NHTSA Complaint #11105017 — 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA

THE REMEDY APPLIED TO MY 2002 TOYOTA TUNDRA FOR SAFETY RECALL 09V444000 HAS PROVEN TO BE INEFFECTIVE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK USED FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SAFETY RECALL REMEDY HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE FRAME CROSS-MEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE FUEL TANK - A COMPONENT CALLED OUT IN TOYOTA DOCUMENTS RELATED TO 09V444000 - HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS) THIS CONDITION WAS DISCOVERED DURING MY RECENT STATE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE CROSS-MEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE FUEL TANK CAN BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. SINCE RECALL 09V444000 WAS ORIGINALLY INITIATED TO FIX THIS VERY PROBLEM, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD STILL QUALIFY FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THE FIX APPLIED WAS A BAND-AID REPAIR THAT DID NOT ADDRESS THE ORIGINAL FAULT. YOUR DATABASE CURRENTLY SHOWS THERE ARE NO LONGER ANY OPEN RECALLS ON MY VIN, BUT THE ORIGINAL FLAW HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION) IS UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON PUBLIC ROADWAY. IS TOYOTA OBLIGATED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, OR WAS THEIR TEMPORARY FIX (THE APPLICATION OF RUST-PROOFING) ENOUGH TO ABSOLVE THEM OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY FROM THAT DATE ONWARD?