2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA Complaints

MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS HUGE HOLES IN THE FRAME. I HAVE BEEN WAITING ON TOYOTA FOR OVER FIVE MONTHS SINCE I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. I AM TOLD THAT I AM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. MEANWHILE, MY TRUCK IS GETTING WORSE TO POINT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE A HOLE THE SIZE OF A 50 CENT PIECE IN ONE PLACE, AND OTHER HOLE ALL OVER THE FRAME. IT IS NOT JUST THE CROSS MEMBER IN THE REAR AS THEIR RECALL STATED, IT IS THE WHOLE FRAME. THE FRAME IS LITERALLY COMING APART IN LAYERS IN PLACES. I LIVE IN OHIO AND THE BODY OF THE TRUCK HAS NO RUST AND HAS BEEN PRIMARILY GARAGE KEPT. THIS TUNDRA IS MUCH WORSE THAN THE 2000 TACOMA OF MY SON'S THAT WAS RECALLED AND PAID 150% OF VALUE, YET THEY ACT LIKE THIS PROBLEM IS NOTHING. THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST HE HAD SEEN AT HIS DEALERSHIP. FIELD TECH TRIED TO PLAY GAMES WITH ME OF JUST WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I AM AN INSURANCE CLAIMS ANALYST AND HAVE INSPECTED CARS FOR OVER 16 YRS, SO I DID NOT APPRECIATE HIS TACTIC. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT RUDE. I TOLD THEM IF MY FRAME BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE OR INJURY TO ANYONE, TOYOTA WOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY TOYOTA ON THIS ISSUE. THE TRUCK VALUE IS GREATLY DECREASED AS DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND I COULD NOT SELL THIS TRUCK GIVEN THE FRAME CONDITION. ANY KICK START TO GET TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) THIS IS REGARDING MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA, [XXX] . I AM AWARE THAT THE NTSB HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN (#09V444000) CONCERNING RUSTY FRAMES ON MY MODEL AND YEAR, SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE CROSS MEMBER HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE. THAT CROSS MEMBER ON MY TRUCK IS SOLID, HOWEVER THE SPRING MOUNT PORTION OF THE FRAME HAS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AND BROKEN. FORTUNATELY IT BROKE WHILE I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY, NOT WHILE I WAS DOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND AN AREA TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE HAVE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE. THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT TOYOTA IS NOT LIABLE. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUST PROBLEMS ON THE 2000 TACOMA FRAMES. I MADE THEM AWARE OF THE RUST ISSUES ON MY TRUCK WHEN THE TACOMA RECALLS WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED, BUT THEY HAVE INSISTED THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION FALLING OUT FROM UNDER MY TRUCK IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5. CONSUMER STATES EXPERIENCES WITH THE FRAME RUST AND CROSS MEMBER ISSUES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS SHOCK TO DISCOVER THE AMOUNT OF RUST THAT HAD DEVELOPED ON ALMOST ALL OF THE REAR FRAME COMPONENTS.

SEVERE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME CORROSION OVER REAR AXLE, ON BRACKET SECURING AXLE TO FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, AND LOSS COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SWAYED OFF OF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL TREES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A BROKEN FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE MANUFACTURERS ENGINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ENGINEERS ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND REASSURED HIM THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I INITIALLY CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, 800-331-4331, ON OCTOBER 22, 2009 REGARDING THE FRAME RUSTING ON MY 2000 TUNDRA. I WAS ASKED TO WAIT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND A NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT. SHE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO LOOK UP VIN NUMBER AT THIS TIME. LOOKING BACK, I BELIEVE THAT MY INQUIRY WAS CATEGORIZED WITH THE RECENT TUNDRA REAR FRAME/SPARE TIRE RECALL. ON DECEMBER 10, 2009 I AGAIN CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER, TO NOTIFY THEM THAT I HAD DISCOVERED THAT RUST HAD PERFORATED THE FRAME IN THE FRONT LEFT/DRIVER'S SIDE TORQUE BOX AREA. AS IT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME, THIS IS THE ENERGY ABSORBING BODY/FRAME STRUCTURE THAT ABSORBS THE IMPACT DURING A CRASH AND IN MY CASE THE FRAME IS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. I NOTED THAT I ASSUMED PERFORATIONS IN THE FRAME ARE NOT SAFE FOR VARIOUS REASONS. I ALSO NOTED THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE FRAME ROT IN THE REAR SPRING AREA. I FURTHER QUESTIONED THE ENTIRE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WITH PICTURES TAKEN AND PERFORATION CONFIRMED. A TOYOTA TECHNICAL REP HAS ALSO CONFIRMED RUST PERFORATION OF THE FRAME. ANY DECISION BY TOYOTA HAS BEEN PUT ON "HOLD".*TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND HOLES IN THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME. THE DEALER VERIFIED THE CORROSION OF THE FRAME AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE. THEY DID NOT ASSIST. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 74,000. UPDATED 05/07/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/13/10. *LJ PICTURES RECEIVED 09/21/10. *JB

A CO-WORKER SENT ME A REAR PHOTO OF MY 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA IN THE PARKING LOT SHOWING THE SPARE ON THE GROUND. AFTER REMOVING THE SPARE I NOTICE THAT THE CROSS MEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE SPARE WAS BROKEN IN HALF. WHERE THE CROSS MEMBER ATTACHES TO THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY. THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK IS BROKEN AND DETACHED. THE EXHAUST IS ALSO QUESTIONABLE AS IT IS ATTACHED TO THE BROKEN CROSS MEMBER. REAR BRAKE LINE AND PROPORTIONING VALVE ARE ALSO IN QUESTION AS THEY ALSO ARE PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY THE CROSS MEMBER AND ROTTING FRAME. AS OF T HIS WRITING I HAVE A CASE NUMBER ASSIGNED WITH TOYOTA BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS WE ARE GETTING NOTHING BUT LIP SERVICE. MY LOCAL DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT MY TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. I CAN PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS AND PHOTOS UPON REQUEST. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE ON 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF FRAME, CROSS MEMBER AND PROPORTIONING VALVE MOUNT. LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY WHEN EXITING I89 SOUTHBOUND EXIT 18 IN GEORGIA, VERMONT. NARROWLY AVOIDED A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF I89 AND US ROUTE 7. I REPORTED THIS EVENT TO TOYOTA THAT SAME MORNING AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER. ADVISED TO CONTACT LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR IMMEDIATE INSPECTION. INSPECTION REVEALED CONDITIONS LISTED AT BEGINNING OF THIS STATEMENT AND SIGNIFICANT FLAKING/LOSS OF METAL ON MAIN RAILS OF FRAME. TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT TRUCK COULD NOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT INSPECTION OF VEHICLE BY TOYOTA REGIONAL REP. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY (BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE PRECEDING FRIDAY), LOCAL DEALER PROVIDED ME WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME THAT THE END DECISION ON MY VEHICLE WAS TO REPLACE THE CROSS MEMBER AND PROPORTIONING VALVE. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY REGIONAL REP. AND SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE FOR THE WORK DUE TO LACK OF A PART NUMBER FOR THE CROSS MEMBER. I LEARNED OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM BY TOYOTA AND OTHERS WHEN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET. ALSO LEARNED THAT RECALL NOTICES WERE TO BE MAILED NLT END OF JANUARY 2010 (TOYOTA STATEMENT). TOYOTA REP ADMITTED THIS WAS NOT DONE AND RECALL LETTERS HAVE STILL NOT GONE OUT TO OWNERS. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT SUFFERS FROM EXCESSIVE FRAME ROT PRIMARILY IN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE TRUCK. MY FEAR IS AN IMMANENT AND PREMATURE FAILURE OF NEWYORK STATE MANDATED SAFETY INSPECTION, HEAVEN FORBID A FRONTEND COLLISION IN WHICH MY WIFE WHO IS THE PRIMARY OPERATOR OF THIS VEHICLE, COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE READ AND HEARD OF SOME DEALERSHIPS REPLACING WHOLE TUNDRA FRAMES AS WELL AS SIMPLY BUYING BACK THE VEHICLES FROM THE CURRENT OWNERS. I VISITED A NEARBY TOYOTA DEALER WHO ANGRILY INFORMED ME THAT " NO SUCH PROBLEM EXISTS" YET WHEN I CONTACT OTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, THEY ADVISE ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I AM LOOKING FOR THE TRUTH CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IT'S BEEN A GOOD TRUCK OTHERWISE, BUT I AM NOT GOING TO POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZE THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY SIMPLY BECAUSE A MANUFACTURE WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCTION SHORTCUTS,OVERSIGHTS AND MISTAKES. AT THIS CURRENT TIME IN TOYOTA HISTORY, IT'S TIME TO FIX THE RECURRING PROBLEMS AND SHORTFALLS THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO SLIDE BY THE CONSUMER BEFORE THE CONSUMER DICTATES THEIR FATAL DEMISE AS A COMPANY. *TR