NHTSA Complaint #10763726 — 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

MY 2004 4RUNNER WITH $144K MILES WAS RECENTLY DISCOVERED TO HAVE A SIX INCH HOLE IN THE FRAME DUE TO RUST, AND BASED ON MD SAFETY INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS, THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN NOT BE REGISTERED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE REPAIR WOULD BE A COMPLETE FRAME REPLACED AT A COST OF $18-20K. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE METICULOUSLY THROUGHOUT IT'S LIFE WITH MOSTLY DEALERSHIP MAINTENANCE AND AT NO TIME DID ANY MECHANIC OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT MENTION EXCESSIVE RUST OR HOLES IN THE FRAME. I SPOKE TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RECALL PROGRAMS FOR TACOMA AND SEQUOIA VEHICLES DUE TO SIMILAR FRAME RUSTING PROBLEMS, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY FLAW EXISTS WITH EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE 4RUNNER MODELS. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT TOYOTA HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM RELATED TO THIS GENERATION OF 4RUNNERS, AND SINCE THEY ARE UNWILLING TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTS, IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES GOVERNMENTAL/NHTSA INTERVENTION. I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY OTHER 4RUNNERS ARE ON THE ROAD WITH SIMILAR COMPROMISED FRAMES, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO FRAME FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED OR DURING TIGHT CORNERING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT ANY INADVERTENT INJURY OR DEATH.