T100 Drag link/Steering relay rod safety related failure *PICS* - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

H2O_MAN · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 01:34 PM

Heads up T100 owners.
It seems there is a problem with 4WD T100 drag links (Toyota calls it a "steering relay rod").

Mine snapped today. When this happens - you can't steer!
Lucky for me this occured as I was pulling into a service bay at very low speed.
The same thing happened about a year ago to one of the mechanics at the shop I use.
He has a '95 4WD T100, mine is a '96. He reported the issue to Toyota and never got a response.
We filed a report to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
PICTURES
As you can see the replacement rod is about 1/4" wider.
That tells me Toyota is aware of the problem

I now have five confirmed failures. The break is in the same place on all 5.

Has anyone else had this happen??? -- Please post your details.

(Moderators please note: I was not sure of the best place to post this information on TS)

DevinSixtySeven · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 02:07 PM

that looks like a *very* clean break. is there any visible necking? was there any warning, or was it completely catastrophic? (edit: i meant catastrophic as in failure, not as in accident

fortunately!)

i'm sure there are a few metallurgists around here, anyone have any input?

-s

H2O_MAN · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevinSixtySeven

that looks like a *very* clean break. is there any visible necking? was there any warning, or was it completely catastrophic?

i'm sure there are a few metallurgists around here, anyone have any input?

-s

No warning. It just snapped.
It could have been catastophic at speed.
You would not be able to steer, front brakes would be a joke!
I guess you could yank on the E brake and hope for the best.
I hope the metallurgists on this forum have a look.

H2O_MAN · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004, 03:35 PM

Maybe this post should be in Handling, Suspension & Brakes.

THarms · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2004, 10:59 PM

Thanks for the heads up... I'm going to inspect them on my '95 T100 4x4 first thing in the morning... agree that it does look like a clean break except for that little "divot" at the top/middle... is that "divot" part of the original design or had it rusted down that far on its own due to a design defect? Except for the headgasket TSB, this truck has been indestructible... atleast up until now...

How much work is it to change them out?? and how much do the replacement parts cost? (I'm going to replace them, I just would like to prepare myself mentally for the sticker shock...)

warrior · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 03:03 AM

Is this just related to 4wd or should 2wd be looked into as well? My mom owns a 93 ( I think that is the year) T100 2wd and I would like to give her a heads up if it would pertain to her model. Is there a recall on that yet? Thanks

H2O_MAN · #7 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 07:38 AM

So far 4WD only. I would still inspect a 2WD rod.

Go to this NHTSA site: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...lain/index.cfm

That is the complaint section. Go to view complaints and go through the process of entering vehicle year/make/model. Then it will give you a drop down menu of complaint areas. Just check in steering, steering linkage, steering linkage-drag link, each years list is a little different. You will be surprised by the number of complaints. They are just summaries so some say lost steering but others specify the drag link.One in 97 is from a structural engineer if that lends any authenticity.

THarms · #8 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 02:15 PM

not to make light of the severity of this issue... but came across this one report on the NHTSA sight under the Sequoia sections:

Make : TOYOTA Model : SEQUOIA Year : 2001
Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 1
ODI ID Number : 890971 Date of Failure: June 9, 2001
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Summary:
CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 440 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELLING 60 MPH RAN A RED LIGHT AND TURNED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, HITTING IT HEAD-ON. FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, PUSHING RADIATOR THROUGH THE ENGINE. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. MANUFACTURER HAS APOLOGIZED, AND WILL SEND SOMEONE OUT TO INSPECT VEHICLE. AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS $23629. VEHICLE WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS TO BE TOTALLY REPAIRED. *AK TOYOTA ISSUED A LETTER TO CONSUMER STATING THAT THE SRS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. *SLC

Mine doesn't do anywhere near 440MPH... maybe it is worth adding those TRD headers and a K&N intake!!

DevinSixtySeven · #9 (**permalink**) 03-14-2004, 05:47 PM

acciddental doubble keyy

.

fits the family · #10 (**permalink**) 03-29-2004, 12:53 AM

Before my Tundra I had a T-100 the same thing happened to me. Pulling off the road into a driveway slow speed it snapped. Same spot as yours did. I replaced it myself and did relize the new one is longer. I sold the truck to my cousin so keep us posted on what toyota says.

Thanks,
F.T.F.

Mike Donofrio · #11 (**permalink**) 04-01-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7.62mm

Heads up T100 owners.
It seems there is a problem with 4WD T100 drag links (Toyota calls it a "steering relay rod").

Mine snapped today. When this happens - you can't steer!
Lucky for me this occured as I was pulling into a service bay at very low speed.
The same thing happened about a year ago to one of the mechanics at the shop I use.
He has a '95 4WD T100, mine is a '96. He reported the issue to Toyota and never got a response.
We filed a report to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
PICTURES
As you can see the replacement rod is about 1/4" wider.
That tells me Toyota is aware of the problem

I now have five confirmed failures. The break is in the same place on all 5.

Has anyone else had this happen??? -- Please post your details.

(Moderators please note: I was not sure of the best place to post this information on TS)

Yikes,

Glad you're okay and that it happened at very low speed...

Anybody have any idea if this is one of the parts that Toyota carried over in the redesign from the T100 to the Tundra?

fits the family · #12 (**permalink**) 04-05-2004, 02:57 AM

When mine broke i was going very slow but wasn't wheeling it. I just simply went to make a u-turn in a driveway. Little bump Snap No Steering talk about sinking feeling. Any way after inspecting the pieces you could see where 2 little spots of rust had started to form signs of being slightly cracked for awhile I always thought that the incident was related to the 33" tires. The new relay rod I installed was slightly thicker and slightly longer. hope this helps
F.T.F.

raorto · #13 (**permalink**) 04-29-2006, 05:42 PM

Mine just broke the other day, luckly I was just pulled out of a parking lot and heard a couple of bangs about 200 yards later no steering. One thing I noticed just, about a day before the failure was that the steering wheel was coming out of alignment to track straight, at the time I thought I just needed a alignment.

Rich

markimusprime · #14 (**permalink**) 08-31-2007, 12:24 AM

just got a recall notice "certain 1989 through 1995 model year truck 4wd steering relay rod safety recall follow up notice"

cbburtraw · #15 (**permalink**) 01-18-2008, 11:33 AM

i just got a notice today from toyota same as markimusprime. also the guy who gave me the truck (this was a few months ago) got the notice like 2 weeks after he gave it to me so he also sent the letter to me. guess its pretty important, it sounds pretty bad. plus i do a lot of effort steering like getting into my very tight driveway spot

what is a steering relay rod? my uncle is a mechanic and he even says he has no clue what it is