NHTSA Complaint #10289408 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT HAS A RUSTED OUT AND CRACKED REAR CROSS MEMBER IN THE FRAME. THE FRAME MEMBER HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE AND WHILE CHANGING REAR SHOCKS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER I NOTICED HOW RUSTED THE CROSS MEMBER AND THE REST OF THE FRAME IS, WHAT IS LEFT OF THE CROSS MEMBER IS CRACKING SO I NO LONGER HAVE THE TIRE UNDER THE TRUCK. A MECHANIC VERIFIED THIS WHILE HE WAS UNDER THE TRUCK REPLACING THE POWER STEERING RACK THAT ALSO RUSTED OUT .MY WIFE LOST THE POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAD NEVER SEEN THE POWER STEERING RACK RUST OUT OR THAT MUCH RUST ON THE FRAME OF A TRUCK WITH 88,000 ON IT AND THAT THE FRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE WELDED TO MAKE IT RIGHT. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA ( CLAIM # 0910135009 ) AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE LOOKING IN TO IT. FROM WHAT I'VE HERD AND READ IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOMEONE LOST THEIR SPARE TIRE WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HEARD THAT 2000 AND 2001 TUNDRA FRAMES WERE MADE IN THE SAME PLACE THE TACOMAS WERE AND I DID RECEIVE A RECALL ON MY PREVIOUS TRUCK A 2000 TACOMA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR