NHTSA Complaint #10320081 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

BASED ON A NEWS STORY ON PBS ADVISING TOYOTA OWNERS OF A 2000-2003 TUNDRA SHOULD BE ADVISED TO CHECK FOR EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE REAR CROSS MEMBER OF THE FRAME AND THE ATTACHMENT DETAILS OF THE SPARE TIRE STORED UNDER THE FRAME. I HAD RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICE OR LETTER OF AN "ADVISORY"THE VEHICLE IS A SR5 (4X4) REGULAR CAB ,8' BED, 114,000 MILES AND METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED,WITH A LEER HIGH CAP , AND BEDLINER I THIS ONE OWNER. A MECHANIC BRIEFLY LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE WHO TOLD ME HE WANTED TO PUT IT ON THE LIFT TO GET A BETTER LOOK. THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE TO BOTH RAILS OF THE FRAME THAT THE TRUCK WAS DEEMED TO BE TOTALLY UNSAFE AND HE HAD TO TAKE MY KEYS AND IMPOUND THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK ME TO THE LIFT AND SHOWED ME FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE RAIL OF THE FRAME. IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE THERE WAS A FIST SIZED HOLE IN THE FRAME AS WELL AS AN ADJOINING CRACK THAT EXTENDED ENTIRELY THROUGH THE STEEL MEMBER FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. IT WAS BASICALLY SPLIT IN 2 PIECES. HE THEN REACHED IN WHERE THE HOLE WAS AND PULLED A 8 TO 12 INCH MULTILAYERED SHEET OF RUST OFF THE FRAME. THE DRIVER SIDE WAS IN VERY SIMILAR CONDITION BUT THE CRACK WAS JUST SHORT OR GOING ALL THE WAY FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ( DEAN CARNES-BENNETT TOYOTA, ALLENTOWN, PA.-610 437-6711) THIS WAS MY BUSINESS VEHICLE. HE TOLD ME THAT ALL THE DEALER COULD DO WAS PROVIDE ME A RENTAL CAR AS THEY HAD NO RENTAL TRUCKS. I AM NOW DRIVING A TOYOTA COROLLA THAT IS UNSUITED FOR MY NEEDS. HE SAID THAT ANYTHING FURTHER WOULD HAVE TO GO TOYOTA DIRECTLY. I CALLED AND FILED A CASE AN REITERATED I NEEDED A RENTAL TRUCK. I GOT A CALL A COUPLE DAYS LATER FROM THE TOYOTA REP. ASSIGNED TO THE CASE. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE CASE WAS PUT ON "ESCALATED STATUS" BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO RENTAL TRUCK AND NO WORD FROM TOYOTA. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WILL BE HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. INSPECTION BY THE DISTRICT MGR AND POLICY FROM UPPER MANAGEMENT IS NEEDED. *TR