NHTSA Complaint #10291649 — 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I GOT UNDER MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA TRD SR5 EXTRA CAB TO ASSESS THE RUST THIS PAST WEEKEND. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED! CONTROL ARMS, FRONT WISHBONE, SUSPENSION BRACKETS, AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOOK LIKE A SHIPWRECK THAT'S BEEN UNDER THE SEA FOR 100 YEARS. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND IS LEAKING THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE HOUSING! THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER IS SO RUSTED THE WHEEL IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. ALL SHIELDS AND SAFETY GUARDS HAVE FALLEN OFF OR WILL SOON. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW IN NOV OF '01. IT NOW HAS 84,000 MILES. I'VE HAD ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED AT THE DEALER.THEY NEVER MENTIONED THE RUST ALTHOUGH THEY DO A "SAFETY INSPECTION" AT EVERY SERVICE. I'VE ALWAYS WASHED OFF THE SALT IN THE WINTER. THE BODY PANELS SHOW NO RUST AT ALL AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE NEW. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAD A CHEVY TRUCK KEPT UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT AFTER 15 YEARS AND 250,000 MILES LOOKED NOTHING LIKE THIS. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS TRUCK IN THIS CONDITION. *TR