NHTSA Complaint #11153168 — 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

LOOKED UNDER TRUCK TO CHECK FOR RUST, FOUND MULTIPLE SPOTS WITH UNDER-BODY FRAME ROT (RUST, COULD POTENTIALLY RUST THROUGH). THE RUST COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. UNSURE IF PREVIOUS OWNER USED "FLUID FILM" OR SIMILAR PRODUCT TO PROTECT THE UNDER-BODY - I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT PERVASIVE RUST ROT IN THE UNDER-BODY OF THE 4TH GEN 4RUNNERS. THIS IS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY THE SALT SOLUTION PLACED ON ROADS TO HELP PREVENT ICE AND SNOW FORMATION. IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA USED A LESS-THAN-UP-TO-THE-TASK FRAME FOR THESE VEHICLES - FRAMES THAT ALLOW RUST TO FORM RATHER EASILY AND ROT IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, THERE ARE RECALLS FOR SIMILAR TOYOTA VEHICLES SUCH AS THE TACOMA AND SEQUOIA WITH RESPECT TO FRAME ROT. THE FRAME SEEMS TO BE SOLID, BUT SINCE HEAVY RUSTING HAS ALREADY OCCURRED, IT IS NOT ECONOMICAL OR WORTHWHILE TO REPLACE THE FRAME. EVENTUALLY THE FRAME WILL RUST THROUGH AND CAUSE A MAJOR ISSUE.