2001 Toyota Tundra: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Oct 5, 2025 · Steering, Suspension · CO

On September 4, 2025, I brought my 2001 Toyota Tundra to Midas at 5325 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002 for an oil change and inspection. Midas advertises a “Closer Look Vehicle Check,” which includes checking steering, suspension, and wheels. Their inspection report marked the steering system as “OK” and only noted mild shock wear. Less than a month later, while exiting the highway, the lower ball joint failed completely, causing the front suspension and wheel to detach. I immediately lost steering control. Fortunately, this occurred at low speed; had it happened moments earlier on the highway, it could have caused a major collision or fatalities. The failed component (lower ball joint and related suspension parts) is still available for inspection. An independent mechanic later confirmed that the joint was severely worn and the failure appeared to be due to long-term deterioration that should have been detected during Midas’s inspection. No warning lights or indicators appeared before the failure. The incident endangered my life, my passengers’ safety, and other drivers on the road. The business has refused to take responsibility or cover repair costs, which currently total over $2,400, despite their advertised inspection and guarantee. This raises serious concerns that Midas and potentially other service locations may be failing to properly inspect critical suspension components, which poses a major public safety hazard.

Filed Apr 8, 2024 · Suspension · 233,500 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right and front driver's side wheel detached from underneath the vehicle, causing the vehicle to skid across the highway before coming to a stop. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the front driver's side ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that there was damage to the subframe of the vehicle caused by the detached wheel. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 233,500.

Filed Jan 8, 2024 · Wheels · VA · 1 injury

Driving straight at 30mph and wheel came off causing near deadly collision. Upon inspection it is evident that the wheel separated from its ball joints. Further research strongly suggests that this is a known defect of this year/make/model, even though the recall was issued only for the subsequent years vehicle. This is a potentially deadly design flaw and not an isolated manufacturing defect as Toyota claims.

Filed May 28, 2022 · Suspension · CA

Lower ball joints(right and left hand sides) very serious safety concern. this is my family vehicle and has been with the family since 2005-06. members from the tundra forums are concerned about this issue with toyota tundras. yes toyota has a recall for their 02-06 tundras and tacomas and sequioas of the same year. my car doesn't qualify for the recall. this recall is not covered for the 2000-2001 tundras,tacomas, and sequioas. dont understand why. they all have the same part numbers. i have seen and witnessed the aftermath of this failed ball joint. some are fatal and some leave you stranded. we need to have this deadly issue resolved with toyota. help me and help all other toyota tundra owners who are in this same situation as I am. thank you

Filed Mar 27, 2020 · Suspension · 199,386 miles · AZ

On 11-5-2019 I was driving my 2001 toyota tundra, down a city street at approximately 30 MPH when I heard a loud snapping, breaking noise and the right front of my truck collapsed and truck veered to the right. My first instinct was that I had a blowout. There was entrance to circle k approximately 40-50 feet away. Skidding along I was able to steer the truck into the driveway and off the street. When I got out to check I saw that the right front tire had collapsed under the vehicle had skidded on the tire and rim. The tire was still holding air but was scraped down to the cord. There were no potholes or any debris in the road. I had my vehicle towed to my mechanic, primarily japanese, and had it diagnosed. Ball joints were completely broken and also ruining ABS speed sensor and brake hose. See attached invoice. Mechanic also did a diagnosis on the entire front end. On 11-14-2019 per the advice of my mechanic I had them rebuild l ball joints and lower and upper control arm. See attached invoice. I still have not replaced the r control arms which they have advised I do asap. It was extremely fortunate that myself or no one else was seriously injured. *ln vehicle was towed.

Filed Oct 11, 2019 · Steering · 220,000 miles · TX

Lower ball joint failure drivers side wheel broke loose from lower control arm

Filed Sep 18, 2019 · Suspension · 148,000 miles · OH · crash

My ball joints on the driver's side wheel catastrophically failed this morning without warning (no knocking/rattling/vibration/etc.). Luckily I was only going 15 MPH. I am concerned that toyota is aware of an issue with the ball joints that could cause this failure without warning. I am worried for future incidents that would not be so lucky and happen on a highway going 70mph or more (which I was doing 10 minutes prior to this happening). I understand normal wear and tear but this is a sudden, catastrophic failure that is highly dangerous and likely to kill people. Normal ball joint wear loosens the ball joint and makes a rattling noise, this issue binds the ball joint with no warning and breaks it off. I called toyota and was declined any information relating to trending and was told there is nothing they can do about wear and tear. This was in spite of knowledge I have of over 533,000 recalls of ball joints on similar models with similar suspensions. The toyota personnel I spoke with would not even admit to any recalls of such like incidents. Toyota seemed completely unconcerned and even worried that if they provided information like this to other tundra owners that they would be "liable" and expected to pay to have them fixed. It seemed toyota was happy to sit by and watch the next wheel go flying off their tundras/sequoias (and potential fatality) at the risk of having to communicate an issue to customers. I would have loved to know there could have been an existing ball joint issue, I would have performed a pm on mine!

Filed Apr 1, 2019 · Suspension · 240,000 miles · TX · crash

The lower ball joints on these first generation tundras are all prone to early failure when using any other brand than oem. I have talked to dozens of first gen owners and all agree the lower ball joints on the trucks are a huge weak point. I had my driver's side front wheel come off of my truck while turning down a street in a busy intersection, causing extensive damage to my tundra. The wheel went about 50 feet and stopped by colliding with a parked car. The suspension of my truck also caused damage to the road.

Filed Sep 26, 2018 · Suspension · 200,000 miles · IN · crash · 1 injury

Front lower left ball joint broke at 40 MPH while crossing rr tracks.the tire/hub completely tore loose tearing off brake line.and just luckily avoided a deadly head-on collision.this is the most dangerous vehicle I have ever owned.this problem must be addressed.my problem is l also own a 2001 toyota sequoia which has the same front ball joints.this is total bull. I would had sent a picture,but the truck left the scene on a flat bed trailer.

Filed Aug 24, 2018 · Body · 143,409 miles · CT

I have only owned this vehicle for 6 months. On 8/18/18 the control arm on the passenger side fell off, I had the truck towed by aaa to a local repair shop. After examining the vehicle, the mechanic stated that the driver side control arm was also ready to fall off but the bigger problem is that the frame is rotted, holes everywhere and the vehicle is not safe to drive. I inquired at lynch toyota about a remedy through the frame recall and they informed me that there was a prevention spray done in 2014 at westbrook toyota - which makes this worse, because there shouldn't be any rot/corrosion if the spray was effective. I called toyota corporate to ask about a remedy and they refused, stating that a guarantee of the spray was only for 12 months after the (ineffective) spray was applied and after that the customer is on their own. I did not own the vehicle at the time so I don't know if problems were noticed within 12 months after the spray, but clearly the spray didn't work since 4 years later the frame is rotted to the point of being unsafe.

Filed Jun 13, 2017 · Body, Steering · 165,423 miles · WI

Lower drivers side ball joint popped out going down hyway. Tire ended up collapsing in on drivers fender door and broke cv shaft and twisted a arms. Very dangerous. No prior sign of clunking or popping.

Filed Feb 19, 2017 · Body · 2 miles · MA

I was driving in a toyota tundra 2001 with my pregnant wife and two goats in the bed, when I drove over a small bump by a little bridge when I heard a noise and lost control off the truck almost hitting a tree. I was within a half mile from my home so when I got home I inspected the truck to find out the lower control arm broke off . If you drive the truck now it will pull the truck hard to the left and it feels like its about to fall apart. Toyota also had a so called recall on the frames but, even still the frame is in terrible condition and they refuse to help . Im most pissed because this happened while my wife was in the truck and we already lost one child together.