fill it after the work.

 

You can see drips below the drain plug. It leaked dry, binded, caught, and sheared the driveshaft off. Just like @Critical05 said. I'd guess the dealer didn't tighten the bolt enough or there's two crush washers.

@Shaft356 you should post no more about this and talk to another dealership, following up with what they do. Threads like this get out of control. Toyota will 100% cover this, I guarantee it. On a new truck like this with no clear abuse that they recently serviced the diff on... It's their fault.

I see this getting a thread lock, there is nothing productive that can come of the discussion. Just go to Toyota, no need to speculate more.

 

recall recall recall out of fluid

 

Sub'ed , but I would agree with others, there is no or vary little oil there. If Toyota did the recall and no one has touched it since, I would be going after them.

 

Yup, dry as a bone!!!

 

Definitely. Maybe come back here in a six months or so and let us know how it worked out, but until then refrain from saying to much.

 

Damn dude you got shafted

 

Subd for outcome. Hopefully this thread doesn't turn into a shit show and doesn't get locked.


But like stated above they did recall, call corporate and try a different dealer. No way that's not their screw up

 

Wow, the recall was exactly so THIS does not happen because it could have resulted in a fatal crash.

The dealership monkeys who worked on this diff should be fired. Sue the dealership for negligence and they just might. Be sure to document everything from here on out and as far back as you can so their lawyers can't fight it

 

Excellent advice through and through.
Nothing else needs to be said.
If the other dealer does not come through, contact corporate. Have all your paperwork and dates on hand.