NHTSA Complaint #11122791 — 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

WE PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN MAY OF 2017. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT HIS MECHANIC HAD CHECKED THE VEHICLE OVER AND WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AND SHOULD LAST US A LONG TIME. ON AUGUST 14, 2018 I DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES AWAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS RUN ON IT FOR AN ISSUE WITH THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT AND CHECKING IT OUT, HE HAD US STEP INTO THE SHOP WITH THE VEHICLE STILL ON THE LIFT TO SHOW US WHAT HE FOUND. THE FRAME HAD MULTIPLE RUST HOLE THROUGH THE FRAME AND ONE RUNNING VERTICALLY ALONG THE TRANSMISSION FRAME BRACKET. IT WAS SO BAD HE MADE US SIGN A WAIVER RELEASING THE DEALERSHIP FROM LIABILITY BEFORE HE WOULD LET US LEAVE WITH IT. THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION, 2004 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER WITH A LITTLE OVER 156,000 MILES ON IT. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AS APPARENTLY THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD OUR GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE AND THE FRAME COULD HAVE COLLAPSED AT ANYTIME CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO ANY OR ALL OF US. WE BOUGHT IT BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S REPUTATION WHICH AT THIS POINT IS NOT WORTHY OF ANYTHING WHEN THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND IT. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE THE FRAMES REACH THIS POINT OF BEING BEYOND REPAIR.