2001 Toyota Tacoma

TL* THE CONTACT WAS TEST DRIVING A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE CAR LOT, THE CHASSIS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE BELONGED TO THE SM VALENTINO MOTORS LLC DEALER, LOCATED AT 603 W FRONT ST, PLAINFIELD, NJ 07060, (908) 222-0777. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,836.

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM STRAIGHT AHEAD TO LEFT OR RIGHT, I EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY TURNING THE WHEEL ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER WITHOUT EFFORT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN MOVING OR STANDING STILL AND SEEMS TO VARY IN INTENSITY. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES A DEFECTIVE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT.

INITIAL PROBLEM 12/08/2009: IN DECEMBER OF 2009, I DROPPED MY TOYOTA TACOMA OFF AT MY LOCAL DEALER (LEXINGTON TOYOTA, (MA) FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. LEXINGTON TOYOTA CALLED ME AND STATED THAT MY 2001 TACOMA HAD A SERIOUS FRAME RUST PERFORATION PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME AT NO COST TO ME AND THEY ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER. THE TOTAL COST TO ME WHEN THE JOB WAS COMPLETED WAS $1,717.77 (SEE-ATTACHED INVOICE [XXX].) THE FRAME REPAIR INVOICE WAS DATED 12/22/2009. FAST FORWARD TO 12/10/2018: ON 12/10/2018, I BROUGHT MY 2001 TACOMA INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF LEXINGTON TOYOTA FOR SOME BRAKE WORK. LATER THAT DAY THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT MY FRAME HAD SELECTED ROT AND WOULD NOT PASS THE NEXT STATE INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY HAD REVIEWED THE SITUATION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I EXPLAINED THAT THE FRAME HAD BEEN REPLACED IN DECEMBER OF 2009 AND THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR ([XXX]) HAD STATED TO ME THAT THE NEW FRAME WAS WARRANTIED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS. I JOKING REPLIED THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY LAST LONGER THAN I WOULD. I GUESS I WAS WRONG. I HAVE ALL OF MY REPAIR WORK AND YEARLY STATE INSPECTION WORK DONE AT LEXINGTON (MA) TOYOTA. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS SITUATION WAS NOT IDENTIFIED EARLIER WHEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH BEFORE GETTING TO ITS CURRENT STATE. I BELEIVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THE FRAME FAILS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IF THIS HAPPENED TO ME, HOW MANY TACOMA?S AND OTHER TOYOTAS ARE OUT THERE THAT HAD FRAME REPLACEMENTS THAT ARE NOW DEFECTIVE. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE TOYOTA USED THE SAME SUBSTANDARD FRAMES FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I SPOKE WITH [XXX], CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. ON 01/09/19 [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION TO THE POINT THAT IT COULD FRACTURE. IN ADDITION, BATTLEFIELD TOYOTA (11013 JAMES MONROE HWY, CULPEPER, VA 22701, (540) 317-7800) WAS NOTIFIED AND A SHOCK ABSORBER WAS ORDERED BECAUSE IT WAS ALSO RUSTED. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE FRAME RUST AND CORROSION WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO VERIFY IF THE DEALER PLACED A COATING ON THE VEHICLE YEARS AGO DUE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE STRUCTURE, BUT FAILED TO REPLACE THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

2001 TACOMA. THE 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY IS NOT ENOUGH; IT SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL/INSPECTION WITH NO TIME LIMITATIONS. FRAMES ARE VISIBLY RUSTING THROUGH AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES, BUT THE FRAMES ARE DEFECTIVE PRIOR TO THAT AND OWNERS DON'T REALIZE IT BECAUSE NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED AND ANY VISIBLE INSPECTION DOESN'T REVEAL THE PROBLEM. I KNOW NOW THAT MY FRAME WAS DEFECTIVE DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD BUT IT DIDN'T BECOME 'VISIBLE' UNTIL AFTER 16 YEARS. TOYOTA HAS TRIED TO SWEEP THIS UNDER THE RUG BY DOING AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE TO EASE THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING ON LIFE-THREATENING FRAMES THAT DON'T EVEN REALIZE IT BECAUSE THE FRAME IS SOMETHING AN AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T TEND TO CHECK? AN OFFICIAL 'RECALL' NOTICE WOULD GET THOSE TRUCKS IN THE SHOP FOR INSPECTION.