# 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
> NHTSA complaint `652916` · 2008-01-09 · Toyota Motor Corporation
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** TOYOTA
- **Model:** TUNDRA
- **Year:** 2002
- **Manufacturer:** Toyota Motor Corporation
- **Component:** SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
- **Miles at failure:** 137,000
- **Speed:** 8 mph
## Narrative
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE ON 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT. THEY HAVE BEEN CHECKED OFF IN ROUTINE MAINTANENCE OF THE VEHICLE EVERY 3000-4000 MILES AS BEING IN GOOD CONDITION! FOR THIS REASON AND FOR THE RECALL (SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 50J LOWER BALL JOINT) THAT WAS ISSUED ON THE SAME EXACT PART THAT FAILED ON MY VEHICLE.  AFTER READING THE RECALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS SAME PART ON MY TRUCK WAS NOT COVERED WHEN IT APPEARED IN GOOD CONDITION TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS, BUT THEN FAILED WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS? " IN EXTREME CASES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING  A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, THUS INCREASING A POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH." QUOTED FROM (SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 50J) THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT FAILED ON MY TRUCK AND I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS GOING SLOW WHEN IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT END SLAMMED DOWN TO THE TIRE HITTING THE PAVEMENT LOCKING UP THE TIRE PULLING THE AXLE SHAFT OUT OF THE AXLE AND PUSHING THE FENDER INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR! THERE IS NO DOUBT, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES! THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD OR HAS IT GONE OFF ROAD INTO A HOLE, OR  THAT ANYTHING, THAT WOULD CAUSE THAT TYPE OF WEAR. FOR THESE REASONS I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF SOME KIND WHETHER IT WAS THE SCRATCHED SURF
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*