Toyota Recalls ~130,000 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid Pickups

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling more than 130,000 2022-2023 model year Tundra and Tundra Hybrid pickups that may be equipped with a Toyota accessory tonneau cover. The tonneau cover attachment joints may come loose, allowing the cover to detach at highway speeds.

In the required NHTSA filing just released, Toyota said that field surveys investigating the tonneau cover securing joint and torque studies showed that there is a possibility that the torque values of some joints in the field are lower than the amount of torque required to compress the lock washer completely.

Interim notification letters instructing owners to remove the tonneau cover if their vehicles are so equipped, are expected to be mailed 31 March 2023. The repair remedy is currently under development. Owners will receive a second notice once the repair or fix becomes available. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 23TB03/23TA03. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov  about NHTSA 23V142.

Chronology

October 2022. In early October, Toyota received a field technical report indicating the tonneau cover lifted and detached from the vehicle while being driven at highway speeds. Toyota was not able to inspect the vehicle, but some parts were available and recovered for investigation. A review of the available parts was conducted, but no abnormalities were found. It was suspected that there was incomplete tightening during the installation process. Toyota began to monitor for further reports of the issue.

January 2023.In mid-January, Toyota received a dealer report indicating the customer was driving at highway speeds when the tonneau cover detached from the vehicle. Investigation continued into the potential cause of tonneau cover detachment.

February 2023. In early February, Toyota began conducting field surveys investigating the tonneau cover securing joint and conducting torque studies. The results of the torque studies indicated that there is a possibility that the torque values of some joints in the field are lower than the amount of torque required to compress the lock washer completely. In late February, Toyota received another field report indicating the tonneau cover detached while driving at highway speeds.

28 February 2023. Toyota decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall campaign. As of February 23, 2023, based on a diligent review of records, Toyota’s best engineering judgment is that there are two Toyota Field Technical Reports and four warranty claims that have been received from U.S. sources that relate or may relate to this condition and which were considered in the decision to submit this report.