1999 Toyota 4RUNNER

THE FRAME ON THESE VEHICLES RUST EXCESSIVELY, EVEN WITH CONTINUED MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING AND RUST PROOFING. OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SUCH ISSUE (RUSTING OUT QUICKLY) BUT THESE HAVE NOT TO DATE. I MAINTAIN VEHICLE CAREFULLY SO IT RUNS AND OPERATES WELL INTO HIGH MILEAGE; HOWEVER, THE FRAME RUSTING CREATES AN UNKNOWN SAFETY CONCERN. TOYOTA BUILT A VEHICLE THAT IS DESIRED BY ITS CLIENTS, OPERATES FOR A LONG LIFE, BUT APPARENTLY PROVIDED A FRAME COMPONENT THAT FAILS OR PREMATURELY FAILS. TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE TO PURCHASERS (I'M ORIGINAL OWNER) TO ADDRESS IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TO ADDRESS IT. OPTIONS INCLUDE FRAME AMENDEMENT, DISPOSING OF VEHICLE, ASSISTING IN HOW TO RESOLVE FRAME RUST, FRAME/SAFETY DIAGNOSIS, ETC.. OTHERWISE, IT IS AN UNKNOWN. A MOTOR FAILING IS ONE THING A FRAME OR STRUCTURE COMPONENT FAILING IS SOMETHING ELSE.

FRAME IS ROTTED THROUGH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE FRAME NEAR THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT, JUST A VERY BAD CONDITION EXISTS THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPAIR BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. IT IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. WHY DID THIS PART OF THE FRAME ROT THROUGH BUT NOT THE REST OF IT, NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE AMOUNT THAT THIS PART OF THE FRAME IS ROTTED, SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLOW TO ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON THE FRAME.

FRAME SNAPPED AT THE DRIVERS REAR TORSION BAR DUE TO FRAME RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. I JUST HAD THIS CHECKED AND A LITTLE RUST TO THE FRAME WAS APPARENT BECAUSE IT IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE AND NOT SO APPARENT. ONCE IT BEGAN TO DECAY IT JUST BECAME MOSTLY RUST DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF FRAME ONLY OPTION. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO HELP ON THIS MODEL (4RUNNER) BUT IS ON OTHER TRUCK MODELS, SAME FRAMES SAME YEAR..

FRAME RUSTED ON INSIDE SURFACE AND AT BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. DRIVERS SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND ALLOWED AXLE TO MOVE AND TIRE TO CONTACT INNER FENDER. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE ENTIRE CENTER SECTION OF BOTH INNER FRAME RAILS HAD NEW PLATE STEEL WELDED IN PLACE TO REPAIR THE ORIGINAL RUSTED STEEL. REINFORCEMENTS WERE WELDED ON THE INNER AND OUTER FRAME FOR BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SAFE TO DRIVE, BUT THESE REPAIRS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NECESSARY ON A 14 YEAR OLD (AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT) VEHICLE. *TR

ORIGINAL OWNER, NOT LOCATED IN THE "RUST BELT" TOOK 4RUNNER TO EXHAUST SHOP TO HAVE A NEW EXHAUST PUT ON AND ONCE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE YOU COULD SEE THAT THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH NEAR WHERE THE TRAILING ARM BRACKETS ARE AND ON THE INSIDE/UNDERNEATH OF THE FRAME. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GREAT CONDITION BECAUSE THE 4RUNNER HAS BEEN TAKE CARE OF AND MAINTAINED. THERE WILL BE ABOUT A 2 FOOT SECTION OF FRAME THAT WILL NEED TO BE CUT OUT AS WELL AS NEW TRAILING ARM BRACKETS TO BE CUT AND WELDED IN. THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTH SCRAP VALUE, WHEN IT SHOULD BE WORTH ABOUT $5000. THE INTERIOR IS PERFECT, IT RUNS GREAT, AND EVERYTHING WORKS AS IT SHOULD BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME IS CRUMBLING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA. I HAVE DOMESTIC VEHICLES THAT ARE 10 YEARS OLDER WITH MORE MILES THAT LOOK NOTHING LIKE THIS. THEY RECALL TUNDRAS, TACOMAS, AND SEQOUIAS, BUT NOT THE 4RUNNER? GIVE ME A BREAK. *TR