2001 Toyota Tundra Steering Problems

On September 4, 2025, I brought my 2001 Toyota Tundra to Midas at 5325 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002 for an oil change and inspection. Midas advertises a “Closer Look Vehicle Check,” which includes checking steering, suspension, and wheels. Their inspection report marked the steering system as “OK” and only noted mild shock wear. Less than a month later, while exiting the highway, the lower ball joint failed completely, causing the front suspension and wheel to detach. I immediately lost steering control. Fortunately, this occurred at low speed; had it happened moments earlier on the highway, it could have caused a major collision or fatalities. The failed component (lower ball joint and related suspension parts) is still available for inspection. An independent mechanic later confirmed that the joint was severely worn and the failure appeared to be due to long-term deterioration that should have been detected during Midas’s inspection. No warning lights or indicators appeared before the failure. The incident endangered my life, my passengers’ safety, and other drivers on the road. The business has refused to take responsibility or cover repair costs, which currently total over $2,400, despite their advertised inspection and guarantee. This raises serious concerns that Midas and potentially other service locations may be failing to properly inspect critical suspension components, which poses a major public safety hazard.

LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL BROKE LOOSE FROM LOWER CONTROL ARM

FRAME ROT HOLES AND PARTS OF FRAME ROTTED THU ALSO POWER STERRING RACK AND ALL LINES LEAKING THU PUMP RAN OUT OF FLUID ALSO THE FRAME ON DRIVERS SIDE AT FT MOUNT FOR STEP RAIL HOLES RIGHT THU FRAME AND AT FRONT LE4FT FROME RAL HOLE BIG HOLE

MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDDA WAS PART OF THE FRAME SERVICE CAMPAIGN. UPON RECEIVING NOTICE I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN INSPECTION AND MY FRAME WAS COATED IN THE PROTECTIVE COATING SUPPLIED BY TOYOTA AT THE TOYOTA DEALER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM. IN THE YEARS TO COME THAT COATING WOULD FALL OFF AND MY TRUCK FRAME WOULD CONTINUE TO RUST. IN AUGUST OF 2018 I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO SAID A HOLE HAS RUSTED IN THE FRAME NEAR THE GAS TANK. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT HER PROBLEM SINCE THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED. I RECEIVED THIS SAME INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND TOYOTA CORPORATE. IN ADDITION TO THE HOLE IN THE FRAME BOTH POWER STEERING LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND SO DID THE POWER STEERING RACK. TOYOTA'S ATTEMPT AT FIXING THE PROBLEM FAILED AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A TRUCK THAT HAS A COMPROMISED FRAME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE PUTTING MYSELF OR MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE AS IT WON'T BE AS STRONG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND KEEPING THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY RESULT IN FURTHER DETERIORATION OF THE FRAME. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AND EITHER BUY THE TRUCK BACK OR FIX THE FRAME AND THEY NEED TO DO THIS FOR AL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

DECEMBER 2017 - SHOP INFORMED ME OF SERIOUS FRAME CORROSION/PERFORATION, I CALLED TOYOTA CORP. WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DEALER INSPECTED MARCH 2018 INFORMED ME NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE AS THE FRAME WAS UNSAFE. DEALER WOULD NOT RELEASE VEHICLE TO ME WITHOUT ME SIGNING THEIR FORM ABOUT UNSAFE VEHICLE. I PHONED TOYOTA CORP. AND WAS TOLD NO ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE / LEGIT? THE MAIN FRAME HAS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE - AND COMPANY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGN AND PRODUCTION/ALLOY ERRORS?

LOWER DRIVERS SIDE BALL JOINT POPPED OUT GOING DOWN HYWAY. TIRE ENDED UP COLLAPSING IN ON DRIVERS FENDER DOOR AND BROKE CV SHAFT AND TWISTED A ARMS. VERY DANGEROUS. NO PRIOR SIGN OF CLUNKING OR POPPING.

MY POWER STEERING STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. UPON CHECKING MY POWER STEERING FLUID AND ADDING SOME THERE WAS IMPROVEMENT, BUT I NOTICED I WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RUST ON THE UNDERNEATH OF THE TRUCK WAS SO SIGNIFICANT AND THAT A HOLE HAD ACTUALLY RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THE LEAKAGE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME AND ACTUALLY SHOWED ME ALL OF THE RUST CONCERNS. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE FRAME AND OTHER HARDWARE PARTS ON THE UNDERNEATH OF THE TRUCK. TOYOTA NOTIFIED ME OF 2011 THAT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS AND REQUEST I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A COMPOUND PLACED ON THE FRAME TO PREVENT FURTHER RUSTING. I DID COMPLETE THIS AS REQUESTED, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THAT THE COMPOUND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SPORADICALLY PLACED AND THAT IT BASICALLY DID NO GOOD. THE RUST ISSUE IS SIGNIFICANT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ONCE I KNEW THE ISSUE WAS RUST RELATED AND AFTER TALKING WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT HEADQUARTERS. HE BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME UNLESS TOYOTA ISSUED ANOTHER FRAME RECALL. HE SAID THE COMPANY WAS CONSIDERING IT, BUT NO ISSUE HAS CAME OUT. I THEN STATED THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE, BUT IS NOT SURE IF THEY WANT TO OWN UP TO IT AND ADDRESS IT. THIS WAS NOT DENIED BY THE REPRESENTATIVE I WAS SPEAKING WITH. IN ADDITION TO THE FRAME RUST, THERE ARE OTHER HARDWARE RUST ISSUE THAT ARE OF SAFETY CONCERN. ANY LINE THAT CARRIES FLUID UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK IS IN DANGER OF RUSTING THROUGH. ALSO, THERE IS A STEERING MECHANISM WITH SIGNIFICANT RUST AND IF FOR SOME REASON THE BOLTS COMPLETELY RUST OFF THEN I LOSE CONTROL OF ALL STEERING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS. *TR

MY POWER STEERING BLEW OUT. IT BEGAN SQUEALING VERY LOUDLY AND LOSING FLUID RAPIDLY. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK 7-8 YEARS AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. TODAY, A MECHANIC TELLS ME IT'S RUSTED OUT AND I NEED A NEW POWER STEERING RACK, PRESSURE LINE AND BUSHINGS. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY SIMILAR (IDENTICAL...) TO ISSUES I'VE READ BEFORE CONCERNING THE TUNDRA AND THE RECALL OF THE RUSTED FRAME. ON 1/4/2013 @ 158,495 MILES, I HAD ROHRICH TOYOTA ADDRESS THE RECALL FOR THE FRAME RUST CORROSION. THE CURRENT POWER STEERING ISSUE MAY VERY WELL BE RELATED TO THE RUST ISSUE THAT LEAD TO THE 2012 RECALL. *TR

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. *TR

TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR A FRONT END INSPECTION DUE TO A STEERING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY STIFF DURING TURNING AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. ASKED FOR A THOROUGH FRONT END INSPECTION OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED STEERING LINKAGES, ETC. DEALER ADVISED THAT ALL WAS OK BUT THAT FRONT END WOULD NEED TO BE ALIGNED. PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE UPON RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE. DROVE ANOTHER 600 + MILES AND WHILE DRIVING TO A LOCAL BUSINESS AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND WEDGED UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HOUSING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED AND THE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR. AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AS A COMPLAINT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT DISCOVER THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS IN THEIR CARE FOR A STEERING/FRONT END DISCREPANCY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH TODAY, DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 - 2004 TUNDRA FRONT END. *TR

THE 1ST GENERATION TOYOTA TUNDRA'S ARE RUST BUCKETS. I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA W/ APPROX 101,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER RECALL: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS). THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED (FRAME IS BEING REPLACED). BUT THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE STEERING RACK AND HOSE CONNECTIONS ARE ROTTED OUT AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT -> $1300. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR E-BRAKE PIVOTS ARE RUSTED/FROZEN AND WILL ALSO NEED REPLACING ->> $450. IN A NUTSHELL, THE FRAME, THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES ARE ALL RUSTED OUT - IT APPEARS THAT SAFETY WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION IS NEGLIGENT AND THAT CONSUMERS ARE LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR POORLY ENGINEERED PRODUCTS THAT ARE PRONE TO EARLY RUST-OUT. ON-LINE FORUMS ARE FILLED WITH THREADS FROM OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

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. *TR

I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE TRUCK FROM KINGS TOYOTA, AFTER THEY HAD PUT A NEW FRAME ON THE TUNDRA; WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES WHEN I HAD TO USE FORCE TO STEER VEHICLE. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK. MY RACK WAS SO CORRODED. THERE WERE HOLES WITH LEAKS THROUGHOUT, BUT ONE HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL. TOOK TRUCK BACK TO DEALER (VERY ANGRY), WHERE THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW RACK. IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR. *TR

TOYOTA'S TUNDRA CORROSION RECALL FOCUSES ON THE FRAME, FUEL TANK MOUNTING, AND SPARE TIRE MOUNTING HARDWARE. IF THE FRAME HAS NO PERFORATIONS AND THE FUEL TANK SUSPENSION AND SPARE TIRE MOUNTING ARE SOUND, THE TRUCK IS DETERMINED TO BE SAFE. MY TUNDRA HAS BEEN SO INSPECTED BY A DEALER, PASSED THEIR TEST, AND FOUND TO BE "SAFE.". MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE VEHICLE'S UNDERCARRIAGE SHOWS EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF FRAME, STEERING, AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF TOYOTA'S RECALL. THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION IS SO GREAT THAT IT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE POTENTIAL FOR A SUSPENSION OR STEERING COMPONENT TO FAIL DURING OPERATION, LEADING TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND INJURY TO PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF SEVERAL CORROSION SITES ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY TRUCK THAT ILLUSTRATE MY CONCERN. I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO A BODY SHOP FOR EVALUATION AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT SAFE. TOYOTA'S RECALL DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FULL RANGE OF SAFETY ISSUES BROUGHT ON BY THEIR CORROSION PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO INSPECT ALL OF THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS SUBJECT TO THE EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND EITHER DETERMINE THEY ARE SAFE OR REPAIR THEM. IF MY DIGITAL PHOTOS WOULD ASSIST YOU IN UNDERSTANDING MY CONCERN, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU. THANK YOU! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER RECALL: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS RUSTED AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE . THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA WHICH HAD THE FRAME REPLACED FOR A RUST RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP, EXCEPT THE STEERING RACK WHICH IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RUST AND CAN'T BE DRIVEN UNLESS I REPLACE IT FOR APPROX $1,300 DOLLARS... TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE RUSTED COMPONENTS AND NOT SEND UNSAFE VEHICLES BACK ON THE ROAD. *TR

NOTICED OIL IN DRIVE WAY LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND NOTICE MY STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND STABILIZER LINKS WERE RUSTED OFF. TOOK TO MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS AND HE INFORMED ME MY WHOLE EXHAUST WAS RUSTED AS WELL AS THE BODY. TOOK TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BACK IN 2009 FOR BODY RUST RECALL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK. I NOW NO THAT WAS NOT TRUE. *TR

MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA WAS JUST TAKEN TO BE INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA OF NEWPORT DEALER THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. ALSO, TIRE CROSS MEMBERS EXHAUST SYSTEM CROSSOVER PIPES AND POWER STEERING FRAME RUSTED OUT AND IS LEAKING. I CALLED TOYOTA HOT LINE AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. *TR

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT HERE, LET ME CLARIFY THAT FIRST OF ALL. I AM BEGINNING TO READ QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE 2000-2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA VEHICLES IN COLD WEATHER STATES, EXPERIENCING AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST. I LIVE IN MARYLAND AND CURRENTLY OWN A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5 4WD. MY VEHICLE HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. AFTER THE FIRST YEAR THE RUST STARTED, I HAVE USED AT LEAST A CASE OF RUST-OLEUM TO COUNTER THE EFFECTS OF THE RUST. MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS THE APPEARANCE OF MY STEERING COLUMN (LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD) THIS METAL SHAFT IS ENGROSSED IN RUST. I OWN A 1987 BUICK WITH 117,000 MILES ON IT THAT DOES LOOK NO WHERE NEAR THIS BAD. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS COULD AT SOME POINT POSE A SAFETY RISK. JUST TODAY I CALLED THE TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AT 800-331-4331 AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE FRAME RUST, BUT SAID THAT I WAS ON MY OWN WITH ANY OTHER RUST. THEY TOLD ME TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ONLY ACKNOWLEDGED RUST PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA TACOMAS. I JUST WANTED NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THIS . THANKS *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE STEERING WOULD ALSO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY. MOREOVER, THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING OIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS UNSAFE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 173,744. UPDATED 08/19/09 *BF THE REAR CROSS MEMBERS WERE RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH ENDS. THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED OUT AND LEAKED OIL. UPDATED 08/20/09.*JB