2005 TOYOTA TACOMA Structurebody Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 02/19/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS OF FEB 10, 2014, HE WAS STILL WAITING ON THE DISTRICT REP TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/24/14

SUMMER 2012 THE CROSS MEMBER HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NOW (JANUARY 2014) A LARGE (THREE INCH) PERFORATION HAS APPEARED IN THE FRONT FRAME. THE TRUCK FRAME IS ROTTING OUT FAST. *TR

DURING A REPAIR VISIT TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER I WAS INFORMED THAT MY FRAME WAS RUSTING IN SEVERAL PLACES. I WAS TOLD THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT THAT THE RUST WOULD CONTINUE AND LEAD TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF RUSTING PROBLEMS WITH PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS. I SEE THAT THE 2004 AND EARLIER MODEL YEARS WERE RECALLED FOR RUSTING FRAMES. DEALERSHIPS WAS ALSO AWARE OF AN INCREASE IN FRAME RUSTING CASES IN 2005 TACOMA TRUCKS AS WELL. TRUCK ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR HEAVY HAULING. REPAIR OR REINFORCEMENT IS NOT AN OPTION. ONLY REMEDY OFFERED BY TOYOTA WAS FOR ME TO REPLACE THE FRAME AT A COST OF $13,000. I FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

STARTED HEARING RUBBING/GRINDING TYPE NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. INSPECTED AND FOUND LF CV AXLE LEAKING GREASE, SO THOUGHT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THERE. REPLACED LF CV AXLE, AND THE NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY. INSPECTED FURTHER AND FOUND DRIVERS SIDE FRAME WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKET IS WELDED TO CRACKED, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FLEX AND THE FAN TO RUB ON THE FAN SHROUD. CONTACTED TOYOTA, WHO INSTRUCTED ME TO GET IT INSPECTED AT A DEALERSHIP. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF DRIVER ABUSE, NO RUST, NOT REALLY ANYTHING THAT SHOWED WHY THE WELD HAD BROKEN, BUT THAT TOYOTA DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING DUE TO AFTERMARKET LIFT AND OVERSIZED TIRED. LIFT WAS ALREADY INSTALLED ON VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA CORPORATE TOLD ME THEY DID NOT WANT TO HELP BECAUSE VEHICLE IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. THE...

UPON INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF MY 2005 TACOMA, I DISCOVERED HOLES IN BOTH SIDES OF THE INNER FRAME BEHIND THE FRONT WHEELS THAT HAD RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH THE FRAME. THE RUST CONTINUES TO SPREAD AND THE HOLES ARE GETTING LARGER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE METAL FRAME WHERE IT BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR FRAME WAS BEGINNING TO CORRODE. UPDATED 1/22/2014 *JS

VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO A HOLE IN THE FRAME. *TR

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, BUT THERE IS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK. PIECES OF RUST REGULARLY FALL OFF WHILE I'M PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. I FEEL THE AMOUNT OF RUST IS EXCESSIVE FOR THE AGE OF THE CAR AND IS PROBABLY A DANGER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000. UPDATED 12/20/13*CN

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY DESIGN OF THE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINTS. THE FRAME IS ALSO RUSTING VERY BADLY AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE FRAME IS ROTTING THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE FRAME RAIL. THE PRESSED C CHANNEL FRAME IS ALSO ROTTING AND SEPARATING. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY TRUCK. PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY TELLING ME. HOW GOOD IT LOOKS FOR THE YEAR. IT IS RIDICULOUS AND TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. THE DEALER HAS CONTACTED CORPORATE AND THEY DO NOT INTEND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE 2005 AND UP TACOMA FRAME RUSTING/ROT PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS PERFORATED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SLIGHT CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED, IT WOULD NOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

I HAVE A HOLE ON THE INSIDE OF BOX FRAME NEXT TO THE CAT. CONVERTER ON DRIVER SIDE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BACK IN JANUARY OF 2013, AND WAS IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE TOYOTA REP OVER THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE INQUIRED ABOUT THE SITUATION 3 TIMES SINCE THEN AND HAVE JUST GOTTEN THE ANSWER THAT ITS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THIS HOLE WHICH I CAN ALMOST STICK MY FIST THROUGH LOOKS TO BE LOCATED IN THE CRUMBLE ZONE, AND IS IN A HIGH STRESSED PART OF THE FRAME. I KNOW TOYOTA HAS RECALLED FIRST GENERATION TRUCKS FOR FRAME ROT, BUT WHY HAVEN'T THEY RECALLED ANY OF THE SECOND GENERATION TRUCKS FOR THE SAME ISSUES. YOU CAN SEARCH THE WEB AND FIND THAT I'M NOT ALONE WHEN IT COMES TO FRAME ROT ON THE SECOND GENERATION TACOMA TRUCKS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BUCK UP AND FIX THESE ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED DUE...

AS I WAS LEAVING WORK I SLOWLY DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP. THE REAR END OF MY TRUCK BEGAN TO BOUNCE LIKE A BOAT IN CHOPPY WATER. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED TO SEE IF I HAD A LOW TIRE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FINE SO I KEPT LOOKING. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL, I NOTICED THAT THE SHOCK ROD HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE THEADED END AND SHOT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO GLENN TOYOTA FOR INSPECTION. INITIALLY THEY TOOK GREAT INTEREST UNTIL AFTER THEY LEARNED THAT TOYOTA MANUFACTURING WOULD NOT COVER THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. NOW THE TRUCK RIDES LIKE A BOAT IN CHOPPY WATER AND EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD CAUSES AN EXAGGERATED RESPONSE IN THE SUSPENSION MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THERE IS NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE NOR HAS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICE A CORRODED HOLE IN THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR

EXCESSIVE RUST BEGAN APPEARING ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AT 50,000 MILES. REVIEWED RUST WITH TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (4 TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS) AND THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS FOR A RUSTY FRAMES. MY CONCRETE DRIVEWAY IS NOW STAINED WITH THE RUST COMING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. FRAME AND BUMPER IS NOW RUSTY AND GETTING WEAKER AS THE RUST CONTINUES. VEHICLE NOW HAS 90,000 MILES AND FRAME IS COVERED IN RUST. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME. ADDITIONALLY, I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON THE VEHICLE -- DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR - DUE TO EXTREME RUSTING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE FELL AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE CROSS MEMBER ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HALF OF THE REAR CROSS MEMBER ALSO FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT WAS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

LAST YEAR DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION I WAS TOLD MY FRAME HAD RUST. I CHECKED WITH TOYOTA AND THEY HAD A RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS UP TO 2004 FOR FRAME RUST ISSUES. THIS YEAR WHILE MY TRUCK WAS ON THE LIFT FOR MECHANICAL WORK, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE RUST ON MY FRAME WAS GETTING SERIOUS AND THERE WERE SOME POSSIBLE WEAK AREA'S. AGAIN I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO ISSUES NOR SEEN ANY RUST ON THE TRUCK FRAME. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A SPLIT YEAR AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT 2005'S HAD A NEW DESIGN AND FRAME MANUFACTURER. I FILED A CASE WITH TOYOTA CASE #[XXX] JUST SO I WOULD BE ON RECORD. I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WHEN I DID A SEARCH FOR FRAME RUST 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP. INFORMATION...

RUST HAS DEVELOPED ON FRAME OF MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. DESPITE PRIOR RUST ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL TOYOTA HAS NO PROGRAM IN EFFECT TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK. *TR

MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA QUAD CAB SR5 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE MY TRUCK LUNGES FORWARD IN A VERY DANGEROUS ABRUPT MANNER AS THOUGH SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN AT STOP LIGHTS A FEW SECONDS AFTER I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. A SECOND ISSUE IS THAT MY PAINT IS CRACKING AND PEELING ON MY ROOF AND MY CLEAR COAT IS NOTICEABLY BAD ON THE EDGES OF MY HOOD AND DOORS. MY TRUCK IS NOT OF APPROPRIATE AGE OR WEATHER CONDITIONS TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF PAINT PROBLEMS. TOYOTA REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE OR PAY FOR MY ISSUES AND JUST RECOMMENDS THAT I GO PAY A DEALER TO FIX IT OUT OF MY POCKET. I SEE SEVERAL OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS ON MANY BLOGS, CLASS ACTION ANYONE? *TR

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA, 4X4, 4-CYLINDER, 5-SPEED MANUAL, PURCHASED NEW. IT HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE FILED TWO COMPLAINTS, GOING BACK THREE YEARS, WITH MY DEALER AND WITH TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS REGARDING EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE. BOTH HAVE TOLD ME IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE FRAME TO BE RUSTING. I DISAGREE. A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD EASILY LAST OVER 200,000 MILES SHOULD BE BUILT ON QUALITY FRAMES. AT SOME POINT IT WILL CAUSE ISSUES AND COULD BE A DANGER IF JOINTS START RUSTING. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN OTHER SIMILAR TRUCKS AND ALL OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS ISSUE. THE FRAME AND BRACKETS ARE ALL RUSTING EXCESSIVELY, MUCH MORE EXCESSIVELY THAN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. THIS STARTED OCCURRING SHORTLY AFTER OWNING THE CAR AND IT HAS GOTTEN TREMENDOUSLY WORSE. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN FRAME DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK AND THE...

TRUCK BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TRUCK WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING BAD MOTOR MOUNTS. AT TIME OF REPAIR, MOTOR MOUNT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOTED BY MECHANIC TO HAVE BROKEN OFF THE FRAME DUE TO BAD/WEAKENED WELDS. MOTOR IS RUBBING ON FAN/RADIATOR SHROUD. OWNER HAS DONE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, INCLUDING COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS SITE, AND HAS NOTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE WITH 2005 TACOMAS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF RUST ON IT DUE TO OWNER NEGLIGENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

2005 TOYOTA TACOMA FRONT MUD FLAP BROKEN AND RUBBED THROUGH THE PAINT PRIOR TO ME KNOWING THE FLAP WAS BROKEN. HAPPENED AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. NEVER OFFROAD OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. ALL CITY/HIGHWAY MILES. *TR

THE FRONT MUD FLAPS ARE DEFECTIVE, THEY BREAK OFF FOR NO REASON. ONCE THEY ARE MISSING ROCKS AND DEBRIS FLY INTO VEHICLE AND BYPASSERS VEHICLES. THE FLAPS APPEAR TO BE EITHER TO CLOSE TO THE TIRE OR THE MATERIAL THEY ARE MADE WITH IS TO FLEXIBLE. *TR

WHEN LOADING HEAVY (BUT WITHIN THE RATED CAPACITY OF THE TRUCK) EQUIPMENT INTO THIS TRUCK, THE TAILGATE COLLAPSES UNDER THE LOAD, CAUSING THE EQUIPMENT TO BECOME OFF-BALANCE AND FALL OVER, SOMETIMES ONTO THE PERSON OR PERSONS LOADING SAID EQUIPMENT. *TR

ROCK CHIPS ON REAR FENDER FALRS, NO ROCK GUARD IN PLACE.*TR

2005 TACOMA PRERUNNER HAS A POP OR THUMP THAT OCCURS WHEN THERE IS AN ACCELERATION FOR A DEAD STOP AND THEN ALSO A THUMP WHEN THERE IS A DECELERATION. IT CAN BE FELT IN THE CAB AS THOUGH THERE IS A SPACE BETWEEN THE CAB MOUNTING BOLTS AND THE FRAME I.E., NOT TIGHT ENOUGH AND CAUSES THE CAB TO LIFT FORWARD AND UP WHEN STOPPING OR THE OPPOSITE WHEN ACCELERATING. HAVE TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN BEACH, CA., THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLTS AND IT WAS BETTER BUT IS NOW BACK AS IT WAS IN BEFORE. *NM

THE FENDER SUPPORT BRACKETS BROKE CAUSING THE FENDERS TO BECOME LOOSE AND CRACK. *JB

I HAVE A SILVER 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTENDED CAB AND THE PAINT IS CHIPPING EVERYWHERE, ROCKERS, DOORS, LEADING EDGE OF REAR DOORS, A COUPLE OF SPOTS ON THE WINDSHIELD PILLARS, AND IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRES FEEL LIKE IT GOT SANDBLASTED. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA OF KEENE. HE TOLD ME TOYOTA TOLD HIM TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT HE IS ONLY TO PAINT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE READ DOORS. THE BODY SHOP TOLD HIM IF THEY PAINED THE REST IT WOULD ONLY CHIP OFF. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OTHER MANUFACTURES OR OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA CHIP LIKE THIS. WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE AT 50,000 MILES. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!!!*JB

MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA PICKUP HAS SEVERE PAINT CHIPPING PROBLEMS ON THE ROCKER PANELS, LOWER DOORS, AND FRONT OF THE BEDSIDES. TOYOTA IS DENYING RESPONSIBILITY. THEY WANT TO DO A PAINT REPAIR WHICH WILL DEPRECIATE THE VALUE OF MY TRUCK INSTEAD OF GIVING ME A NEW TRUCK WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROPERLY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. UNLESS THEY WERE TO STRIP MY TRUCK DOWN TO BARE METAL AND REPAINT FROM SCRATCH, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT PROPERLY.

SEVERE BLISTERING, FLAKING AND CHIPPING OF PAINT ON MY NEW TOYOTA TACOMA. FIRST OCCURED ON JANUARY 11, 2005, WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ONLY 5 WEEKS OLD, AFTER AN 18 MILE ROUND TRIP TO WORK ON PAVED ROADS. THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF FLAKES AND CHIPS ON THE TRUCK, TOO MANY TO COUNT. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF THIS, MUCH OF THE PAINT ON THE LOWER SECTIONS OF THE TRUCK WAS GONE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY TACOMAS, AND TOYOTA IS TRYING TO BLAME IT ON ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME KIND OF DAMAGE, ONLY TACOMAS. WHEN DRIVEN AS THE MANUFACTURER INTENDS, THE TACOMA SUFFERS SEVERE PAINT DAMAGE, MUCH MORE THAN ANY REASONABLE OWNER WOULD EXPECT. TOYOTA OFFERED ME A "COURTESY" PAINT JOB, BUT A BODY SHOP PAINT JOB AND NEVER MATCH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY FINISH AND IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE ON A BRAND NEW TRUCK....

I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH ALMOST 600 MILES ON IT. TODAY I DROVE IT IT WAS A LITTLE WINDY OUT GOT HOME AND LOOKED AT THE TRUCK,IT WAS COVERED WITH ROCK CHIPS!! I HAVE READ ON TOYOTANATION.COM OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THINK IT IS DUE TO WEAK PAINT, AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *AK