2004 Toyota Tundra Transmission Problems

VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES AND THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM SEEM TO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND PROCEEDING DOWN AN INCLINE, TRAVELLING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED.

VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE DOWN A STEEP HILL AND NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED TO DO TO STOP THE VEHICLE NOTHING HAPPENED. IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE RIGHT HAND TURN. VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLED OVER AND REVERSED IT'S POSITION. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS TRAPPED IN A RUNNING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE LEAKING AND UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HAD TO WAIT 30N MINUTES FOR EMS/FIRE RESCUE TO ARRIVE. EXTRICATION TOOK ANOTHER 25-30 MINUTES. TRANSPORTED TO TRAUMA CENTER, YORK, PA.

REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS LEAKING OIL. EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED AND SNAPPED. THE RIMS HAVE OXIDATED. LEAF SPRINGS HAVE ALSO RUSTED VERY BADLY.

VEHCILE WAS REACLLED AND THE FRAME WAS REPAIRED FOR POTENTIAL ROT. NOW HE REAR DIFFERENTAIL IS ROTTING OUT AND LEAKING OIL. IT APPEARS TO BE AN EXTENSION OF THE RECALL FOR THE ROTTING FRAME. LOOKING TO SEE IF THER HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS SIMILAR

LEAKING OIL OUT OF MY REAR AXLE HOUSING IT IS ON THE MILD STEEL THAT IS WELDED TO THE CAST AXLE VERY POROUS LEAKING A LOT OF OIL

MY FRAME IS RUSTING ALMOST INTO, I DON'T THINK IT WAS INSPECTED WELL, AND NOW THE REAR AXLE HOUSING IS RUSTED SO BAD IT'S LEAKING FLUID

FRAME RUSTING AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING OUT. FRAME IS CORRODING FROM RUST. REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEVERAL PIN HOLES CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. THESE ARE BOTH KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE GEN 1 TUNDRA'S. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THE FRAME RECALL CAMPAIGN ENDED IN 2015. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE FRAME RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL FRO THE DIFFERENTIAL BUT THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR TUNDRA'S USED IN NE USA WHEREBY ROAD SALT IS USED IN WINTER. THE SALT CAUSES FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL RUST BECAUSE MATERIAL USED BY TOYOTA IS OF POOR CORROSION RESISTANCE QUALITY. THE CONSUMER IIS ON THEIR OWN. TOYOTA WON'T DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH IT'S THEIR FAILURE TO BUILD THE VEHICLE FIT FOR IT'S INTENDED USE.

THE FRAME IS RUSTING APART. THE REAR END HAS RUST HOLE THROUGH IT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION BECAUSE IT HAD QUARTER SIZE HOLE RUSTED THROUGH IT.

TAKATA RECALL REAR HOUSING HAS MANY PIN HOLES AND IS LEAKING GEAR LUBE

RUSTED REAR DIFFERENTIAL. RUSTED FRAME AT FRONT RIGHT SWAY BAR. CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM JUST LIKE THE 2003 MODEL. I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE I CAN'T DRIVE.

TOYOTA RECALLED MY TUNDRA FOR A RUSTED FRAME. DEALER TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN APRIL. THEY PROVIDED A RENTAL CAR, BUT NO OTHER UPDATE OR CONTACT UNTIL A WEEK AGO WHEN THE FRAME ARRIVED. NOW NEARLY COMPLETE, THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $8000 FOR ADDITIONAL PARTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL WHICH THEY CLAIM IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE VEHICLE PASS INSPECTION AND ROADWORTHY YET MANY OF THESE PARTS WERE UNAFFECTED PRIOR TO THE RECALL. AT NO TIME DID TOYOTA EVER INFORM US OF ADDITIONAL COSTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. TWO OF THE ITEMS ARE CRITICAL TO THE VALUE AND DRIVABILITY OF THE CAR. THEY INCLUDE THE REAR AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL WHICH I BELIEVE FAILED DUE TO THE SAME RUSTED ISSUES AS THE FRAME. THE ADDITIONAL PARTS AFFECTED WERE THE BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKES SEIZED FROM 6 MONTHS OF NON USE AND MAINTENANCE BY THE DEALER, THE REAR BRAKES WERE FAILED BY FLUID LEAK FROM REAR AXLE WHILE IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER FOR 6 MONTHS. IN SHORT, AFTER GETTING A NEW FRAME, THE DEALER WAS HOLDING TRYING TO CHARGE $8000 IN EXTRA REPAIRS OR THEY WOULD RETURN ME A TRUCK THAT HAD A NEW FRAME BUT WAS STILL INOPERABLE IN THE CONDITION UNDER WHICH IT WAS STORED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE AND RETURNING IT IN AS GOOD OR BETTER CONDITION THAN THEY RECEIVED IT, BUT INSTEAD IT LOST 1005 OF ITS VALUE. I CANT DRIVE IT, I CANT SELL IT. IT HAS A NEW FRAME BUT NOW HAS NO DIFFERENTIAL OR BRAKES IT HAS LOST ALL MARKETABLE VALUE, WHERE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRADED IN OR SOLD PRIOR TO THE "FRAME REPLACEMENT" THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RIGHT ALL THE WRONGS" OF TOYOTA'S DOING. I HAVE FULL SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUCK FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. NEEDS TO MAKE IT RIGHT AND FIX MY TRUCK SO I CAN DRIVE AGAIN, OR BUY ME OUT, OR OFFER ME A TRADE ALLOWANCE THAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE. THIS TOYOTA CASE NUMBER IS 1504140934.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO FUEL VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT FUEL TANK STRAP COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE FUEL TANK EXHIBITED A HOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER CABLE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE TO ROLL AND CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

EXCESSIVE RUST PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE. JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND ASSOCIATED PARTS BECAUSE RUST CAUSED DIFFERENTIAL LEAK. COST WAS OVER 3,500. REPLACED RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS. TAILGATE WIRE RUSTED AND BROKE. OPENING MECHANISM TO TAILGATE IS RUSTED AND IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT (IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPEN/CLOSE. REAR BUMPER IS RUSTED THROUGH, AND NOT SAFE TO STEP ON. HITCH RECEIVER IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CANNOT REMOVE HITCH NOW. SKID PLATE AND BRACKETS RUSTED THROUGH - SKID PLATE FELL OFF. DEALER JUST INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND WILL BE REPLACING THE ENTIRE FRAME BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE RUST. *TR

REAR AXLE-HOUSING ROTTED THROUGH . DEALERSHIP KNEW THIS ON INSPECTION OF FRAME ON MAY 20 2014.CORPORATE OFFICE WAS MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS SITUATION. UPDATED 4/24/2015 *JS

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COLUMN SHIFT PROBLEM OF THE 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA TOYOTA TUNDRA. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING SUPPORT. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE , THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE FREE AT THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE CAST ALUMINUM COMPONENTS SUPPORTING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER APPEARED TO BE FLAWED. THERE IS ONLY 81 THOUSAND ON THIS TRUCK. UNSAFE !!!!!!!!! THANK GOD IT DIDN'T BREAK AT 65 MPH ! BUT IT COULD HAVE ! *TR

ON 9/27/13 WHEN MY 2004 TUNDRA WAS BEING CHECKED OUT FOR A RECALL FOR SEVERE FRAME RUST THE RI TOYOTA DEALER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ROTTED THROUGH AND LEAKING OIL AND SAID THAT THIS RUST IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE WHOLE AXLE HAS TO BE REPLACED. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, SHOULDN'T TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE SUB-STANDARD STEEL? SHOULDN'T THIS BE UNDER A SAFETY RECALL FOR OIL LEAKAGE? AS FAR AS I KNOW THE OIL LEAK CANNOT BE FIXED W/O COMPLETE AXLE HOUSING REPLACEMENT AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT EFFECTS A HUGE # OF TUNDRAS. *TR

THE FRAME HAS SEVERE RUST. ALSO REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING FLUID THROUGH THE STEEL BOWL. *TR

MY WIFE WAS STOPPING BY THE HOUSE. SHE ALREADY HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED W/O WARNING AND WENT THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE CASING OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT CAUSED THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NOTICED SMALL OIL SPOT IN DRIVEWAY. THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING. I TOOK IT TO COLONIAL TOYOTA IN SMITHFIELD, RI AND THEY CHECKED IT FOR A RECALL AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NONE. THEY DID NOTE THE AXLE WAS NOT IN GOOD SHAPE AND SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED AS THE DIFFERENTIAL IS PART OF THE HOUSING. NOT READY TO DROP 3K FOR A POORLY MADE PRODUCT. RESEARCH AND OTHER RECALLS TELL ME THAT THE METAL USED WAS OF AN INFERIOR QUALITY AND WILL NOT HOLD UP IN THE NORTHEAST. TOYOTA OF COURSE, WANTS NO PART OF THIS AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING. ALSO HAD SPARE TIRE FALL OFF ON HIGHWAY DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST, I GUESS NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET. LEAK PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STAIN IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,166. . UPDATED 07/27/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON 06/25/2012. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR PREMATURE FRAME RUSTING ON THE 2000-2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. UPDATED 08/02/2012. *JS

COLUMN SHIFTER OVERDRIVE ON/OFF SWITCH WIRE LEADS IN 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA FAILS OR SHORTS OUT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF OVERDRIVE SETTING ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS CAN CAUSE DOWNSHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR YOUR VEHICLE TO NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE CAUSING POOR FUEL ECONOMY PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER SO MANY SHIFT CYCLES OF THE COLUMN SHIFTER FROM PARK TO DRIVE CAUSE THE WIRE LEADS TO BREAK FROM METAL FATIGUE CAUSING THE FAILURE OR SHORT IN THE SWITCH MY TRUCK STARTED THIS WITH ABOUT 123,000 MILES ON IT. I FOUND NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE WEB DETAILING THE FIX ON THIS PROBLEM. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE ROUTING OF THE WIRES IS CAUSING THE ISSUE AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE TOYOTA HAS TRIED TO TAPE THE WIRES TO GIVE EXTRA PROTECTION IN A POOR ROUTING OF THE SWITCH WIRES. *TR

2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA LEAKS GEAR OIL FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER PLATE. COVER PLATE IS SO THIN A PIN HOLE DEVELOPED. COVER PLATE IS PRESSED ON SO IN ORDER TO CORRECT PROBLEM, A WHOLE NEW REAR AXLE IS NEEDED ACCORDING TO DEALER. WHEN I BROUGHT TRUCK INTO DEALER, DEALER TOLD ME HE SEEN 6 OF THESE LIKE THIS ALREADY. METAL PLATE IS TOO THIN AND DOESN'T HOLD UP TO WINTERS IN NEW YORK AND IS RUSTING OUT DUE TO METAL BEING TOO THIN. COST FOR REPAIR IS $3500 . WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY JUST SAID THERE ISN'T ANY RECALLS ON THIS SUBJECT YET. THEY DID RECALL TOYOTA TACOMAS DUE TO RUST EATING OUT THE FRAMES BUT NO RECALLS ON REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER PLATE. IF GEAR OIL FOR REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS OUT, DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE AND HEAT CAUSED BY FRICTION OF GEARS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH A LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. ON WET PAYMENT, IF BOTH WHEEL SPIN AT THE SAME TIME ( LOOSE TRACTION), THE TRUCK BED WILL KICK LEFT AND PUT THE TRUCK INTO A SPIN. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID THE LSD (LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL) WAS FUNCTIONING. HE ASKED ME WHICH SIDE THE TRUCK KICKED. I TOLD HIM LEFT. THE DEALER HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WITH THIS TRUCK KICKING LEFT. THE DEALER STATED I HAD TO CONTACT TOYOTA MOTOR SALES AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THIS WAS DONE AND I WAS REFEREED TO TOYOTA REGIONAL OFFICE IN FL. I WAS CONTACTED BY THEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE LSD WAS FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY AND THAT TOYOTA HAS NO INTENTION OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEED TO BE FIXED! *JB

PURCHASED A TOYOTA TUNDRA BRAND NEW WITH 16 MILES IN AUGUST 2004. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A HIGH-PITCHED SCRAPING NOISE OCCURRING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO RESOLUTION THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA IN FLORIDA AND SENT A SOUTHEAST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT. THE NOISE WAS OCCURRING WHEN THE TRUCK SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE WHILE DOING APPX. 30 MPH AND 1100 RPMS. LETTING OFF THE GAS CAUSED THE NOISE TO CEASE. GIVING GAS ALSO CAUSED THE NOISE TO CEASE. THE NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE SPEED WAS MAINTAINED AT 30 MPH. THE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE STATED THE HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY REPORTED CASE THAT HE WAS AWARE OF. I TOLD HIM I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY $25,000 FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS MAKING A STRANGE NOISE AND THAT HE COULD EITHER REPLACE THE TRUCK OR ELIMINATE THE NOISE. HE STATED HE WAS NOT GOING TO REPLACE THE TRUCK BUT THAT HE WOULD "CONSIDER" REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING TRACKING DEVICE CAME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

THE 2004 TUNDRA IS AVAILABLE WITH A FULLY EXTENDED CAB, WHICH I OWN. THIS MODEL USES A DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC/MECHANICAL MECHANISM TO SHIFT GEARS THAN OTHER MODELS. WITH 1200 MILES ON THE 2004 TUNDRA I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM IF YOU SHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE TO 3RD GEAR TO SLOW DOWN WHILE GOING DOAN A HILL, THEN SHIFT BACK TO OVERDRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO SWITCH. THERE IS A BUTTON YOU DRPRESS ON THE STEERING SHIFT KNOB THAT ELECTRONICALLY SHIFTS IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. IF THIS BUTTON IS BRIEFLY TAPPED TO SWITCH GEARS, THIS WILL CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO SHIFT BACK. INSTEAD, IT WILL REVERSE SO THAT WHEN THE DASH LIGHT SAYS YOU ARE IN OVERDRIVE YOU ACTUALLY ARE IN 3RD GEAR. WHEN THE LIGHT SAYS ARE OUT OF OVERDRIVE YOU ARE IN OVERDRIVE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY CHECKED WITH FACTORY AND THERE WERE NO OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THEY USED A DIFFERENT SHIFTING MECHANISM FROM ONE CAB DESIGN TO THE OTHER (EXTENDED). THE SERVICE REPORT WAS WRITTEN AND STATES THIS CONDITION AS BEING A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AT THIS TIME.*AK