I've had complete failure of both sides- front ball joints. I chalked up the the drivers side failure to happenstance, but after passenger side recently had the same failure I did some investigating and realized this is a vehicle assembly issue. The same issue had recalls for the later models 2001-05 Tacoma, I believe. Not sure why the earlier models were excluded, but this is scary and dangerous to have a complete breakdown while in traffic. The tows and repairs cost over $500 in total for both instances. I'm not looking for reimbursement as much as reassurance that my truck is safe to drive. Both instances occurred on city streets. Passenger side was under 10 mph turning right towards my driveway. The recent incident was turning left at approximately 25 mph through an intersection with a traffic light. The truck tire crumbled on the passenger side and slide about 30 feet to a stop along the curb.

- New Mikford, NJ, USA

Lower ball joint severed. My family and I were lucky that it did not happen a few minutes before on highway going 60mph. We were on an extended trip and had slowed down going through a town, stopped and were making a U-turn when the front left wheel practically fell off.

- Redway, CA, USA

The car in front of me stopped on the freeway and I was not able to stop in time. My front right hit his rear left, and my car spun 180 degrees into the lane next to the one I had been in and I was facing the oncoming traffic. My air bags did not deploy.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA