REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH SUCH THAT DIFFERENTIAL FLUID IS LEACHING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE METAL AND DRIPPING ONTO THE ROADWAY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL SEIZING UP AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, OR OTHER VEHICLES TO LOSE TRACTION ON ROAD DUE TO GEAR OIL LEAKING ONTO ROADWAY. TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING AND INSISTS ENTIRE DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS. RUST PROBLEM FIRST OBSERVED IN 2005 AND STEADILY BECOMING WORSE EACH MONTH. NO REPAIRS YET MADE BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE COST. OWNER IS EXPECTING AND WAITING FOR A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
1997
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT (60 MPH), THE VEHICLE SURGED/JOLTED FORWARD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE CAUSING ME TO MERGE INTO THE DIRECTION OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. I TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM TRACTOR TRAILER TO AVOID COLLISION. MY VEHICLE HIT THE REAR TIRE OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER AND I BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. MY BRAKES DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP EITHER, THEY DIDN'T FUNCTION. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER 3+ TIMES, THE CAR WAS TOTALED. ALL PASSENGERS WERE HOSPITALIZED BUT NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE WERE HURT FROM THE ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN IS REGARDING THE PERIODIC ENGINE SURGE AND/OR JOLTING AND LACK OF BRAKE CONTROL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER TO AVOID FUTURE INCIDENTS. WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE NOT BEEN KILLED IN THIS AUTO ACCIDENT. *TR