NHTSA Complaint #11083297 — 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF AN EARLIER RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND COMPONENT PARTS. TOYOTA REPLACED THE FRAME ALONG WITH A CORRODED LEAKING GAS TANK. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO WE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK FROM OUR REAR DIFFERENTIAL. UPON INSPECTION BY OUR LOCAL MECHANIC HE DETERMINED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING IS CORRODED THIS CAUSING A LEAK. THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR ITS SEVERE CORROSION OF FRAME AND COMPONENT PARTS. WE DISCUSSED OUT CONCERNES OVER THE WIDE SPREAD CORROSION WITH CORPORATE TOYOTA WHEN THE FRAME WAS REPLACED. I CONTACTED CORPORATE TOYOTA YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ONLY CONSIDER OUR CLAIM AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A TOYOTA DEALER AT OUR COST. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT WAS VERY UNLIKELY THAT TOYOTA WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE AGE. THIS VEHICLE IS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND WE INTEND TO KEEP IT, HOWEVER THE CORROSION ISSUE IS PREMATURELY ENDING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE AND ADDRESS IT WITH SPRAY ON EPOXY TO STOP THE OIL LEAK. THEY COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT WOULD WORK ON OUR VEHICLE UNTIL THEY INSPECT IT. WE BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD INSPECT THE DAMAGE FREE OF CHARGE DUE TO THE KNOWN ISSUE THEY HAVE WITH CORROSION. THE BRAKE COMPONENT ATTACHED TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ARE ALSO SHOWING EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND WE ARE CONCERNED THESE COMPONENTS WILL FAIL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.