2003 Toyota Tacoma Structure

WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA IN A PRIVATE SALE. UPON INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING DAY WE REALIZED THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF RUST AND ACTUAL HOLES IN THE FRAME. MY FIANC AND I REACHED OUT TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO REFUSED TO SPEAK WITH US. I CONTACTED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER TO SEE IF I COULD OBTAIN SERVICE RECORDS AND I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THE RECORD WHERE THE IMAGES OF THE FRAME WAS SENT TO HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FRAME REPLACEMENT. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOLD THEM WHAT HE HAPPENED, THEY CONFIRMED A FRAME REPLACEMENT WAS APPROVED BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ISSUES WITH THE TITLE AND IT PUSHED IT OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION BY THE TIME IT WAS FIXED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR IT, THE REPRESENTATIVE ACTUALLY SAID 'YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT A VEHICLE THAT WAS SO OLD'. I WAS APPALLED. THEY OFFERED NO AID, NO DISCOUNT. ALL SHE SAID WAS THAT WE SHOULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN IT'S CONDITION. MY FIANC HAS NO CHOICE AND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WITH HIS NEPHEW WHEN HE LOST THE BREAKS (DUE TO THE RUSTED DUST SHIELD SLICING THE BRAKE LINE) AND HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. NOW HE IS MISSING WORK BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE VEHICLE. I AM COMPLETELY BAFFLED BY TOYOTA AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE SPEND ALL OF OUR SAVINGS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD US TOO BAD.

FRAME RECALL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

WE BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2015 AND IT APPARENTLY HAD A RECALL FOR THE FRAME IN 2014 BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT GET IT FIXED SO WE ARE NOW STUCK WITH A TRUCK WE CAN'T DRIVE AND WE STILL OWE 14 PAYMENTS ON IT.I CALLED TOYOTA AND APPARENTLY THE WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED IN APRIL AND WE'VE NEVER GOT A LETTER ABOUT ANY RECALLS OR WARRANTYS SO WERE STUCK WITH A PIECE OF JUNK WE CAN'T DRIVE.SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED OUT OF POCKET.

ROTTED FRAME AND NEVER RECEIVED VOLUNTARY NOTICE ABOUT THIS AND COMPANY IS NOT SUPPORTING THEIR VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATION EXPLAINED THAT I NEVER RECEIVED IT THEY TOLD ME IT HAD EXPIRED BY 23 DAYS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE CANNOT DRIVE IT I ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FRAME WHEN IT WENT TO BE INSPECTED AND FAILED . HOW DID TOYOTA GET AWAY WITH SELLING SUCH AN INFERIOR AND BEING ALLOWED TO BE DRIVEN ON OUR ROADS .I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOUR DEPARTMENT COULD HELP I UNDERSTAND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA TRUCK OWNERS ARE IN THE SITUATION . SINCERELY [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS RUST IN THE FRAME, THE STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION OF THE FRAME IS SO BAD THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE. IN THE PHOTO THAT I ATTACHED YOU CAN SEE THAT THE REAR LEFT LEAF SPRING HAS PROTRUDED INTO THE FRAME. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS CURRENT RECALL PROGRAM TO REPLACE THE FRAME AND I BELIEVE THIS IS COMMON ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. A 15 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE STRUCTURAL ISSUES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED.

THE FRAME IS TOTALLY RUSTED OUT, AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I KNEW IT HAD SOME RUST ISSUES BEFORE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, BUT I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE TO SEE IF THIS VIN WAS PART OF THE RECALL IN WHICH TOYOTA REPLACES THE FRAME OR BUYS BACK THE TRUCK. THE REP I SPOKE TO SAID THAT IT WAS INDEED IN THE RECALL AND THAT, AFTER I PURCHASE I SHOULD TAKE TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND IF THE FRAME HAS PERFORATION THEN THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME. SO IN GOOD FAITH I FLEW TO NJ, BOUGHT THE TRUCK, WHICH ONLY HAD 60K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, AND DROVE IT BACK TO NC AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE FRAME INDEED HAD PERFORATION AND WAS ELIGIBLE FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT. I LEFT THE TRUCK THERE, BUT THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THEY WERE SORRY BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT THE 2003 TACOMA WAS A "NORTHERN TRUCK" AND HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY "UNDERCOATED" AND WAS THEREFORE EXEMPT FROM THE RECALL THAT WOULD FIX THE FRAME. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND UPON FURTHER CHECKING, THEY SAID THAT IF THE 2003 TACOMA HAD BEEN UNDERCOATED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER (AT NO COST TO OWNER--A SERVICE TOYOTA PROVIDED FOR FREE ONCE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAD USED BAD STEEL FOR THE FRAMES OF THESE TRUCKS) THEN IT WOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL. I EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IS THEIR REP HADN'T TOLD ME THAT THE FRAME WOULD REPLACED. THEY SAID THE REP HAD NOT LOOKED FAR ENOUGH INTO THE MATTER AND HAD TOLD ME WRONG AND THAT I WAS BASICALLY STUCK WITH A TRUCK I COULD NOT DRIVE. I PAID $6500 FOR THIS TRUCK AND I CANNOT PUT $12,000 INTO IT TO FIX THE FRAME. AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO! TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR USING BAD STEEL FOR THESE TRUCKS. SO DO I KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE FRAME BREAKS AND INJURES MY, MY FAMILY, OR OTHER DRIVERS? THEN I WILL SUE TOYOTA! PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS RESOLVED!

I PURCHASED A 2003 TACOMA IN APRIL OF 2016 FROM MATTHEWS MOTOR COMPANY OF COVINGTON, PA. FAST FORWARD TO 12/2017 AND THE FRAME NOW HAS A COUPLE HOLES IN IT NEAR THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WHERE THE GAS TANK ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS FOR THE FRAMES. CONTACTED TOYOTA TO HAVE IT ADDRESSED ONLY TO BE TOLD THE CAMPAIGN EXPIRED. THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED IN 2011 (BEFORE I OWNED IT) UNDER CAMPAIGN "ZTH" AND NO RUST PERFORATION WAS FOUND, AND AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, AN UNDERCOATING WAS APPLIED AT THIS TIME. I AM TOLD HOWEVER THAT BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS NOT UNDERCOATED / DIDN'T HAVE A CORROSION PREVENTION TREATMENT APPLIED UNDER CAMPAIGN "90D" THAT IT NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR COVERAGE UNDER CAMPAIGN "ZTH." HOW CAN THE TRUCK NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CAMPAIGN NOW WHEN IT DID IN 2011? MOREOVER, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY LETTERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE PRESENTED BY A POTENTIALLY FAULTY FRAME. I WOULD HAVE TO INSIST THAT TOYOTA INSPECT MY FRAME, ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS PERFORATED FROM RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH CAMPAIGN ZTH, NOT ONLY FOR MY VEHICLE BUT FOR THOSE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE.

I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HOTLINE TO INQUIRE IF MY TRUCK QUALIFIED FOR A FRAME RUST PROTECTION COATING OR REPLACEMENT UNDER THEIR 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS OFFERED FOR 2001-2004 TACOMAS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WAS "POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR FRAME REPAIR" VALID UNDER THE WARRANTY UNTIL THE END OF 2017 AND A CASE WAS OPENED. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A FRAME INSPECTION, AND THEN REGIONAL OFFICE WOULD MAKE THE DECISION TO COVER IT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER THAT WAS PRONE TO RUST AND POTENTIAL FAILURE. I BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN TO THE TOYOTA OF PORTLAND TO REPLACE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER AND INSPECT THE FRAME. WHEN I PICKED UP MY TRUCK THEY SAID IT FAILED THE FRAME INSPECTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND THAT THEY NEVER REPLACED THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED ONCE THEY REMOVED THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER TO REPLACE IT WOULD FURTHER COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE RUSTED FRAME. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE REGIONAL OFFICE DENIED MY FRAME REPLACEMENT BASED ON THE PHOTOS THEY RECEIVED. SUPPOSEDLY THE REGIONAL OFFICE SAID THAT THE RUST IS ONLY BAD ON THE CROSS SECTION AND THAT IS A REMOVABLE SECTION OF THE FRAME THAT CAN BE REPLACED SO THE FRAME ITSELF IS NOT DID NOT FAIL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER PAPERWORK SAYING MY VEHICLE FAILED THE FRAME INSPECTION, AND BASED SOLELY ON PHOTOS, AND WITH ONE MONTH LEFT OF MY WARRANTY, THE REGIONAL OFFICE DECIDED TO OVERRIDE THE DIAGNOSIS AND DENIED MY WARRANTY CLAIM. THE RECALLED SPARE TIRE CARRIER HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPLACED, AND IM WORRIED THAT ONCE IT IS IT WILL UNCOVER MORE CORROSION, BUT BY THAT TIME MY WARRANTY FOR FRAME REPLACEMENT WILL HAVE EXPIRED. I WANT TOYOTA TO HONOR MY WARRANTY AND REPLACE THE FRAME ON MY TRUCK LIKE THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO DO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT WELDING COMPANY WHO INFORMED THAT THEY COULD WELD THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,094.

FRAME OF VEHICLE HAS CORRODED AWAY CAUSING FUEL TANK TO FALL OFF. THIS HAPPENED AS I PULLED INTO PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BODY AND THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WERE PREMATURELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE EXTENSIVE HOLES, RUST, AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 08/03/17*LJ

DRIVING TRUCK, ONLY 86617 MILES, HEARD DRIVE TRAIN NOISE, PULLED OVER, NOTICED FRAME RUST THROUGH AND TRUCK BENDING DOWN IN MIDDLE BESIDE THE GAS TANK. FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE, HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ARAPAHOE TOYOTA.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL CRACKS LOCATED ON BOTH SIDES AND THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS TOO DAMAGED TO REPAIR AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

2003 TACOMA. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT THAT I HAVE EXTENSIVE FRAME CORROSION AND HOLES IN THE FRAME AND THAT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. CAR WAS STATIONARY. WTF?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WORKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST AND ROT HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 90K MILES ON IT.

EMERGENCY BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT WAS TOLD HOW UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK IS CORRODING RUSTING BADLY REMOVED MY SPARE TIRE IT WAS ALSO BADLY RUSTING . I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF VEHICLE , ALSO OWN HIGHLANDER AND CAMRY . BOTH NOT EVEN CLOSE TO LOOKING LIKE UNDER WHAT I HAVE WITH TRUCK ?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND SEVERE RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ALONG WITH A FRACTURED FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

THE LEFT DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN FROM WHERE YOU GRIP IT WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONERY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE BACK DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY BECAUSE THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS IS ALSO ON THE LEFT SIDE. THIS VEHICLE IS A FOUR DOOR PICK UP TRUCK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TOYOTA ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRAMES OF THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THEM ADMITTING THAT THEY USED SUBSTANDARD METAL TO BUILD THE FRAME, THEREFORE, RESULTING IN ACCELERATED RUST AND CORROSION. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE, AND HAPPENED TO FIND OUT FROM A FRIEND THAT TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF THIS. I TOOK THIS FRAME IN FOR AN EVALUATION ON 8/3/16 AND IT FAILED THE INSPECTION. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHER THAN THE FRAME, WHICH WAS TOYOTA'S FAULT AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TOYOTA OF MELBOURNE IN MELBOURNE, FLORIDA, TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW FRAME, BUT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR ANY PARTS THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO DO THE INSTALLATION WHICH WILL BE AROUND $2,500. I THINK THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BECAUSE TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE 2008, BOUGHT BACK OVER 800,000 OF THESE TRUCKS, AND NEVER NOTIFIED ME THAT I NEED TO GET THIS FRAME INSPECTED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THAT MUCH MONEY FOR A REPAIR, SO I WILL BE DRIVING AROUND WITH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE, BECAUSE TOYOTA REFUSES TO MAKE THIS A RECALL. THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, AND TOYOTA IS PUTTING THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AT RISK BY FORCING THEM TO PAY MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH FOR THE REPAIR. IN TODAY'S ECONOMY, NO ONE WHO IS DRIVING A 2003 VEHICLE CAN AFFORD A $2,500 REPAIR ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE! PLEAS WORK TO FORCE TOYOTA TO MAKE THIS A RECALL SO THAT NO DEATHS OCCUR WHEN THESE ROTTED FRAMES FALL OFF OF THESE TRUCKS WHILE THEY ARE BEING DRIVEN!

2003 TACOMA FRAME IS EATING ITSELF AWAY DUE TO RUST CORROSION. TOYOTA'S "LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN" ENDED IN 2011, BUT DOES NOTHING TO DEAL WITH THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD. RECALL!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED CORROSION AROUND THE VEHICLE. 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 INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.