Toyota Tacoma Recall: 106k for brake line failure

[Dusdaddy]

To add, we've disagreed about what is build quality or design failure in the past. I didn't understand it then and I don't understand it now. If it's on the truck off production line it's 100% on Toyota.

Without a doubt, both are 100% Toyota responsibility. But after suffering from both as manufacturing manager, design is so much simpler to correct. Quality is a moving target and sometimes extremely difficult to get a finger on the root cause. The cheap excuse for that is always "lack of training".
One thing with Toyota, they own either one. We fault their design like lack of tow hooks or nor forward cameras while driving and they shrug and say piss-off we want it that way. Until they are ready to change, they don't. These brake lines they admitted were incorrect immediately, so they changed them. Their stubbornness in design is why I never bought one or cared for them, too arrogant. But I cannot deny their longevity.

 

[Fightnfire]

Without a doubt, both are 100% Toyota responsibility. But after suffering from both as manufacturing manager, design is so much simpler to correct. Quality is a moving target and sometimes extremely difficult to get a finger on the root cause. The cheap excuse for that is always "lack of training".
One thing with Toyota, they own either one. We fault their design like lack of tow hooks or nor forward cameras while driving and they shrug and say piss-off we want it that way. Until they are ready to change, they don't. These brake lines they admitted were incorrect immediately, so they changed them. Their stubbornness in design is why I never bought one or cared for them, too arrogant. But I cannot deny their longevity.

I think you nailed the issue. As a previous fan that's what's pissing me off now. Arrogance, it was always there but now they're having issues and people are talking about it. They have had to step up to address some things when it's forced upon them by outside agency, a lawsuit(s) or by an obvious flaw.

But the little things just get ignored and I really do feel like their PR team spins the issue to being we didn't want to do that not we didn't think about that, or we didn't want to spend the money to do that. (Front lockers, tow hooks, seats in the AC etc etc etc)

 

[TheDo114]

To add, we've disagreed about what is build quality or design failure in the past. I didn't understand it then and I don't understand it now. If it's on the truck off production line it's 100% on Toyota.

Sometimes, they are two sides of the same coin. This piece was poorly designed and thus the overall build quality is lower. One is a term for more of an engineer and the other is more in a consumer point of view. Consumer doesn't care about the design process, but will notice how it fits on the truck, if it rattles, etc.

@Dusdaddy made a great point where a design failure could also be that they refuse to include something like tow hooks. Build quality does not suffer from it, but it's still affects the product.

 

[Hilux]

I would like to see what the actual problem is, for a brake line to only last a year or two in a new truck is bad engineering, I have had old trucks that have never had to have brake lines and they were always covered in logging/mining road dirt.

 

[Dusdaddy]

I would like to see what the actual problem is, for a brake line to only last a year or two in a new truck is bad engineering, I have had old trucks that have never had to have brake lines and they were always covered in logging/mining road dirt.

From pictures they have posted online, it looks like it has a ridiculous length making for a large loop that may rub in the inside of the smaller wheels. At least that's the first thing I thought of when I saw it.

 

[Hilux]

A new safety recall for 106k 2024-2025 Toyota Tacoma 4×4 trucks equipped with 16-inch brakes and 17-inch Toyota wheels could cause brake failure. Toyota Tacoma Recall Toyota said in a statement, “the rear brake hoses in the subject vehicles can be damaged over time if there is enough build-up of mud and dirt inside the rear wheels from operating under certain off-road conditions. This can result in a brake fluid leak, increasing the risk of crash. For all involved vehicles, Toyota dealers will replace both rear brake hoses with improved ones at no charge to customers.” We reached out to Toyota for more information and […] (read full article...)

I finally seen some pics of the Tacoma brake line recall and thats just bone headed that Toyota routed the brake hoses like that.

 

[TheDo114]

I finally seen some pics of the Tacoma brake line recall and thats just bone headed that Toyota routed the brake hoses like that.

For those curious:

 

[testerdahl]

For those curious:
View attachment 857

I think a picture without context is pretty misleading. Toyota doesn’t do anything without a reason. I imagine there is more to this story.

 

[TheDo114]

I think a picture without context is pretty misleading. Toyota doesn’t do anything without a reason. I imagine there is more to this story.

I agree, it was probably design that way to take into account suspension flex or something like that, but I think the image still helps visualize how it looks like on the truck and why it might get damaged with mud or other debris as stated in the recall.

 

[Janka9]

Without a doubt, both are 100% Toyota responsibility. But after suffering from both as manufacturing manager, design is so much simpler to correct. Quality is a moving target and sometimes extremely difficult to get a finger on the root cause. The cheap excuse for that is always "lack of training".
One thing with Toyota, they own either one. We fault their design like lack of tow hooks or nor forward cameras while driving and they shrug and say piss-off we want it that way. Until they are ready to change, they don't. These brake lines they admitted were incorrect immediately, so they changed them. Their stubbornness in design is why I never bought one or cared for them, too arrogant. But I cannot deny their longevity.

Totally get what you mean. Toyota's approach can be frustrating, especially with their design stubbornness. But yeah, they do know how to make cars last. It's like they know their stuff but don't always care to change for the sake of change.

 

[Dusdaddy]

I think this pic is from an actual affected one. The proximity of the wheel is much closer on this model. Still looks like it would be a rare event for it to get damaged but we know Toyota doesn't take chances. Like with reprogramming after the TFL incident.

 

[Fightnfire]

I think this pic is from an actual affected one. The proximity of the wheel is much closer on this model. Still looks like it would be a rare event for it to get damaged but we know Toyota doesn't take chances. Like with reprogramming after the TFL incident.

I think they have had a few fail already. I saw that picture on TacomaWorld and thought it was crazy. In the pacific northwest we typically get a wet slushy snow that then freezes overnight. Multiple times I've had slush build up bad enough inside the wheel to throw the whole truck out of balance. I have to get my tools out and knock the ice off through the wheel. I could see that just shredding or even ripping the brake line it someone tried to drive with it. I wouldn't even have thought to check for a brake line positioned like that in the wheel itsef.

I need to check but I also read they only recalled trucks with the 17" wheels as the 18" wheel gets another 1/2" of clearance between the wheel and the brake line... that's interesting.

 

[Dusdaddy]

I need to check but I also read they only recalled trucks with the 17" wheels as the 18" wheel gets another 1/2" of clearance between the wheel and the brake line... that's interesting.

I think that was the point of the 17" recall. The smaller wheels are obviously a tighter fit and closed the gap to a point where crap built up on the wheel could contact the brake line. The bigger wheel has a bigger gap and they figure it can't build up that much. I get crap building up on the outside with freezing mud but never had much inside. But obviously some did.

 

[TheDo114]

I think they have had a few fail already. I saw that picture on TacomaWorld and thought it was crazy. In the pacific northwest we typically get a wet slushy snow that then freezes overnight. Multiple times I've had slush build up bad enough inside the wheel to throw the whole truck out of balance. I have to get my tools out and knock the ice off through the wheel. I could see that just shredding or even ripping the brake line it someone tried to drive with it. I wouldn't even have thought to check for a brake line positioned like that in the wheel itsef.

I need to check but I also read they only recalled trucks with the 17" wheels as the 18" wheel gets another 1/2" of clearance between the wheel and the brake line... that's interesting.

Tell me about it, I had to pull out my heat gun to try to melt the snow a bit from my wheels to knock it off. We got 16 inches of snow yesterday and getting another 16 on Sunday.

I would not have check for a brake line as well.