Toyota Recalls 51,000 Tundra Models

Plagued with problems in the recent years, and most especially in the past two months or so, Japanese automaker Toyota seems to get no break. With the quake and tsunami twin disaster expected to affect production in Japan until the end of the year, Toyota is faced with recall upon recall in the United States, recalls that cannot pass unnoticed, regardless of its size.

On Tuesday, Toyota announced that it would be recalling 51,000 Tundra trucks manufactured as part of the 2011 model year, because of a possible problem at the vehicles' rear drive shaft. The recall, says Toyota, is not about repairing, but about inspection.

Having gotten burnt pretty bad at the beginning of last year, Toyota now seems to be paying a great deal of attention to any problems that might affect its business in the US. In the case of the Tundras, the recall is more of a precautionary measure than a corrective one.

The automaker says that in an estimated 0.05 percent of the vehicles, the rear drive shaft may include a slip yoke that could break due to improper casting during the foundry process. Yet, despite the small number of cars potentially affected, Toyota says it is aware of one drive shaft slip yoke failure , but adds that no accidents or injuries have taken place as a result of the problem.

Starting May, Toyota will begin recalling the trucks and, after they get them inspected, will decide on whether to change the rear drive shaft or not. Should the shaft need replacing, Toyota will do so at no charge for the owners.