2000 Toyota Tacoma

I'M THE OWNER OF A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. TOYOTA HAS MADE A RECALL ON RUSTED FRAMES ON YEARS 95-2000. MY TRUCK HAS A REPAIRED TITLE WHICH THEY SAY VOIDS THE WARRANTY. THE TRUCK HAD NO FRAME DAMAGE WHAT SO EVER AND WAS NOT ROLLED OVER, ONLY COSMETIC DAMAGE. I HAVE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTS SHOWING WHAT WAS REPAIRED. I HAVE A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN THAT I DON'T WANT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DECIDES TO BREAK IN HALF. THERE SHOULD BE SOME EXCEPTION IF EVIDENCE IS PROVIDED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS LIGHT OR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARD ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THE FRAMES ON THE 1995-2000 TOYOTA TACOMAS. HE CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE 150% BUYBACK OPTION, BUT WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE PROCESS. HE ASKED THE DEALER IF THE FRAME COULD BE REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT COULD NOT. THE CONTACT WAS CONVINCED THAT THE FRAME COULD BE REPLACED AND WANTED TO HAVE IT DONE INSTEAD OF TRADING IN THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS "SOFT" AND NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,276.

TOYOTA RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 1995-2000 MODEL YEAR TACOMAS DUE TO FRAME ROT. I'VE HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TACOMAS BOUGHT BACK BY TOYOTA TO AVOID POTENTIAL SAFETY RISKS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPURCHASE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAS A SALVAGE TITLE. I FEAR RSK OF FIRE SHOULD I BE HIT IN THE REAR AND MY FRAME FAILS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, HAVING NOTHING TO DUE WITH THE SALVAGE TITLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA INFORMING HIM THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. THE NOTICE ALSO INFORMED THE CONSUMERS THAT IF THEY INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE EXCESSIVE RUST, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REIMBURSE THEM FOR FINANCIAL LOSS AND POSSIBLY EXCHANGE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IT FAILED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING AN IDENTICAL FAILURE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL LIABILITY BECAUSE THE TITLE WAS SALVAGED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,000. UPDATED 06/02/08 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER SHOWED THE CONTACT A SMALL HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE 1995-2000 TACOMA'S HAD UNDERCOATING FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM MARCH 21-28, 2008; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED A CALL. SHE RETRIEVED HER VEHICLE AND RETURNED THE LOANER THAT WAS PROVIDED ON MARCH 28, 2008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,205 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,204.

WE HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 XTRA CAB, 4 X 4. THE BODY IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT WENT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE TODAY AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF THE TRUCK. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH THE DEALER, IT WILL BE GOING TO THE SALVAGE YARD, IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO US AS THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE, IT ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT! WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FRAME ROT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS L INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

IN NOVEMBER, 2007, I NOTICED A BANGING NOISE WHENEVER I DROVE OVER THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS. I EXAMINED THE OUTSIDE & THE UNDERSIDE OF THE 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK I HAD BEEN DRIVING SINCE NEW, & FOUND THE FOLLOWING: #1, THE TRUCK FRAME IS SEVERELY ROTTED WITH JAGGED, SHARP, IRREGULAR, PENETRATING HOLES IN THE FRAME - UP TO 6 INCHES IN LENGTH. #2, THE UNDERNEATH INSIDE OF THE TRUCK FRAME BOX BEAMS ARE COVERED WITH CORROSION & LARGE PIECES OF FRAME HAVE "FLAKED OFF"! #3, THE SEVEREST CORROSION EXTENDS FROM THE "CABIN FRONT AREA" TO THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. SIMILAR BUT SLIGHTLY LESSER CORROSION EXTENDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THIS TOYOTA TRUCK. #4, ONE REAR "CABIN MOUNTING BLOCK" ON THE FRAME, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, HAS TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED, DROPPING THE CABIN DOWN ABOUT 1 INCH, DIRECTLY ONTO THE FRAME CAUSING MY BANGING SOUND! THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR "CABIN MOUNTING BLOCK" ON THE FRAME IS ABOUT 75% DISINTEGRATED! I FEAR THIS TRUCK MIGHT HAVE BECOME UNSAFE IN AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO THE POOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF ITS FRAME. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW, LOCALLY, NEVER EVEN PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN WATER, & NEVER ABUSED. IT WAS ALWAYS INSPECTED & MAINTAINED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, YEARLY, I BOUGHT IT FROM. IT WAS NEVER IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT, & THE ONLY DAMAGE IT EVER SUFFERED, ACCIDENT WISE, WAS A FENDER BEING STRUCK BY A DEER. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS 2000 TOYOTA TRUCKS EXHAUST SYSTEM IS STILL INTACT & ORIGINAL! I WOULD EXPECT THIS TRUCKS FRAME TO OUTLAST AN EXHAUST SYSTEM, AT THE LEAST! SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE STEEL &/OR FABRICATION OF THIS PARTICULAR TOYOTA TACOMA'S FRAME, CALLING FORTH A SAFETY QUESTION. THIS TRUCK, AT THE TIME, HAD 97,361 MILES ON IT. IT WAS PURCHASED NEW 7 YR'S AGO! I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER WITH THESE FACTS, WITH A REQUEST FOR A "FRAME INSPECTION", THE DEALER SAID THE TRUCK IS "OUT-OF-WARRANTY", & CANNOT BE REPAIRED! *TR

THE FRAME ON OUR 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA TOTALLY ROTTED OUT. IT PASSED 2006 STATE INSPECTION AND AFTER BEING MAINTAINED BY A TOYOTA DEALER IT WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT PASS 2007 STATE INSPECTION. THERE ARE GAPING HOLES IN THE FRAME ON THE INSIDE. THE TRUCK HAD TO BE SALVAGED AT 7 YEARS OLD. OTHER MAKE AND MODEL TRUCKS OF THIS AGE ARE NOT ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CONDITION. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT LIABLE TO INFORM TACOMA OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT. WE RETAINED PICTURES OF THE EXTREME DAMAGE TO THIS PARTICULAR TRUCK. *TR