NHTSA Complaint #10293769 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I HAD TO REPLACE MY POWER STEERING RACK DUE TO RUST. THIS WAS DONE IN JULY OF 2008. WHEN THE SERVICE TECH (ACTUALLY ALL IN SHOP) LOOKED AT IT, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE PART WAS LITERALLY CRUMBLING IN THEIR HANDS. NOW IN NOV. OF 2009, I READ THAT TOYOTA IS SAYING THAT THIS TRUCK DID NOT RECEIVE THE PROPER RUST PROTECTION WHEN BUILT. I AM A LONG STANDING TOYOTA OWNER. THIS I HOPED TO HANDLED IN A WAY TO MAKE CUSTOMERS SATISFIED. TODAY I TOOK MY TUNDRA (LIMITED 4X4 ACCESS CAB) TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BYERS IN DELAWARE, OH) WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THEY INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND SIMPLY TOLD ME "IT PASSED THE PERFORATION INSPECTION". WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE DETAILS, THEY REPEATED "IT PASSED". AS I HAD READ WHERE OTHER OWNERS WERE LOSING THEIR SPARE TIRE, I ASKED IF THE SPARE WAS REMOVED FOR THE INSPECTION. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD TO ASK THE TECH. THE REPLY WAS "I LOOKED AROUND AND THROUGH IT AND 'IT' PASSED". OVERALL, THE RUST INSPECTION WAS GRADED AGAINST A SIMPLE "MULTI-POINT INSPECTION REPORT". THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC MENTION OF THE FRAME, STEERING RACK, OR CROSS MEMBER. ONE LAST TIME I ASKED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT AS I THOUGHT TOYOTA WAS OFFERING A CORROSION TREATMENT. ALL I WAS TOLD WAS "IT PASSED". I LEFT NOT FEELING HAPPY OR SAFE. TOYOTA AND THIS DEALERSHIP NEEDS TO FOCUS ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HAVE REVIEWED THE FRAME PROBLEM ON NHTSA, AND FOUND SEVERAL STEERING RACK COMPLAINTS FILED. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE IS RUST PROBLEM, AND THAT THE STEERING RACK AND OTHER PARTS SHOULD BE REVIEWED. *TR