2002 Toyota Tacoma

THE WHOLE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY FELL OFF THE TACOMA TRUCK. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS. THE PROBLEM IS THIS TACOMA TRUCK ALSO HAS TOTALLY ROTTED FRAME RAILS (AN OLDER, EXPIRED SAFETY RECALL). THE BIG ISSUE IS TOYOTA CAN ONLY OFFER A DATE WHEN THE ACTUAL RECALL NOTICE LEFT THEIR PRINT FACILITY. I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING THIS NOTICE SINCE IT DID NOT COME REGISTERED MAIL. TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR THE OLD, EXPIRED FRAME RAIL RECALL AND THUS CANNOT FULFILL THIS ACTIVE, SPARE TIRE RECALL. BOTH RECALLS ARE FOR THE SAME SYMPTOM (EXCESSIVE ROAD SALT CORRODING PARTS). WHY DID THE FRAME RAIL RECALL EXPIRE WHEN THE MOST-RECENT SPAR TIRE RECALL IS THE SAME SYMPTOM?? I DO NOT KNOW IF ANYONE HAS DIED BECAUSE MY SPARE TIRE FELL OFF...THAT SCARES ME VERY MUCH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE STEERING RACK HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. IN A SECOND INCIDENT THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT 2 PISTONS HAD COME THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND AS A RESULT, THE REAR AXLE AND SPRING HANGER BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR PREMATURE FRAME RUSTING. I TOOK IT IN FOR THE INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD IT WAS OK. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE LAST SERVICE, IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THERE ARE TWO HOLES RUSTED THROUGH THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AREA. THE FRAME IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE BODY OF THE TRUCK HAS NO RUST. WITH THE LOW MILEAGE I HAD HOPED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK FOR MANY MORE YEARS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND DID NOT EVEN GET A RESPONSE. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME STARTED TO DETERIORATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN APPLIED AN UNDER COATING TO THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COATING EVENTUALLY WORE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 04/21/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE CORROSION FRAME RECALL. BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT, HE NOTICED A LOT OF OIL DROPLETS ON THE TAIL GATE OF THE TRUCK, AS HE DROVE OFF, HE NOTICED A PUDDLE OF OIL. AN INSPECTION REVEALED, THE DIFFERENTIAL CASE WAS LEAKING AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS EXTREMELY RUSTY. ALSO, THE FRAME WAS RUSTED, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/24/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RUSTING AND CORROSION WAS DISCOVERED ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE HAD SUNK INTO THE UNDER FRAME DUE TO THE RUST AND CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK WITH 100,000 MILES IN A PRIVATE SALE IN 2010. I DROVE IT FOR A FEW YEARS AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR INSPECTION THEY FAILED IT FOR A RUSTED OUT FRAME. THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T DRIVE IT AND THAT IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME OUT. THEY SAID SINCE THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT GET IT SPRAYED THE WARRANTY WAS NULL AND VOID. SO MY TRUCK THAT HAS 100,000 MILES AND WAS KBB AT $8-$9K IS WORTH NOTHING. I AM NOT A PERSON THAT IS WELL OFF AND THAT WAS A BIG HIT FOR ME. I LIVE PAY CHECK TO PAY CHECK AND I WONDER HOW MANY OTHERS WERE EFFECTED BY AN OBVIOUSLY CHEAP FRAME. 100,000 MILES AND THE FRAME RUSTS, THAT JUST SEEMS WRONG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD STARTED TO DETERIORATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN APPLIED AN UNDERCOATING TO THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COATING EVENTUALLY WORE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

INFORMED BY DEALER THAT FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT MY TRUCK IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR UNDER THE VOLUNTARY SERVICE RECALL (OF WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED), AS IT HAD EXPIRED. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THEY RECOGNIZED THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT; HOWEVER MY TRUCK IS INELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THEY GET TO LIMIT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEIR REMEDY IS NOT TECHNICALLY A "RECALL". I, AND I'M SURE MANY OTHERS, ARE BY NECESSITY, DRIVING UNSAFE VEHICLES. *TR