2002 Toyota Tacoma SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

Found hole in frame (chassis)

Truck frame is rusted to the point the the vehicle is not usable. The problem has been confirmed by a local independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer. The first symptom was that the right rear shock became detached from the frame. When I brought the vehicle in to have the shock repaired they stated that there was not enough frame left in that area to re-attach the shock.

The chassis of the vehicle is corroded, metal is exposed. Shocks bracket seems like it might break off. Concerned that vehicle will fail on the road.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED HER VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED SEVERE CORROSION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH MARKQUART TOYOTA (1844 COMMERCIAL BLVD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI 54729) WHO INFORMED HER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DISREGARDED HER CONCERN WITH THE CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE SOLD AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,021.

MY FRAME IN MY 2002 TACOMA IS ALMOST FULLY RUSTED . I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THAT THEIR TRUCKS ARE RUSTING AND THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL SET TO REPLACE THE FRAME. SINCE I JUST GOT THIS TRUCK FORM SOMEONE, I HAD NO IDEA OF THE RECALL AND OF THE RUST . THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT SINCE IT IS ABOUT TO BREAK IN HALF .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE CHECK ON THE VEHICLE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN BECAME AWARE THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO FRAME RUST. WAS TOLD THAT ITS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS LONG ONGOING ISSUE WITH TOYOTA AND A NUMBER OF THERE VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE AND STILL SOLD THESE INFERIOR FRAMES FOR MANY YEARS.

THE FRAME IS ROTTING OUT. TOYOTA HAD THE VEHICLE FRAME COATED WITH SOME KIND OF TAR SUBSTANCE BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS SUSPECT TO HEAVY CORROSION. THE COATING WHICH WAS DONE AROUND 2010 DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE NOW HAS HOLES IN THE FRAME DUE TO HEAVY RUST. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. TOYOTA OFFERED A NON-WORKING SOLUTION THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE COATING WAS JUST A GIMMICK AND NOT A SOLUTION TO THE FRAME ROT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SPRING SHACKLE SUDDENLY FRACTURED AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY SEVERE RUSTING OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,039. ....UPDATED 07/11/16 *BF *CN

I WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA CASE WORKER THAT THE RUSTY FRAME RECALL EXPIRED AND IT IS MY PROBLEM NOW. I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY FRAME RECALL NOTICE BUT RECEIVED A SPARE TIRE LIFT PLATE RECALL (WHICH DOESN'T EXPIRE) DUE TO RUST AND SEVERE CORROSION. I WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP MY TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO EVEN PUT ON THE LIFT TO ADDRESS CURRENT RECALL, OF COURSE THEY LET ME DRIVE IT HOME WHICH IS A 35-40 MINUTE DRIVE FOR ME. I WAS FORCED TO SCRAP MY TRUCK WITH A PERFECTLY GOOD MOTOR BECAUSE HOW UNSAFE IT WAS AND THE EXPENSE TO FIX IT ON MY OWN. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL I CRAWLED UNDER MY TRUCK AND WAS BESIDE MYSELF! I HAD HUGE HOLES IN THE FRAME, THE LEAF SPRINGS WERE SHOT, ALL THIS WAS UNDER THE "UNDERCOATING" THAT WAS DONE AT TIME OF PURCHASE TO PROTECT FRAME FROM RUST! I PAID EXTRA FOR THAT! EVEN MY SEAT MOUNTS ON THE INTERIOR BACK SEAT WERE RUSTED! I SUSPECT THE QUALITY OF METAL USED IS ON THE LOWER SIDE... I USED MY TRUCK AS A TRUCK, HAULED SMALL AMOUNTS OF MULCH, SOUL FOR MY GARDEN, IT MOVED ME 5X! I DIDN'T GO MUDDLING IN IT, PARK IT IN A POND, OR LIVE IN A FLOOD AREA. I JUST USED IT... HOW IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEM THAT CAN ULTIMATELY JEAPARDIZE A PERSONS SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD?! PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA RESPONSIBLE...

RUSTING FRAME.I BROUGHT MY 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA TRUCK TO DEALER FOR THE CORROSION RESISTANT SPRAYING TO PREVENT FURTHER RUSTING OF FRAME.SPRAYING COMPLETED ON 03/25/03.RUST ON FRAME CONTINUES.SPRAYING DID NOT WORK.TOYOTA SAID THEY ONLY SPRAY TRUCK ONCE.RUST WARRANTY EXTENDED FOR 15 YEARS EXPIRING ON 10/01/16.TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND RUST WARRANTY WITH NO EXPIRATION DATE AS TRUCK WILL HAVE TO BE SPRAYED EVERY TWO YEARS.EARLIER YEARS RUST WARRANTY COVERED REPLACING FRAME OR VEHICLE BUYBACK.TOYOTA SHOULD COVER SAME WARRANTY FOR LATER YEAR TACOMAS AS RUST PROBLEM PERSISTS IN EVERY YEAR. LEAF SPRINGS AND HARDWARE ARE RUSTED AS ARE MUFFLER BRACKETS LEADING TO POTENTIONAL SAFETY HAZARD IF ITEMS FAIL WHILE DRIVING.TOYOTA ADMITTED RUST PROOFING NOT DONE PROPERLY BY SUBCONTRACTOR.PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE IN PROPERLY PROTECTING FRAMES,SPRINGS.AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS WITH CORROSION RESISTANT MATERIALS.TOYOTA IS JUST BUYING TIME UNTIL WARRANTIES EXPIRE.AFTER THAT TIME THE OWNERS WILL HAVE NO RECOURSE WITH TOYOTA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME FROM THE REAR LEAF SPRING HANGER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION TO THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CORROSION TRAVELED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,175.

HELLO, I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA AND I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE A SERVICE ADVISOR CAME OUT TO THE PARKING LOT, GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH (HE STUCK HIS HAND THROUGH THE RUST HOLE) NEAR WHERE THE LEAF SPRINGS ATTACH TO THE FRAME. IT IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA HAS REPAIRED/REPLACED MANY TACOMA'S DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I DID SOME RESEARCH, AND FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS THEIR FRAMES ARE UNSAFE, AND HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF NEW CAR DELIVERY. I TRIED TO GET MINE REPLACED SINCE ITS STILL WELL WITHIN TIME-FRAME, BUT THEY ARE STATING THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER REFUSED A FRAME INSPECTION/APPLICATION ANTICORROSION SPRAY SO NOW THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE UNSAFE FRAME. I HAVE VEHICLE SERVICE HISTORY SHOWING OTHER RECALLS (FRONT BALL-JOINT) WERE DONE, AND OTHER REPAIRS TO THE CAR, SO ITS LIKELY THAT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP DID NOT OFFER THE APPLICATION ANTICORROSION SPRAY, OTHERWISE THE OWNER WOULD HAVE HAD THIS FREE SERVICE COMPLETED (THE CUSTOMER SERVICED IT REGULARLY AND KEPT IT IN GREAT SHAPE) AND THE FRAME WOULD NOT BE UNSAFE. ORIGINAL NEW CAR DELIVERY DATE WAS OCTOBER OF 2002, MEANING THE 15 YEAR FRAME RECALL SAFETY ISSUE IS COVERED UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2016 (A YEAR FROM NOW). I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. IN ANY CASE, SINCE TOYOTA KNOWS ITS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND ITS WELL WITHIN THE 15 YEAR RECALL FRAME TIME-FRAME, WHY SHOULD TOYOTA EXPECT ME TO JUST DRIVE AROUND AN UNSAFE VEHICLE?

FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AND HAS BEEN TREATED WITH CORROSION RESISTANT COATINGS. THE COATINGS ARE OBVIOUSLY VISIBLE BUT DID NOT PREVENT THE FRAME FROM RUSTING TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE PREVIOUS OWNER BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN FOR OTHER RECALLS THAT ARE RECORDED IN ITS HISTORY. THIS ONE FOR THE FRAME IS NOT RECORDED HOWEVER YOU CAN SEE THE COATING HAS BEEN APPLIED. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION IS LISTED FOR 15 YEARS. THE TRUCK IS 13 YEARS OLD BUT, A PERSON REPRESENTING TOYOTA SAYS IT'S EXPIRED WITH NO EXPLANATION OF HOW THAT IS. SO FAR SHE PUT ME ON HOLD FOR 20 MINUTES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE INFORMATION TO EXPLAIN TO ME. *TR

PURCHASED THIS TRUCK 4 MONTHS AGO FOR $10,900. FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK ON CARFAX AND TOYOTAS RECALL WEBSITE. IT IS A GREAT TRUCK IN PRISTINE CONDITION. HOWEVER, AFTER TALKING TO A FRIEND WHO HAS A 2004 TACOMA HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THAT HIS FRAME WAS SPRAYED TO PREVENT CORROSION. I CALLED UP TOYOTA TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN DONE ON MINE AND THEY SAID NO. I ASKED WHY THEY WERE SPRAYING THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE FRAME WILL CORRODE. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE DONE TO MINE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY STOPPED DOING IT AT THE END OF 2011. I HAD JOSEPH TOYOTA INSPECT IT YESTERDAY AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FRAME HAS A HOLE IN IT AND WOULD ONLY HAVE 2 YEARS LEFT. I ASKED TOYOTA IF THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FRAME OR BUY THE TRUCK BACK AS I HAVE HEARD THEY DO AND THEY SAID NO. SO NOW I CAN EITHER PASS THE PROBLEM ONTO SOMEONE ELSE OR WAIT UNTIL THE FRAME FAILS. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2002 TACOMA FROM A GOOD FRIEND. HE TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE TRUCK, IT WAS MINT. AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK I ASKED ABOUT THE FRAME RECALL, BUT HE SAID WHEN HE TOOK IT IN THAT THEY COULDN'T DO IT AND HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE IT BACK. NO NEGLIGENCE, JUST DIDN'T SEE RUST AND DIDN'T TAKE IT IN FOR THE UNDER COATING. I TRIED TO GET IT DONE BUT TOYOTA WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THE WARRANTY. TWO YEARS LATER AND I HAVE A SOME PRETTY BAD FRAME RUST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I REALLY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER PAYMENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.

HAD A RECALL ON MY TACOMA. I HAD BOUGHT FROM FATHER, HE BOUGHT NEW FROM SPARTAN TOYOTA IN LANSING MI. IT WAS FOR A POSSIBLE FRAME RUST RECALL. I HAVE THE RECORDS OF TAKING IT IN FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT WAS CLEARED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT. APPARENTLY, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SPRAY A PROTECTIVE COAT ON THE FRAME AT NO COST TO ME, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A 15 YEAR WARRANTY ON FRAME. THEY DID NOT DO THIS. I SOLD TRUCK TO MY SON, APPROXIMATELY JULY 2014. HE TOOK IT IN FOR MUFFLER WORK AND THEY WOULDN'T PUT ON HOIST BECAUSE FRAME IS WEAK FROM RUST. EVERYONE FROM THE DEALER AND TOYOTA NATIONAL HAS SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPRAYED, BUT BECAUSE IT WASN'T THEY SORRY BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I FEEL THAT SOLUTION TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS MISTAKE IS NOT ADEQUATE. DO I HAVE ANY OTHER RECOURSE TO HELP MY SON? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I PURCHASED A TACOMA TRUCK DECEMBER 2014 WITH AN UNDERCOATED FRAME, AND WAS UNAWARE THE FRAMES IN THESE TRUCKS ROT OUT, IT IS NOW APRIL I LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK AND SEE THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY ROTTEN OUT TO THE POINT WHERE THERE IS HOLES EVERY WHERE AND YOU CAN POKE YOUR FINGERS HOLES WILL DEVELOP, I CONTACTED TOYOTA THEY DON'T WANT TO EVEN TOUCH THE TRUCK, I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE TRUCK. *TR

VEHICLE HAS LOW MILES YET THE FRAME HAS RUST HOLES IN IT. TOYOTA WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT HAS FRAME INSPECTIONS IN IT'S RECENT SERVICE HISTORY. THE FIRST INSPECTION OCCURRED IN 2010, LESS THAN 7K MILES AGO. THEY INDICATED TO ME ON THE PHONE THAT DUE TO AN AGREEMENT WITH NHTSA THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. THEY WOULD NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR NOT INSPECTING THE FRAME PROPERLY. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH TACOMA'S, TUNDRA'S, SEQUOIA'S AND 4RUNNER'S OF THIS VINTAGE IN COLD CLIMATE STATES. TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGED THE FRAMES WERE OF POOR MANUFACTURING EVEN SUING THE FRAME MANUFACTURER, YET SOME GET NEW FRAMES, OTHERS LIKE MYSELF WITH A LOW MILE TRUCK ARE TOLD THEY COULD DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN LESS THAN 1600 MILES AGO AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN PA. TOYOTA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND ADDRESS IT INSTEAD OF SKIRTING THE ISSUE WITHOUT A PROPER RECALL. I HAVE SEEN VIDEOS OF TACOMA'S WHICH HAVE LITERALLY BROKEN IN HALF DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. NEVER DID I THINK TOYOTA WOULDN'T STAND BEHIND THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW IN FRAME MANUFACTURING AND CORROSION RESISTANCE. MY FRAME HAS A LARGE 1"X6.5" HOLE ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT LEAF SPRING MOUNT - A KEY ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION. *TR

PART OF THE FRAME SUDDENLY BROKE FROM THE FRAME RAIL UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MATERIAL LOOSING ALL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. THIS WAS DUE, IT SEEMS, TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE FRAME QUALITY LEADING TO EXCESSIVE ROT AND RUST. THE VEHICLE IS NOW STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND THUS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. *TR

THE SWAY BAR ARM BRACKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE CORROSION PERFORATIONS IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE FRAME. FRAME HAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND I HAVE BEEN ADVISED VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO OPERATE. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. *TR