Toyota FINALLY Addresses Bed Bounce Complaints With TSB
Jason Lancaster | Sep 20, 2010 | Comments 88
Official Toyota Tundra Bed Bounce Treatment Now Available
Here on TundraHeadquarters, we’ve been talking about “bed bounce” since early 2007. After receiving dozens of comments and complaints, we contacted Toyota requesting more info about the problem. The result? An oh-so-typical Toyota customer service email that said “Toyota had no information” regarding this issue.
Since that time, Toyota has steadfastly ignored and/or disavowed any and all bed-bounce complaints. A few Tundra owners complained enough to be referred to arbitration, and in these proceedings Tundra owners were told by Toyota representatives that the condition we describe as “bed bounce” was completely normal.
While it’s true that all pickups bounce a little bit – especially if they have stiffly tuned suspensions like the Tundra – it was clear from reports, videos, and testimonials that there was nothing normal about this problem to the people that suffered from it.
Last week, Toyota quietly issued a TSB offering a bed bounce treatment for 07+ Tundra DoubleCab owners that promises to reduce the severity of this issue. I have three thoughts:
1. It’s about f*())#$ time. The first complaints occurred all the way back in May, 2007. We documented at least 100 legitimate complaints in September 07′, and our overtures to Toyota – along with dozens of consumer complaints – were ignored. While it’s true that this problem is/was probably limited to a small number of Tundra owners (all of the dealers we’ve talked to tell us as much), the problem managed to spawn it’s own industry! Willybar, for example, created this video:
That is a crystal-clear illustration of the bed bounce issue that Toyota ignored because it was “normal.”
2. This “ignore the problem, play it off as normal, and then quietly fix it” shit has got to stop. I genuinely hope everyone in Toyota’s customer service and PR departments read, print out, and then commit to memory what I’m about to write:
There is no excuse in this day and age for failing to acknowledge and address vehicle problems that are well-documented online.
The bed bounce post we generated back in August 2007 has been read THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND TIMES according to our analytics, Toyota. If you think you can ignore problems like this, think again…and then fix the process. (You might want to have it translated for the suits in Japan while you’re at it.)
3. Thank you. Despite all the anger I have about the way this was handled, I’m genuinely grateful to Toyota for addressing this problem with a TSB. We noticed a big drop in the number of bed bounce complaints in late 2008, and with a few exceptions very few people complain about it on any 09′ or 2010 models. Toyota probably resolved this issue in 09′, and they could have continued to ignore the complaints on older models without any ill effects.
But they didn’t. They deserve some credit for doing the right thing, even if it took them 3 years to do it.
…Now that I’m off the soap-box, it’s time for the TSB info. 🙂
Toyota’s TSB Is A Treatment, NOT a Cure
Toyota’s bed bounce TSB #0270-10 for “choppy ride” states very clearly that the new rear body mounts for Double Cab trucks will not CURE the problem, but they should definitely improve it. From the TSB:
The Tundra performs similarly to other long wheelbase trucks on choppy, broken concrete surfaces. The enhanced cab mounts of this TSB reduce the amplitude of body vibrations caused by uneven road surfaces, but they do NOT eliminate the sensation entirely. Customers should be counseled that they will experience an improvement in the condition and their truck will perform better than competitors in identical conditions, but some body shake is a normal and unavoidable condition in certain situations with this type of vehicle.
Fair enough. This type of explanation is perfectly reasonable. The TSB also says that changing speeds by as little as 5mph can also reduce the bounce…something we documented back in 07′.
Toyota also included a nifty graph in the TSB that shows the severity of the bounce before and after these new mounts are installed, as well as data from competitors:
This graph shows the amplitude of bed vibrations as a function of speed, both for the Tundra with and without the TSB performed as well as competitors.
If you study the graph, you’ll see that the purple line is the Tundra currently, and that the black line is the Tundra with the TSB performed. There are two other lines on the graph representing “Competitor A”, and “Competitor B”, with Competitor B being only slightly less choppy than the current Tundra. Who these competitors are is hard to say, but if we had to guess we’d say A was Ford and B was GM (those are the only two worth benchmarking – the Ram 1500’s coil rear suspension doesn’t have this problem at all).
The Actual TSB Repair
The process is really very simple. The cab is mounted to the frame on some big rubber bushings, and the TSB says to replace the 2 rear bushings with new, softer/fancier bushings that will reduce the bounce sensation. Here are some photos and notes.
First, remove the old cab mount bushings by loosening the front cab mount nuts and removing the rears. The image below is of the “old” bushing before any work has been done:
The big thick hunk of rubber above the nut and washer (circled) are the existing cab mount bushings that Toyota will replace under this TSB
Next, you’ll need to access the bolt by pulling up the rear carpet inside the cab, pulling the cover, and then extracting the bolt.
This cover is under the rear carpet in the back of the cab, and it must be removed to remove the old cab mounts.
With the bolts removed, the bushings can be pulled. First, however, the rear of the cab must be lifted about three inches. Don’t let this part of the process concern you – lifting the body off the chassis is incredibly easy for any dealership to pull off. Many dealers lift entire bodies off of frames to get access to engines and transmissions on a regular basis.
Good view of Tundra rear cab mount bushings being removed
Now that the old bushing is out, you just place the new bushing and reverse the process. The suggested labor time is one hour, so provided parts are available, this should be a quick TSB that could be done during your next regular service appointment.
Questions? Comments? Anyone want to vent like I did?
Filed Under: Tundra Recalls
Awesome! Does the TSB apply to all tundras 2007 thru 2010? If so, I think I will give it a try, although they will want to perform the dang accelerator pedal recall and I will NOT let them F that up. Also, going in tomorrow for my 09′ corolla since 1 of my remotes quit working and car is only 1 year old and 20K miles. Never had a remote go bad and it is not the batteries since I tried replacing the battery already. I’m sure the bad remote is covered under 3/36K warranty, but yet again, I will NOT let them perform the accelerator recall on either of my vehicles, tundra and corolla both.
Mine is an 07. I bought the parts at Sparks. A little over $200.
Don’t care if it doesn’t eliminate all the vibes. Just as long as it is minimized, that’s fine with me.
Great!
Now if they would just fix the AIP problem I would be totally happy.
http://www.tundrasolutions.com.....nce-tsb-2/
Copy of the TSB can be found here as posted by 05tacoma33.
Good, it does cover all 2007 on up tundras. The TSB does state though that a test drive by dealer is needed to see if problem arises of bed bounce. What the F is that all about? All tundras are created equal 07 on up in terms of the same part being replaced for a smoother ride. Just because a dealer is on smooth roads nearby and does not notice the bed bounce, will the dealer try to weezle out of doing the TSB? Are the mounts softer and more flexible/giving and will that like someone else mentioned cause the rear to sag under load or decrease payload/tow capacity a few hundred pounds? I will be talking to my dealer today when I take my 09′ corolla in to get my remote control fixed/replaced and NOT get the 2 recalls done for floor mats and gas pedal. I follow the phrase if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but this body mount softening the ride is worth it to me IF, and the key word is IF, the dealer knows what the F they are doing. I don’t trust too many dealers in terms of general maintenance since have had bad luck in a few instances.
Most ’07s (like mine) are out of warranty. So this TSB is worthless to me and others that aren’t covered by warranty. Even if I thought this was a necessary fix, I too would explore the issue of degrading the tow loads. Toyota has eliminated 80% of ’07 models due to warranty. Why did it take them so long to get this out???? Is this an issue with newer Tundras or is this something that only the older model Tundras are experiencing?
I ordered the parts for this TSB today. Technically I am past the three year warranty, but my truck only has 29k miles on it so they bent the rules and are going to do it under warranty. I told them that since I had complained to the Toyota customer service hotline when the truck was only weeks old, it would only be fair that it would be covered under warranty since the problem has existed since the truck was new and its not my fault that they waited this long to do something about it. Really I think that any of you that have this issue and have complained about it should insist that it be covered by Toyota. I mean really, it doesnt make sense to wait until most of the effected vehicles are out of warranty to come up with a solution,and then try to make the customers pay for it. So enough of my rant about that.
Based on my understanding how this is going to work, the new cab bushings should have no effect whatsoever on towing or performance. Basically it is the same principle that I was using when I placed the rubber pad between the spare tire and the frame. It is going to use the play between the frame and the cab to dampen the frame harmonics. I suspect that the new bushings are only the same ones that are being installed on the 2010 models from the factory. This probably explains why the number of complaints about this issue have dropped off in the last couple of model years.
Matt, I don’t know about that since tundras affected in TSB state 07 thru 2010 model tundras. So, I would suspect I can take my 2010 tundra in and get the TSB done to hopefully improve rear seat bed bounce for the back passengers. I don’t think the TSB will do anything for the bed bouncing around since the replacement parts are in the inside rear passenger seating area, but should help rear seat passengers from bouncing around as much.
I went to see my dealer service writer today and first he heard of it, so I would hate to be the guinea pig on this since never done it before. Hope others chime in and see after they do the TSB what the ride is like.
Well MK you may well be right about that. I noticed that in the TSB too but I still suspect that Toyota has quietly done something to tame the frame vibrations in some way. Quite frankly, I think that the term “bed bounce” is a bit of a misnomer, because the reason the bed bounces is because it is bolted direcly to the frame, and it is significantly lighter than the cab. The bed and the cab are two completely separate structures bolted to a common frame, so naturally any harmonic vibration in the frame will be more visible in the bed, but as we all know too well, is still felt in the cab. The purpose of the more “cushy” cab mounts is not only to isolate the cab from these vibrations, but also to use the weight of the cab to absorb, or cancel out some of the frame harmonics as well, in order to reduce the cumulative sustain of the vibration.
Jason, would this be the “jiggle” i feel when i hit a bump. I’ve never had the bed bouce that is seen in the videos. Just wondering.
mk, just a note on the gas pedal recall. I had it done because my pedal was very “loose” compared to my wife’s Sienna. When they put in the recall part it made it 1,000 times worse. My foot would flop on the gas pedal with the smallest bump in the road. I took it right back to the dealer since I was leaving the next week on a 800 mile trip towing my new 30 foot, 8,000 lbs travel trailer. They put in the 2010 pedal parts and now it is perfect. Much better than original!
I would recommend the new parts not the recall parts. However, you may need to go through the two step process to get them. I personally think it was well worth it.
I bet they’d tell me some BS about the lift kit put on the truck. I won’t even bother myself with the headache since I don’t travel areas with bed bounce issues anymore. Thank goodness they finally owned up to it and I hope they satisfy those people that complained for years.
From what I read it covers the 2007 and up but only the DC models.
The rubber bushings will only make the cab feel less amount of the bed bounce. It will do nothing for the actual bed bounce.
Correct Mickey, that is what the dealer told me about not lessening the actual bed bounce, just help eliminate the bounce felt in the rear double cab seat passengers and to some extent the front seat passengers as well.
Matt, let us all know on here once TSB performed how the ride feels hopefully less choppy for rear and front seat passengers. I am curious to get it done, but don’t want to be the first. Dealer told me it would take 2-3 hours, but I think more like 1 1/2 hours should be enough time to get it done don’t you think?
mk – I have long suspected that Toyota solved this problem in late 08′ – the number of “bed bounce” complaints dropped off quite a bit since that time. It’s impossible for me to prove, but my suspicion is that 2009 and 2010 Tundra owners don’t need this TSB…Toyota only put 09′ and 10’s on the paperwork to cover-up the fact they solved this problem two years ago. I would guess your truck won’t gain anything from this TSB, but I would be curious to see if you notice a difference.
Frankly, as concerned as you are about dealer incompetence, it surprises me to hear you’re considering this repair. If you don’t have the problem, why risk it?
Also: The dealer is advised to drive the vehicle first mostly because it helps to show the consumer the before and after. A good practice is for the tech to ride along, note the problem with the customer in the vehicle, and then do another ride along after the repair. This way, it’s really hard for a customer to say “your fix did nothing” because the tech is there to witness the issue.
Rich – I wholeheartedly agree that Toyota is years late on this, but you may find that your dealer can warranty some or all of this TSB after the fact. If you documented a complaint about this problem back in 07′, your chances of getting Toyota to fix your truck are high.
Matt – You are correct in saying that bed bounce is a misnomer. It should be called cab bounce.
*** To no one in particular *** It seemed obvious to me when I wrote this up, but it should be known that this TSB does *NOT* impact towing capacity, payload, or any other physical characteristics of the truck. As Matt has said, this new bushing changes the harmonics of the truck and reduces the bouncing sensation some Tundra owners feel on concrete highways (especially in Southern California).
Danny – Maybe. A jiggle is pretty normal in an empty pickup with a stiff suspension…the funny thing about “bed bounce” is that a lot of people don’t even notice a problem. Unless you drive 70mph on concrete highways that have expansion joints at just the right interval, you wouldn’t necessarily notice this issue.
Bruce – Good advice on the pedal.
TXTee – Maybe, but the suspension wouldn’t change the ride that much. If you want it, you could definitely get it I think.
Mickey – Correct – I’ve changed the article to note as much. As for not fixing the actual bounce of the bed, I don’t think there’s a problem. Ford created a video that shows the Tundra’s bed and cab bouncing all over hell (I’m sure you’ve seen it), but the circumstances of that “test” are dubious at best. Have you noticed any issues with the bed moving around and causing problems on your truck?
I’d love to hear about it as well before even considering wasting time at the dealership. Good luck!! And everything takes them double the time, even oil changes.
Jason, I am skeptical of toyota dealers’ service dept. and you would be to if they installed a brand new plastic rear bumper top pad and didn’t even notice the 2-3 push in clips holding the middle in place were gone and jiggled the black plastic step pad all over along with screwing up an oil change, among other things too numerouse to mention here. I also find it odd that toyota would include 09 and 2010 models in the TSB when in reality you think they are doing it for no good reason. I don’t think they would do that since it would create more money out of their pocket when 09 and 2010 owners come in and still complain about the choppy ride on certain roads. I do know that my former 2007 TRD pkg equipped tundra did ride choppier vs. my 2010 NON-TRD pkg. identical truck but I think that is from the firmer TRD shocks I had on the 07′, but cannot be 100% sure. I will never own a TRD pkg. equipped tundra again since the extra price is definitely not worth it just to get nicer rims.
mk – I understand why you’re skeptical – you’ve shared a few stories about your local dealer that make me understand – I just didn’t understand why you would want this TSB done if your truck handles OK now.
As for your point about 2010’s being listed on the TSB, it’s well taken. I might be a little too paranoid in my assessment.
I would hope a toyota dealer would be able to put my tundra on a lift with no damage being done and undo 6 bolts and torque to spec the 6 bolts back on. With my luck they would rip the carpet or at the very least not tuck it underneath in the rear like it was. This is why the gas pedal recall is not getting done, for fear of them not tightening it properly and falling off. Seriously, I had a Dodge dealer not tighten the nut inside the steering wheel shaft under a recall of my former Dodge minivan and a few days later the steering wheel came off while driving. Needless to say, I went back and raised holy hell! Lucky I steered clear of oncoming cars and not in heavy traffic when the wheel was off the shaft and in my hand.
[…] Toyota FINALLY Addresses Bed Bounce Complaints With TSB | Tundra Headquarters __________________ All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing — Edmund Burke […]
mk – Sounds like a good reason not to worry about this one.
Finally!
And it sounds like we are making assumptions about the competitors without any basis. How do we know the competitors are of like years? Could be compared to 2001 model trucks for all we know. How do we know they are even the same size truck? Could be comparing a 1 ton or a compact/mid-size to the Tundra. Without Toyota revealing the competitors and tests they conducted, I can only consider this fluff. Otherwise, why would Toyota hide the names of the competitors? They’ve used these other trucks names in commercials and comparisons before, why not display them now?
Reason I say this, is by the simple comparisons I’ve done and experienced between my 2006 F150 Screw and my mother-in-laws neighbor, who owns a 2007 5.7 TRD CrewMax. The section of I-25 between south Denver and Castle Rock has a lot of concrete expansion joints that make these trucks react in said fashion. Difference is it is night and day when riding in these trucks, with the F150 being much more stable and smooth. Bed bounce in both trucks is experienced, but the Tundra is much harsher and bouncier. I would have a hard time comparing the bounce of the Tundra to my old 2002 F150 Scab FX4, which was choppy in this section, but not as bad as what I’ve experienced in the Tundra.
So while I applaud Toyota in taking the step of admitting a problem and releasing a TSB, I still have a hard time believing either 1) The Tundra has improved so drastically compared to the competition with nothing other than mounts or 2) The competitors they display in this testing are not of similar year/size trucks.
Now looking at the chart, I think possibly the F150 could be competitor A, but don’t believe so. I’ve never experienced excessive bed bounce and rarely if ever travel over 80mph, which is where competitor A gets really bad. But from my experience with these two trucks (F150 & Tundra), I simply cannot say either the F150 is that bad, or the Tundra has made such an improvement. Hopefully someone like Willybar who owns a Tundra will provide video of before and after rides for confirmation.
Good article and glad to see the Tundra owners have something to help out with this issue.
[…] prove just as effective. Thanks for the tip, Joel! Gallery: 2007 Toyota Tundra Limited [Source: Tundra Headquarters] Show full PR text The Tundra performs similarly to other long wheelbase trucks on choppy, […]
Okay so I had the new bushings installed today. I noticed an improvement immediately. I have not taken the truck on any concrete roads, as there are none near where I live, but I noticed that when hit bumps or went over the railroad tracks, the truck felt much more settled. Incidentally I had to remove the N- Fab steps (which are bolted to the cab, not the frame) to do the replacement because they extend past the cab, and would have scraped against the bed of the truck when the cab is lifted from the frame. They removed them, but I told them that I would reinstall them myself since they were already complaining about the difficulty level of the replacement, because it only paid one hour of shop time. It took closer to two hours, but this was the first time they had done one, so they had to figure out how to do it. So after the new mounts were installed, I grabbed the rear bumper of the truck to shake it like I do to make the frame bounce, and amazingly, it was much more difficult to get it bouncing, and it would settle down almost immediately as soon as I stopped shaking it. A few other observations; the old cab mounts had water trapped in the center which drained out when they removed the metal plate on the underside of the bushing, and the long bolt that goes through the middle of it was badly rusted. This may be something that should be looked into. It may be that there could be some kind of drain hole in the plate to prevent this. Also for the record, the parts guy at the dealership said the new cab mounts appear to be liquid filled.
THE ONLY CURE IS A FULLY BOXED FRAME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjTbiYo3x0
So didToyota foot the bill for the “Bed Bounce” with TSB?
Has anyone talked to a dealer about peforming this TSB on a Crewmax?
Justin – The GMs are usually the best riding trucks right after the Ram, so I assumed that Ford must have been worse. However, I don’t know what years, what manufacturer, what models, etc. It could just be a fancy graph that’s absolutely meaningless.
In any case, many owners are finding the ride to be improved. I read a good review on a Tundra forum that said “If it’s warranty, have it done. Otherwise, save your money. The difference is noticeable, but it doesn’t solve the problem”
I agree with you that Toyota should offer specific test data.
Matt – Thanks for sharing – hadn’t heard anyone else mention water in the bolt…very interesting. What part of the country do you live in?
Glad to hear you noticed a difference. Other people have mentioned the new mounts are liquid filled. I’ll see what I can do to get one taken apart.
Jason: I have no doubt there is a significant difference, otherwise owners would complain that they spent xyz dollars or time having work performed, with minimal results. Also, the road types this bed bounce is experienced will only be experienced by a small fraction of owners.
Justin – For sure – the bed bounce survey we did a few years ago showed that most of the complaints were in S. California.
I just bought ’08 sr5 trd with an extended warranty (platinum), and I feel the choppy ride as well. Do you think the dealer will fix this issue under warranty as well, since the first owner did not complain about it ? Thanks
Harry – Maybe, but it’s harder to get service above and beyond your factory warranty when you’re not the original owner. Still, it’s definitely worth asking for.
Jason, I just dropped off the truck at my local stealership, and apparently the original 3 yrs 36k miles still at play, but I assumed (since they also mentioned about the extended warranty that come with the car), they are working on the issue as we speak. I will report the result. Don’t forget to bring the copy of Toyota repond to TSB, it really helped me with the argument.
Sounds good that some folks are getting this TSB and feeling an immediate difference. I’d love to hear more about it but decided I won’t take truck in. I’m over 36K and the weather’s too beautiful in TX to spend time at the dealership if I can be out in the truck. 🙂
Seeing that the TSB is NOT for the 2011, can anybody verify that the 2011 has the NEW mounts?
Jason I live in Auburn, Alabama. I keep the truck in a garage when not in use, so I dont know if that helps, or makes it worst with the water collecting in the cab mounts. We have a lot of humidity here in the summer. The hole that goes through the center of the cab mount is almost an inch in diameter, and the long bolt that goes through it is like half that thickness. I’m sure this is to keep the mounts from squeaking. Apparently the top of the mount is able to take in water, but the big metal disk on the bottom holds the water in. I may look into figuring out how to make a drain hole in the plate when I get some free time. Incedentally, you can remove the nut off the long bolt and remove the disk to check for water without jacking up the cab.
Harry – Glad to hear that you’re under original factory warranty – you should be covered.
TXTee – If the current ride isn’t causing you any problems, the original body mounts are best.
Paul – Not for 2011 – Toyota must have made this change at the plant.
Matt – Odd…the bolt attaches inside the cab, so water must be dripping down the sides of the cab and then somehow working it’s way between the body and top surface of the bushing. Who would have guessed.
Thanks mate, hope so!
Jason, thanks for your concern. And as I spoke to the service advisor, he acknowledge that the truck has an extended warranty which I assumed if the claim come beyond the first 36000 miles then toyota will accept the claim as well. And now I am waiting for them to get the parts to come in, they just ordered it for my truck. But I have the feeling toyota (or maybe just the dealer) is not putting this claim with urgency, as they are taking their time to get the parts. I am still checking everyday for the last two days. So my advise to anyone with complain about the ride, to just claim it to the dealership even beyond warranty and see if toyota will fix it for free otherwise just back out after arguing first.
Has anyone tried the suspension parts sold here:
https://www.sulastic.com/default.aspx
Thanks,
Rik
Harry is right, the dealership are not prioritizing this TSB. It took more than a week for the parts to get to them, which is unusually long. And once i got my service appointment, waited more than two hours, and the service advisor told me they got the wrong parts. What a BS! This is not a TSB, instead this a TBS!
Harry – You bet. Typically, when there’s a parts hold, it’s due to unexpected demand. Perhaps if Toyota had been paying more attention to this website in 2007 they would have known to order more bushings.
Rik – We wrote up a post about the Sulastic springs and there are some comments on that you should take a look at: https://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2010/03/26/sulastic-rubber-springs-and-tundra-bed-bounce/
There’s a pingback link in the comments to a TundraSolutions thread that isn’t very complimentary. I think Toyota’s TSB and new cab bushings are just as (or more) effective.
Red – It’s really not the dealer’s fault that parts are slow. That’s strictly a Toyota issue – they’re the ones who ordered them from the supplier.
As for the dealer ordering the wrong parts, how the heck do they manage to do that? Seems like someone needs his or her head examined in the parts/service department.
well its been a couple of months since i had the tsb done for bed bounce. the irritating jiggle in the cab seems to have been reduced by 60-80%. of course, i’ve never experienced bed bounce so i cant answer that part of the question. the ride comfort of my 2010 d/c tundra feels better.
Danny – Really appreciate you checking back in – very glad to hear the ride has improved.
I have a 2011 Toyota Tundra Crewmax. Over the holidays I traveled to Las Vegas from Los Angeles with 3 adults and one toddler as the passengaers. All of them complained as to why the truck was bouncing so much. This was the first time I really took the truck out on the road at high speeds. The bounce was really bad where the freeway had the concrete breaks. Just this past week I drove to my parents house (about 30 minute drive) and I noticed the bounce again. By the end of the drive my 4 year old was complaining about feeling nauseous. Does anyone know if this bouncing problem also applies to 2011 Tundras?
Daniel – It doesn’t apply to 2011 trucks or to CrewMax trucks – no idea why.
I have a 2011 Tundra Double Cab and have been experiencing the same thing. It has a smooth ride until you hit some of the concrete highway sections then you can’t hardly talk to each other. I thought I would look to see if anyone else was having the problem and was suprised ti find it was such a big issue. I haven’t talked to the dealer yet about it but you would think if they are fixing the older models that they would be making the new ones with this fix already installed.
Dave – Agreed. I suspected that Toyota fixed this back in 2008, but I have no proof.
Still, the truck can ride rough on certain types of roads. If you live in Southern California, it can be really bad.
I have a 2010 sr5 double cab that on certain freeways has the bed bouce. What an uncomfortable feeling. Sounds like this affects a lot of people in CA, I live in Michigan, wondering if anyone else has the problem around here. I also have a low rumble in the drive train at below 35 mph that I can feel in the steering wheel, dealer said that did not hear it. Sounds like a dry bearing, but not sure. Will be heading back to the dealer to try and get the bouce issue adressed.
Dennis – There may be a TSB on that rumble…ask your dealer to take a look at T-SB-0297-10 “rear differential oil baffle growl”. It could be the source of your growl.
I have a 07 Tundra (Double Cab). It has been suggested on the issue known as “Tundra Bed Bounce” (I call it TBB) that it is a figment of certain “soft” owners imagination. I have continuously owned work pickups, of nearly all makes and models, for 40 years. I can assure any doubting Thomas that TBB is very real. It is an amazing thing to experience and for me happens in my area only on a one 6 mile stretch of I35 (exit 81-87) just south of Minneapolis. Unfortunately it is a section of road I need to travel almost ever day. I have occasionally experienced TBB on other travels. When TBB starts, I best define it as a harmonics osculation that appears to start with a certain frequency of road expansion joints but soon takes on a life and rhythm of it’s own. It be so violent that little things as talking or changing the radio station are next to impossible. A look out the rear view mirror will see a tail gate rapidly osculating in a 8-12 inch range, not in response to bumps but to it’s own rhythm. I have had many a passing car try to wave me down, pointing frantically to the tail of my Tundra. I have had others borrow the truck and/or passengers ask what in the name of heaven is wrong with this truck! Anyone who questions the TBB existence please come see me. I will make a true believer out of you in just 6 miles. (At Least I could of just a week ago.)
Determined to solve this TBB problem on a truck I otherwise liked so much, I have tried a host of things over the last 3 years. Most notable: 1.Replaced the factory 20 inch rims & tires with factory 18inch. Result: Took some edge off, but no real solution. 2.Had a professional custom air rear suspension installed. Result: To my utter disappointment, did not help a bit! 3.Designed and built a 300 pound weighted hitch. Result: This helped a bit. BUT to my amazement, if I unplugged the 300 pounds from the receiver and just set it on the bed of the Tundra there was a vast improvement! So, like others, I just accepted the ridiculous fact that this truck was going to have to always carry around 300 pounds of dead weight in the bed to make it livable.
Then, Toyota finally fest up to this problem and came out with TSB-0270-10 . With some skepticism I took the Tundra to Toyota and dropped more money [($610.00)my Tundra is out of warranty]on their fix. Folks, it WORKS! At lest on my Tundra. I could not believe that it was the same truck and that just changing the material in two cab mounts would affect the harmonics that much. Expansion joints are just that now…. no violent osculation. Thank you Toyota FINALLY!
Note: DO take a hard copy of TSB-0270-10 with you to the service department. Service personal (and their computers)are still programed to be in denial of this problem and until they see this TSB from Toyota you and your problem do not exist. Hope this helps someone.
Jeff – Glad to hear that the TSB worked for you. Some people say it didn’t do much, but others have said they really liked it.
Also, great point about having to beat up your local dealer to prove to them that there’s a TSB. If only they knew their own product as well as the owners did…
I am looking at purchasing a 2010 Tundra Rock Warrior, and work on mountain tops. Alot of my driving is on poorly maintained dirt and rocky roads. Will this TSB resolve the severe bed bounce issues? My big concern is rough bumpy roads on the down slope, causing the bed to hit the cab. I have seen this happen with GMCs
Any feedback would be great.
randy – If it’s a double cab, the TSB could work. Some people (see comments) say it works really well, and some say it’s only marginally better.
If the road is bumpy enough to make the bed hit the cab, then I would say (being the cautious guy that I am) that it’s a good idea to go slower! 🙂
Thanks for the feedback Jason!
Another Question..
I am looking at purchasing the 2010 tundra, Rock Warrior Edtion, and curious if anyone has had any problems. It is 2010, they want 31000 USD for it 12000 miles on it. Does that seem reasonable? It does not have sunroof, and Nav system.
I figured some of you guys might have one of these and know some pros and cons.
I appreciate any feedback you guys can provide.
Randy
Randy – No idea on price. Seems like your region will dictate what is or isn’t a good price. The only advice I have on getting the best deal is to be sure to walk away before buying. If they give you their best price and then let you leave, you’ve gotten every dollar.
As for pros and cons of the Rock Warrior, the biggest con I can think of is tire size. Those 275/70 R17 tires are more expensive to replace than the 18’s that most Tundras have.
I live in northern MN, have a 2010 Tundra Double Cab 4X4, pickup it up last July. I didn’t notice the bounce until about October-November, and it has been awful ever since.
Brought it in to the dealership for the fix about a month ago, but not much change took place, still jumping when on certain sections of pavement. It seems to be worse on recently-replaced sections of highway compared to older stretches, oddly enough. Wonder if the problem will subside when warm weather returns, as my problem began when the temperature dropped. Anyone had that experience?
I have a 2010 Tundra Double Cab that I bought last October and I had the fix done last week. It did dampen the bounce a little. The fact that I also recently bought a tonneu cover helped as well. However, the overall ride improvement is small. Prior to the fix, I was halling 3-90 pound bags of concrete in the rear of the bed, now I only need 2. Not much of an improvement. I’d do it again since it’s on Toyota’s dime (provided you can find a dealer that will actually do the work, most won’t even admit there is a service bulletin), the work only took about an hour, and I hassel one less bag of concrete. As for Toyota service, IT SUCK’S! Could never get a straight from anyone at any dealership and kept getting shuffeled around from advisor to advisor.
Does anyone know if this affects the double cab long bed trucks? I am looking at ordering a 2011 4×4. Also, has it affected anyone while towing a boat? Thanks
Robert – 2011’s don’t have this problem – they get the new bushing at the factory.
I own a 2010 Toyota Tundra SR5 double cab. I have taken my truck in 6+ different times with the same issues. Bed Bounce, Steering wheel shake at 60-70 miles per hour and bad tire ware. They rebalance the tires and within 1000-1500 miles my tires are out of balance again. I don’t go off road; I don’t tow anything and every time I take it in the rebalance the wheels and say there is nothing wrong with it. I have 16k miles on it and the tires will not pass safety due to the outsides being completely worn out. They have checked the alignment and always tell me the same thing nothing is wrong. However I continue to bounce all around and after a little while the tires are out of balance again. Could this bouncing be causing the tire balance issue/tire ware? Any suggestions?
Gordon – That is an odd situation. Anyone else driving your truck?
I’m the only one driving my truck. I drive it to work 13 miles each way 10 1/2 of it freeway each way. I am about to drive from Salt Lake City Ut. to Boise ID and I am certain that when I get back the wheels will be even more out of balance. There has to be something wrong. Wheels should not go out of balance every 1000-1500 miles.
Gordon: I would start to suspect the tires or rims as the problem if it’s a balance issue. If not a balance issue, then you’d need to look more at the suspension.
It’s becoming a more common tire issue due to manufacturers using cheaper material, but tires have been known to have “out of round” or “tire run out” problems. They come from the manufacturer in this condition. Also, if you have a bent rim, this could be also causing the balance/wear issues.
In the links below, you’ll find brief descriptions for all conditions, but also conduct a google search and research the issues. Maybe this will help you work with your technician a little better. Or I would suggest biting the bullet and taking the truck to a specialty shop that only deals with tires, rims and suspension to help identify the problem. Or take it to a different dealer.
http://www.aa1car.com/library/tires2.htm
http://www.agcoauto.com/conten.....icleid/112
http://www.allwheelinc.com/tires.htm
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/.....?techid=20
Good luck and hope this helps you out a little. Let us know the results.
Is this the latest and best solution found to the problem? And if so where can I purchase the bushing kit? Is it only available through a dealer or can I order one offline?
Gordon – I like Justin’s suggestions. It’s definitely odd and probably something a tire shop should look at.
Justin – Good call – thank you.
jaybob – Yes, based on the feedback I think this is the best solution for ‘bed bounce.’ Your dealer is the only place to buy this kit that I’m aware of…you can try online parts places like http://www.ToyotaPartsCenter.net to get the best price.
I bought a new 07 crew cab and complained for 8 months about the BUCKING and Toyota also gave me a number but did nothing. Feed up with Finally got rid of that bucking piece of crap after 9 months and went back to American Trucks. Took a bath on the trade but when you hate something for 9 months the only thing worse is to hate it for 9 months and one day.
Bought a 2007 DCSB in Oct 2007, WORST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!!! I have had nothing but problems since it was new.
1) Broken Camshaft after 1000mi
2) Bed and tailgate was replaced due to rust in 2010
3) Rear end “growl” plus the diesel knocking sounds
4) As of 06/05/2012 Blown head gasket at 70,000 mi
I’m going back to a Chevy ASAP, I will never waste my money again on a TOYOTA.
THIS TRUCK IS THE WORST TRUCK I HAVE EVER OWNED!!
Has anyone else noticed wavy dents down each side of your bed?
I had an 07 Tundra with bed bounce and I took it all the way to Arbitration…what a joke..Toyota pays the Arbitrator so guess how they ruled…My truck had only 4000 miles I bought it new at Manhattan Beach Toyota in Ca.
They offered me 16,000 to buy it back after 10 months of ownership and I paid 25,000 with a down payment of 12,000.
All I wanted was the down payment back, give them the truck and I would have ate the payments.. But no deal,,
Sold it to car max for 21,500
Toyota has no honor or integrity in my book…
Fred Curcio
Here it is October of 2012 and I find this web site and I am thinking I wish I had seen this sooner. My 2010 Tundra double cab has had a bad case of the shakes from day 1. My former 03 Ford did to but not like the Tundra. I recently had the dealer replace the worn Brindstone tires with Michellans and boy what a difference. The bounce is worse! I got on the web this afternoon to look for shock absorbers hoping to find suggestions for a shock to control the back end of the truck. I plan on returning the truck to the dealer and complain again about the tire but will now also complain about bed bounce and mention the TSB report and see what happens. Any information anyone can share about this problem is appreciated. We are on a rural road and the shake is amazing. Looking in the rear view mirror makes for an easy demonstration.
I have a 2011 tundra extended cab. Very bouncy, lots of bad roads in Houston. Any suggestions? Love the truck, hate the firmness. Can’t even drink coffee. It’s bad.
Jason,
Call you local roads commission and complain?? 🙂 Seriously, we haven’t heard of any aftermarket product or enhancement that address that issue fully. Some people see it as an issue with Toyota trucks while others see it as a common occurrence when owning a truck. Either way, it is a nuisance.
-Tim
and from what I understand this is the second place that I take a notI would like to make a couple comments if I can in regards to 2012 tundra uh doesn’t seem like a problem has been resolved I want to cover dealerships the first 1 I went to was over and Highway 36 on the way down to up Boulder Colorado basically what they told me that I had to live with it and the general manager was too busy to come with me because a little pop by Gordon dead food going to get a paper plate for food 1 hand glass of Pop or coffee or whatever the other hand you really did you take time to go take a ride um basically was told it to that something that I had to live with this time goes on it gets worse and worse it doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better I feel like the back wheels might even fly off 1 day hopefully they won’t tell me what do you expect for 30 or 40,000 dollar truck right yours truly Marcoe for service and also complained about it uh the first place that I went to was over there on Highway 36 Denver Colorado uh on the way to Boulder Toyota dealer and the general manager was too busy to come and take a ride with me because they were having some kind of pot luck yet please uh a plate and 1 hand the coffee or pop on the other hand and he said it’s something that I had to deal with parently uh you know you only spent 30 40,000 dollars on a Tundra 2012 and they figured that that’s normal the tundra should bounce at you know at that to that that to new of a truck I’ve grown a lot of trucks before never had that kind of a problem seems to me that to this needs to be addressed the Tundra is getting worse and worse I’m just waiting for the 2 wheels in the back to go ahead and fly off uh you know the wheels are the tires get more out uneven and the signs are all there that we have a serious problem uh well I guess that’s all they can do to me what do you expect 30 or 40,000 dollar truck hey man is a safe hang on
Bough my 2010 Tundra DC New. This truck has nothing but problems. Next truck will Not be a Toyota. Actaully we just purchse a Nissan Pathfinder instead of the Highlander because of my Tundra issues. The dealers is horrible in addressing the issue and Toyota will not acknoledge the problem. Currrently steering wheel still shkes around 70mph. So far the problems/repair are
– Turn and repace brakes due to warp rotor. Rotors warp again the 2nd time and they will do the newly released TSB.
– Replace one leaking front strut. Second is leaking but they say it is not bad enough!
– Replace drive shaft
– Battery and cable due to leaking battery.
– Unresoled steering shake
– Tires are worn on outer edge. Dealer says it is my driving habit. In fact when the first brake rotor warp they said the same thing. Now the TSB proves that it is a crappy brake.
– OEM tires are crap, at most i can only get 25K out of them.
Moral of the story, Don’t buy a Toyota especially the Tundra. TOYOTA STILL DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO BUILT A REALIABLE FULL SIZE TRUCK!
Finally, I will take my dad’s truck in this friday 2/15/13 to the dealership my dad bought the truck from. I hope the dealership does not come up with that they cannot fix it. I will keep everybody posted of this ordeal.
I have a 2011 tundra 4wd crewmax with the steering wheel shake at 50mph to 70mph and had a local tire shop balance and road force with still the same shake. That failed so a toyota dealership did the balance and road force and guess what still the same shake at the same speeds. While it was at toyota dealership I had them check : shocks, brake pads, and rotors all was fine and even had them re rotate the tires again just like the local tire shop did . Also the dealership torqued the wheels correct and both places said tires and wheels are fine. So what is the shake from and what is the fix? This is my 11th toyota truck and have worked on them but they all had miles on them this truck only has 43thosand and its already a pain in the a#* . Any help?
Jason,
A thought I have is to try some of the measures that stop vibrations in the Tacoma. While the TSB link below applies to lower speeds, might give you and your dealer some new ideas.
http://www.tacomahq.com/2629/d.....xpand-tsb/
I haven’t heard many issues with Tundra pickups and vibrations. So, I don’t think Toyota will issue a TSB for them like they have in the Tacoma.
-Tim
Jason,
I have the same issue with vibration. The tire/wheel so called balance well on road force but still shake. It end up the the wheel is out of round. get a dial indicator and check the runout of out of the wheel. Mine was fixed after i change a used steel wheel. The orginal wheel was defective from toyota. Don’t trust the Toyota dealer, the are no better than any other car mechanic. Mine replace the oil in my 4.6 with conventional oil twice!
Will look into the dial indicator where do you set it up to check the actual hub of the wheel or the outer lip of the rim? By the way I don’t trust the dealer due to they had no idea even after driving and trying to pin point a cause they came up empty . It was kind of weird to here their suggestions due to that everything they thought and tried even with the mechanic drving the truck after their attempts and still the vibration. As for the runout wouldn’t that change if they wheels and been rotated front to back and clockwise?
Oh by the way I live in a snowy climate and tried the 4wd out tonight and guess what no vibration and any speeds . What is up with that. I thought it would make it worse. I just had to try it and took the truck up to 75mph just to see the vibration range (47mph-71mph)I have in 2wd but after trying in 4wd it was not there. Took it out of 4wd and ran it from a stop and boom the vibration range was back. Check the 4wd when I got home and no cracks , nothing loose, or anything out of the norm. Even checked the ball joints nothing . What the?
Ok last night coming home had the vibration and due to some snow I thought I would try the 4wd . I had no vibration in 4wd at any speeds. So I came home and checked the drivetrain and the diffs and the ball joints and the axles and I really took some time looking I found nothing wrong anywhere. By the way I took it out of 4wd and there it was again vibration right back . So now with that being said does that enlighten anyone on any other ideas
It is your drive shaft!
[…] well known knock on the Toyota Tundra is the ride comfort and bed bounce. When Toyota designed the frame back in 2005 (best guess), ride comfort wasn’t one the top of […]
Just wanted to post as its been a few years. I have a 2009 Tundra Crewmax Ltd. and I have had the bed bounce since day 1. The dealership told me that is what you get with a stiff suspension truck. The only truck I have ever experienced this in is the Ford F-250 3/4 ton diesel. Lol. My truck bounces so much it slides sideways every now and then. I will take mine in to see if the TSB helps. Doubtful. I will keep this truck for a few more years, then look at other makes. This is pretty crappy treatment when spending over $40k on it new. They need to replace all the bushings in the bed and cab.
I just had the TSB for the bed bounce performed in April 2014 on my 2009 Crew Max Limited. I think the TSB made a slight difference, but the bed bounce is still severe on most roads here in Colorado. Feels like I’m riding my dirt bike in a whoop section when I drive down I-25! The bed bounce and the terrible gas mileage are my only knocks on the Tundra. I have had great reliability so far with the truck, and I will consider a new Tundra when it comes time to purchase a new truck. I have accepted that there is no fixing the bed bounce issue, although I have not tried buying new shocks, I will research to see if that will make a difference in the bed bounce issue.