NHTSA Complaint #10896244 — 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2000 AND HAD THE ENTIRE UNIT UNDERCOATED FOR RUST PROTECTION AND SOUND PROOFING. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE NEW AND SINCE I TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS HAS LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS MY PERSONAL VEHICLE NOT A WORK TRUCK. AS TIME WENT ON I BEGAN NOTICING THE RUST UNDER THE CHASSIS AND THEN I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SPARE TIRE BRACKET. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT TOYOTA USED THE SPARE TIRE RECALL TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHASSIS RUST PROBLEM. A SHORT TIME LATER I RECEIVED THE RECALL FOR THE CHASSIS EXCHANGE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE TRUCK THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING, THE WHEEL DID NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT AFTER A TURN. I COMPLAINED THAT NIGHT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER A FEW HINDERED MILES THE LINKAGE WAS WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CAB WAS NOT ALIGNED TO THE RACK WHEN THEY CHANGED THE CHASSIS. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE ROT ISSUE. THE REAR AXLE IS NOW ROTTED TO A POINT WHERE IT IS LEAKING THOUGH THE CASING, NOT THROUGH A SEAL OR FITTING BUT THROUGH THE ROTTED METAL. I DO NOT VIEW A REAR AXLE AS A WEAR/REPLACEMENT PART UNLESS IT IS ABUSED THROUGH THE WORKING OF THE TRUCK. I AM 62 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINE 16 AND HAVE NEVER EVER HAD TO REPLACE A REAR AXLE FOR ROT. THE FACT THAT TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED OWNERSHIP FOR THE CHASSIS RUST TELLS ME THAT THEY SHOULD OWN THE AXLE ROT AS WELL. I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE WITH NO SUCCESS AND AM LOOKING FOR SOME RELIEF ON THIS REPAIR. TOYOTA QUOTED ME APPROXIMATELY $5000 FOR A NEW AXLE (PARTS AND LABOR). LAST MONTH I SENT $1500 AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REBUILD MY EMERGENCY BRAKES IN ORDER TO PASS OUR STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. EMERGENCY BRAKE LINKAGE IS NOT A WEAR/REPLACEMENT PART. YOUR THOUGHTS? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR