1997 Toyota Tacoma Suspension

MY LEE SPRINGS ARE RUSTED FRAME IS TO LEE'S SPRINGS ARE BROKEN

I HAVE RUSTY HOLES IN MY FRAME AND TOYOTA WONT FIX SOMETHING THAT IS SO DANGEROUS AND NOW MY TACOMA IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO NOW?!

RECENTLY PURCHASE 1997 TACOMA TOOK IT TO REPLACE REAR TIRES SHOP INFORMED ME THE FRAME HAD MAJOR ROT AND IS NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY. CONTACTED LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THEY PREFORMED A FREE INSPECTION ON 08-29-16 UPON COMPLETION OF THIS INSPECTION DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME BOTH IN WRITING AND VERBALLY THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY USE. MULTIPLE RUST PERFORATIONS THROUGH OUT FRAME OF THIS TRUCK. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL ON THE FRAME HAD EXPIRED HOWEVER THEY STATED THAT IF WE FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT WE COULD POSSIBLILY GET A CASH SETTLEMENT FOR THIS TACOMA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, THE LEAF SPRINGS AND THE CHASSIS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE CORROSION BUY BACK PROGRAM WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

FRAME RUST. NOT MADE AWARE OF RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAS A HOLE WHERE THE SHOCK ABSORBER USE TO MOUNT. IT LITERALLY FELL OFF DUE TO RUST. SEVERAL OTHER AREAS SHOWING SIGNS OF CORROSION AS WELL. SEEMS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. NOT SURE IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

THE FORWARD LEAF SPRING MOUNT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE UP AND INTO THE FRAME RAIL. THIS VEHICLE EASILY HAD ANOTHER 100,000 MILES OF LIFE LEFT IN IT, BUT NHTSA EVIDENTLY DOES NOT THINK THAT FRAME RAILS ROTTING AWAY DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND HAS NOT FORCED TOYOTA INTO RECALL MODE. THERE IS A GREAT NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD YET. I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN MINE FAILED, IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME THAT WON'T BE AS LUCKY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED ONCE. EACH TIME THE BALL JOINTS FAILED, IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FALL TO THE GROUND AND WOULD NEED A SPECIAL TRUCK TO TOWING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT HAD NEVER GIVEN A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS APART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE FAILED ON MAY 29, 2007. HE CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHO LOOKED UP HIS VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS ISSUED FOR OLDER MODELS OF HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 201,000. THE LOWER BALL JOINT HAD FAILED. UPDATED 07/06/07. *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 LX. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WILL NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE STOCK VEHICLE. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET TOYOTA TO REPLACE THEM WITH LARGER SPRINGS. TOYOTA HAS TURNED THEIR BACK ON ME AND SEVERAL FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I INSTALLED AFTERMARKET HELPER SPRINGS AND ONE OF THEM BROKE AS IT WAS OVERLOADED BECAUSE OF THE WEAK FACTORY SPRINGS. I NOW HAVE A DRIVETRAIN NOISE BECAUSE THE DRIVESHAFT IS AT AN IMPROPER ANGLE DUE TO THE SAG IN THE LEAF SPRINGS. *NM

I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE VEHICLE HAD 57,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND HAS BEEN GIVEN PROPER MAINTENANCE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ITEM THE MFG. SHOULD STAND BEHIND. *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5, 4WD EXTRA CAB. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE BED OF MY TRUCK WAS SAGGING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SHOP AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN TO MY TRUCK. I DO NOT HAVE A TOWING HITCH ON MY TRUCK THEREFORE, I DO NOT TOW HEAVY LOADS OR ANY LOADS FOR THAT MATTER. I DO NOT PUT HEAVY LOADS IN THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I DON NOT USE MY TRUCK FOR HAULING THINGS. I HAVE NEVER INSTALLED A CAMPING SHELL OR ANY SHELL ON THE BED OF MY TRUCK. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN MY TRUCK OFF ROAD AND GONE "FOUR WHEELING". THEREFORE, I AM AT A QUANDARY AS TO WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE LEAF SPRING. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRING WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SAG. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPLACE THE LEAF SPRING FREE OF CHARGE. *AK

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATED/CAUSING LEFT REAR TO SAG.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE BACKING UP VEHICLE, CONSUMER RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER GOT OUT AND NOTICE THAT VEHICLE HAD RAN OVER A LEAF SPRING. CONSUMER STATES THE LEAF SPRING ASSISTS IN HOLDING VEHICLE UP OFF THE GROUND. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE AND THE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF, RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER, THERE WERE 2 INJURIES.*AK. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE VEHICLE.*JB

REAR SUSPENSION AND BODY OF VEHICLE SAGS AND DRIVING AND HANDLING ARE NEGATIVELY EFFECTED.

VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION IS UNSTABLE, DESIGN DOES NOT INCLUDE REAR SWAY BAR AND THE SHOCKS ABSORBERS ARE INADEQUATE.

SUSPENSION IS VERY UNSTABLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT REAR LEAF SPRINGS DO NOT MEET LOAD SPECS AS SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER, CAUSING VIBRATION.