2003 Toyota Tundra Structure

THE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT THE TRUCK CANNOT EVEN BE JACKED UP. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND GARAGE KEPT,IT IS NOT DUE TO A LACK OF CARE FOR THE VEHICLE.

2003 TUNDRA SUBJECT TO FRAME RUST DETERIORATION RECALL WHICH ENDED THIS YEAR 2019. THIS VEHICLE UNDERWENT THIS RECALL INSPECTION AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD "PAINT WITH RUST INHIBITOR WILL SOLVE PROBLEM". RECENT INSPECTIONS X2 BY FRAME MECHANICS (NOW A FEW YEARS LATER) RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE RECOMMENDATION TO NOT DRIVE DUE TO DANGER OF IMMINENT FRAME COLLAPSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 118,000 MILES AND IS OTHERWISE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I AM SURE MANY OTHERS ARE IN SAME CONDITION - NOT HAVING FRAME REPLACED BY MANUFACTURER, OR MISLED BY MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE CENTER. MANY ACCIDENTS LIKELY WILL OCCUR IN FUTURE. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE WARNED OF THIS DANGER.

2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA SHOWING SEVERE SIGNS OF FRAME RUST AND CORROSION DAMAGE RENDERING VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY. THIS VEHICLE IN EVERY OTHER WAY GAS BEEN MANUFACTURED TO PERFORM FOR MANY MORE YEARS EXCEPTING THE FOUNDATION OF THE VEHICLE, THE FRAMEWORK. MANY, MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE IN USE ON AMERICAN STREETS BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE IN DIRE RISK AND POSING A LIFE THREATENING RISK TO ALL OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

FRAME RECALL INFERIOR STEEL USED ON THE FRAME HAS LED TO PREMATURE FAILURE AND ROT. TOYOTA APPLIED A SEALANT TO THE FRAME TO ADDRESS THE RUST ISSUE. THE SEALANT WAS ALSO AN INFERIOR PRODUCT AND DID NOT ADHERE TO THE FRAME. BECAUSE TOYOTA CONSIDERED THE RECALL CLOSED THERE WAS NO WARNING TO INDICATE A HAZARD COULD EXIST. A RECALL WILL NOT SHOW UP ON CAR FAX IF THE MANUFACTURER DEEMS THE RECALL IS COMPLETE. TOYOTA'S POSITION THAT ROAD SALT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PREMATURE FRAME ROT IGNORES THESE FACTS.

A FEW YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A USED TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH 70K MILES ON IT THINKING I WAS GETTING A RELIABLE VEHICLE WITH LOTS OF LIFE LEFT ON IT. WHAT I GOT WAS THE MOST UNRELIABLE EXPENSIVE PIECE OF CRAP I HAVE EVER OWNED. IT EVEN NEARLY RUINED OUR HONEYMOON. WE TOOK THE TRUCK ON A ROAD TRIP TO SEE THE SOUTHWEST AND KICK OFF OUR MARRIAGE. IT WAS VERY EXCITING THANKS TO TOYOTA. AT THE GRAND CANYON WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HUNTING DOWN THE LAST OVERPRICED BOTTLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID. RATHER THAN RELAXING AT THE SOUTH RIM I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIMP THE TRUCK TO THE NEAREST SHOP. THAT WAS OVER $1200 OUT OF OUR BUDGET. THE NEXT OBSTACLE WAS EVEN MORE EXCITING. WE DISCOVERED THE BACK TIRES WHERE READY TO FALL OFF AND THE FRONT WHEELS HAD DEVELOPED SOME ISSUE ALSO. SO WE LIMPED THE TRUCK TO ELK CITY OKLAHOMA IN THE MIDST OF TORNADO WARNINGS. WE EVEN GOT TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A RUN DOWN MOTEL 6. I THINK THEY RENTED ROOMS BY THE HOUR. THAT WAS ANOTHER $1400 OVER OUR BUDGET FOR A TWO DAY STAY IN SCENIC ELK CITY. AT LEAST WE GOT A FREE LOANER FROM THE FOLKS AT SMITH FAMILY NISSAN. IT'S MORE THAN TOYOTA HAS DONE FOR US. I HAD TO DRIVE UP TO KEENE TO JUST GET PUSHED RIGHT OUT THE DOOR POLITELY. THEY COULD HAVE AT LEAST SAVED ME THE TRIP BY SIMPLY RETURNING MY EMAIL. WE GOT THE SAME TREATMENT FROM TOYOTA CORP. AND FOR A SOUVENIR WE ARE LEFT WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF SCRAP METAL IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH TOYOTA CHEEPED OUT ON THE STEEL FOR THE FRAME. CHEAP CHINESE STEEL. THE SOLUTION WAS TO SPRAY SOME CHEAP CRAP ON THE FRAME AND COVER UP THE PROBLEM. IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE IT BREAKS IN HALF JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THANKS TOYOTA FOR ALL THE HELP AND THE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF CUSTOMERS. THANKS TO TOYOTA'S PATCH JOB THE FRAME ISSUES DID NOT APPEAR IN A CAR FAX REPORT.

I HAD A SAFETY RECALL FOR CORROSION AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY, 2015. RECENTLY I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN EXHAUST LEAK. WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE RACK THEY NOTED SEVERAL AREAS ON THE FRAME WHICH HAD RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL AND THEREFOR TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FRAME. I BELIEVE THE SAME INFERIOR STEEL WAS USED ON MY FRAME AS WAS ON THE RECALLED TOYOTAS. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA WHICH WHILE WE DON'T EXPERIENCE THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW HERE, WE ARE STILL CONSIDERED A NORTHERN STATE PER TOYOTA. THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND WAS USED AS A DAILY DRIVER AND NOW WILL BE A TOTAL LOSS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING DIFFERENTIAL FLUID FROM THE HOUSING WALL OF THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR END HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CONTINENTAL TOYOTA (6701 SOUTH LA GRANGE ROAD, HODGKINS, IL 60525, (708) 716-4497) WHERE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY AND THEIR ADMISSION BUT YET NO RESOLUTION TO A KNOWN PROBLEM. MY STORY OF THIS TOYOTA TRUCK BEGINS WITH MY SON OWNING THIS TUNDRA FOR ABOUT 5-7 YEARS THEN SELLING ME, HIS FATHER THE SAME TUNDRA. BEFORE BUYING SAID TRUCK I WAS ASSURED IT WAS OF GOD STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, DUE TO AN INSPECTION AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THEY DID FIND THAT THE FRAME HAD VISIBLE RUST AND PROCEEDED TO TREAT IT WITH ANTI-CORROSION. FORWARD TO THREE WEEKS AGO A LOCAL INSPECTION WAS TO BE DONE IN WHICH I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT PASS DUE TO FRAME PROBLEMS AS IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA ENGINEERS KNOW THAT THE FRAMES ARE GOING TO RUST BECAUSE NO EXTERIOR APPLICATION OF ANY ANTI-CORROSION IS GOING TO PREVENT ANY CORROSION WITHIN A TUBULAR BOXED FRAME. I WAS REFUSED ANY SOLUTION FROM TOYOTA, WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED THAT THESE PARTICULAR TRUCKS ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH GETTING TOYOTA TO RESOLVE THIS COMPLETELY INSTEAD OF PASSING THE LITTLE GUY ASIDE?

FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. CAR HAS ONLY 130K MILES. TOYOTA DENIES CULPABILITY, FRAME IS MADE OF INFERIOR MATERIAL NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND USE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SERVICING HIS VEHICLE, HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND NOTICED THAT THE SWAY BAR WAS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS ABSENT FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. WALDORF TOYOTA (2600 CRAIN HIGHWAY, WALDORF, MARYLAND 20601, (301) 843-3700) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE THREE YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 1811171313. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COATED WITH A PREVENTATIVE RUST PROTECTION ON DECEMBER 24, 2011 PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL THAT EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 453,839.

AFTER MECHANIC RECENTLY INSPECTED UNDER SIDE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME HAD SIGNIFICANT RUST AND ROT. FRAME IS NOT EXPECT TO MAINTAIN STRUCTURE FOR VERY LONG.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PEARSON TOYOTA (12978 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23608, (757) 874-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS IN POOR CONDITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2012 PER A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR FRAME RUST IN WHICH AN ANTI-CORROSIVE AGENT WAS SPRAYED ONTO THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,430. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE. *JS *TR

FRAME RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BEING NON-REPAIRABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF SEVERE FRAME CORROSION. THE DEALER (COBB COUNTY TOYOTA, 2111 BARRETT LAKES BLVD, KENNESAW, GA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THE CORROSION; HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REMEDY PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE) BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED PER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED PER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A "BXD" RECALL IN 2014 FOR SEVERE FRAME CORROSION INSPECTION. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE HARR TOYOTA DEALER, LOCATED AT 100 GOLD STAR BLVD, WORCESTER MA 01606, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SPRAYED A RUST RESISTANT COMPOUND ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPRAY STARTED TO FLAKE OFF WITHIN A SHORT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FLAKING WAS NORMAL AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED NOXUDOL,THE SPRAY MANUFACTURER, AT (301)-972-0860 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLAKING WAS NOT NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WESTBORO TOYOTA, LOCATED AT 271 TURNPIKE RD, WESTBOROUGH, MA, 01581, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND FOUND HOLES AND RUST IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,833. *TT *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE RETAINING PLATE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED, BUT NO OTHER RUST WAS NOTICED ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE LOCAL DEALER (LEE TOYOTA, 115 MAIN ST, TOPSHAM, ME 04086, (207) 729-3358) WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE REPAIR COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 138,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

A FEW YEARS AGO MY TRUCK WAS RECALLED FOR RUST OF THE FRAME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DECIDED IT WAS FINE AND SPRAY COATED THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK AS A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WORK, WHERE OTHER TRUCKS WERE GIVEN NEW FRAMES. IN MY STATE INSPECTION THIS MONTH I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL RUST PROBLEMS (HOLES) ON THE FRAME IN THE FRONT UPPER PART OF THE FRAME, JUST 10,000 MILES SINCE THE RECALL REMEDY WAS DONE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN DO NOTHING, IT IS A TOYOTA PROBLEM, TOYOTA TELLS ME IT IS A DEALER ISSUE SINCE THEY ALREADY "REPAIRED" THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE WORK THEY PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAKE THEIR TRUCKS SAFE, AND I BELIEVE ANOTHER RECALL MUST BE DONE AND THE FRAMES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION BOTH TO MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM A AUTO DEALER AND A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I NOTICED THE FRAME WAS ROTTED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PARTS. I WENT TO TOYOTA WHO STATES THAT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING EITHER MY TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON ANY ROAD FOR MYSELF OR OTHER DRIVERS.

PURCHASED MY 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA IN MAY 2016, SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT I NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTING IN THE FRONT ON BOTH SIDES, I CONTACTED THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM CRAZY JIMS IN MILWAUKEE WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HELP. HE APPLIED A UNDERCOAT BUT DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB AS IT HAS ALREADY WORN OFF. I THEN CONTACTED TOYOTA THINKING THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING THEY OPENED A CLAIM NUMBER WHICH RESULTED IN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BEING DONE. I AM APPALLED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, I KNOW THAT THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW BUT TOYOTA IS KNOWN FOR THE QUALITY AND DURABILITY OF THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THEY CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WOULD ALLOW A UNSAFE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN ON THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. I DRIVE MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALER IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO OTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE IN AND NO FUNDS TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE AS I AM STILL PAYING THE LOAN ON THIS ONE. PLEASE HELP ME.

EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF FRAME ON 2003 TUNDRA, CAR WAS TAKEN MULTIPLE TIMES TO DEALERSHIP, ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED AT ALL....I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA BUT HAVE GOTTEN THE RUN AROUND. PLEASE ADVISE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND CONTAINED HOLES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS UNDERCOATED FOR RUST AND CORROSION ON JULY 12, 2012. HERITAGE TOYOTA IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT DISCOVERED THE SEVERE FRAME RUST AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS UNDERCOATED, WHICH IS WHAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF MILEAGE WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. ...UPDATED 10/23/17 *BF *JS

THE FRAME IS RUSTING APART WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION.

SPARE TIRE RETAINER FAILED DUE TO RUST AND TIRE FELL OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND SEVERE CORROSION AROUND THE CROSS MEMBER. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V444000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,200. UPDATED 06/21/17*LJ *JS