Tundra Tailgate Failures

We the undersigned are concerned owners and potential owners of the 2007 or 2008 Toyota Tundra pick-up trucks. We are both loyal and past Toyota customers as well new buyers who previously owned GM, Ford, Dodge or Nissan products. We purchased the new Tundra due to Toyotas reliability and excellent customer satisfaction history.

Many owners of the new Tundra are experiencing tailgate failures at an alarming rate. Verifiable reports and photographs have been published on Toyota internet forums that recount both structural failures and tailgates actually coming off while the vehicles are in motion. Needless to say these incidents expose Tundra owners and Toyota to serious and financially disastrous liability issues. More importantly, the potential for serious injuries or death cannot be discounted.

We are aware of the warning in the manual of not driving the Tundra with the tailgate in the down position. We are also aware that none of Toyotas competitors suffer from similar issues. Your company has also touted the tailgate dampening feature as a remedy for the tailgate bouncing while the vehicle is being driven with the tailgate down!

Toyota promotes the strength, quality and power that make the new Tundra a class leader. Unfortunately, an increasing number of owners have regrettably discovered that the quality and design excellence exhibited by the new Tundra does not extend to the tailgate. It is obviously a weak design flaw in an otherwise excellent vehicle. A flaw that actually prevents the Tundra from being used to its full potential.

Not all of us have or will experience a tailgate failure. But the fact that the possibility exists should be the motivating factor for Toyota to resolve this issue to your loyal customers satisfaction. Anything less would be considered unacceptable.