2002 Toyota Tacoma

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE RUST AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF RUST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE RUST AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000. ...UPDATED 03/13/17 *BF UPDATED 08/11/2017*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE VEHICLE'S FRAME NEAR THE SPRING HANGER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE THE DEALER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE COATING ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 01/25/2017*CT UPDATED 7/10/18*JB *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE BULBS HAD TO CONSTANTLY BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION) AND 06E026000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.

I WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA CASE WORKER THAT THE RUSTY FRAME RECALL EXPIRED AND IT IS MY PROBLEM NOW. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY FRAME RECALL NOTICE BUT RECEIVED A SPARE TIRE LIFT PLATE RECALL (WHICH DOESN'T EXPIRE) DUE TO RUST AND SEVERE CORROSION. I WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP MY TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO EVEN PUT ON THE LIFT TO ADDRESS CURRENT RECALL, OF COURSE THEY LET ME DRIVE IT HOME WHICH IS A 35-40 MINUTE DRIVE FOR ME. I WAS FORCED TO SCRAP MY TRUCK WITH A PERFECTLY GOOD MOTOR BECAUSE HOW UNSAFE IT WAS AND THE EXPENSE TO FIX IT ON MY OWN. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I CRAWLED UNDER MY TRUCK AND WAS BESIDE MYSELF! I HAD HUGE HOLES IN THE FRAME, THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE SHOT, ALL THIS WAS UNDER THE "UNDERCOATING" THAT WAS DONE AT TIME OF PURCHASE TO PROTECT FRAME FROM RUST! I PAID EXTRA FOR THAT! EVEN MY SEAT MOUNTS ON THE INTERIOR BACK SEAT WERE RUSTED! I SUSPECT THE QUALITY OF METAL USED IS ON THE LOWER SIDE... I USED MY TRUCK AS A TRUCK, HAULED SMALL AMOUNTS OF MULCH, SOUL FOR MY GARDEN, IT MOVED ME 5X! I DIDN'T GO MUDDLING IN IT, PARK IT IN A POND, OR LIVE IN A FLOOD AREA. I JUST USED IT... HOW IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEM THAT CAN ULTIMATELY JEAPARDIZE A PERSONS SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD?! PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE...

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA IN FEBRUARY OF 2015 ONLY TO FIND OUT THE FRAME HAD SERIOUS RUST ISSUES. I FOUND OUT THROUGH MY OWN INVESTIGATION THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN TRADED IN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY KNEW IT HAD RUST ISSUES. THEY PROCEEDED TO SELL THE TRUCK AT AUCTION KNOWING IT COULD BE DANGEROUS! I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM A USED CAR DEALER. UPON BEING TOLD ABOUT THE FRAME RUST ISSUE BY MY MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED BY SERVICE RECALL. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.

MY 2002 TACOMA FRAME IS SIMPLY RUSTING AWAY AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO GET ENGAGED TO RESOLVE WHAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. THE FRAME IS GETTING TO THE POINT OF COLLAPSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS FRANKLY A CRIME. MYSELF AND MANY OTHER TACOMA OWNERS HAVE THIS EXACT ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE NHTSA STEPS UP AND PREVENTS FRAME ROT HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING.

INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION AND TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP. CALLED DEALER SERVICE (TOYOTA OF DANVILLE, IL) AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AS THEY QUIT REPAIRING THESE IN MARCH OF 2016. NO NOTICE OR RECALL WAS EVER SENT TO ME AND I WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM UNTIL I GOT TRUCK BACK FROM MECHANIC. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE TOYOTA KNEW TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE FRAME, DID NOT NOTIFY ME TO RECTIFY OR ADVISE OF THE ISSUE, AND WILL NOT EFFECT ANY REPAIRS.