2008 Toyota Tacoma Suspension

I LIVE IN NOME, ALASKA. IT HAS BEEN OVER 5 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL FOR THE LEAF SPRINGS THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AS THE RECALL SAYS SO. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. ONE SPRING IS BROKEN AS IT NOTES IN THE RECALL. THERE ARE SEVERAL AUTO SHOPS HERE NOT A TOYOTA DEALER. TOYOTA HAS NOT ARRANGED TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED HERE. ALSO THERE ARE RECALLS ON MY SEAT BELT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED TO GET FIXED EITHER. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM KENDALL TOYOTA OUT OF FAIRBANKS, AK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR LEAF SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V604000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

MARCH OF 2014 MY RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING CRACKED. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA CORPORATE REGARDING THIS. THEY BOTH DENIED ANY GENERIC PROBLEM WITH THE SPRINGS AND TOYOTA REFUSED ANY REPLACEMENT. IN AUGUST OF 2014 THE LEFT LEAF BROKE. IN BOTH CASES I CHOSE TO HAVE MY LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACE THE BROKEN LEAF. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LEAVES AND THE SPRING ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE REPLACED PER THE ANNOUNCED RECALL (SEPT 29, 2014). I DETECTED THE BREAK BECAUSE OF UNUSUAL SUSPENSION NOISE. NO LOADS WERE CARRIED DURING THIS PERIOD. *TR

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A REPAIR FACILITY FOR BRAKES AND WHEN IT WAS PUT UP ON THE LIFT THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT ONE OF THE LEAF SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE HAD SNAPPED - THE SNAPPED SPRING WAS ABLE TO MOVE BOTH BACK AND FORTH AS WELL AS TO PROTRUDE SIDEWAYS. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND THE SPRINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS. RECENTLY I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THE COMPANY IS RECALLING ALL LIKE VEHICLES TO ADD CORROSION RESISTANT MATERIALS TO THE FRAME. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE COMPANY THEY DENIED THE TWO INCIDENTS WERE SIMILAR AND TOOK UMBRAGE THAT I WOULD SUGGEST SUCH. NO ONE I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAS EVER SEEN SPRINGS BREAK IN THIS MANNER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN USED TO TOW HEAVY OBJECTS NOR TAKEN OFF ROAD SO THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND NOT FIND IT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR UPDATED 12/07/15. *JB

I OWN A 2008 TACOMA DOUBLE CAB, 4X4. STRANGE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION AFTER DRIVING OVER FROST HEAVES AND POT HOLES. THE DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING HAD BROKE, AND WAS RUBBING HARD ON THE BRAKE LINE. I DO NOT TOW, OFF ROAD, OR CARRY HEAVY LOADS. ONLINE SEARCH FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TACOMAS. HAPPY (OR LUCKY) THE BRAKES DIDN'T FAIL, AND DISAPPOINTED IN THE INFERIOR QUALITY. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING RUSTED AND A SECTION OF THE CENTER SPRING WAS BANGING OFF THE BRAKE LINE. I HAD THE SPRING REPLACED 2 WEEKS LATER ONCE THE PART ARRIVED AT THE DEALER AT MY COST. NOW IN JUNE 2014 THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING ALSO RUSTED AND WAS BANGING OFF THE BRAKE LINE. IT HAS BEEN 5 WEEKS AND THE PART IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I HAVE TIED THE SPRING TOGETHER WITH BUNGEE CORDS IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING A LARGE PIECE OF METAL FROM BREAKING LOOSE IN BOTH INSTANCES WAS A BRACKET. IF THE METAL CAME OFF ON THE HIGHWAY A SERIOUS INJURY OR ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. TOYOTA ISSUED A RUST RECALL FOR THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE BUT NOT THE LEAF SPRINGS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. THE DEALERSHIP NOW TOLD ME TOYOTA HAS CHANGED THE SPRING DESIGN AND I SHOULD HAVE BOTH SPRINGS REPLACED AT MY COST. I FEEL AS WELL AS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED, TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHANGING THEM OUT....UPDATED 08/12/14 *BF *TR UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA ACCESS CAB OFF-ROD 4X4. A LEAF IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND I STARTED TO HEAR A CLANKING METAL ON METAL NOISE THAT I HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO I DROVE THERE AND WHEN I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE SECOND LEAF FROM THE TOP WAS BROKEN IN TWO RIGHT BEHIND THE U-BOLT HOLDING THE REAR AXLE TO THE LEAF PACK. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY A LOCAL SHOP WHO REPLACED THE BROKEN LEAF AND ADDED ANOTHER FULL LEAF TO BOTH LEAF PACKS(PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE) ON THE TRUCK. BEFORE IT BROKE, THE SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES WERE ALREADY FLAT WHEN UNLOADED AND IF I PUT ANY AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN THE BACK I WAS HITTING THE BUMP STOPS VERY EASILY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER, IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH LEAF SPRINGS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE VEHICLE TILTED TO THE SIDE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LEAF SPRING BECAME FRACTURED AND LANDED ON TOP OF THE AXLE, CRUSHING THE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,330.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING WAS FOUND TO BE FRACTURED IN TWO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THAT THE SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN CARRYING A LIGHT LOAD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

BETWEEN 42000 AND 47000 MILES, THE DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING BROKE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING IS LIKELY TO BREAK SOON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY HEAVY LOADS, OFF-ROAD TRAVEL OR TOWING. OWNER EXPECTATIONS BASED ON PREVIOUS VEHICLE OF SAME MAKE AND MODEL (1998) ON WHICH THE LEAF SPRINGS LASTED 100,000 MILES SUBJECT TO THE SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING FOUND BROKEN ON USED TACOMA THAT I PURCHASED. A QUICK WEB SEARCH REVEALS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR REPLACEMENT OF WEAK SPRINGS FOR VEHICLES STILL UNDER THE NEW VEHICLE COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY. THE AFTERMARKET SPRING SUPPLIER THAT I PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SPRING FROM STATED THIS IS HIS BEST SELLING SPRING; I THINK THAT IS A STRONG INDICATION OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAD 4 PASSENGERS AND ABOUT 200 POUNDS OF GEAR IN THE TRUCK BED AND IT HAS A LEER CAP ON.ON BUMPY ROADS IT BEGAN TO HIT THE BUMP STOPS AS IF IT WERE OVERLOADED, THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 20 TIMES.ON THE RETURN TRIP ON I 57 N AS I CROSSED OVER A BRIDGE THE TRUCK BOTTOMED OUT SLAMMING THE BUMP STOPS AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST VEERED OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT, THE REAR SUSPENSION AFTER HITTING THE BUMP STOPS HARD SEEMED TO RETURN ERRATICALLY AND DISTURB THE BALANCE OF THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER TRIP A FEW WEEKS LATER WITH 3 OF THE SAME PEOPLE IN THE CAR IN SNOW CONDITIONS I AGAIN HIT THE BUMP STOPS BUT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND I LOST CONTROL DUE TO LACK OF TRACTION. TOYOTA HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON 2 OCCASIONS IN REGARD TO THE BOTTOMING OUT ISSUE, BOTH TIMES THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, DID HAVE THE FACTORY TSB DONE FOR THE SUSPENSION EARLY ON BUT IT HAS NOT HELPED, AS TRUCK GETS OLDER THE LACK OF CONTROL AFTER HITTING THE BUMP STOPS IS REPEATABLE AND PREDICTABLE EVEN WITH LESS WEIGHT THAN IT IS RATED FOR. *TT

THIS 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB WAS PURCHASED NEW IN LATE 2007. IT IMMEDIATE DEVELOPED LEAF SPRING NOISE WHICH TOYOTA ADDRESSED THROUGH TSB TSU01207 - GREASE SPRINGS. TSB 027409 WAS ISSUED IN 2009 WHICH INSERTED A NEW SILENCER PAD DESIGN. THOSE WORE OUT IN A YEAR. NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN OFFERED BY TOYOTA SINCE - ALTHOUGH PROMISED - AND TACOMA OWNERS STOP ME IN PARKING LOTS TO ASK ABOUT THE ISSUE. A VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND AT: HTTP://YOUTU.BE/YGN9EX7CEVU. *TR

SHIMMY AND TRAMPING OF FRONT STEERING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (45 -70 MPH) WORSE AFTER HITTING BUMPS. TRUCK JUMPED SIDEWAYS ONE FOOT ON TURN WHILE CROSSING BRIDGE AFTER ENCOUNTERING A BUMP THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES,SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. *TR

PROBLEMAS CON LA SUSPENCION DE LA TACOMA 2008, CUANDO VAMOS 4 PERSONAS EN EL VEHICULO LA CAJA CHOCA CON SU LIMITE Y AL HACHAR CARGA DA UN CANTAZO FUERTE EN LA PARTE TRASERA DE LA GUAGUA, EMPEORANDO LA SITUACION. *TR

TRUCK HAS FRONT END VIBRATION AS IF TIRES ARE OUT OF BALANCE. DEALER HAS ROTATED AND BALANCED TIRES TWICE AND ADVISES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO TOYOTA AND THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. *TR

THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE TRUCK RESTS ON THE BUMPSTOPS WHEN HAULING LOADS IN THE BED. I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB 4X4, TRD OFF-ROAD. WHEN LOADING MY 4-WHEELER IN THE BED, THE TAILGATE BENDS SLIGHTLY & THE SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT. *TR

SUSPENSION IS DOING A LOUD FRICTION SOUND WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT A VERY SLOW SPEED, IT SOUNDS LIKE METALS ARE HAVING FRICTION ONE AGAINST THE OTHER, THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY TIME YOU DRIVES OVER A BUMP, BIGGER BUMP LOUDER SOUND. AND THERE IS NO WAY TO GO FAST OVER THESE BUMPS ALL OF THEM ARE AT SCHOOL STUDENT DROPPING AREAS AND SECURITY IS FIRST THAN EVERYTHING, BUT IS ANY PART OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THIS? *TR

THE REAR SUSPENSION BOTTOMS OUT WHEN THERE IS A LARGE LOAD IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK (2008 TOYOTA TACOMA ACCESS CAB 4X4, NO TRD PACKAGE). JUST STANDING ON THE REAR BUMPER MAKES THE REAR END DROP CONSIDERABLY. *TR