NHTSA Complaint #10348630 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

OUR 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS DEVELOPED FRAME RUST. IN 2005 WE NOTICED THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME DETERIORATING, SO WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. THEY EXPLAINED IT WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX, MORE THAN WE COULD AFFORD. TOYOTA ISSUED A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" LAST YEAR THAT COVERS MY MAKE AND MODEL TRUCK, WHICH A COUPLE OF INDEPENDENT BODY SHOPS (INCLUDING ONE PARTNERED WITH TOYOTA) SAYS IS NOW UNSAFE TO OPERATE. UNFORTUNATELY ON PAGE 73 OF THE RECALL DOCUMENTATION SENT TO THE DEALERS, TOYOTA DICTATES THAT THE FRAME NEEDS TO HAVE A 10MM HOLE/PERFORATION. PALM BEACH TOYOTA (THE DEALER I WENT TO) AGREES THAT MY FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED BUT BECAUSE TOYOTA (CORPORATE) DICTATES THAT I SHOULD HAVE A THROUGH AND THROUGH 10 MM SIZE HOLE, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE NOTE, I HAVE SOME PORTIONS OF THE FRAME THAT HAVE FALLEN/FLAKED OFF (MISSING), BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER ON THE FRAME, THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED HOLES. *TR