Toyota Tacoma Recall Issued Over Risk Axle Shaft Separation May Cause Auto Accident

Axle separation can result in loss of vehicle stability and brake performance problems, increasing the risk of an accident or crash.

Toyota has announced a recall impacting more than 380,000 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks from 2022 and 2023 model years, which may be at risk of experiencing a rear axle shaft separation that could result in loss of vehicle control and an auto accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Toyota Tacoma recall on February 27, warning that the axle shaft subassembly may separate from the axle housing due to debris, due to improperly secured fasteners.

In October 2023, the automaker first identified the issue at the vehicle assembly plant, after discovering weld spatter on the retaining nut seating surface of the axle housing end. This discovery led to an investigation into other rear axle assemblies and parts.

Toyota recovered parts from the supplier’s warehouse and later used them in a joint retention test. The investigators concluded that the integrity of the joint would be affected by the weld spatter, potentially causing the retaining nuts to loosen over time.

“If the vehicle is operated with loosened nuts, the driver may experience a vibration, hear an abnormal noise, and/or observe leaking of differential oil,” the NHTSA warns. “If an axle shaft separation occurs, vehicle stability and brake performance could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.”

Toyota Tacoma Recall

The Toyota Tacoma recall impacts an estimated 381,199 vehicles, including the 2022 through 2023 model years. The affected vehicles were manufactured from early May 2022 until late November 2023.

Toyota expects recall notification letters to be mailed to registered owners by April 13. Owners will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment with an authorized Toyota dealer for free vehicle inspections, who will tighten the axle retaining nuts as necessary, and repair or replace any damaged components, free of charge.

For more information, owners may contact Toyota customer service by phone at 1-800-331-4331 and reference recall 24TB05 and 24TA05. They may also contact the NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline by phone at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or visit their website at www.nhtsa.gov.