2004 Toyota Tacoma UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I am writing to report a safety related issue with a 2004 Toyota Tacoma that I purchased from an auction on 12/21/2022. The vehicle has an expired recall that I believe has not been properly addressed, potentially affecting the safety of the vehicle. I have attempted to resolve this issue through Toyota's customer service and local dealership, but I have been informed that the recall is no longer active and will not be addressed. It has a Virginia rebuilt title. It failed inspection due to rust on the frame.

Bringing to your urgent attention a significant safety concern regarding a 2004 Toyota Tacoma owned by my brother, [XXX] , bought in 2004, which has severe frame rust affecting the vehicle’s structural integrity and safety. Despite multiple attempts to resolve this matter directly with Toyota, we have been unable to obtain assistance, as Toyota states the Customer Support Notice for this issue has expired. Given the potential risk this poses to both the driver and other motorists, we are seeking your intervention to address this pressing matter. In September 2024, while retrieving an item from under the truck, my brother discovered extensive rust damage on the vehicle’s frame. We promptly took the truck to Antwerpen Toyota on September 4, 2024, where a technician confirmed the severe rust corrosion and deemed the truck unsafe to drive. The dealership informed us that Toyota had previously issued a Customer Support Notice addressing rust issues on this model but explained that the program had expired. They recommended we contact Toyota directly for potential support or compensation to help acquire a safe vehicle. We reported the case to Toyota (Case No. [XXX]) on September 4, 2024, and have since been in regular contact, yet have only been met with repeated delays and dismissals. Toyota representatives acknowledged that a notice had been issued for this problem, but despite knowing the serious nature of the rust and its impact on the vehicle’s safety, they have not provided us with any solution. We have requested escalation to senior management, but those requests have not been honored. Toyota’s refusal to address this safety defect, even with our willingness to discuss options, has left us with no alternative but to turn to your agency for help. We understand that the notice has expired and that my brother was not the vehicle’s original owner. However, this issue goes beyond a typical warranty claim, as it concerns the fundamental safety and road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Took Toyota Tacoma (2004) to have loud sound coming from under truck checked by a reputable mechanic. Told that the frame was rusted beyond repair & leaf springs were about to fall out. Mechanic said vehicle was not drivable. The recall (which ended in 2019) was never received even though we bought vehicle new & have not changed address since 1998. Recall should be extended. Toyota should be forced to fix the problem and not on their timeline. The noise became evident approx. 5 months ago & got louder. The truck is sitting in our garage & could be taken to any interested party for inspection. Thank you

My frame is rusting out where rear springs connect to the frame. Truck is non inspectable for Maine. There was a recall at some point and I never got recall paperwork.

The entire frame has rusted from front to rear. Gas and brake lines have also rusted out along with many other parts. Can not find where to find a recall notice.

HAD FRAME REPLACED DUE TO RECALL IN 2014 AND NOW THE FRAME IS CRACKED AGAIN. LOCAL TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE CLAIMED WARRANTY IS 15 YEARS FROM FIRST OWNERSHIP.

I FOUND A HOLE IN THE FRAME AND WAS ADVISED AS TO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. I LEARNED THAT A RECALL HAD EXPIRED ONLY 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS NOT GOING TO BE REPAIRED FROM TOYOTA. $12000 WAS ESTIMATE AND I COMPLAINED THAT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. I AM THE SECOND OWNER BUT HAD MAINTAINED VEHICLE TO KEEP FOR MANY YEARS. I AM ON SOC SECURITY AND THIS HAS BEEN A HARDSHIP ON ME. I HOPE THERE IS A WAY OF COMPENSATING ME OR HELPING ME AS THE DEALER OFFERED HALF OF BLUE BOOK FOR A TRADE IN. THANK YOU

MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS "RECALLED FOR UNDERCOATINHG" WHICH WAS DONE 02/11. IN 2017, ON ADVICE FROM MY PRIVATE, PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC HE INFORMED ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA ABOUT CORROSIVE RUSTING OF FRAME. IT WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, I PURCHASED IT FROM. IN 2018, IT WAS INSPECTED AND, PASSED, AGAIN. 2 WEEKS AGO, I FOUND A CRACK IN MY FRAME, SLIGTLY IN FRONT OF LEFT REAR, TIRE WELL, BY GAS TANK. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP, FOR FRAME INSPECTION TOMORROW. I DON'T FEEL SAFE, DRIVING IT. I'M DISABLED AND, I AM THE TRUCKS 2ND OWNER. I PURCHASED MY 04 IN, 2006. IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION. MILEAGE, 122,500. IRONICALLY, THE TIRE HANGER PLATE HAS BEEN RECALLED AND, REPLACED AROUND 2014. IN 2017 MY PROTECTIVE PLATE, FELL AND, DROPPED THE GAS TANK. IT WAS, BROKEN IN 1/2. MY MECHANIC SECURED IT AND, UPON INSPECTION IT PASSED AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I ASKED IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE PROTECTIVE PLATE AND, I WAS TOLD "NO." I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AND, WASN'T GIVEN ONE. IT WAS THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT "UNDERCOATED," MY TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY TRUCK PERFORMED A 2+HR INSPECTION ON THE FRAME IN 2017. THE DEALERSHIP THAT "UNDERCOATED," MY TRUCK ONLY HAD IT IN THE REPAIR AREA, FOR 15MINS AND, BROUGHT IT BACK OUT, STATING THEY "HAMMER-TESTED" IT AND, IT WAS IN GREAT SHAPE? I'M WORRIED SICK OVER MY OUTCOME, TOMORROW. I'M IN NO FINANCIAL POSTION TO REPLACE MY TRUCK. A TRUCK I WAS TOLD WOULD LAST UP TO 300,000'MILES. I DID COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN 2018, WAS GIVEN A CLAIM NUMBER I CALLED THEM WHEN I FOUND THE CRACK, IN THE LEFT-SIDE, REAR OF MY FRAME, THIS, PAST FRIDAY. I HAD BEEN HEARING A "RATTLE," FROM BENEATH MY TRUCK, THE LAST FEW TIMES, I HAD DRIVEN IT. I BARELY HAD TO BEND OVER, TO SEE THE CRACK IN MY FRAME! THIS IS A HORRIFICLY, DANGEROUS CONDITION. (IT WAS PARKED AND, NOT RUNNING, WHEN I FOUND THE CRACK, IN THE FRAME.

THIS VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE FRAME ROT LIKE OTHER TACOMAS THAT WERE RECALLED.

MY 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA FRAMES IS RUSTED AND CRACKED. I WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION STICK IN MA THIS YEAR. 2005 -2009 TACOMA VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE FRAME REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT TOYOTA'S EXPENSE. WHY THE CUT OFF WITH ONE YEAR IN DIFFERENCE. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP TO GET THIS FRAME REPLACED LIKE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS/

JUST GOT MY TRUCK BACK FROM THE MECHANIC TODAY, 6/7/2017, FOR THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION AND HE INDICATED THE FRAME IS NOT LOOKING GOOD AND SAFETY WILL BE A CONCERN SOON. THE TRUCK WAS UNDERCOATED ON THE RECALL, APPLIED DIRECTLY OVER THE EXISTING RUSTED FRAME BACK THEN. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID THE UNDERCOATING AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME TOYOTA HAS NO FURTHER OBLIGATIONS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERCOATED. THIS WAS NOT AN AMPLE RESOLUTION TO AN ONGOING DEFECT.I WAS ALSO TOLD AT THE TIME, I HAD NO CHOICE OR SAY IN THE MATTER. I'M HAVING CONCERNS NOW FOR MY SAFETY AND TOYOTA SHOULD RESOLVE THIS RESPONSIBLY. I'M THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE VEHICLE, IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ABOUT 101,000 CURRENT MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

FRAME RUSTED THROUGH STATIONARY

REMOTE KEY UNLOCK IS INOP. I'VE ORDERED A NEW REMOTE - 2 IN FACT- NEITHER WILL PROGRAM. VENDOR IS SAYING THAT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING INOPERATIVE INTERNALLY IN THE TACOMA ELECTRONICS. THE LOCK WORKS; HOWEVER THE UNLOCK WILL NOT WORK. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN BOTH OCCASSIONS TESTING THE NEW REMOTE.

THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND IS NO LONGER STABLE TO HOLD THE TRUCK TOGETHER. WHEN HAVING TIRES PUT ON THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE TRUCK IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. SINCE THEN I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT.

I BOUGHT MY 2004 TACOMA FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN MAY OF 2014 AND WAS UNAWARE OF AN EARLIER RECALL FOR POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE FRAME CORROSION. MY CURRENT SERVICING TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND COULDN'T HELP ME, BUT REFERRED ME TO TOYOTA, WHO ALSO OFFERED NO HELP. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IF THE FRAME FAILS IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD.

FRAME ROT NOT COVERED BY TOYOTA

RECALL ON FRAME AND I BROUGHT IT TO DEAL WHERE THEY SAID FRAME WAS NOT DEFECTED. ONE YEAR LATER FRAME IS CORRODED AND RUSTED OUT. CALL DEALER AND SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM RECALL ENDED 6 MONTHS AGO. HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!

VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR RECALL "EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER LIFT PLATE" SERVICE TECH. NOTED "FRAME HAS A HOLE, WOULD NOT PASS NYSI". IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE TOYOTA ADMITTED THAT THE FRAME, MANUFACTURED BY [XXX] DID NOT RECEIVE PROPER CORROSION PROTECTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF A BRAND NEW TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2004 THAT I PAID CASH FOR. ON OR ABOUT JANUARY OF 2012 I CALLED TOYOTA TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE JUST CHECKING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A FRAME RUSTING WHEN WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR ANOTHER SERVICE MATTER WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME (THERE WAS NO RECORD OF OUR HAVING BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL JUST THE SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED). WE NEVER RECEIVED OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE RECALL BUT NOW WE HAVE A FRAME RUSTING ISSUE WITH SOME AREAS THAT ARE ROTTING THROUGH THE FRAME! WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED SEVEN DAYS PRIOR AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME! HOW CAN THIS BE? IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT AND THE VEHICLE IS SHOWING THE DEFECT FROM THE RECALL HOW CAN IT EXPIRE? TOYOTA HAS RECOMMENDED WE RETAIN A LAWYER FOR THIS ISSUE. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I HAVE A TRUCK WORTH NEXT TO NOTHING THAT I DEPEND ON FOR MY LIVING AND THEY TELL ME TO GET A LAWYER? FRANKLY, I AM VERY SURPRISED AT TOYOTA A COMPANY WITH AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION, THAT I THOUGHT MAKES GOOD CARS AND TRUCKS NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA AND TO ME THEIR REPUTATION IS NOW TARNISHED.

2004 TOYOTA TACOMA. CONSUMER WRITES TO SHARE THAT HE WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND PRAISES TOYOTA FOR HOW THIS VEHICLE HELD UP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER MOTORIST RAN A LIGHT AND HIT HIM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE IMPACT CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO FLIP IN THE AIR WHILE DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN. HE THEN LANDED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THEN ROLLED BACK ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE . THE CONSUMER ONLY HAD A SMALL SCRATCH WHERE THE SEAT BELT HELD HIM IN PLACE.