My 2006 CD 4x4 Tacoma just cost me $600. Since I bought it used with 46k on it, the e-brake was sticking, so I didn't use it. When launching my boat, my friends accidentally put the e-brake on from time to time, and I had to rock the truck back and forth to free up the brake. Now it has about 67K on it, and this week while driving the rear wheels locked up. I managed to free up the brake and drive it to the dealership.

They have advised that the e-brake cable is completely seized, and it siezed on the rear brake shoes. Replacement cable, new brake shoes, and machine the rotors ($600) required. Despite the expensive 200k ECP warranty that the truck came with, Toyota is covering none of this.

My advice would be that if you notice your e-brake sticking, suck it up and replace it. The cost of replacing this cable and the fact that Toyota wouldn't cover it bothered me, so I intended to not use the e-brake, and let it ride. It got worse, and now this!

To my knowledge, this is a chronic Toyota problem. thoughts?

I understand you inherited the problem, but from now on use the e-brake regularly.
I use mine every time I park my Tundra, whether it's on a hill or not. From what I've been told,
one of the reasons people have problems with them is they're not "exercised" enough.

My Tundra is a 2002 and aside of one of the brackets getting to the point where it
would need to be replaced in the future (which I did), I've had no problems.

John

I use the e brake all the time but two days ago the truck was parked on the grass and when I started away the right back wheel was seized and I dragged it on the grass for 10 feet because it was in 4 wheel drive. the wheel broke loose when I hit the gravel. I'm going to tear it down and have a look .

As i said I use the e brake a lot and don't know why it didn't release. Could there be something in the brake cylinder that is causing this or just the cable?

first of all its a parking brake not an emergency brake. that alone should tell you to use it when you park. it keeps things in adjustment and moving properly etc. and its not suprising that something that was seized due to not being used and adjusted properly wasnt covered...