BROKE MY TRUCK (ADD? Same issue as TFL?)

[MT-Taco]

Well I took delivery just before the 6 month point, and I think it took them that long to figure out. I have been in for service since though...
My dealership just called and confirmed it is something in the front differential so they’re pulling the whole thing and replacing it. Not just the ADD. Which is confusing to me because I thought the explanation was that the ADD was intentionally the weak link to prevent extra damage. If that’s the design, wouldn’t you make it serviceable? I pushed back and asked about the software and he had no idea. He said he’s never seen this before and would talk to someone at Toyota (corporate?) about it.
I don’t have access to TSBs but surely one exists which would maybe shed some light on this discussion.
My question is: how do I get comfortable that this isn’t going to happen again? I was lucky to have someone with a truck “nearby” to pull me out, but I won’t always.

Yours is the 2nd one I’ve heard of. I have no doubt Toyota wants the entire front diff to inspect.
Ask the dealer if they can find the update S. Brown was talking about? Hopefully you’ll get it!

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[HoptownBob]

Why it it that the people in charge of maintenance, don’t know about issues like this? Do they not receive information from Toyota. Did he even take the time to watch the video after you told him about it?

 

[Groves8]

If i remember... i saw a video where the "lead engineer" guy, whos in all the youtube videos, stated that the TFL break was a Software issue, which im finding a bit hard to imagine.

He stated there is a sacrificial shear point in there, and they were working on a new algorithm or something, so it wont put the power down so hard, i believe?

Might want to look for that video, if you havent already.

Do you have a video of the screaming?

 

[Adam]

Ladies and gentlemen, another update:

truck is still at Toyota. They decided to pull the whole front differential and replace it. I talked to a guy who seemed to be top service dog at this dealer location and he wasn’t able to speak to what specifically is different (heavily implied that Toyota won’t tell him for some reason), but stated that the front differential is updated. Better hardware being put in (makes me again question the weakest link theory).
He also said that he’s working on getting me the software update (which yesterday they had never heard of).

They’re sending the broken diff to Toyota and they wanted specific info such as time date and coordinates. Happy to provide for development purposes. Did think the location and time and date were odd but maybe it helps them sort through the onboard data? The guy I talked to today four wheels himself and laughed at how minor the water crossing is- unacceptable for it to break- his words. Not at all worried about warranty coverage, I asked about it and both reps have kind of laughed and said it broke it shouldn’t have we’ll fix it and that’s that.

As silly as it is to us that they didn’t have a solution ready for this, I’m overall pretty happy so far with how Toyota has handled it. It sounds like this is the second time this has happened, and my truck is a “hot topic” right now. Hopefully that puts some pressure on them to release a detailed statement about the issue and how they’re fixing it so we can all be as confident as we should be in these trucks.

 

[Fiigtaco]

You'd think this would be a TSB at this point after being all over youtube. I know sheldon mentioned a software update, but he never said if it would be OTA or if you had to go into a dealer, and I cant find anything on it online.

 

[TacoFreak]

Yeah, that leaved buyers kind of hanging, wondering if there truck is affected and if it needs new software, or even hardware. Unfortunately it reminds me of where I am with my truck in the transmission TSB, which I am in the VIN range for.

Another case of don't worry be happy - just drive it until it dies. Not something I have ever expected from Toyota in the past. On this one they didn't even trot out Brown to spin some stories to make us all feel better. They did that for TFL, I guess to tamp down media attacks, but what about those of us who laid down the money to actually buy one of these?

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

Ladies and gentlemen, another update:

truck is still at Toyota. They decided to pull the whole front differential and replace it. I talked to a guy who seemed to be top service dog at this dealer location and he wasn’t able to speak to what specifically is different (heavily implied that Toyota won’t tell him for some reason), but stated that the front differential is updated. Better hardware being put in (makes me again question the weakest link theory).
He also said that he’s working on getting me the software update (which yesterday they had never heard of).

They’re sending the broken diff to Toyota and they wanted specific info such as time date and coordinates. Happy to provide for development purposes. Did think the location and time and date were odd but maybe it helps them sort through the onboard data? The guy I talked to today four wheels himself and laughed at how minor the water crossing is- unacceptable for it to break- his words. Not at all worried about warranty coverage, I asked about it and both reps have kind of laughed and said it broke it shouldn’t have we’ll fix it and that’s that.

As silly as it is to us that they didn’t have a solution ready for this, I’m overall pretty happy so far with how Toyota has handled it. It sounds like this is the second time this has happened, and my truck is a “hot topic” right now. Hopefully that puts some pressure on them to release a detailed statement about the issue and how they’re fixing it so we can all be as confident as we should be in these trucks.

If it’s true you are getting “better hardware”, then Sheldon has some explaining to do.

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