2004 Toyota Tacoma

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH and making a right turn, the front passenger’s side tire and wheel inadvertently detached from the vehicle. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road, where he noticed that the lower control arm had detached from the subframe and was resting on the floor. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V225000 (Suspension) because the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 250,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE INITIALLY NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUMPER WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT BUMPER AND TOOK THE PART TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BUMPER REPLACED. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED SEVERE CORROSION AROUND THE FRONT PART OF THE LEAF SPRINGS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MIKE ERDMAN TOYOTA (4650 FL-520, COCOA, FL 32926) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 136,000.

CALLED TOYOTA 2 YEARS AGO ABOUT RUST ON MY TRUCKS FRAME NEAR THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTING AREA. WAS BLOWN OFF BY TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. IN DECEMBER WAS DRIVING AND THE FRAME RAILS LITERALLY SNAPPED AN BOWED, THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED MY LIFE WHILE DRIVING 70MPH, ON THE INTERSTATE 70 BETWEEN HAGERSTOWN MD AND HANCOCK MD, HOME FROM WORK WAS THE BED CONTACTING THE CAB OF THE TRUCK AND MIRACULOUSLY HOLDING HOLDING IT UP AND ALLOWING ME TO GET IT SAFELY OFF THE ROAD AND CALL MY MECHANIC. THE SHEET METAL OF THE TRUCK IS RUST FREE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. THE FRAME IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE TRUCK WAS AT TOYOTA IN 2010 AND 2011 FOR FRAME INSPECTIONS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS AND NOW IM TOLD THAT TOYOTA WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT OR ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS IN 2018 OR EVEN 2019 I WOULDNT HAVE NEARLY CRASHED MY TRUCK. THE IDEA OF A SAFETY CAMPAIGN IS THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE, THEIR WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT, THEY HAVE FRAMES AVAILABLE AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE MY FRAME ON MY TRUCK AND MAKE IT SAFE AGAIN. IT IS THE ONLY TRUCK I HAVE I USED IT TO TAKE CARE OF MY DOGS AND MY THE ROADS TO MY HOME ARE VERY STEEP AND A 2WD OR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT MAKE IT IN SNOWY OR RAINY WEATHER. TOYOTA'S CASE # IS 2102242008, PHONE NUMBER TO CALL IS 1800-331-4331.

RE: DEFECTIVE FRAME ON 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTEND CAB DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I AM REACHING OUT TO YOU FOR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE FRAME ON MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTENDED CAB. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2012 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. I DID NOT KNOW AT THE TIME, NOR DID THE PREVIOUS OWNER ADVISE ME THAT HE RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE TRUCK FROM TOYOTA IN 2010 REGARDING A CRACKED FRAME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TREATED DURING MANUFACTURING TO PROHIBIT RUST CORROSION. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED LETTER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA EQUIPPED WITH BLACKLION TIRES, TIRE LINE: CILERRO, TIRE SIZE: 205/70/R15, DOT NUMBER: 5417. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTED AND CRACKING ON THE TREAD AND SIDEWALLS CAUSING AIR TO LEAK FROM THE TIRES. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE. THE LOCAL MR. TIRE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.