NHTSA Complaint #10662411 — 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHIELD ON MY 2005 TACOMA FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER PICKING UP THE LARGE METAL PARTS AND INSPECTING UNDER THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT NEAR TO WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SITS, THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE TRUCK'S FRAME AND EVEN A LARGE HOLE. I AM EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND AM AFRAID THAT THE FRAME MAY CRUMPLE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICES, BUT WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA IS ONLY REPLACING THE FRAME ON VEHICLES REGISTERED IN WHAT THEY HAVE DESIGNATED AS A "SNOW STATE". I PURCHASED MY TOYOTA AT A DEALERSHIP IN ILLINOIS (A "SNOW STATE") AND HAVE DONE A LOT OF TRAVELING WITHIN THE "SNOW STATES", YET BECAUSE I LIVE 25 MILES AWAY ON THE MISSOURI SIDE, TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR. THE WOMAN FROM TOYOTA CORPORATE DID NOT SEEM TO CARE WHEN I TOLD HER THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. I OFFERED TO EMAIL THE PHOTOS OF THE FRAME CORROSION, BUT WAS REJECTED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO COVER THIS REPAIR ON ALL VEHICLES WITH FRAME CORROSION REGARDLESS OF THE STATE THEY LIVE IN. *TR