NHTSA Complaint #11194759 — 2002 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

THE FRAME OF THIS 4RUNNER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE RUST SINCE THE TIME I GOT IT USED FROM A DEALER. ONCE THEIR UNDERCOATING WORE OFF, MY MECHANIC REPLACED RUSTED UP BRAKE LINES BACK ABOUT 9 YEARS AGO. HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS VERY RUSTY AND THEY DID A NEW RUST TREATMENT. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE BEEN BATTLING ISSUES RELATED TO THE FRAME. A PLATE WAS PUT IN TO STRENGTHEN AN AREA. IT ONLY HAS 164K ON IT, I REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AT 125K, AND THE BODY IS IN GOOD SHAPE. JUST THAT THE RUST IS SPREADING EVERYWHERE UNDERNEATH. WE TRIED TO GET IT ADDRESSED IN THE PREVIOUS TOYOTA FRAME RECALL BUT IT WAS NOT FOR THIS AGE FOR WHATEVER REASON. EVERY REPAIR HAS BEEN MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO RUSTING BOLTS, MUFFLERS RUSTING EARLY, BRAKE LINES BUSTING DUE TO RUST, THE TOW HITCH RUSTED THROUGH. NOW THERE IS A GAPING HOLE IN THE REAR SIDE OF THE FRAME SUPPORTING THE CAB. AFTER BEING UNDER THE CAR TRYING TO SCRAPE RUST OFF, AND TO PUT SOME RUST RESTORE/PROTECTION, I SAW THE NEW HOLE AND GOT FED UP. SO I SEE YOU ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THIS YEAR 4RUNNER TO ADD TO THEIR RECALL. PLEASE...DO! SOMETHING SERIOUS COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IT AND IT WILL JUST STAY MOSTLY PARKED UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. BRAKE FAILURE WHEN MY SON WAS DRIVING WAS ALREADY SCARY ENOUGH. THANK YOU.