2000 Toyota Tacoma

Owned Toyota Tacoma since 2005...recently took vehicle for muffler repair and discovered my frame was rusted out and in an unsafe condition, when I contacted Toyota @ customer assistance center they advised me that jy vehicle was too old to be covered by ant warranty...they also stated that they had contacted me about the defective steel used on these trucks....I have no proof of any notification, nor any recall of such notice Trucks like mine are still on the road with no problems, NOT MINE.....defective steel, improper rust prevention and lack of notification has left me with a vehicle I cannot drive, sell or repair... My safety and others on the road have been put at risk I would like my truck to get fixed and or compensated for the loss Toyota should stand by my vehicle ( in which they used substandard defective steel) regardless of any time factor. Courts have already determined their negligence....my vehicle should be included in this settlement

I BROUGHT MY TACOMA TO MY MECHANIC FOR A POWER STEERING LEAK. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT WHILE TRYING TO LIFT THE VEHICLE, THE FRAME STARTED TO CRUMBLE AS IT WAS COMPROMISED BY CORROSION. HE IMMEDIATELY LOWERED THE TRUCK AND DEEMED IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE. HE MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL ON THE FRAMES AS THEY WERE PRONE TO CORROSION AND FAILURE. I THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL RISK OF FRAME FAILURE, NOR WAS I AWARE OF THE RECALL AND IT'S EXPIRATION. I NOW HAVE A TRUCK WITH ONLY 175K MILES THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND DUE TO TOYOTA'S POOR QUALITY STEEL IS NOW WORTHLESS. HOW TOYOTA CAN PLACE A LIMITATION ON A SERIOUS SAFETY RECALL IS BEYOND ME, BUT THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

ON 12/05 I NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH MY 2000 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK. WHEN I GOT DOWN TO PULL IT OUT, I REALIZED IT WAS RUST FROM MY FRAME, THAT HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I CALLED TOYOTA CONSUMER SERVICES, SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS VERY RUDE, TELLING ME THAT I HAD MISSED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION TIME LIMIT AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T REGISTER MY NEW ADDRESS WITH THEM, THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. FIRST, THE TRUCK WAS PAID FOR WHEN I MOVED. SECOND, IT IS UP TO THEM TO NOTIFY ME AND THIS CAN BE DONE VIA THE REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST WITH ANOTHER OF OUR PAID FOR VEHICLES. THIRD, I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT STATED MY WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED DO TO RUSTED FRAMES FOR 1995-2004 TACOMA'S. TOYOTA RECALLED OVER 700,000 TRUCKS, SO CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE AND VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS.THIS TRUCK IN IN GREAT SHAPE AND I PLANNED ON USING IT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 100K MILES. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND RIDES GREAT. THIS IS THE 11TH AND LAST TOYOTA, I HAVE OWNED. I AM APPALLED AND AMAZED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF A VEHICLE.