NHTSA Complaint #11163761 — 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA

I BROUGHT MY TACOMA TO MY MECHANIC FOR A POWER STEERING LEAK. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT WHILE TRYING TO LIFT THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME STARTED TO CRUMBLE AS IT WAS COMPROMISED BY CORROSION. HE IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE TRUCK AND DEEMED IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE. HE MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL ON THE FRAMES AS THEY WERE PRONE TO CORROSION AND FAILURE. I THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL RISK OF FRAME FAILURE, NOR WAS I AWARE OF THE RECALL AND IT'S EXPIRATION. I NOW HAVE A TRUCK WITH ONLY 175K MILES THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND DUE TO TOYOTA'S POOR QUALITY STEEL IS NOW WORTHLESS. HOW TOYOTA CAN PLACE A LIMITATION ON A SERIOUS SAFETY RECALL IS BEYOND ME, BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.