NHTSA Complaint #10898048 — 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WITH A DANGEROUS CONDITION DUE TO RUST PERFORATION ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. THE RUST EXTENDS 4-5 FT AND HAS CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT TO RIP AWAY FROM THE FRAME. ON 6/10/2011, SMART MOTORS - MADISON, WI INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS RUST PERFORATION ON THE RIGHT REAR FRAME THAT WAS FOUND DURING A SEPARATE REPAIR. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE DOCUMENTING IT AND FORWARDING PICTURES TO TOYOTA MOTOR SALES. [XXX], A SENIOR SERVICE ADVISOR, SAID HE WOULD SPEAK WITH THE DISTRICT SERVICE PARTS MANAGER AND FOLLOW UP. HE WAS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER NO ACTION FROM SMART MOTORS AND WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO CONTACT ME, I THEN CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER STATING THE CONCERN AND WAS GIVEN A FILE #1308200825. TO THIS DATE, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALES FOR A CAMPAIGN OR SAFETY RECALL. THIS SAME CONDITION HAS BEEN RECORDED NUMEROUS TIMES. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THIS FRAME AREA TO HOLD WATER. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED/BOUGHT BACK TOYOTA TACOMAS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. I AM URGING NHTSA TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE SAFETY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE SO THAT NO ONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE MADE THE PERSONAL DECISION TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, AND IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. I CONTEND THAT AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF FIRST RECORDED OBSERVED DEFECT IS AN ISSUE THAT NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND DILIGENCE IN THIS MATTER AND I AM WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AN INVESTIGATOR MAY HAVE, AND TO MAKE THE VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I HAVE ATTACHED THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS TO VERIFY CORRESPONDENCE WITH TOYOTA: - SERVICE ORDER FROM 6/10/11 - INTERNAL HISTORY REPORT RECOMMENDING FRAME ESTIMATE AT $14,500 - CORRESPONDENCE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER RESPECTFULLY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR