Front Suspension Lower Ball Joint problems of the 2002 Toyota Tacoma

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while traveling 25 mph, the front passenger side wheel separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was confirmed that the ball joint had failed, similar tothe defect listed in NHTSA campaign id number: 05v225000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 220,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for routine maintenance when the mechanic advised that the frame was corroded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for further inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised that the VIN qualified for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 05v225000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) but the recall was expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 88,500 and the current mileage was 89,000.

While driving away from my house at 5mph, at night in the rain, approximately 200 feet from my driveway and just after a speed bump, I heard and felt a loud noise, like driving over a concrete block. I stopped the truck and using a flashlight saw that the wheel was bent at an angle and the lower ball joint was completely sheared off. Had to call a tow truck to get it out of the road and back to our driveway.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact was driving approximately 20 mph and attempting a right turn when the frame fractured from the vehicle, leaving the wheel connected by the brake line only. The vehicle was towed to the contacts place of residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they confirmed that there was a recall for that year, make and model (NHTSA campaign id number: 05v225000-suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) but the recall did not include his VIN. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

2002 Toyota Tacoma. Consumer states as he attempted to make a right turn, the front end of the vehicle fell apart while driving. Axle dug into the street causing the ball joints to separate from their knuckle sleeves. Suspension fell apart damaging the vehicle. The consumer stated the only thing holding the tire to the vehicle was the brake line. The consumer was advised his vehicle identification was not a part of the recall.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving 15 mph, he heard a loud pop while turning right and lost control of the vehicle. The contact pulled over. He noticed that the front passenger side tire disconnected from the lower control arm and folded beneath the passenger side fender. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop. The contact was informed that recall 05v225000 (suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint) did not include his vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. While the contact was traveling out of a curve in the road at approximately 25 mph, the wheel suddenly disengaged and rolled underneath the front driver side door. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they informed that the failure was related to the lower ball joint. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number 05v225000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint). The lower ball joint failure caused other damages to the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 156,0000.

My wife & I were traveling into bakersfield, (we're from arvin, CA) along bear mt. Blvd. On sat. Sept. 5, 2009 around 4:00 p. M. At about 60 mph and it became difficult for me to steer. Instead of going on the freeway, I decided to take an alternate rt. I came to a stop and began turning left at approx. 5- 10 mph & the r front tire folded out & the lower ball joint snapped. Luckily no one was hurt. We had to have the truck towed home. I ordered the lower ball joints on line so I could replace them. This is because when I contacted the Toyota dealership they informed me that my truck was not one on the recall list for this defective part. I am furious. I believe Toyota is liable for my damages. Before this occurred, I heard a few clicking & grinding sounds & thought maybe my power steering was going out. I had no idea it was ball joint failure, or I wouldn't have been driving it. I have my old defective parts. I also have another witness to this incidence besides my wife. He lives across the street from where this occurred & heard the loud boom when the truck hit the ground. I hope you look into this matter, as I would hate for someone else to experience what we did.

I was not notified of several recalls on my 2002 Toyota Tacoma truck.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received a recall notice regarding the front suspension lower ball joints. He took the vehicle to the dealer and had it repaired at approximately 100,000 miles. Six months later, while driving approximately 20 mph, he suddenly lost control of the steering. He was able to decelerate and pull to the side of the road. He then noticed that the wheel was detached from the steering assembly. Currently, the vehicle remains at the failure location. The VIN, engine size, number of cylinders, and recall number were unknown. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 104,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received recall notice # 05v225000 (suspension: lower ball joint). He has made three attempts to have the vehicle repaired, but he keeps getting the runaround. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 53,000.

Consumer complaint regarding safety issue with ball joints. *** no answer required*** updated 11/7/2005 - the consumer had problems with the Toyota dealer therefore decided to take his vehicle to a non-Toyota dealer to have recall on the lower ball joint repaired (recall number 05v225000). The consumer request reimbursement form the manufacturer since he had to pay for the replacement.

The consumer stated that 2002 Toyota Tacoma was involved in a crash on may 20, 2005. The driver heard noises in the front end, like a clicking sound. The consumer was making a left hand turn and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle flipped upon its side. The consumer sustained some minor injuries. The consumer later received NHTSA recall 05v225000 concerning lower ball joints. The consumer contacted the manufacturer, and they said they will make an appointment for the parts to be replaced from the recall, and they would do their own inspection. Toyota called the consumer today with the report. They found nothing wrong with the front end or the ball joints. The consumer was upset that he could not see the joint balls that were replaced. He thought that he was cheated in the fact that he could not see the joints before Toyota took them. The consumer wanted to do his own inspection on the parts. He noticed that there was power steering fluid leaking, and he thought that the powering steering was under stress. A police and insurance reports were taken. . The vehicle has not been repaired as of now. The speed was between 25-35 mph when the crash occurred.

While driving 10 mph consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Consumer was able to pull over and noticed that passenger's front tire fell off. Vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the upper and lower ball joints needed to be replaced.

Info copy ltr fwd to Toyota regarding front suspension lower ball joint recall, customer dissatisfied w/quality of current Toyota vehicles. The consumer stated he experienced steering problems and the front end of the vehicle was loose. The consumer traded the vehicle on June 4, 2005 and 4 months she received a recall letter in the mail.