NHTSA Complaint #10824973 — 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WAS HAVING SWAY BAR LINK REPLACED AND MECHANIC NOTICED EXTENSIVE RUST IN REAR SECTION OF FRAMEON BOTH SIDES,PARTICULARLY AROUND SUSPENSION,INSIDE OF REAR FRAME RAILS,MASSIVE SECTIONS OF FRAME RAIL AFFECTED,AND HOLES/CRACKS IN FRAME. AFTER CONTACTING TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM,MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP,LOVE LEXUS OF ST ALBANS,WEST VIRGINIA,THEY SCHEDULED ME AN APPTMNT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE.WHEN I ARRIVED,THEY DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO RACK THE VEHICLE,I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO FIX IT FOR $7000.00,AND GIGGLED AT BY THE SERVICE MANAGER. I WILL NEVER DEAL WITH A DEALERSHIP AGAIN.HE TOLD ME IF IT WAS A TACOMA THEY WOULD REPAIR IT OR BUY IT BACK,BUT SINCE IT WAS A 4RUNNER, IWAS OUT OF LUCK.WITH A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY TIED UP IN THIS VEHICLE,AND NO OPTIONS TO REPLACE IT, I NOW HAVE TAKEN IT FROM MY SON AND I AM DRIVING THIS DEATH TRAP MYSELF,ANDCANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE MOST TRUSTED BRAND I EVER KNEW,ONE I HAVE BEEN SHAMELESSLY PROMOTING AND DRIVING FOR OVER 20 YEARS IS TURNING THEIR BACK ON LOYAL CUSTOMERS.I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE 1999 TACOMA,OLDER THAN MY 4RUNNER,WAS BOUGHT BACK BY THEM THE YEAR BEFORE LAST(THEY GAVE HIM $14,000 FOR HIS TRUCK,WHICH WASRUSTED IN HALF). IF YOU(NHTSA) ARE GOING TO DO NOTHING, I HOPE THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS FILED SOON SO I CAN JOIN. THERE IS NO REASON FOR SUCH BRAZEN DISREGARD FOR SAFETY.I HAVE SEEN SO MANY CASES OF THIS PROBLEM IT IS OUTRAGEOUS.AFTER THE RECIEPT OF MY TAXES I WILL PARK THE VEHICLE,AND REPLACE IT FOR SAFETY CONCERNS.BUT I WILL NOT GET RID OF IT,NOT YET I WANT TOYOTA TO KNOW HOW I FEEL,AND IF THAT MEANS I PARK IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR SHOWROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND WALK AWAY,SO BE IT.BUT I WILL WAIT A WHILE,AND HOPE THEY DO THE RIGHT THING.I OWN A 1993 4RUNNER,AND ITS FRAME IS PERFECT.WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS?I HAVE LOST OVER $5000 AND NOW OWN A HEAP OF JUNK.