NHTSA Complaint #11130753 — 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, IN NOVEMBER OF 2017, FROM A FRIEND. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THE TRUCK AND KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, EXITING THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, NO PRESSURE. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE BRAKE LINES HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION AND RUST ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AT A COST OF $3500.00. A MONTH LATER, THE TRUCK FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO A HOLE IN THE SUBFRAME CAUSED BY THE RUST. IT WAS THEN THAT I BEGAN RESEARCH AND LEARNED OF THE TOYOTA RECALL FOR EVERY OTHER TRUCK EXCEPT THE 4RUNNER IN SIMILAR YEARS/GENERATION. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO BURDICK TOYOTA IN CICERO, NEW YORK THIS SEPTEMBER TO HAVE THE FRAME INSPECTED. THE TECH REPORT (WHICH I CAN FURNISH ON REQUEST) STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED, SCALED AND DETERIORATED FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT IT POSED NO IMMINENT THREAT. I DISAGREE WITH THIS ASSESSMENT, AS IT HAS ALREADY CAUSED ONE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I'VE LEARNED OF A POTENTIAL INVESTIGATION AND MUST SAY, I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NHTSA TO RECALL THE AFFECTED 4RUNNERS OF THE SAME GENERATION. HAD THE SCENARIO BEEN DIFFERENT, I OR MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I'M A TEACHER, AND HAVEN'T THE MEANS TO SIMPLY REPLACE A VEHICLE I'VE ALREADY HAD TO PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO. I BOUGHT IT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY BRAND NEW BABY GIRL. I FEEL IT MORALLY IMPERATIVE THAT THE NHTSA DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE 4RUNNERS AS THEY HAVE THE OTHER VEHICLES. HUMAN LIFE SHOULD ALWAYS BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN A COMPANIES BOTTOM LINE. TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. LIVES ARE AT STAKE.