2007 Toyota Fj Cruiser

I AM REPORTING THE ISSUE OF FRAME RUST AND CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE AMOUNT OF CORROSION AND FRAME FLAKING IS ALARMING AND POSES A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY, OTHER DRIVERS AND MYSELF. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAINTAIN AND FIX THIS ISSUE INCLUDING COMPLAINING TO TOYOTA THEMSELVES WITH LITTLE TO NO SUCCESS. THE AMOUNT OF RUST COMPARED TO MY OTHER VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY OUT OF PROPORTION. BODY MOUNTS ARE FLAKING AND CRUMBLING AND THE FRAME IS CORRODED AND FALLING APART FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FUEL TANK STRAP RUST FOR THE 2007 ' 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS GASOLINE SPILLING LEADING TO A POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS AND/OR ACCIDENT. CORROSION COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AS EARLY AS 2008 AND SHOULD BE NOTED: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10257254 INCIDENT DATE DECEMBER 17, 2008 MY FJ CRUISER IS STORED, COVERED, AND NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND EXHIBITS FUEL TANK STRAP RUST ABOVE AND BEYOND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. TOYOTA HAS LONG KNOWN OF SECURING STRAPS AND CABLES THAT WERE NOT TREATED PROPERLY AND YET THEY FAILED TO WARN NEW BUYERS OR OFFER SIGNIFICANT HELP TO FJ CRUISER OWNERS. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS PERTAINING TO UNDERNEATH SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOLDERS DUE TO RUST IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MUCH GREATER SAFETY CONCERN.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FUEL TANK STRAP RUST FOR THE 2007 ' 2014 TOYOTA FJ CRUISER. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEMS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING SERIOUS GASOLINE SPILLING LEADING TO A POTENTIAL EXPLOSIONS AND/OR ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS PERTAINING TO UNDERNEATH SPARE TIRE CARRIER HOLDERS DUE TO RUST IN MANY OTHER TOYOTA MODELS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A MUCH GREATER SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS RUST COVERING THE OUTSIDE AREA IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THE INSIDE AGAINST THE TANK IS NOT VISIBLE UNLESS REMOVED MAKING THIS EVEN MORE OF A DANGER DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO INSPECT THEM WITHOUT DISASSEMBLY. IN CONCLUSION WHAT APPEARED AS NORMAL SURFACE RUST CAN INDEED BE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY CONCERNS. THE FUEL TANK STRAPS CAN RUST INSIDE OUT CAUSING FAILURE AND NEED A PROPER PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION.

THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK INTO THE TRUCK ARE MILD STEEL AND SIT IN A PAN THAT TENDS TO COLLECT WATER THAT IS SPLASHED UP WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. ONE OF THE TWO THAT HOLD MINE IN DISINTEGRATED AND DROPPED THE TANK. THE OTHER IS NOT FAR BEHIND. THE REST OF MY UNDERCARRIAGE IS IN MUCH BETTER CONDIFTION THAT THE FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAPS WERE.

WENT TO GAS STATION TODAY TO FILL UP MY FJ WITH GAS AND THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE IN 2 PLACES. THE BOLTED AND PINNED CONNECTIONS ARE STILL THERE BUT THE ACTUAL STRAPS HAVE DETERIORATED AND SNAPPED RIGHT IN HALF. THE FUEL TANK IS NOW HANGING DOWN COMPLETELY IN THE REAR. FIRST THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR AT ALL, NOW THE FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND NOW THE FUEL TANK IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF ON THE ROAD. WHAT A HAZARD.

I WAS DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET AND FELT A STRANGE BUT AND THEN A DISTINCT THUMP, THUMP,THUMP, SOUND BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEAL BUT THEY FAILED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY HELPFUL INFORMATION REGARDING ANY RECALLS REGARDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. SINCE I HAD THE VEHICLE AT A SHOP ALREADY AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I ALLOWED AN OUTSIDE SHOP TO DO THE WORK. 1EA RING AND PINION GEAR SET, 1EA BEARINGS KIT, 1EA SEALS KIT, SYNTHETIC OIL, AND LABOR FOR A TOTAL OF $2002.20 I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE A VEHICLE WITH 41.000 MILES ON WOULD HAVE IT REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAIL IN THE MANNER THAT THIS UNIT FAILED. *TR