2000 Toyota 4RUNNER

UPON A RECENT MECHANICAL INSPECTION MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS BEEN DEEMED UNSAFE FOR DRIVING DUE TO FRAME DEGRADATION DUE TO RUSTING. THE FRAME HAS SEVERAL LOCATIONS WITH HOLES AND DETERIORATION THAT SERIOUSLY UNDERMINE THE MECHANICAL RIGIDITY OF THE FRAME AND TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH THE FRAME AS THE ONLY EXCEPTION. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS AND HAVE DRIVEN AND STORED THEM IN THE SAME LOCATION BUT HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES. FRAME RUST AND DETERIORATION TO THE EXTENT THAT MY VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED IS NOT TOLERABLE FROM ANY MANUFACTURER AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED DURING THE DESIGN, TESTING, AND MANUFACTURING STAGES OF PRODUCTION. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS, ALONG WITH PREVIOUS YEARS WITH IDENTICAL FRAME BUILDS, SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THE TOYOTA TACOMAS OF THE SAME GENERATION THAT WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS MARKETED AS A FAMILY VEHICLE WITH A HISTORY OF SAFE OPERATION AND SHOULD BE HELD TO THIS STANDARD. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET INJURED DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, IT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

ON WORKING UNDER VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUCTURAL RAIL LEADING TO THE REAR OF VEHICLE WAS RUSTY SO I POKED IT AND MY SCREWDRIVER WENT RIGHT THROUGH, IT WAS RUSTED THROUGH, IT WILL NEED WELDING, AS I TOW A WORK TRAILER (AND FOR SAFETY REASONS OF COURSE). THEN THE THIN REAR WALL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED THROUGH AND STARTED LEAKING OIL, THE PART IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY AND I WAS QUOTED 1500.- FOR THE PART AND AT LEAST 500 LABOR, BY FALMOUTH TOYOTA. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT THAT TOYOTA WASN'T STANDING BEHIND THEIR VEHICLE. IF I HADN'T BEEN UNDER THE CAR FOR OTHER REASONS THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IF YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

RUSTED OUT FRAME. I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR SOME MINOR REPAIRS. THE SHOP CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED THAT THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE.. THE SUPPORT HOLDING UP THE TRANSMISSION IS ABOUT TO BREAK. THIS COULD'VE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR WORSE IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.. NOT TO MENTION I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO JUST BUY A NEW CAR ON A WHIM.. UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS DEATH TRAP UNTIL EITHER THE FRAME BREAKS OR I HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY A NEW CAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR WORSE.. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL THE 4RUNNERS LIKE THEY DID THE TACOMAS.. RUSTED OUT FRAME!!!! RUSTED OUT FRAME!!!! RUSTED OUT FRAME!!!! *TR

UPON TRYING TO SELL MY 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER TO A PROSPECTIVE BUYER WHO WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF GREENTREE TOYOTA, IN CT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FORWARD OF THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED THROUGH ON THE INSIDE FOR ABOUT 18 INCHES. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I HAD IT SERVICED AT TOYOTA IN SEPTEMBER 2013, NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN AT RISK SINCE THEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, YET TOYOTA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. THEY ISSUED A RECALL ON TACOMA FRAMES WHICH USES THE SAME FRAME AS THE 4RUNNER. *TR