NHTSA Complaint #11309251 — 2006 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AND SUBSTANTIAL RUST ON THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS MORE THAN ONE HOLE EATEN COMPLETELY THROUGH THE FRAME, ALONG WITH TERRIBLE SURFACE RUST THAT HAS EATEN THE FRAME SO THIN THAT ANY LIGHT TAP CREATES A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH. THIS HAS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH THE FUEL TANK STRAPS, AND OTHER VARIOUS SUSPENSION POINTS. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT TOYOTA TOLD ME THE VEHICLE IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO STAY ON THE ROAD, AND DID NOT WANT TO SERVICE THE TIMING BELT DUE TO FEAR THAT OTHER COMPONENTS WOULD EASILY SNAP OFF BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF RUST ALL OVER THE ENTIRE FRAME. THIS VEHICLE IS VERY SIMILAR TO MY 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA, AND SHARES SEVERAL RELATED PARTS AND PIECES. I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE RECALL FOR FRAME RUST ON THE TACOMAS, AND FORTUNATELY MY TRUCK WAS NOT DAMAGED. THIS VEHICLE IS TOO MUCH LIKE THE TACOMA TO NOT HAVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION OF HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. NO VEHICLE, MUCH LESS A VEHICLE ONLY 14 YEARS OLD SHOULD HAVE THIS BAD OF AN ISSUE, AND IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE TOYOTA ENTHUSIASTS COMMUNITY. THIS IS A NEWER VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE, AND NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE! FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THERE WAS ANY ISSUES AT ALL. BUT AFTER SEEING THE RUST AND HOLES, THE RUSTED THROUGH FUEL TANK STRAPS, I AM SHOCKED, DISMAYED, AND ABSOLUTELY SCARED TO LET MY WIFE CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW THESE CASES, AND SEE HOW THEY RELATE AS EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION AS THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA FRAMES. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS TOYOTA VEHICLES THROUGH MY LIFETIME, AND TOYOTAS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE AND ABSOLUTELY AMAZING VEHICLES FOR ME. THIS IS DEFINITELY OUT OF THE NORMAL SPECTRUM THAT I CONSIDER WHEN I THINK OF, AND BRAG ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND ALL AROUND ENJOYMENT I HAVE IN AND WITH MY TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP IN THIS MATTER.