NHTSA Complaint #10584855 — 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA

2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRAME RUST RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING DEFECTIVE STEEL USED FOR THE FRAMES THAT WAS PRONE TO PREMATURE RUST. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK, DURING WHICH THEY HAD A SECONDARY CONTRACTOR APPLY A RUST PROOFING MATERIAL TO THE FRAME. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, HE WAS INFORMED HE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FRAME RUSTING AGAIN. RECENTLY, HE HAD THE TIRE REPLACED AND WHILE ON THE HOIST, HE REALIZED THERE WAS RUST APPEARING IN SPOTS EVERYWHERE ON THE FRAME, INCLUDING WHERE THE METAL STRAPS WERE HOLDING THE GAS TANK TO THE FRAME. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY INSPECTED IT AND TOOK MANY PHOTOS. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE TRUCK FRAME DEFINITELY NEEDED TO RE-DONE, BUT IT WASN'T HIS DECISION. A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED CONSUMER, THEY WERE NO LONGER PARTICIPATING IN THE RECALL, AS IT HAD ENDED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO EXPLAIN, THE PREVIOUS REPAIR, MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER. *JB