Front Suspension Lower Ball Joint problems of the 2001 Toyota Tundra

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right and front driver's side wheel detached from underneath the vehicle, causing the vehicle to skid across the highway before coming to a stop. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the front driver's side ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that there was damage to the subframe of the vehicle caused by the detached wheel. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 233,500.

The lower ball joints on these first generation Tundras are all prone to early failure when using any other brand than oem. I have talked to dozens of first gen owners and all agree the lower ball joints on the trucks are a huge weak point. I had my driver's side front wheel come off of my truck while turning down a street in a busy intersection, causing extensive damage to my Tundra. The wheel went about 50 feet and stopped by colliding with a parked car. The suspension of my truck also caused damage to the road.

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. While driving approximately 5 mph, the front passenger side wheel detached from the axle and caused the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the lower ball joint on the front passenger side failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The dealer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 05v225000 (suspension). The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.

While traveling very slowly down a smooth, dry dirt road my driver's side lower ball joint snapped. Luckily I wasn't going fast in traffic. The truck is at a repair shop right now. I contacted Toyota's customer service, but haven't gotten a reply. On Toyota's offical web site I entered my VIN to search for outstaning recalls and got this answer, " there are no open safety recalls or special service campaigns for your vehicle. " after an internet search, I learned very quickly that this is common with first generation Tundras. Why on earth hasn't Toyota addressed this issue. I'm very thankful that I was going slow and nobody was hurt or killed. With the number driver's side lower ball joint failures being reported, there are surely that many more that are not being reported. How can Toyota legally not admit there is a flaw and make these trucks safe for it's customers to drive?.

Was driving home on a 2-lane rural highway when I heard a very loud bang and found my vehicle scraping and skidding down the road for approximately 100 ft. Fortunately, no one was coming from the other direction and no one was behind me. Wound up in the middle of the road. Managed to force the truck onto the left shoulder. After getting out, found the left front wheel flat on the road and jammed up inside the wheel well. Upon further inspection found that the left lower ball joint had snapped off at the bolt holding it onto the a-frame. Out of warranty. Toyota says they won't do anything to help. Looked on internet and found many, many similar experiences with 2001 Tundras. Have scrupulously maintained this vehicle since I bought it new in 2001. This should not be allowed to happen. I could have been killed and I could have killed others. There should be a recall issued re. This problem as has occurred with later year Tundras and Toyota should be held responsible to pay for repairing my truck.

Vehicle was being driven approx. 35 mph when ball joint failure occurred. Lower passenger side ball joint was at fault. Ball under socket separated allowing tire to swing 90 degrees and jam under frame. Cv axle was torn from front differential housing upon failure. Differential oil loss occurred. Tie rod, upper ball joint and brake line remained intact. Body damage resulted on front passenger fender.

This is not a complaint, however, I was wondering if there was/is a recall on lower ball joints for 4by2, 4. 7 litre Toyota Tundras, model year 2001.

There was no warning of an impending failure. While traveling on a straight level interstate highway at 70 mph the front driver-side wheel collapsed under the vehicle. Control was regained and the vehicle was negotiated to the shoulder. Since the front suspension was recently serviced, I suspected an installation error. I later discovered that the lower ball joint had separated. Having not been informed of a multi-year recall, I was unaware of the potential danger that could have been corrected for under $300 during the last servicing. Current repairs are being made at a cost of over $3000.

On January 2, 2010 the right front wheel fell off due to a failure of the lower ball joint. The wheel happened to come off of the vehicle while I was driving less than 25 mph. My vehicle is a 2001 Toyota Tundra, 8 cylinder 4 wheel drive truck. I demand that the government take appropriate action to prevent death and injury from this apparent defect.

I own a 2001 Toyota Tundra sr5 4wd truck. My vehicle was parked outside my house and I was planning on repositioning it so that I could put some things in the bed. I pulled forward about 10 feet and all of the sudden I heard a breaking noise and then a loud scrapping noise coming from the front passenger side of the truck. I immediately stopped the vehicle and got out to inspect what had happened. I noticed that the lower suspension was broken and had separated itself from the tire wheel assembly. When it broke off some parts had grinded/scraped the inside of the wheel. After some research I learned that it was the front lower ball joint that had broken and separated from the knuckle. Luckily, I had an empty unloaded vehicle and wasn't driving fast so no accident occurred, but evaluating the damage it wouldn't be hard to believe how large and devastating this could have been if I had a fully loaded truck and was driving on the freeway. I'm not sure how much it will be to repair and/or replace the parts yet. However, Toyota has been reluctant to resolve this problem.

My son was driving my 2001 Tundra 4x4, on highway 1, west of watsonville California, at approximately 65 mph on straight and level freeway the left front lower ball joint failed detaching, except for brake lines, the left front wheel. The vehicle skidded on what was left of the ball joint assembly and he was able to control the vehicle to the center median. The truck sustained minor body damage and luckily no injuries to my son or the passenger. Toyota has agreed to repair the damaged ball joint but not the body damage or the non damaged ball joint. I am not comfortable driving the vehicle any longer.

My husband first noticed a vibration and said that the steering felt odd in our 2001 Tundra. He was then suddenly surprised when the driver's side front wheel detached and the driver's side front end slammed to the ground. He was lucky because he was driving at a low rate of speed on a secondary road and no collision or injuries occurred. Just minutes before he was driving on a main congested road at a higher rate of speed and this could have caused a major collision and substantial injuries. The Tundra was taken to the local toyato dealer in our town of boone, nc. It has been determined that the lower and upper ball joints separated. We are in the process of contacting Toyota to see why a recall has not been placed and if they are willing to do anything for us. It seems as if there are many reports of this problem and nothing has been done. I cannot believe that Toyota has not recalled these trucks when peoples lives are at risk.

In may 2005, Toyota recalled 775,000 pickups and SUV's because of possibility of excessive wear to a front suspension lower ball joint; however they only recalled 2002-2004 and recently 533,000 2004-2006 Tundra trucks. This is an accident waiting to happen. The Tundra 2000-2001 are made from the same casting that the 2002-2004 and yet, Toyota never made an effort of thinking of anyone safe when the lower ball joint snap out when people are driving the vehicle. Just as mind did on 27 of March 2007 which pinned the left tire under truck. It took nearly 1 hour to place the truck on tow truck, due too the damage. I would like a investigation which would expose Toyota for ignoring their lialbilty to properly recall their defects on the 2000-2001 lower front left and right suspension lower ball joint. Thank you. The cost is about $5000. 00 parts and labor.

Was about to merge on to freeway when drivers side front wheel broke away from vehicle due to lower ball joint failure. Towed to dealership where vehicle was purchased, and service advisor stated that some Tundras were under recall for this same malfunction but not mine. Extended warranty covers parts that malfunctioned but not the body damage caused by the malfunctioned part(s). Called Toyota to complain about situation, and was informed that the damages to my vehicle, including damage to driver side door, driver side front fender and front bumper were my responsibility and not Toyota's, because they have no previous campaigns or records of this incident with my year model truck.

Driving my 2001 Toyota Tundra at speed about 10 to 15 mph. Had rapid increasing difficulty steering, suddenly the right front wheel (driver's side) broke off and truck slid to a stop. I looked at what had happened and found the lower ball joint /arm had broken off and the truck fell on to wheel. I could not steer and lucky, was on a side road. The truck was towed to the Toyota dealer. Repair cost estimate is pending at this time.

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. While driving 10 mph she felt a bump that caused the vehicle to stop without warning. The contact noticed the driver front tire disengaged. The dealer stated that the left lower ball was weakened and worn. They also stated that the axle was damaged. The dealer replaced the lower ball joint, the axle and the tie rod end. Approximately a year and half later the contact experienced the same problem; however, it was the passenger side ball joint, axle and tie rod end. There is a recall for the 2002 Toyota Tundra for the lower ball joint (recall #05v225000). The contact felt her vehicle should be included. The failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 140,000.

Driving north on alvernon in the left lane between 37th and palo verde the front left wheel of the 2001 Toyota Tundra separated from the vehicle. The wheel remained under the vehicle attached to the front drive shaft. Failure of the ball joints is suspected. Approximate speed was 40 mph. After separation the vehicle tracked straight for approximate 100 feet, I then controlled the vehicle and move to the far side of the right lane and stopped. Damage to the front wheel drive system, wheel, front bumper, front left panel, abs system and other expected damage occurred. No damage to other vehicles on the road or significant property damage other than damage to the roadway. At this time there are not related physical damage or injury to myself (I was alone when this occurred) or anyone else. Toyota at this time has refused to make repairs of the vehicle due to this mechanical failure. There is a recall NHTSA campaign id 05v225000 for this type of failure, but currently does not include the 2001 year for this make and model.

(1) I left my work at 6:00 am the morning of sept. 22 . I had only gone approx. 2 miles at about 50 mph, when all of a sudden the vehicle started shaking and sparks were flying from under the vehicle until I could get it off the road and stopped. (2) I got out to see what had happened and found the driver side tire off and wedged under the front of the car. I was really shaken about this. In another 10 minutes I would have been driving home through a real windy canyon drive that I commute about 54 miles one-way to work, with mountain on one side and a canyon with river on the other. I definitely could have been killed. We found the lower ball joint down the road . It had been completely sheered at the thread area. I called the bakersfield Toyota dealership and my 2001 Tundra was not covered for this. I also called the Toyota manufacturer and it was not covered for this. I have taken excellent care of my Tundra. I had no clue as to a problem with my ball joints. The ball joint shouldn't have failed like this. (3) I had my Tundra towed to a local brake and front end shop and had the work done there. I had both the upper and lower ball joints on both sides done. It cost me $624. 00.

Brakes and ball joint failure of Toyota Tundra lim. 4door 4. 7l 8 cylinder 4x4 right side wheel came off and hit two persons on the shoulder of the highway in which one was killed.

Vehicle was driving roughly and consumer was able to pull over. Consumer noticed that the right passenger's side wheel collapsed inward. Had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that both driver's side and passenger's side ball joints needed to be replaced. The consumer stated that the lower ball joint failed.

Safety complaint on Toyota Tundras - lower ball joint failures resulting in front wheel to come off vehicle while driving. This failure results in severe damage to front-end of trucks and could result in debilitating or fatal accidents! three known cases in charleston, west virginia area!.