NHTSA Complaint #10920107 — 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

FRAME RUST ON 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - VIN#[XXX]. TOYOTA CASE # [XXX]. ON MAR. 7, 2013 THIS VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO BE OK AND THEN TREATED WITH A RUST INHIBITOR AS PART OF A TOYOTA RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE DEALER DOING THIS SERVICE WAS TOYOTA OF SCRANTON, IN PA. 3 1/2 YEARS AND 11,000 MILES LATER THIS VEHICLE FAILED THE PA STATE INSPECTION DUE TOP SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST THROUGH. THERE ARE LARGE HOLES IN THE FRAME AND IN SOME AREAS IN THE REAR VERY LITTLE SOLID METAL REMAINING IN THE FRAME. THE TRAILER HITCH IS ATTACHED TO THE DAMAGED FRAME MAKING AN ACCIDENT WHEN TOWING A TRAILER HIGHLY LIKELY. THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE HAS GONE FROM $5,000 TO 500 AND I WILL SELL THE VEHICLE FOR SCRAP AND PARTS. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXCEPT FOR THE ROTTED FRAME. I BELIEVE THERE ARE NOW THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE TOYOTA SEQUOIA, TUNDRA, AND TACOMA VEHICLES OPERATING ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE YEARLY STATE INSPECTION SHOWED THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. I OFTEN PULL A 5000# SKI BOAT, AND 2 HORSE TRAILER BEHIND MY SEQUOIA. I WILL NOT RISK THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, MY HORSES, AND FELLOW MOTORISTS BY DRIVING THIS CAR. BUT, HOW MANY DRIVERS ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE? HOW MANY BELIEVE THE TOYOTA RECALL WAS EFFECTIVE AND THEIR VEHICLES ARE SAFE? I BELIEVE TOYOTA KNEW THE RUST TREATMENT WAS SIMPLY A WAY TO BUY SOME TIME AND THEY ARE NOW REJECTING CASES "THAT RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS EXPIRED" WAS WHAT [XXX] MY TOYOTA CASE MANAGER'S TOLD ME. SHE DIDN'T OFFER ANY HELP, NO BUYBACK, NO FRAME REPLACEMENT, AND SHE DIDN'T SAY I SHOULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOW PUTTING THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AT RISK, AND ALL WHO SHARE THE ROADS WITH THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES. THE ISSUE WILL BE MOST ACUTE IN THE AREAS OF THE US WHERE HIGHWAYS ARE SALTED AND TREATED FOR WINTER DRIVING. DRIVER'S IN UPSTATE NY, NH, MAINE, MI, WI, MN, ETC. ARE AT HIGH RISK AND TOYOTA KNOWS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.