NHTSA Complaint #10584883 — 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2011 AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR FRAME RUST. BY THE TIME I GOT AROUND TO SCHEDULING AN APPT, I WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD ENDED. NOW, HOWEVER, THE FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND IS STARTING TO GIVE WAY AT THE REAR SHACKLE. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE HAS BECOME A SERIOUS HAZARD TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME BUCKLING. IF THE RECALL WAS PUT INTO EFFECT, TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND NOW IT HAS BECOME A SERIOUS LIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED TO THE POINT OF MAKING IT SAFE, BUT FEEL THAT I WAS NOT GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS DONE UNDER THE LIMITED TIME LEFT ON THE RECALL WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FRAME CONSTRUCTION IS EVIDENT BY THE FACT THAT THE BODY HAS ALMOST NO CORROSION PRESENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THE HEAVY FRAME STEEL THAT SHOULD NOT BE CORRODING LIKE THIS. THERE IS CURRENTLY ALSO AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE REAR TIRE CARRIER - WHICH IS RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE THAT I THINK TOYOTA IS OBLIGATED TO ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTING TOYOTA DOES NO GOOD, AS THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT HAS NOW RUN OUT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A SEVERE DEFECT PRESENT IN THE FRAME THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AND NOW REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DANGEROUS LIABILITY FOR ANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR