Toyota Recalls 2001-03 Tundra Pickups Over Faulty Front Passenger Airbag
Tim Esterdahl | Apr 11, 2013 | Comments 6
Toyota is recalling certain 2001-03 Tundra pickups due to faulty front passenger airbags. These airbags were manufactured improperly by an outside supplier.
A third-party supplier of airbags is being blamed for the recall on 2001-2003 Toyota Tundra pickups.
The vehicles Toyota is recalling include the Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Tundra and Lexus SC 430 models. In all there are about 510,000 vehicles in the U.S. affected – 1.73 million globally.
Toyota says, in a press release, that the vehicles have “front passenger airbag inflators which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers. Improperly manufactured propellant wafers could cause the inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash.”
Much like other recalls, owners will receive a letter detailing the recall and local dealer information. Dealers will inspect and replace the airbag at no charge.
According to Toyota, “Detailed information is available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall, the Toyota Customer Experience at 1 800-331-4331, www.lexus.com/recall and Lexus Customer Satisfaction (1 800-255-3987).”
Also recalling faulty airbags is Honda, Nissan and Mazda. The supplier Takata is being cited as having improperly built the airbags and is the reason for the recall.
While unfortunate that these recalls happen, a safety recall like this one is best to get it resolved ASAP.
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Filed Under: Tundra Recalls
Read that story but the media made it sound worse than what it is. You could easily misread how many vehicles were involved in the way they wrote the article.
I agree! I had to read 3 news stories and the press release to get the truth. The reality is that it is a small portion of Gen 1 Tundra’s that are affected.
-Tim
Mine above.
That stinks. Any problems? I would guess not.
-Tim
April 16, 2013
Toyota Canada
Re: My 2000 Toyota Tundra – VIN # 5TBBT4419YS010523
Recently I received a letter from Toyota – a Special Service Campaign (Recall) for my 2000 Tundra for the cross-member and fuel tank mounting system. I did send in the form in the envelope provided and then took my truck to the local dealership in St. Catharines, Ontario. They would need to inspect the cross-member area and would need to be kept overnight. Back home, I received a call from the service department saying that upon inspection they discovered a rust hole in the frame and explained that the truck was undriveable. They explained that there was one of 2 options. A. they would put a new frame under the truck or B. Toyota would write me a check. Given the age and high mileage I was led to believe Toyota would choose the latter. All of this was a shock to me.
The next morning I received a phone call from the service department saying there was in fact a re-call but that the statute of limitations had apparently run out in 2012 and that now the truck was able to be driven and that they would go ahead with the cross-mamber and fuel tank assembly replacement.
I had received no recall notice or e-mail or letter from Toyota regarding a previous re-call over the 8 or so years I have owned the 2000 Tundra. After researching online, I see that there was in fact a re-call for excessive frame rust on 2000 to 2003 Tundras. Had I known about this recall you can be sure I would have taken it in for inspection. I did in fact take it into Fort Erie Toyota over a year ago for the cross-member and gas tank assembly and was told it was in good shape.
Now with this rust hole in the frame and an overdue re-call deadline passed, what can be done?
I did contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was referred to Toyota Canada.
Can anything still be done? Are there other 2000 Tundra owners out there who where not notified?
DAVID HEISE
David,
Not sure what can be done. This recall was quite a while ago. Best of luck!
-Tim