NHTSA Complaint #10286636 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I OWN A YEAR 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA, WHICH I PURCHASED AS A NEW VEHICLE. THE TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 81,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN GARAGED FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS SHOWN EXTREME RUSTING, ESPECIALLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH HAS FAILED TWICE DUE TO CORROSION. DURING THE MOST RECENT BRAKE FAILURE I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE DESCENDING A HILL AND DOWNSHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW DOWN. ADDITIONAL RUST PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED REPLACEMENT OF ALL FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES, INCLUDING THE REAR PROPORTIONING VALVE. THE FRONT ROTOR CALIPER PINS HAVE ALSO SEIZED DUE TO RUST. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SEIZED DUE TO RUST AND WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. BOTH SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS FAILED DUE TO RUST. THE HEAT SHIELDS AROUND THE MUFFLER AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER RUSTED OFF THE TUNDRA AND MAY HAVE POSED SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARDS TO DRIVERS TRAVELING BEHIND ME ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE CORROSION PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA AND THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED BY A DISTRICT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR FRAME RUSTING ONLY (SUMMER 2009). THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, ETC. WERE COMPLETELY IGNORED, EVEN THOUGH I BROUGHT THIS TO THE SERVICE REP'S ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE DISTRICT MANAGER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAS NOT ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS. ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS ABOVE WERE REPAIRED AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, WHOSE MECHANICS COMMENTED THAT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. ALSO, THE REPAIRS ARE DOCUMENTED IN MY VEHICLE'S SERVICE HISTORY. *TR