NHTSA Complaint #10545419 — 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA

WE PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA NEW IN LATE 2000. MY HUSBAND RECENTLY REALIZED THE FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE GAS TANK. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT ISN'T SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL/IF IT CAN BE FIXED. WE HAVE VIEWED AND READ UP ON NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER TACOMA OWNERS AND HAVE SEEN SOME RECALLS OR NOTIFICATIONS TO SELECT TACOMA OWNERS BUT NOT IN THE STATE WE RESIDE IN-MO. WE RAN INTO A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH ANOTHER NON-TOYOTA VEHICLE WHICH ONLY COVERED HOT-WEATHER STATES. WE LIVE IN MISSOURI....WE HAVE EXPERIENCED EXTREME HEAT AND COLD DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS. IT'S UNREASONABLE TO ME THAT THE AUTO DEALERS CAN EXCLUDE CERTAIN STATES WHEN IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY CUSTOMERS IN THOSE EXCLUDED STATES COULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE. IF IT'S DETERMINED TO BE THE SAME ISSUE OWNERS IN OTHER STATES ARE FACING, WHY NOT AGREE TO COVER THE REPAIR??? WE PLAN TO DO SOME INVESTIGATING AND CALLING OF OUR OWN TO SEE IF TOYOTA IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OR AT LEAST OFFER US A REASONABLE BUY BACK OPTION. WE ARE TOYOTA OWNERS AND PLAN TO STAY THAT WAY DEPENDING ON HOW THIS ALL TURNS OUT. WE'VE ALWAYS URGED OTHERS TO BUY TOYOTA VEHICLES DUE TO THEIR LONGEVITY AND RELIABILITY....I HOPE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROVEN WRONG ON THIS ONE. *JS