2002 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE BULBS HAD TO CONSTANTLY BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION) AND 06E026000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.

THE RUST ON THE REAR END ASSEMBLY IS SO SEVERE THAT THE BRAKES ARE COMPROMISED, AND THE BACK UP EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM HAS FAILED. THE RUST ON THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS SO SEVERE THAT THE FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT AND THE GEARS ARE AT RISK FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE SPRING MOUNTS TO THE AXLES ARE ALSO RUSTING SEVERELY, CREATING A RISK OF LOST CONTROL SHOULD EITHER SIDE BREAK AWAY. IT TAKES GREAT EFFORT WHEN BRAKING, AND THE VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY DUE TO RUST CAUSING THE LOSS OF INTEGRITY OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKES, ONCE APPLIED, DO NOT RELEASE EVENLY, CREATING UNEVEN BRAKE WEAR, SHUDDERING AND SHAKING, RESULTING IN POOR CONTROL, EXCESSIVE AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, I.E., TIRES LOCKED AND DRAGGING, SCALLOPING. ON WET, AND I FEAR, ICEY, SURFACES, THE TRUCK HAS SLID SIDEWAYS DUE TO ONE OR MORE WHEELS NOT RELEASING.

I WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA CASE WORKER THAT THE RUSTY FRAME RECALL EXPIRED AND IT IS MY PROBLEM NOW. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY FRAME RECALL NOTICE BUT RECEIVED A SPARE TIRE LIFT PLATE RECALL (WHICH DOESN'T EXPIRE) DUE TO RUST AND SEVERE CORROSION. I WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP MY TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO EVEN PUT ON THE LIFT TO ADDRESS CURRENT RECALL, OF COURSE THEY LET ME DRIVE IT HOME WHICH IS A 35-40 MINUTE DRIVE FOR ME. I WAS FORCED TO SCRAP MY TRUCK WITH A PERFECTLY GOOD MOTOR BECAUSE HOW UNSAFE IT WAS AND THE EXPENSE TO FIX IT ON MY OWN. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I CRAWLED UNDER MY TRUCK AND WAS BESIDE MYSELF! I HAD HUGE HOLES IN THE FRAME, THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE SHOT, ALL THIS WAS UNDER THE "UNDERCOATING" THAT WAS DONE AT TIME OF PURCHASE TO PROTECT FRAME FROM RUST! I PAID EXTRA FOR THAT! EVEN MY SEAT MOUNTS ON THE INTERIOR BACK SEAT WERE RUSTED! I SUSPECT THE QUALITY OF METAL USED IS ON THE LOWER SIDE... I USED MY TRUCK AS A TRUCK, HAULED SMALL AMOUNTS OF MULCH, SOUL FOR MY GARDEN, IT MOVED ME 5X! I DIDN'T GO MUDDLING IN IT, PARK IT IN A POND, OR LIVE IN A FLOOD AREA. I JUST USED IT... HOW IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEM THAT CAN ULTIMATELY JEAPARDIZE A PERSONS SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD?! PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA IN FEBRUARY OF 2015 ONLY TO FIND OUT THE FRAME HAD SERIOUS RUST ISSUES. I FOUND OUT THROUGH MY OWN INVESTIGATION THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN TRADED IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY KNEW IT HAD RUST ISSUES. THEY PROCEEDED TO SELL THE TRUCK AT AUCTION KNOWING IT COULD BE DANGEROUS! I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A USED CAR DEALER. UPON BEING TOLD ABOUT THE FRAME RUST ISSUE BY MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY SERVICE RECALL. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.

MY 2002 TACOMA FRAME IS SIMPLY RUSTING AWAY AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO GET ENGAGED TO RESOLVE WHAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. THE FRAME IS GETTING TO THE POINT OF COLLAPSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS FRANKLY A CRIME. MYSELF AND MANY OTHER TACOMA OWNERS HAVE THIS EXACT ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE NHTSA STEPS UP AND PREVENTS FRAME ROT HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING.

INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION AND TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. CALLED DEALER SERVICE (TOYOTA OF DANVILLE, IL) AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THEY QUIT REPAIRING THESE IN MARCH OF 2016. NO NOTICE OR RECALL WAS EVER SENT TO ME AND I WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM UNTIL I GOT TRUCK BACK FROM MECHANIC. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE TOYOTA KNEW TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE FRAME, DID NOT NOTIFY ME TO RECTIFY OR ADVISE OF THE ISSUE, AND WILL NOT EFFECT ANY REPAIRS.