2001 Toyota 4RUNNER

WHEN ON A LONG HIGHWAY TRIP ON THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 7, 2008, MY HUSBAND NOTICED BLACK SPOTS ON THE REAR WINDOW OF OUR 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (121,000 MILES). HE CLEANED IT OFF TO SEE IF IT RETURNED AS WE RESUMED OUR JOURNEY. WHEN WE NEXT STOPPED SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES LATER, THE BLACK SPOTS WERE ON THE ENTIRE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND CHECKED BENEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW TRANSMISSION FLUID DRIPPING OUT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO REPORTED THAT THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, AND THAT IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR, AND THAT HE HADN'T EVER SEEN THIS ON A CAR OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. HE INFORMED US THAT TOYOTA HAS RECENTLY RECALLED TACOMA VEHICLES FROM THE SAME YEAR FOR SIMILAR CORROSION PROBLEMS. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US. WE ARE LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS BEYOND REPAIR THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO SELL, AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S GUIDELINES. PLEASE HELP. *TR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE INCLUDING THE AXLE, DIFFERENTIAL, BRAKES, AND EXHAUST SYSTEM WERE CORRODED BEYOND REPAIR. UPDATED 08/27/08. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 2001 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 4 WHEEL DRIVE LAST YEAR WITH APPROX 88 K MILE. PRIOR TO GIVING IT TO MY DAUGHTER I REPLACED THE TIRES ( GOODYEAR) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 6-2-2007 REQUESTING A FULL CHECK OF THE VEHICLE TO VERIFY ROAD WORTHINESS PRIOR TO GIVING IT TO MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THEY SUGGESTED AND PERFORMED 90 K MAINTENANCE PACKAGE INCLUDING SUSPENSION INSPECTION AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. SHE RETURNED TO VIRGINIA AND HAS BEEN DRIVING IT DAILY ON PAVED ROADS TO HIGH SCHOOL. SHE HAS NOT TAKEN IT OFF ROAD OR USED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. LAST WEEKEND SHE WAS SLOWLY TURNING INTO HER FRIENDS DRIVEWAY AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BROKE OFF THE AXLE COLLAPSING THE WHEEL AND RIPPING OUT THE FRONT AXEL. A STATE TROOPER PASSING BY INDICATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS LIKELY WOULD OF FLIPPED THE VEHICLE. THANK HEAVENS SHE WAS GOING LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT "DROPPED DOWN" TRIGGERING THE CATASTROPHIC FRONT END FAILURE. TOYOTA RECALLED 210,000 AXLES ON THE PRADOS VEHICLE ( NOT DISTRIBUTED IN USA) WHICH IS ON A SIMILAR PLATFORM AS THE 4 RUNNER. BLOG ENTRIES DESCRIBE SIMILAR FAILURES WITH THE WHEELS SNAPPING OFF. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER AND DESCRIBED THE FAILURE. I REQUESTED HE EVALUATE AND ASKED IF THEY MISSED THIS ON THEIR INSPECTION IN JUNE. I ALSO REQUEST THAT THEY COVER THE REPAIR COSTS OF APPROX. $600.00 TO INCLUDE A DETAILED INSPECTION AND L BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. HE INDICATED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. MY CONCERN IS THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF THE JOINT WAS ASSESSED AS ROAD WORTHY JUNE 2007 AND ONLY APPROX. 9 K MILES HAVE BEEN ADDED SINCE THEN WITH NO POTHOLE OR OFF ROAD TRAUMA NOTED. HOW CAN I BE ASSURED THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN MAYBE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH LIFE THREATENING OUTCOMES? HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BEEN FILED? DOES THIS WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY YOUR AGENCY AND OR TOYOTA? *TR