NHTSA Complaint #11083510 — 2007 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND HEARD LOUD NOISE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND THE CAR CROSSED LANES LUCKILY MISSING OTHER VEHICLES. IT STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A BODY SHOP HAPPENED TO WITNESS THE WHOLE THING. HE TRIED TO DRIVE IT INTO HIS SHOP (TWO DRIVEWAYS AWAY) BUT ENDED UP HAVING TO DRAG/TOW IT IN BECAUSE THE FRONT END FRAME HAD RUSTED AND FALLEN FROM THE VEHICLE. THAT BODY SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND I ALSO GOT A SECOND OPINION AND THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT STEERING RUSTED SO BADLY IT DISCONNECTED COMPLETELY AND FELL OUT FROM THE FRAME. IT IS ALSO SO RUSTED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH METAL TO RE-WELD IT TOO. THE CAR IS TOTALED WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IT WAS TERRIFYING AND WAS LUCKY I HAPPENED TO ONLY BE GOING 25 MPH DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AND NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR THAT WAS RUNNING GREAT AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE OR EVEN FIXABLE AND MY CHILD AND MYSELF WERE IN SERIOUS DANGER. EVERY MECHANIC IS TELLING ME THIS IS A FAULT COMMON IN TOYOTAS AND IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME AND SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND WAS TOLD THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS FILE A COMPLAINT BUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESOLVING.