2010 Toyota Tundra Is Focus of a Strange Little Recall

Just the Facts:

• Toyota is recalling only two 2010 Tundra trucks for a defect in the front propeller shaft.
• NHTSA says an improper weld could result in a loss of vehicle control.
• Toyota remains under fire with an unrelated recall of 8.5 million vehicles.

WASHINGTON — In a strange little recall of the 2010 Toyota Tundra that may go down as one of the smallest in an era of massive Toyota recalls, just two of the four-wheel-drive model of the truck are being recalled for a defect in the front propeller shaft.

"There is a possibility that an improper weld exists at the union of the propeller shaft and yoke," according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its recalls summary of the problem. "Due to this improper weld, this joint may separate and the separated shaft may come into contact with the road surface.

"This may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash."

Toyota has come under fire in Congress and other quarters for being slow to address the problems associated with the unrelated recall of 8.5 million vehicles in the U.S., Europe, Asia and other regions.

In other documentation filed with the federal government, Toyota said about 500 2010 Tundra trucks had been held at the factory in late October once the problem with the front propeller shaft was discovered. It said the defect in those trucks "has been corrected or is being corrected."

"Toyota determined that only two vehicles containing potentially suspect parts were delivered to Toyota dealers and sold," the automaker reported to NHTSA. It said it is in the process of "contacting both owners."

Toyota dealers will replace the front propeller shaft in those two trucks. The recall is expected to begin sometime in March.

The 2000-'03 Tundra has been the subject of a more extensive recall to fix part of the truck's frame that could corrode. Excessive corrosion of the rear crossmember could cause spare tires or the gas tank to drop off the vehicle. The original recall was announced last November and covered 110,000 trucks sold in 20 cold-weather states in the U.S. But Toyota recently expanded that Tundra recall to cover all trucks in the remaining 30 states.

Inside Line says: Guess nobody can say Toyota is not on top of this Tundra recall. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent