NHTSA Complaint #10561743 — 2010 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

THIS 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS BEING DRIVEN LESS THAN 30MPH WHEN A KNOCK WAS HEARD COINCIDING WITH SLOPPY HANDLING. TAIL PIPE WAS RIPPED FROM MUFFLER. 4W DRIVE HAD BEEN IN USE FOR A FEW DAYS DUE TO SNOW, THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE TRUCK WAS PUT BACK INTO 2WD. BROUGHT THE TRUCK INTO MY MECHANIC THINKING STEERING/SUSPENSION PROBLEM, WRONG! WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT AND COULDN'T BE FIXED. MY MECHANIC REMEMBERED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A FEW TACOMA PICKUPS AND SUGGESTED LOOKING FOR RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM. THERE AREN'T ANY. HOWEVER, IF YOU DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ENTERING "TOYOTA 4RUNNER FRAME ROT" YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT WHAT SHOWS UP. OWNERS WHO HAVE WELL MAINTAINED THEIR 4RUNNERS AND TACOMAS FROM THIS ERA ARE BRINGING THEIR TRUCKS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND ARE FINDING OUT THAT THEY'RE LUCKY THAT THEY WEREN'T KILLED OR INJURED BECAUSE OF FRAME FAILURE. OTHER OWNERS HAVEN'T BEEN AS LUCKY. JUST GO TO ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM AND LOOK UP "2000 4RUNNER FRAME COMPLAINTS" AND THERE ARE 36 HITS. THAT'S JUST ONE MODEL YEAR AND ONE WEB SITE.THIS IS DANGEROUS. IT'S NOT OBVIOUS UNTIL THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM. THE FRAME ROTS FROM THE INSIDE. MOST INTERESTING WAS THE MECHANIC WHO HAD HIS FINGERS GO THROUGH THE FRAME WHILE TRYING PULL HIMSELF UNDER TO LOOK AT SOMETHING. IT SEEMS, AFTER READING COMMENTS ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, THAT TOYOTA FEELS THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. IT SHOULD CONCERN THEM THAT THEY MADE 4RUNNERS THAT, WHILE STILL LOOKING GREAT AFTER MANY YEARS ON THE ROAD, ARE SUBJECT TO UNEXPECTED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. MY SON AND MY 2 YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTERS WERE IN THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE FRAME BROKE. *TR