NHTSA Complaint #10732127 — 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

TOOK MY 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR INPSECTION AND MAINTENANCE. LEFT DEALER THINKING TRUCK WAS IN GREAT SHAPE. WHEN CHANGING BRAKES, NOTICED AN CV JOINT BOOT WAS TORN SO TOOK THE TRUCK TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AXLE REPLACED (SINCE THEY DON'T JUST REPLACE THE BOOT ANYMORE). THE MECHANIC CALLED ME AS SOON AS HE PUT THE TRUCK UP ON A LIFT AND INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS RUST ISSUES DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME THAT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE WELD ALONG THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME SEEMS TO HAVE RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS A HOLE THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE FRAME. THERE ARE ALSO ADDITIONAL HOLES TOWARD THE FRONT THAT ARE RATHER LARGE IN SIZE. CALLED TOYOTA, NOT THE TOYOTA DEALER, AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND SUGGESTED I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. WHEN I ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UPON A BAD DIAGNOSIS, THEY STATED NOTHING BECAUSE THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS OR CAMPAIGNS FOR THE TOYOTA 4RUNNERS ONLY THE TACOMAS, TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIA'S. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSSUE BEFORE CAUSING PEOPLE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I AM TERRIFIED WITH MY DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD THINK TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLE OWNERS.