WE WERE DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY 168 IN NORTH CAROLINA NORTH TOWARDS VIRGINIA COMING HOME FROM VACATION IN THE OUTER BANKS, NC. WE WERE DRIVING IN LEFT LANE PASSING A JEEP, PULLING A SMALL TRAILER, IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN WE HEARD A POP AND THE CAR STARTED TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. OUR CAR STRUCK THE JEEP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURNING THE JEEP SO IT ENDED UP IN FRONT OF US. BOTH VEHICLES FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. AFTER CHECKING ON THE PASSENGERS (MY WIFE, TWO CHILDREN AND OUR DOG) IN OUR CAR AND JEEP PASSENGERS, I WENT TO MOVE THE CAR AT THE REQUEST OF THE POLICE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE COLLAPSED IN AT THE TOP AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS HURT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR PUT ONTO THE FLAT BED TOW TRUCK BY AAA, THE AAA EMPLOYEE AND I COULD SEE UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED THE REAR TIE ROD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATE IN TWO PIECES. RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY RECALL FROM TOYOTA BACK IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER ABOUT THE TIE ROD. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR DEALERSHIP, IN NOVEMBER. THEY INSPECTED IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG SO IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE FIXED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I HAVE FILED A INCIDENT REPORT WITH TOYOTA, WHO WILL BE LOOKING AT THE CAR. *TR