What to Know About Toyota’s Recall of 381,000 Tacoma Trucks

(Image credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi, Getty Images)

Toyota has recalled 381,000 Toyota Tacoma trucks over an issue with welding debris left on the ends of the rear axle assembly.

The recall affects certain model year 2022 and 2023 Tacoma trucks in the U.S.

“Welding debris left on the ends of the rear axle assembly during manufacturing could cause certain retaining nuts to loosen over time and eventually fall off, potentially causing a part to separate from the axle,” Toyota said in a statement. “If separation occurs, this can affect vehicle stability and brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.”

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just ~~$107.88~~ $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/y99mlvgqmn1763972420.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

A Toyota dealer will inspect the rear axle assembly and retighten the axle retaining nuts, free of charge, Toyota said. Owners affected by the recall will be notified via letters through the mail by late April, it added.

The carmaker said to contact its Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331 if you have any questions.

Toyota’s fourth recall in a week

The latest recall is Toyota’s fourth in a week and fifth so far this year. The automaker issued three recalls in one day, on February 21, and a "do not drive" advisory over an air bag issue with certain Corolla and RAV4 vehicles on January 25.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Date of Recall	Vehicles Affected	Issue
February 27	381,000 vehicles - 2022 to 2023Tacoma trucks	Welding debris left on the ends of the rear axle assembly
February 21	19,000 vehicles - 2023 Toyota Mirai and 2023 to 2024 Lexus LS, LC, ES	Rearview Image May Not Display
February 21	4,000 vehicles - 2023 to 2024 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid	Head restraints on the rear fold down seats may have poor welds
February 21	280,000 vehicles - 2022 to 2024 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia and Lexus LX 600	Certain parts of the transmission may not immediately disengage
January 25	50,000 vehicles - 2003 to 2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix, and 2004 to 2005 RAV4	Do not drive advisory over Takata air bag issue
Row 5 - Cell 0	Row 5 - Cell 1	Row 5 - Cell 2

How to check for recalls

Vehicle recalls are common. Manufacturers regularly monitor car safety and functions issues to alert drivers of necessary repairs.

You can check for manufacturer recalls of any models at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.

To check for recalls of any Toyota model, you can also visit the company’s safety recall website.

For both websites, you’ll need to enter your vehicle identification number or license plate information to perform a search.

In addition, nonprofit organization Consumer Reports (CR) provides a guide on car recalls that answers common questions. The guide also includes links such as: CR's car recall tracker; how to write a car safety complaint to the NHTSA; how to make sure the used car you want doesn't need recall work; and how to avoid hidden damage on a used car.

Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.