NHTSA Complaint #10631160 — 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

MY 2002 4RUNNER WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM TOYOTA IN NOVEMBER OF 2001. I LIVE IN NEW YORK SO IT DOES SNOW 2 OR 3 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. IT HAS BEEN USED AS A SECOND VEHICLE TO PICK UP SUPPLIES AND THE LIKE, OTHERWISE IT IS RARELY USED. AT THIS TIME IT HAS APPROX. 139000 MILES. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START AND I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THERE IS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF RUST UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THE FRAME, THE GAS TANK, ETC. THE PROBLEM IS THE FUEL PUMP BUT BECAUSE OF SO MUCH RUST, REMOVING THE GAS TANK TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE COMPONENTS CONNECTING THE TANK TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS A SHAME THAT TOYOTA SELLS A VEHICLE THAT MAY NEED TO BE JUNKED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RUST IT HAS. I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 4RUNNER AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. I BOUGHT A 1999 CAMRY BRAND NEW PRIOR TO THE 4RUNNER AND I HAD IT FOR 12 YEARS BEFORE GIVING IT TO A FRIEND WHO STILL DRIVES IT TO THIS DAY AND IT HAS NO RUST. THE 4RUNNER RUNS GREAT ALL OF THE YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT BUT I AM BEING TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THE BODY OF MY TRUCK COULD FALL FROM THE FRAME. AT 139000 MILES THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. TOYOTA SHOULD OFFER SOME KIND OF REPAIR TO THESE ISSUES. MY TRUCK LOOKS ALMOST BRAND NEW EXCEPT FOR SOME RUST ON THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS AND NOW I MAY HAVE TO JUNK IT. *TR