NHTSA Complaint #11013686 — 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

MY WIFE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET A STATE INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED IT WOULD NOT PASS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE FRAME. WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY, TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. WE WERE TOLD TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FRAME AND THEY COULD NOT RECOMMEND A REPAIR. ESSENTIALLY, TOO BAD. WE CONTACTED SEVERAL BODY SHOPS AND WERE TOLD TOYOTA REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS ADVISE AGAINST WELDING ON THE FRAME AND THEIR INSURANCE WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. SO THERE IS NO FIX. THE RUST HAS NOT BEEN APPARENT UNTIL THIS YEARS INSPECTION AND I GUESS WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT IS WAS FOUND. BUT THE CAR RUNS GREAT AND NOBODY THAT DIDN'T LOOK UNDER THE CAR WOULD KNOW ABOUT AN IMPENDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. TOYOTA DID REPLACE FRAMES ON SIMILAR YEAR TACOMA'S, TUNDRA'S AND SEQUOIA'S BUT THAT WAS DUE TO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. APPARENTLY THEY WILL NOT MAKE THESE VEHICLES SAFE WITHOUT OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. AT A MINIMUM A NOTICE SHOULD BE SENT TO OWNERS ADVISING THEM THEIR FRAMES SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED BEFORE ITS TOO LATE.