The Toyota Tacoma has rightfully earned its spot as the benchmark of the mid-size pickup wars with the truck being available in a wide range of flavors. However, Toyota has announced a new recall for the Tacoma with owners of 2022-2023 models being asked to watch their mail for a notice.
Weld Debris And Tacoma Rear Axles Don’t Mix
The recall in question affects 381,000 trucks from the 2022-2023 model year with the figure representing 86% of Tacomas sold during that period. Toyota says that accumulated weld debris from the assembly process can build up in the ends of the rear axle assemblies. This buildup can cause the retaining nuts to come loose and eventually fall off. When that happens, it can cause another part to separate from the rear axle.
That would create a dangerous driving situation and while Toyota says no reports of any part separations have been made, the Japanese automaker is being cautious and playing it safe with this recall. to make sure that it catches the problem in question early.
What Can Owners Do?
To fix the problem, affected owners will have to go to their local Toyota showroom to have the rear axles inspected. If any damage is found, Toyota will replace or repair the components for free. Tacomas with no visible damage will have the retaining nuts tightened which will also be done for free under the terms of the recall.
Toyota will notify affected owners in the mail starting in April but Tacoma owners who aren’t willing to wait that long can also visit either Toyota’s Recall website and type their VIN-number or call the company’s Brand Engagement Center at 800-331-4331. The recall has not appeared on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website yet but look for that to change in short order including additional details on how the problem was originally detected.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.