NHTSA Complaint #10269621 — 1993 TOYOTA PICKUP

I PURCHASED IN 1993 A BRAND NEW TOYOTA 4WD DX PICKUP FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING ALL THE TOYOTA GUIDELINES AND CURRENTLY THE TRUCK STILL LOOKS SHOWROOM NEW. I HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLIMENTS ON HOW NICE MY 1993 TRUCK LOOKS INCLUDING MANY OFFERS TO PURCHASE MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS MY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC HAS STATED TO ME THAT THE FRAME IS PREMATURELY RUSTING AND IT IS GETTING PRETTY BAD. WHEN I JUST RECENTLY HAD A TIRE ROTATION PERFORMED, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM HAS ESCALATED AND NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ON MAY 20, 2009 I HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO EXAMINE THE TRUCK FRAME AND ADVISE ME OF THE SITUATION. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME WAS HEAVILY CORRODED AND PERFORATED BEYOND THE NORMAL SURFACE RUST FOUND ON VEHICLES AFTER YEARS OF EXPOSURE IN THE NORTHEAST. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS PROBABLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. I RESPONDED TO THEM THAT I WAS AWARE THAT THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURING COMPANY HAD A CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THE TOYOTA PICKUPS FROM 1995 AND UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND HAVE BEEN EITHER REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE FRAMES OF MANY AFFECTED VEHICLES. I CONTINUED BY ASKING IF TOYOTA WOULD RESOLVE MY PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT AND THAT I SHOULD CALL THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND REQUEST THAT A CASE BE OPENED AND ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. I DID AS REQUESTED BY THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A RECORD OF MY COMPLAINT BUT THAT THEY WERE ONLY RESOLVING THE PICKUPS FROM 1995 AND UP AND THAT IN NO WAY WOULD THEY HELP ME WHATSOEVER. NOW HERE I AM WITH A BEAUTIFUL 1993 TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCK THAT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO FIX, IS NOW UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE PICKED BY A TOW TRUCK AND HAULED AWAY TO A JUNKYARD. *TR