2001 Toyota Tacoma Body & Structure Problems

We purchased a 2001 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner from a used car lot in Omaha NE. We have had it for 3 months and recently had a mechanic look over the vehicle for repairs. The mechanic indicated the frame is rusted through and the truck is unsafe to drive. The mechanic indicated that there was a recall on the frames possibly, so we followed up with Toyota. Toyota told me that there is no frame recall, but instead they did a "Customer Support Program" in relation to the frame, but it had expired. Toyota told us there is nothing they can do for us. My concern is that Toyota has a known issue, a safety issue, concerning their vehicles but will not rectify it. I would like Toyota to be held liable for their substandard product, no matter how long it has been. A quick Google search about Toyota and recalls is that they are not good at reporting them to you, or their service centers are not good at making sure all recalls are taken care of, and I feel that this is something that needs to be investigated - and in my case, rectified.

FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE HAS RUSTED BEYOND BEING SAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION. RUST IS DUE TO FACTORY MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING OF ANY TOYOTA REMEDIES TO THIS SITUATION. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY REFUSE TO OFFER ANY HELP. THIS IS AN INHERIT FACTORY DEFECT AND AGE AND TIME SHOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE VEHICLES STILL OPERATING ON THE HIGHWAYS WITH THIS DEFECT CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE HAVING A RUST AND CORROSION PROBLEM ON THE FRAME. *AS *JS

SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 [XXX] [XXX] RE: [XXX] 2001 TOYOTA TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. P.O. BOX 259001 PLANO, TX 75025-9001 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: MY DAUGHTER [XXX] PURCHASED THE ABOVE TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2014. AMBER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE FOR A RUST PROBLEM AND FRAME WITH CORROSION. PLEASE SEE PICTURE BELOW. AFTER A LENGTHY WAIT ON THE PHONE, THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY THIS INFORMATION: THE FRAME ISSUES DO NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THIS TOYOTA EMPLOYEE STATED, SHE WAS SURPRISED THAT NO ONE THAT EVER WORKED ON THE TOYOTA TRUCK SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE. I FIND THIS VERY IRONIC SINCE TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND DID NOT CONTACT THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRAME IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IS MY DAUGHTER SUPPOSED TO REPLACE A BAD FRAME THAT YOU PUT UNDER THERE? NO WAY. THE CASE WORKER THAT SHE SPOKE TO WAS NOT HELPFUL WITH NO REGARD WHATSOEVER TO THE MONEY MY DAUGHTER HAD LOST ON THEIR WORTHLESS PRODUCT MUCH LESS HER SAFETY THAT WAS PUT AT RISK DRIVING THEIR PRODUCT WITH THE FAULTY FRAME THAT THEY USED. MY FAMILY/FRIENDS WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA PRODUCT AGAIN. BOTTOM LINE: MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING IN A VEHICLE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF HER AND MY LOVED ONES. TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THE FRAMES OF THEIR 1994-2004 VEHICLES (800,000 OF THEM) ARE DEFECTIVE. YET, TOYOTA HAS NEVER RECALLED THESE VEHICLES. THEY SHOULD BE REPAIRED, BOUGHT BACK, OR REPLACED BY TOYOTA. HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED? VERY SAD SITUATION. SINCERELY [XXX] C.C. WWW.NHTSA.GOV NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE WASHINGTON, DC 20590 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT *TR

FRAME RAILS ARE RUSTED THROUGH, FRAME WAS REPLACED AT 48K. IT HAS 81K AND THE RAILS ARE ACCORDING TO PARKER TOYOTA UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOPYOTA SAYS PROGRAM IS ENDED ON THIS PROBLEM

FRAME HAS EXTENSIVE RUST/CORROSION ISSUES, RUST HAS PERFORATED ENTIRELY THROUGH SEVERAL AREAS. I ALSO OWN A '04 TACOMA THAT I JUST HAD THE FRAME REPLACED ON A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA UNDER THEIR RECALL NOTICE, . THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND COULD VERY WELL BE A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN A LIFE LONG TOYOTA CUSTOMER AND UP UNTIL NOW HAVE HAD TOTAL CONFIDENCE IN THE COMPANY. I'M QUITE DISGUSTED WITH THE WHOLE THING AND A BIT DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN MORE PROACTIVE IN REMANDING THE PROBLEM. I WAS UNDER THE TRUCK CHANGING THE OIL AND WAS HORRIFIED TO SEE THAT THE CORROSION PROBLEM WAS AS BAD AS MY '04 TACOMA. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL TACOMA'S, WITH MANY MORE MILES ON THEM AND OLDER IN AGE AND HAVE NEVER SEEN CORROSION THIS EXTENSIVE.

CHASSIS MAIN FRAME IS CORRODED IN MANY AREAS. REFER TO PICTURES. A FRIEND TOLD ME THIS HAPPENS TO SOME TOYOTAS WHICH IS WHY I CRAWLED UNDER AND LOOKED FOR IT.

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.

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY PLACES. UNSAFE TO DRIVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAB FRAME BRACKET CONNECTED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE PARKED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED UNDERNEATH, AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME BE REPLACED. THE FRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT CAUSING THE LEAF SPRINGS TO MOVE AND RESULTING INTO DRY SHAFT DROPPING OUT OF PLACE. THIS IN TURN, MAKES THE TRUCK UNDRIVEABLE. THIS HAPPEN WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE AROUND TOWN. IT BEGIN IN OCTOBER OF 2018. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE THAT TIME.

I NOTICED MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA MAKING ODD NOISES WHILE DRIVING. I DECIDED TO HAVE MY MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AT IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF TRUCK: HE SAW AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE OBSERVABLE EXTENSIVE RUSTED/CORROSION AND PERFORATED AREAS ON THE FRAME/CHASSIS OF THE TRUCK AND SAID IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A SETTLEMENT LAWSUIT FOR DEFECTS ON TOYOTA TACOMA'S THAT WHERE NOT TREATED WELL ENOUGH WITH THE RUST INHIBITOR SPRAY. I TOOK MY TACOMA TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT ORIGINALLY AND THEY SAID EXACTLY WHAT MY MECHANIC HAD ALREADY TOLD ME ABOUT THE RUSTED AND PERFORATED AREAS ON THE FRAME/CHASSIS AND STATED THAT THE CHASSIS/FRAME HAS AN ADVANCED CORROSION/ RUST DAMAGES TO THE POINT OF THE FRAME BEING FRACTURED OR BROKEN IN HALF IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, WHEREAS IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE TRUCK. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON THE RUSTY FRAMES AND NOW AM CONSIDERING FURTHER INTO HIRING AN ATTORNEY REGARDING MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND MY LOVED ONES AND I BELEIVE IT'S INCONSIDERATE AND SHAMING ON TOYOTA TO NOT HAVE ONE SINGLE RECALL INFORMATION ON 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA'S. I HOPE I CAN GET ANSWERS SOON IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM AND WILL DUE WHAT'S NECESSARY TO HAVE TOYOTA RESPOND TO MY ISSUE. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THEM 4MONTHS AGO AND THEY STATED I HAD TO FIRST FILE THIS COMPLAINT ON THIS WEBSITE IN ORDER TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT STEPS.

MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA HAS 150,000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED MY FRAME COMPLETELY SPLIT. I DRIVE ALMOST ENTIRELY ON PAVED ROADS. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR UNUSUAL USE IN THE AREA OF THE BREAK. I TOOK IT INTO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.

THE FRAME RUSTED OUT WITH ONLY 150,000 MILES, INFORMED VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE JUNKED OR HAVE FRAME REPLACED.THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING SERVICE TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO BE PLACE THE VEHICLE ON A LIFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED THAT IT COULD FRACTURE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THEIR GUIDELINES. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE TO DETERMINE THEIR RECOMMENDED SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED 21 TSBS FOR THE STRUCTURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE FRAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING REPAIRS, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1805082285. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

THE FRAME IS SHOWING SEVER SIGNS OF CORROSION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO HAVE INVESTIGATED THE VEHICLE 2 TIMES LAST YEAR AND SAID THAT THERE IS NO ISSUES WITH THE FRAME BUT ONE CAN SEE SEVERAL 4 -5 INCH RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME. I AM NOT SURE IF THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE.

FRAME IS SEVERELY RUSTED (JUST NOTICED), SPARE TIRE CAN'T BE REMOVED, AND THE HAND BRAKE CABLE FROM CENTER CAB TO REAR WHEELS IS FROZEN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR THE TIRES, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHESTER BERG TOYOTA (705 PAUL BUNYAN DR NE, BEMIDJI, MN 56601, PHONE: (218) 444-3040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT RUST PREPARATION WAS FOUND AND THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A LIMITED CAMPAIGN THAT ENDED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2016, AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000. *TT RUSTY FRAME UPDATED 9/13/18*JB