My lee springs are rusted frame is to lee's springs are broken

- Ware Shosls, SC, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Toyota Tacoma. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop for an alignment. The technician stated that a part of the frame was missing due to extreme rust. The vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 07V013000 (suspension) but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000. Updated 06/02/17

- Minooka, IL, USA

The truck had been riding rougher on the roads when family following one day noticed the truck leaning left. It was brought to the repair shop thinking it was a suspension problem. It ended up being major rust and corrosion to the frame that was so bad there was no structural support of the struts and springs. Owner of the auto shop as well as a body repair shop it was taken to said I was extremely lucky there was no wreck or injury. The problems are so extensive that it is not safe to drive. Now I am stuck with a Toyota truck that should have lasted easily another 100,000 miles. The frame was expected to last longer then the truck when purchased as Toyota used to be a good company and product. My first truck was a Toyota back in 1976. There was a recall that I was never notified of regarding this problem. The personal and financial impact this has caused is significant. Toyota needs to make restitution as evidence indicates it has been a long standing problem with cheaper/inferior frames used by Toyota going back several years. The current mileage is 188,000, but the problems has existed for awhile based on the amount of damage.

- Franklin, TX, USA

I have rusty holes in my frame and Toyota wont fix something that is so dangerous and now my Tacoma is unsafe to drive, what am I suppose to do now?!

- North Bend, WA, USA

Recently purchase 1997 Tacoma took it to replace rear tires shop informed me the frame had major rot and is not safe for highway. Contacted local Toyota dealer they preformed a free inspection on 08-29-16 upon completion of this inspection dealership informed me both in writing and verbally that this vehicle is not safe for highway use. Multiple rust perforations through out frame of this truck. Dealership informed me that the recall on the frame had expired however they stated that if we file a formal complaint with Toyota through your organization that we could possiblily get a cash settlement for this Tacoma.

- Canada, KY, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that when the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, the technician informed that the sub frame, the left rear wheel, the leaf springs and the chassis were severely corroded and the vehicle was unsafe to be driven. The manufacturer was notified and informed that the corrosion buy back program was no longer valid. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 189,000.

- Oakhurst, NJ, USA

Frame rust. Not made aware of recall or extended warranty. Frame is severely corroded and has a hole where the shock absorber use to mount. It literally fell off due to rust. Several other areas showing signs of corrosion as well. Seems this is not an uncommon problem. Not sure it is safe to drive. Toyota dealership says there is nothing they can do.

- Pasadena, MD, USA

I bought the above mentioned truck new in 1997. For the past few years it's just been sitting in my driveway because the frame is so rusted it's not safe to drive. A mechanic friend of mine said there was a recall on that year of truck. My wife called Toyota and was told the recall was expired but they couldn't give a date. I called today and they said it wasn't a recall but an extension on the life of the frame for fifteen years (same thing). The body of the truck is in good shape for its age. The engine only has 126K miles which is nothing for a Toyota. I should still be driving this truck today. I take care of everything I have so it will last. Biggest issue here is I was never notified there was anything wrong with the frame. I'm the original owner so it's not like Toyota didn't know who had the truck or where I was living. It needs to be fixed or I should receive compensation for the truck and not being able to use it for quite some time now.

- Fortville, IN, USA

The forward leaf spring mount on the drivers side rear leaf spring broke up and into the frame rail. This vehicle easily had another 100,000 miles of life left in it, but NHTSA evidently does not think that frame rails rotting away due to a manufacturing defect is a safety concern, and has not forced Toyota into recall mode. There is a great number of these vehicles on the road yet. I was lucky that when mine failed, it did not cause an accident. I'm sure there will be some that won't be as lucky.

- Ashland, WI, USA

The Toyota Tacoma I bought in 1997 is in excellent mechanical condition. How ever it is in horrible structural condition, with a frame that is almost completely rusted through, and no longer safe to drive. I took the truck to kings Toyota to get inspected and they told me that since the truck has passed the 15 yr warranty extension, that there is nothing they could do for me and allowed me to drive the truck off of their lot. I then called Toyota and they said that unfortunately I am out of luck, since the truck is a year past the extended warranty. My complaint is that this was the result of Toyota not having adequate corrosion-resistant protection. They investigated this problem and came to the conclusion that the protection was in fact inadequate. Yet they allow people to continue to drive on the roads with their product that they know is unsafe.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

The contact owns a 1997 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the front driver side ball joint was repaired twice. The front passenger side coil spring was replaced once. Each time the ball joints failed, it caused the vehicle to fall to the ground and would need a special truck to towing. The contact stated that the dealer repaired the vehicle, but had never given a cause for the failure. The contact stated the failure recurred within seven months apart. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 144,000.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

Vehicle's suspension is unstable, design does not include rear sway bar and the shocks absorbers are inadequate.

- San Diego, CA, USA

Suspension is very unstable, causing loss of control.

- Creston, CA, USA