NHTSA Complaint #11163081 — 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

EXTREME RUST/ROT THROUGHOUT MY 2003 4RUNNER FRAME. THE BODY, INTERIOR, POWERTRAIN ARE 8.5 OUT OF 10 THE FRAME IS A 0 I LIVE IN NEW ENGLAND AND RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 03 4RUNNER SR5 BASED OFF IT LOOKS. I DROVE THE 4RUNNER OF ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING ON A TYPICAL NEW ENGLAND ROAD, FAIRLY SMOOTH WITH POT HOLES HERE AND THERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 M.P.H.. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE 4RUNNER SENT THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK HARD LEFT AND THE REAR OF THE TRUCK TO THE RIGHT. THE TIRES WERE SCREECHING AND I WAS SENT SIDEWAYS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC NARROWING MISSING CARS AND PEDESTRIANS IN THE AREA. I GOT THE TRUCK TO "CRAB WALK" BACK ACROSS THE ROAD INTO A PARKING OUT AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WHEN WE GOT THE TRUCK HOME THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND I TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG. THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM MOUNT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. WITH THE TRUCK ON THTHE GROUND I WAS ABLE TO ROLL THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL FORWARD AND BACKWARDS ABOUT 5 INCHES WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING AT ALL. I THEN GOT UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW THAT THE CROSS MEMBER UNDER THE TRANSMISSION HAD RUSTED AWAY AND AND WHAT NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. ALSO I COULD PUSH HOLES IN THE THE FRAME WITH MY FINGERS AROUND THE DRIVER/ FRONT PASSENGER DOORS. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE 4RUNNER SINCE AND I DONT HAVE 8K+ TO PAY A SHOP TO REPLACE A FRAME. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED