Autoblog

The never-ending saga of Toyota's struggle to gain acceptance for its Tundra pickup in the U.S. market was made more difficult today with a new recall affecting some 15,600 trucks. Apparently the rear propeller shaft on some four-wheel-drive Tundras could separate at a joint because Toyota's supplier improperly heat treated it. Automotive News reports that Toyota discovered the problem when a single owner complained about noises coming from that area of his truck. Only one case of the shaft actually separating from the joint has been reported according to Toyota, and it did not result in an accident.

Credit Toyota for investigating the issue and determining which trucks are affected, then actually issuing this recall despite knowing it will hurt in the court of consumer opinion. In addition to today's recall, Toyota has also had to deal with Tundra owners complaining of "rumble strip" noises coming from the transmission, camshaft failures on a small number of trucks, and weak tailgates that have failed.

Toyota still hopes to sell 200,000 Tundras this year, and through the end of November has actually sold 177,336 units. It will require a BIG sales month in December to move nearly 25,000 Tundras, especially considering that the pickup's best selling month this year was July when 23,150 Tundra were sold.

[Source: Automotive News, Toyota]