NHTSA Complaint #11152548 — 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

FRAME RUST PREVALENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A FEW POORLY DESIGNED AREAS ON THE FRAME THAT ACCUMULATE WATER AND RUST AT AN ACCELERATED RATE COMPARED TO OTHER SECTIONS, NAMELY: FRONT RADIATOR AUXILLARY BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE FRONT SKID PLATE AND TRANS COOLER LINES, AND THE SECTIONS OF FRAME DIRECTLY ABOVE THE REAR TRAILING ARMS, JUST AFTER THE TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER, AND RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO THE REAR SHOCK MOUNTS. THE FRONT AUXILLARY CROSSMEMBER WAS POORLY DESIGNED AS THERE ARE 2 LOW POINTS ON EITHER END WITH INSUFFICIENT DRAIN HOLES, THUS WATER IS TRAPPED AND CAUSES CORROSION OVER TIME. THE REAR TRAILING ARM SECITONS ARE THE SAME STORY, AS WATER APPEARS TO POOL IN HERE AND CAUSE ACCELERATED CORROSION, WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE IS GREATLY AFFECTED AS COMPARED TO THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH GETS PROTECTION FROM THE GAS TANK BEING IN THE WAY APPARENTLY. MULTIPLE FORUM SEARCHES AND PICTURES FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS REINFORCES MY THOUGHTS. THESE AREAS OF THE FRAME NEEDED BETTER DRAIN CAPABILITIES SEEING AS THIS IS A BOXED FRAME THAT ON ITS OWN IS APT TO ACCUMULATE DEBRIS, ROAD SALT, AND WATER.