Special Service Campaign (Safety Recall)
Certain 2000 through 2003 Model Year Toyota Tundra Vehicles in Severe Cold Climate States
Excessive Corrosion of the Rear Cross-Member (Spare Tire Carrier)
******URGENT******
On November 16, 2009, Toyota filed a Defect Information Report (DIR) with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) informing the agency of our intent to conduct a voluntary Safety Recall on certain 2000 - 2003
Model Year Toyota Tundra vehicles registered in specific Severe Cold Climate States. Only vehicles registered in the
following 20 Severe Cold Climate States and the District of Columbia are affected.
CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI & WV
Condition
On certain 2000 through 2003 model year Tundra vehicles operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use
(Severe Cold Climate States) excessive corrosion may be exhibited on the rear cross-member. In the worst case, the
spare tire stowed under the truck bed may become separated from the rear cross-member. Eventually, excessive
corrosion of the rear cross-member may also affect the functionality of the rear brake line at the proportioning valve.
Exposure to cold climate and high road salt usage conditions are primary contributors. This is unrelated to, and
separate from normal surface rust which is commonly found on metallic surfaces after some years of usage and/or
exposure to the environment.
There are approximately 110,000 Toyota Tundra (model year 2000 2003) vehicles registered in the Severe Cold
Climate States.
Status
Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by first class mail starting in December, 2009. They will be instructed
to bring their vehicles to a Toyota dealer for an initial inspection of the rear cross-member. During this inspection, the
rear cross member including the surrounding components such as the brake line at the proportioning valve (which is
mounted on the cross-member assembly) will also be inspected. Based upon the inspection, Toyota will do one of the
following at no charge to vehicle owners:
1. If there is no significant corrosion of the rear cross member assembly, the owner will be notified of that fact and
told that he or she will subsequently be requested to bring the vehicle back to the dealership so that a corrosionresistant
compound can be applied to the rear cross-member when it becomes available.
2. If significant corrosion is detected such that the rear cross-member can no longer safely support the spare tire
and replacement components are available, the rear cross-member assembly will be replaced.
3. If significant corrosion is detected such that the rear cross-member can no longer safely support the spare tire
and replacement components are not available, a temporary solution, such as the removal of the spare tire and
relocating it to the truck bed or other area, will be performed until parts are available. The owner will be notified
as soon as parts are available.
4. In those relatively rare cases where the rear cross-member is significantly corroded and can no longer safely
support the spare tire, but the rear cross-member cannot be replaced due to excessive frame corrosion at the
mounting locations (e.g., if the side rails are too damaged), Toyota will develop an appropriate remedy for those
vehicles.
Owners of subject vehicles in other states will receive a separate notification including details on how to obtain an
inspection if they desire. Toyota will perform the same inspection and repair for those vehicles at no charge as well.
A dealer package which includes detailed technical instructions and reimbursement procedures will be sent to you in
December, 2009. Owner notifications will begin in December 2009, following the dealer notification.
