NHTSA Complaint #11183554 — 2004 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

UPON PRE-INSPECTION OF MY PERSONAL VEHICLE FOR PURCHASE I FOUND THAT BOTH REAR CORNERS OF THE FRAME WERE TOTALLY ROTTED OUT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, AFTER REMOVAL OF THE REAR BUMPER, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE RUST EXTENDED ALMOST ENTIRELY THROUGH THE CORNERS OF THE FRAME. THERE WAS ALSO A MAJOR HOLE IN THE FRAME WHERE THE FACTORY WELDS WERE CONJOINING PIECES OF THE FRAME RIGHT WHERE THE EXHAUST BRACKET MOUNTS TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE INTERIOR FACING OF THE FRAME. ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A MASSIVE RUST HOLE EXTENDING ALONG THE RIGHT FRONT FACTORY WELDS CONNECTING THE RIGHT FRONT BODY MOUNT TO THE FRAME. THE REAR ROTTED CORNERS OF THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE BUMPER AND RIGHT FRONT BODY MOUNT WERE REPAIRED AT MY FATHER'S AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE STATION BY MY DAD WHO HAS MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. WITH A VERMONT STATE INSPECTION LICENSE IT WAS CONCERNING TO HIM TO SEE THE ROTTING AND RUSTING CENTRALIZED AROUND THE FACTORY WELDS, AND OCCURRING WHERE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME AND THE REAR BUMPER IS PREVENTING SERIOUS INJURY FROM IMPACT DUE TO A POTENTIAL COLLISION.