2001 Toyota Tacoma SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

The complete chassis frame under the vehicle, contains a lot of rust and holes due to corrosion. Some years ago, a Toyota dealership asked me to bring the vehicle in to one of their dealerships, where an undercoating was painted on the frame surface. However, the coating is worn away and the rust is visible again and this time there are even more deterioration.

I BROUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA FOR AN INSPECTION IN JANUARY 2020 AND DISCOVERED THE FRAME WAS ROTTED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CONTACTED EMPIRE TOYOTA SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS ISSUE EXPIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN NOR WAS MY HUSBAND WHO WAS THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER TACOMA OWNERS ARE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX THAT I CANNOT AFFORD. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE THIS A RECALL TO BE FIXED REGARDLESS OF TIMEFRAME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME FELT LOOSE UNDERNEATH. THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST AND CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE WHEEL WELL AND ON THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. RIVERHEAD TOYOTA (1655 ROUTE 58 (OLD COUNTRY ROAD), RIVERHEAD, NY 11901 (631) 727-7722) INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN AND THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A SPECIAL PROGRAM TO THE REPLACE THE SUBFRAME BACK IN 01/2016 WHICH EXPIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A CASE NUMBER AND PROMISED A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNREPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH AT THE SHOCK ABSORBERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIME TOYOTA - BOSTON (1605 VFW PKWY, WEST ROXBURY, MA 02132), AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.*DT *BF *TR THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

TOOK TRUCK FOR INSPECTION, WOULDN'T PASS BECAUSE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH AND RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER IS UNATTACHED BECAUSE OF FRAME. MECHANIC SAYS DRIVING IT IS UNSAFE. TOYOTA HAD RECALL I WAS UNAWARE OF FOR RUSTED FRAMES, WHEN CONTACTED THEM THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. *TR

FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT

I'M WRITING YOU BECAUSE I HAD MY 2001 TACOMA INSPECTED FOR THE FRAME RUST RECALL IN 2010. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WOULD BE SPRAYED WITH AN INHIBITOR TO PREVENT RUST. THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS SINCE RUSTED AND IS MOST LIKELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE SPRAY INHIBITOR OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WORK OR WAS APPLIED INCORRECTLY. THE SHOCK MOUNT HAS RUSTED FROM THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.

EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST PERFORATION ON 1ST GENERATION TACOMAS WILL CAUSE THE FRAME TO BREAK LEADING TO AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION INCLUDING HANDLING ABILITY, ROLLOVER, LACK OF IMPACT PROTECTION, AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF LIFE. KEY AREAS ARE BY THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS AND CLOSE TO THE FRONT SWAY BAR. TOYOTA DID OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRAME, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION THAT THE FRAME WAS DETERIORATING FROM THE INSIDE OUT OR THAT ALL THE FRAMES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT PROPER CORROSION PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT AT DANA CORP, NOT JUST THOSE IN THE LISTED NORTHERN STATES.TOYOTA'S LETTER OF EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT LIST THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, NOR DID IT RECOMMEND AN INITIAL OR ANY FOLLOWUP FRAME INSPECTION BY A QUALIFIED TOYOTA MECHANIC FOR THE NON-NORTHERN STATES, NOR DID IT MENTION THE NHTSA AS BEING INVOLVED. THE LETTER MENTIONS "A SMALL NUMBER OF 2001 THROUGH 2004 MODEL YEAR TACOMAS OPERATING IN SEVERE COLD CLIMATE AREAS WITH HIGH ROAD SALT USE..." . ALL TACOMA'S IN ANY ROAD-SALT STATE HAVE THE ISSUE. MANY STATES THAT DO USE ROAD SALT HAVE NOT BEEN INSPECTED, EVER. WHEN SOMETHING IS UNDER WARRANTY, PEOPLE TEND TO KEEP USING THINGS UNTIL THEY BREAK. UNDER A SAFETY RECALL, PEOPLE TEND TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED QUICKLY. THE TACOMA FRAMES ARE NOT ACTUALLY "BREAKING" DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD BUT THEY ARE BECOMING "DEFECTIVE" DURING THE PERIOD. MANY PEOPLE ARE DRIVING OLDER TACOMAS AND HAVE NO IDEA THE TRUCK IS ABOUT TO SNAP IN HALF. THIS FRAME RUST ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SAFETY ISSUE BY EITHER TOYOTA OR THE NHTSA. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH FOR TACOMA FRAME RUST WILL REVEAL HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF PICTURES OF PERFORATED AND DANGEROUS FRAMES. INTERESTINGLY, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TIRE CARRIER WHICH SUFFERED FROM RUST AS A DIRECT RESULT FROM THE FRAME RUST. THE LETTER CLEARLY STATES THAT IN THE NON-EFFECTED STATES, "YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME".

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS ALSO EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V225000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,613.

I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL FOR TIRE PLATE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE CASES HAVE COME TO LIGHT WHERE THEY RUST AND FALL OUT ALONG WITH TIRES. AT THE SHOP THE MECHANIC DETERMINE THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LIFT TRUCK TO REPLACE PLATE BECAUSE CHASSIS IS NO LONGER GOOD BECAUSE OF RUST AND ITS RUSTED OUT; NO STABILITY. THEY ALSO ADVISED TOYOTA HAS A RECALL FOR CHASSIS AND ITS ALSO ON THE WEBSITE NHTSA RECALL # 12V542 AND MANUFACTURE RECALL # COV WHERE THEY WILL REPLACE , CORRECT OR BUY BACK VEHICLE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY STATED ITS NOT A RECALL ITS ONLY A CAMPAIGN AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT ITS A RECALL. I SPOKE TO CRYSTAL FROM TOYOTA AT 800-331-4331 CASE # 1505272075. PLEASE ASSIST I NOW HAVE A PERFECT VEHICLE THAT IS NO LONGER GOOD AT ALL.

NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR OF TRUCK BED IS SAGGING SO I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW THE CHASSIS IS RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. *TR

THE FRAME ON MY TOYOTA TACOMA 2001 TRUCK IS SO RUSTED OUT THAT IT IS NOT INSPECT-ABLE. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME....I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE...WAITING FOR A CALL BACK...TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM....NHTSA...PLEASE HELP!! *TR

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2011 AND WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL FOR FRAME RUST. BY THE TIME I GOT AROUND TO SCHEDULING AN APPT, I WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD ENDED. NOW, HOWEVER, THE FRAME IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND IS STARTING TO GIVE WAY AT THE REAR SHACKLE. I FEEL THIS VEHICLE HAS BECOME A SERIOUS HAZARD TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FRAME BUCKLING. IF THE RECALL WAS PUT INTO EFFECT, TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND NOW IT HAS BECOME A SERIOUS LIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS VEHICLE REPAIRED TO THE POINT OF MAKING IT SAFE, BUT FEEL THAT I WAS NOT GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS DONE UNDER THE LIMITED TIME LEFT ON THE RECALL WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FRAME CONSTRUCTION IS EVIDENT BY THE FACT THAT THE BODY HAS ALMOST NO CORROSION PRESENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THE HEAVY FRAME STEEL THAT SHOULD NOT BE CORRODING LIKE THIS. THERE IS CURRENTLY ALSO AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE REAR TIRE CARRIER - WHICH IS RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY AND LIABILITY ISSUE THAT I THINK TOYOTA IS OBLIGATED TO ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM. CONTACTING TOYOTA DOES NO GOOD, AS THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THIS WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION THAT HAS NOW RUN OUT. HOWEVER, THERE IS A SEVERE DEFECT PRESENT IN THE FRAME THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AND NOW REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DANGEROUS LIABILITY FOR ANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. *TR

FOLLOWING ROUTINE SERVICE INSPECTION ON 4/2/2014, SIGNIFICANT PERFORATION OF MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 TRUCK FRAME WAS IDENTIFIED, DUE TO CONDITIONS CONSISTENT WITH RUSTING. ACCORDING TO A 2012 TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC, NO INDICATION OF RUST WAS NOTED DURING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE INSPECTION. ALSO, NO HARD COPY DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING AN ALLEGED VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS CORROSION OF FRAME. ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA CORPORATION CASE WORKER ASSIGNED, HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY HARD COPY DOCUMENTATION OF SAID VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN NOTICE REGARDING CORROSION OF TRUCK FRAME; IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE CASE WORKER DID SAY HE COULD PROVIDE 'VERBAL' CONFIRMATION THAT NOTIFICATION WAS SENT TO MY RESIDENCE AT THE TIME. AT THIS TIME, I AM CURRENTLY CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION, PENDING FURTHER REVIEW OF CASE. *TR

TOYOTA TACOMA 2001 IN GREAT SHAPE OTHER THAN THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OIL CHANGE; HE SAW SOME HEAVY CORROSION ON THE FRAME. IN SEVERAL PLACES, IT HAS EATEN THROUGH AND HAS PERFORATIONS. HE SAYS IT IS GETTING TO BE UNSAFE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS TRUCK ABOUT A YEAR AGO AT A DEALERSHIP IN OHIO AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE THAT THIS WAS A HUGE PROBLEM IN THE 1996-2003 MODELS, BUT THIS ISSUE IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON AS TOYOTA DID NOT PROVIDE ACCEPTABLE UNDERCOATINGS FOR THESE MODELS. NEXT STEP IS TO TAKE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD TAKE A BUYOUT BUT WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THE FRAME/CHASSIS REPLACED AT THEIR EXPENSE. I LOVE THIS TRUCK AND USE IT EVERYDAY. VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IT RIGHT NOW AND HOPE THEY COME THROUGH TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE. THIS SHOULD BE A PUBLIC RECALL SINCE IT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THIS IS A TIME-BOMB ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THESE TRUCKS ARE EVERYWHERE ON THE ROAD. THANKS *TR

I BRAKE IN MY DRIVEWAY AT APPROX. 2 MPH, HEARD A LOUD THUMP IN THE REAR END OF MY 2001 TACOMA. WHEN I CHECKED, I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRACKET TO LEAF SPRING HOLDING THE REAR AXLE WAS ACTUALLY SITTING 2 OR 3 INCHES INTO THE FRAME RAIL. THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH IN THAT SPOT, THE RUST WAS SO BAD, THAT 6 INCHES OF STEEL ON BOTTOM OF FRAME RAIL WAS GONE IN ANY DIRECTION OF THE LEAF SPRING BRACKET ATTACHMENT POINT. THERE ISN'T ENOUGH STEEL LEFT TO EVEN ATTEMPT A WELD TO REPAIR IT. ON CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE FRAME OVERALL, THERE ARE MULTIPLE POINTS WHERE THE FRAME RAILS HAVE DISINTEGRATED. MY REAR AXLE IS SITTING OFF-CENTER, AND THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN. IF NORMAL FORCE OR TORQUE IS APPLIED, THE AXLE WILL BREAK FREE, AND THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON TACOMA FRAME RAILS, SO I CALLED THE DEALER. DEALER STATED MY VIN DID NOT HAVE A RECALL; I CALLED TOYOTA, THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED IN 1 BUSINESS DAY. THEY NEVER CALLED. 2 DAYS LATER, I CALLED AND GOT TRANSFERRED TO THEIR "TRUCK TEAM," GOT SHUFFLED AROUND FOR 6 MORE PHONE CALLS OVER 3 DAYS, WHEN THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY MAILED ME A NOTICE THAT I HAD TO HAVE GOTTEN A FRAME SPRAYING TO QUALIFY FOR THE FRAME RECALL. I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH NOTICE, AND TOYOTA DID NOT EVEN HAVE MY ADDRESS; WHICH THEY STATED THAT THEY GOT ALL INFORMATION FROM DMV. MY DMV INFO IS CURRENT, ALWAYS HAS BEEN. TOYOTA HAS GIVEN MY EVERY TYPE OF RUN-AROUND IMAGINABLE, ULTIMATELY DENYING MY RECALL. ON WEBSITES, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN MY SAME SITUATION...EXACTLY THE SAME. FURTHER, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD THE FRAME SPRAY, WHICH THEN PEELED OFF WITHIN MONTHS OF APPLICATION. THIS SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA DELIBERATELY TRIED TO EXCLUDE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS FRAME SPRAY, WHICH WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY IN THE FIRST PLACE IF THE FRAMES WEREN'T DEFECTIVE. MY TRUCK IS DEAD. *TR

MY 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH. TOYOTA IS BUYING BACK OLDER ONES BUT THE FRAME IS THE SAME OR WORSE ON MY 2001 WITH NO HOLES TO LET WATER AND SALT OUT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SINCE THEY BOUGHT THE OLDER ONES BACK IN THIS AREA IT MUST BE SERIOUS. *TR

DRIVING AROUND CURVE AT 5MPH AND FRONT LEFT WHEEL BROKE AT BALL JOINT AND MY TRUCK FELL ON TOP OF WHEEL BENDING MY FENDER. I HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED AND HAD BOTH BALL JOINTS REPLACE, $453 WORTH OF REPAIRS, NOT HAVING HAD MY FENDER FIXED YET. MY TRUCK WAS MAN. IN 05/01, MISSING THE RECALL ON THE SAME PROBLEM BY A FEW MONTHS. I'M BLESSED TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED, NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR