NHTSA Complaint #10439347 — 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA

I FREQUENTLY CHECK THE STABILITY OF THE SPARE TIRE THAT IS STORED ON THE UNDERSIDE EXTERIOR OF THE BED. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE TIRE WAS LOOSE AND MOVING BACK AND FORTH. THIS PROMPTED ME TO LOWER THE TIRE BY USING THE PROVIDED CRANK HANDLE. AFTER IT WAS LOWERED TO THE GROUND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE RETAINING BRACKET AND CABLE SPRING WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. I FELT THAT THIS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO ME WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IF THAT BRACKET FAILS. IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND THE TIRE TO FLY OFF AND CAUSE DANGER TO OTHER MOTORISTS. I PROMPTLY REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE FROM THE VEHICLE AND WENT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. THEY SEEMED TO LOOK PAST THE SAFETY HAZARD IT POSES AND WERE MORE INTERESTED IN CHARGING ME ORE $600.00 TO INSTALL A NEW RETAINING BRACKET. I INQUIRED TO THE SERVICE CONSULTANT AS TO WHY THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT BROUGHT ADDRESSED TO ME WHEN MY TRUCK WAS IN THERE A FEW MONTHS EARLIER FOR THE FRAME RUST PERFORATION RECALL. HE REPLIED THAT IF THEY NOTICE ANY ISSUES THEY PRESENT THE CUSTOMER WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. AT THAT TIME THEY HAD THE ENTIRE CAB AND CHASSIS OFF TO INSTALL A BRAND NEW FRAME. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW SOMETHING AS CRUCIAL AS THIS POTENTIAL DEADLY PROBLEM COULD GO UNDETECTED. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH 2 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD PERSONAL EXPERIENCES PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. ONE WITNESSED A DEADLY ROLLOVER DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND THE OTHER HAD HIS SPARE FALL OFF AND ROLL DOWN THE ROAD. I FEEL THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE PROPER OFFICIALS AND ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN SOON. I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU REGARDING THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR