1997 Toyota T100

TOOK TRUCK TO REPAIR SHOP FOR EXHAUST REPAIR. TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FRAME TO BE RUSTED BADLY WITH HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME. TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT BY A TOYOTA DEALER BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IT COULD GET DANGEROUS. HE ALSO POINTED OUT RUST ON BRAKE LINES AND OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS THAT NEEDED REPLACED SOON. *TR

I HAVE READ SEVERAL OF THE DESCRIPTIONS ON THE SITE AND AM AFRAID I'M DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE UNDERLYING RUST ISSUES WHICH COULD BE AT THE ROOT OF SHIFTER ISSUES, AS IN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AND THE DANGEROUS FRAME RUST ISSUE. I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I RECOGNIZE MANY OF THE RUST ISSUES DESCRIBED HERE ON MY T100. NHTSA SHOULD RE-EXAMINE THE DECISION TO GIVE TOYOTA A BREAK BY NOT REQUIRING THAT THEY BUY BACK VEHICLES AS DONE WITH SIMILAR MODELS IN THEIR FAMILY WITH THE FRAME RUST ISSUES. THE ALLOWANCE TO CONTINUE T100S BE DRIVEN PUTS PASSENGERS AND OTHER MOTORISTS AT RISK. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED, AND THE MECHANICALS AND APPEARANCE BELIES THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES BENEATH.THE NHTSA IS REMISS TO NOT PUT PRESSURE ON TOYOTA TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES IN THEIR RECALL AS A GOOD FAITH AND SAFETY MEASURE... AS THE OWNER OF NEWER, ALLEGEDLY SAFE, TOYOTA PRODUCTS, I AM ALSO CONCERNED BY THEIR LACK OF RESPONSE... DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO LOSE THEIR LIFE BEFORE A SUITABLE RESPONSE IS MANDATED? AFTER ALL, THIS VEHICLE COULD BE BEHIND YOU ON THE DRIVE HOME TONIGHT. THIS IGNORES HOW THIS VEHICLE WOULD LIKELY JUST CRUMBLE IN AN ACCIDENT. I PLAN TO BRING THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CHECK NOW, BUT IN THE INTERIM, WORRY ABOUT ITS SAFE USE. THE FACT THAT MY KIDS ARE EVEN NEAR IT WHEN IT IS PARKED GIVES ME PAUSE NOW. PLEASE USE YOU INFLUENCE TO IMPRESS UPON TOYOTA THAT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS IS RIGHT FOR THEM. THANKS FOR READING MY THOUGHTS AND FOR YOU CONSIDERATION IN WORKING TOWARDS A RESOLUTION. *TR

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING CLAIM NO. 10451047. IN REVIEWING CLAIM I REALIZED THE SAFETY ISSUES NOT FULLY COVERED. A SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE USING THIS VEHICLE. WHILE BRINGING BAGGED LEAVES TO TOWN RECYCLING AREA, A BAG FELL FROM THE TRUCK. MY SON AND I STOPPED IN THE ROAD TO RETRIEVE THE DEBRIS BEHIND THE TRUCK. WHILE RETRIEVING THE DEBRIS THE VEHICLE BEGAN BACKING UP AND ALMOST STRUCK US. I HAD TO RUN TO THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ENTER THE MOVING VEHICLE TO APPLY THE BRAKE TO PREVENT A CRASH. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT WHEN PLACED IN PARK THE SHIFTER MAY IN FACT BE IN REVERSE. THIS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY. UNFORTUNATELY THIS CAN NOT BE EASILY REPAIRED AS FAILURE OF THE FRAME WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE FOR LOSS OF THE SHIFTER SUPPORT. THIS SERIOUS DEFECT CAN BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE THIS TYPE OF DANGEROUS SITUATION OF THE VEHICLE BEING INADVERTENTLY IN REVERSE INSTEAD OF IN PARK! *TR

VEHICLE DEVELOPED FUEL LEAK DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. TOYOTA FAILED TO MAKE REPAIRS DESPITE BEING COVERED BY A FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. SEVERE RUST OF FRAME IDENTIFIED. NOW SHIFTER NOT WORKING DUE TO FURTHER CORROSION. LETTERS TO TOYOTA HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS. INTERNET FULL OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE VEHICLES. SIMILAR AGE TUNDRA AND TACHOMAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE T-100'S ARE A SERIOUS THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NHTSA AS TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTIONS DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR

CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET WAS TWISTED. WORK ORDER STATED PART WAS WORN. CONSUMER REFUSED SERVICE. CONSUMER'S INSPECTION REVEALED THE REPLACEMENT PART HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REMANUFACTURED WITH A HIGHER GRADE OF STEEL. AFTER REMOVING THE OLD BRACKET, CONSUMER FOUND TWO FRACTURES IN THE UNIT. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TT *JB *TS