2001 Toyota Tacoma

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5, 4WD CREW CAB TRUCK THAT WAS ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED AND SOLD IN PLANO TEXAS, THEN RELOCATED AND DRIVEN IN GAITHERSBURG MARYLAND FOR 16 YEARS. UPON OBTAINING A FRAME INSPECTION FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WAS ADVISED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE FRAME, AND SPECIFYING THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE RUST HAS PERFORATED THE FRAME RAILS IN SEVERAL AREAS AND HAS COMPROMISED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE LACKS ADEQUATE CORROSION PROTECTION WHICH HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA.

MY TACOMA HAS BEEN IN A COUPLE TIMES FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR RUST BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE OR SAID ABOUT IT NEEDING ANYTHING DONE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I NOTICED THAT WHEN I SLOWED DOWN MY LIFTED AND WHEN I ACCELERATED MY BED LOWERED. I PULLED OFF TO FIND THAT MY FRAMES HAS RUSTED APART IN FRONT OF REAR LEAF SPRING. TOYOTA CORPORATE WAS CALLED AND THEY SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE?

I AM UNSURE WHEN THIS HAD HAPPENED BUT THE FRAME ON MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA IS CORRODED AND BROKEN INTO 2 PIECES IN 2 DIFFERENT AREAS. THE PLACE WHERE IT IS BROKEN IS NOT CORRODED BUT JUST BROKE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS TRUCK IS UNDER A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR IF IT IS JUST AN EXPENSIVE PAPER WEIGHT.

MY WIFE RECENTLY HAD A WRECK, SHE WAS GOING 45 MPH, THE TRUCK WENT OFF THE ROAD, CROSSING OVER CENTER LINE, AFTER MAKING IMPACT WITH THE DIRT WITH THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK, THE TRUCK LOST IT'S STEERING, FROM THERE THE TRUCK FLIPPED 5 TIMES ON IT'S SIDE, IT FINALLY CAME TO REST ON IT'S SIDE, 5 FEET AWAY FROM A HOUSE. SHE HAD TO BE CUT FROM THE TRUCK. HER L2 EXPLODED IN HER BACK, SHE'S NOW HAVING TO LEARN HOW TO WALK AGAIN AMONG OTHER THINGS FROM EXTREME NERVE DAMAGE. SHE JUST RECENTLY LEFT THE HOSPITAL/REHABILITATION FROM AN EXTENDED STAY. STILL UPSET ABOUT NOT KNOWING WHAT CAUSED THE WRECK, WE DECIDED TO LOOK UP THE TRUCK TO SEE IF THERE HAD EVER BEEN A RECALL DEALING WITH WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED IN HER WRECK, THIS IS WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE LOWER BALL-JOINT FAILING CAUSING THE ACTIONS OF LOSS OF STEERING, ACCIDENTS, AND ACCIDENTS WITH FLIPPING. AN INVESTIGATION HAS YET TO BE DONE ON THE TRUCK, WE'RE HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL INSPIRE AN INVESTIGATION, BUT ALSO EDUCATE ANYONE WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF TRUCK, THAT THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN POSSIBLY TO ANYONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS ALSO EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,613.