NHTSA Complaint #10783008 — 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

SEVERE CORROSION IN THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING (THE BOX BEAM ON THE RIGHT SIDE) OF THE CAR RESULTED IN THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF THE BOX BEAM. THE PORTION OF THE BOTTOM FLANGE THAT FELL OFF IS ABOUT 3 IN. WIDE BY 14 IN. LONG. THAT PORTION OF THE FAILED FLANGE ALSO INCLUDED THE CONNECTION OF THE STRUCT ROD SUPPORTING THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE LOST OF THE STRUCT ROD SUPPORT TO THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY WIDELY SIDE TO SIDE AND TO ROLL LEFT TO RIGHT WHILE I WAS TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE CAR DRIFTED TO THE SIDE WHEN I APPLIED BRAKING TO THE CAR. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATELY THAT WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD IN LESS THAN 40 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CARS IN MY IMMEDIATE SURROUNDING. OTHERWISE, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. AFTER SENDING THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE CORROSION HAS SEVERELY UNDERMINED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING OF THE CAR, IN THIS CASE IT WAS THE LONGITUDINAL BOX BEAMS SUPPORTING THE CAR. I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA OF AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THE WARRANTY FOR CORROSION IS ONLY FOR 60 MONTHS. HOWEVER, I TOLD THEM THE STRUCTURAL FRAMING OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A MUCH, MUCH LONGER SERVICE LIFE THAN 60 MONTHS. A SUDDEN STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE IN MOTION COULD HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCE. THE ODOMETER READING OF MY CAR IS LESS THAN 63,000 MILES.