While traveling at about 40 mph, right front passenger wheel suddenly and unexpectedly broke off at the ball joints. The tire folded under the chassis and the truck skidded to a stop in the road shoulder.

- Palos Verdes Estates, CA, USA

Frame corrosion, took Tacoma in for inspection while still under warranty, frame failed inspection but Toyota denied claim due to outside influences.

- Gray, TN, USA

We bought our 2003 Tacoma brand new from the dealer in 2003, expecting this to be a 30-year investment. We have kept up all maintenance on this truck with our mechanic. He checked it last year and found no issues with the frame other than some normal rust. Last week we took it to him because the check engine indicator was on, and he discovered that our frame was completely rusted through with holes in the driver's side. He deemed it completely unsafe to drive and recommended that it be towed to the dealer because the frame was near the point of breaking in half. We never received any notices from Toyota. We performed all recalls they issued. After an online search, we discovered the extent of this frame rot problem over many Toyota trucks. When we called Toyota corporate, they dismissed us and told us that we were out of luck receiving any help or compensation for this defect because we had missed deadlines on a class action suit and also that there was an extended warranty issued only for some Tacoma in certain cold weather states. We were never notified of any of this information and have lived at this same address with the same contact information since the time of purchase. We went to the dealership where we purchased it and they also completely dismissed us, telling us that it was out of their hands and we could try to contact corporate to join all the other truck owners with this frame rot problem and try to see if they might help us. This truck has only 37,479 miles. As much as I'm devastated that we are now out many thousands of dollars because of Toyota's unscrupulous policies, I'm more angry that they knowingly have put millions of lives in jeopardy by covering up this dangerous problem. How many more vehicles are currently on the roads every day with the risk of ripping in half and killing innocent people? this problem must be fixed please!

- Abingdon, VA, USA

I was driving down the road goimg about 35 mph heard a loud noise. Lost all control of the steering wheel and my tire had broken off from the ball joint. The place fixing it said the other side is about to break as well. This is very dangerous and I could have been killed.

- Morganton, NC, USA

The frame on my Tacoma has rotted beyond repair, over 6" gaping holes in the main frame near the suspension mounts. The rear leaf springs are bowed over as well! I was never notified of any recalls by Toyota. I contacted Toyota to have it looked at. They refused at 1st then aqccepted it at the whitby Toyota dealer. The results were that Toyota was willing to install an upgraded spare tire carrier & nothing more!

- Mitchell,Ontario,Canada, MI, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle inadvertently turned left and crashed into an embankment. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front suspension ball joint fractured and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was filed. The contact sustained minor injuries that required medical attention. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that she had not received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 05V225000 (suspension). The failure mileage was unknown.

- Big Sur, CA, USA

The frame on my 2003 Tacoma is rusting badly! the truck only has about 98K and im the second owner. I purchased the truck on 9/3/2011. The truck in getting to the point of being unsafe to drive. The mounting points for the leaf springs are almost completely rusted away. I have never received any type of notification from Toyota regarding the frame recall. I've had it looked at by my local Toyota dealer and they are telling me I don't qualify for assistance because no corrosion treatment has applied. The problem with that is, I was never notified! if I had been, then they would replace the frame free of charge. I've received at least three letters from Toyota for the spare tire holder rust issue, so they do know I own the truck and how to contact me. I've lived at the same location for 14 years! from what I've read, the corrosion treatment they allegedly offered didn't help anyway. I don't understand why some people were notified and other were not. There are plenty of people just like me driving these unsafe trucks. I have to wonder how many of those people are clueless about the danger they are putting them selves into, not to mention their families. At any moment you could loose total control...after the truck collapse in half after you hit a bump while driving on the highway. Im sure if someone looked hard enough they could find examples of these unsafe Tacoma causing serious and possibly fatal accidents. They already know its a problem. How else could they have won a lawsuit against the vender that supplied them with these frames. They sued, and won because these frames are defective. That settlement should have been contingent upon the ongoing inspections and repairs for everyone affected.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

Frame recall for rust Toyota did undercoat the frame and it did not dry for several years now all the undercoat is falling off and the frame is rusting worse than when it originally was worked on I took it back and was told as long as there are no holes they will not fix the rustproofing.

- Byron, IL, USA

Frame has rusted thru by the leaf spring and other places. Toyota has a recall/campaing that covers the frame thru 2018. But they will not replaced frame because they said it was not undercoated during a specific time....they want $10,000 for new frame.. this is a known problem that should be fully recall.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA

Both sides of my frame are rusted in front of the rear wheels. The left side has a large rusted crack where the leaf springs connect to the frame. The right side has a roasted whole large enough that I can put my hand inside. I contacted Toyota corporate and they told me they were very sorry but all their campaigns were expired and they had to tell thousands of other people the same thing. Vehicle is unsafe to drive and could cause me or someone else harm at any time. If Toyota has talked to thousands of other people about the same problem, it seems to me they should be responsible for their faulty equipment. Updated 11/19/15.

- Poca, WV, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. While driving at 60 mph, the rear end of the vehicle veered to the passenger side while the contact was steering the vehicle straight. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the shock absorber was not attached to the truck. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.

- West Port , MA, USA

I purchased this 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4 dr a few months ago I've been a Toyota owner for more than 6 yrs as my previous trk was also a Tacoma the body on this trk was spotless, no rust anywhere, the frame had surface rust but it didn't look too bad the trk needed tires & a bulb for safety. I felt like I had gotten lucky to get a nice dependable trk on the road. Within a month I noticed the trk was riding rougher. It seemed to be getting worse everyday. Tacoma doesn't have good suspension in the 1st place as I had to do it twice on my last trk. The trk had snow build up from the cold winter we were having, so I took it to the car wash to clean it up before putting `it in the shop. While washing it I noticed some scale rust came off under the drivers floor, I pulled it into the shop over the hoist & while setting the lift arms I noticed a substantial hole in my frame. I lifted the trk to find a piece of the frame starting at the lt front sway bar mount had rotted around the welded seam & disintegrated. The hole was15" long & another 8" hole on the rt rear in frt of the spring shackle. Toyota says they will replace the spare tire hanger under warranty but the frame is my issue as I did not have the frame inspected back in 2010 to extend the warr. Until 2017. I did not own the trk until 2014. Toyota is trying to hide behind a technicality that does not apply to the new owner. I feel Toyota should be held responsible for the excessive rust issue as they are well aware of the problem. They have had to re-call over 160.000 units because of the fact they failed to use adequate rust protection in the 1st place. This trk & many other Toyota trks on the road are a potential death trap. The world needs to be informed of Toyota not backing their warr. & trying to keep the hush hush on their recall for rust perforation. Toyota created the problem, Toyota needs to fix the problem.

- Mitchell Ontario Canada N0k1n0, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle veered to the right without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the struts failed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Waitahu, HI, USA

So in December I took my Tacoma to the dealership for a regular frame inspection after learning upon the issue. The truck is in almost perfect condition, spotless inside and out. The frame failed inspection, and I was unable to drive the vehicle home. First off, a service rep at the dealership tried to send me off to a friend of his who could "patch" up the frame so that it would pass inspection (great idea, right?). Toyota has provided me with a rental, but the only rental they would give me is a corolla. I live in the mountains, and bought the truck so that I would be able to handle the rough winter weather. I have already had to call out of work as a result of being unable to drive through the snow. I am looking at a date of mid March at the earliest (most likely longer) until I am able to have my truck back, depleting the whole purpose of me having a truck. I have tried getting Toyota to buy the truck back. I love my truck, and I plan on continuing to drive Toyota due to the well-known reliability of these vehicles. I understand that this is a sort of bad luck incident, but considering that rust spreads, I already know that I am going to have to put more money into the vehicle to combat the rust corrosion that has already begun due to a faulty frame. This is obviously already occurring, considering that it is not just the frame that is corroded, but also the brake lines. I am not looking in any way to cheat Toyota, I am just attempting to have a safe vehicle to drive, and I worry that since this corrosion has already started, replacing the frame is only putting off the issue until it becomes noticeable on the rest of the vehicle. If anyone has been able to successfully have Toyota buy back a 2001-2004 model Tacoma, I would love to know how they accomplished this.

- Harrisonburg, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 05V225000 (suspension) and stated that an independent mechanic before the notification of the recall sprayed the undercarriage. The dealer informed the contact that the recall repair would not be honored due to the coating of the undercarriage. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the entire frame was rusted and corroded and may fracture. A lift plate inspection was performed and it was diagnosed that the frame was covered with undercoating and the lift plate was unable to be repaired due to the rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,880.

- Leets, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the axle, power steering lines and oil pan was severely rusted. The corrosion was so severe that it caused a fracture on the power steering line. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. The dealer replaced the frame and advised the contact that the failure was caused by environmental factors. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacture was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. The current mileage was 118,000.

- Windsor, MA, USA

Frame rusted/ cracked would not pass state inspection. Truck was taken to Toyota during the first recall and I was told it passed. Did not go back for subsequent recalls to have the frame sprayed. Called Toyota when the truck failed inspection and was told that because I didn't have the frame sprayed there was nothing they would do for me. The exhaust system outlasted the frame. This is not acceptable.

- Topsham, VT, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while turning at 10 mph, the contact lost control of the steering wheel as the front driver's side dropped to the ground. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the front suspension lower ball joint was found to be separated, causing the front suspension to fail. The manufacturer advised the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 05V225000 (suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 175,640.

- Mill Valley , CA, USA

A Toyota Tacoma pickup was taken to my mechanic for routine maintenance and frame rust was noted. I called Toyota and took the car to a local Toyota dealership. They replied they could do nothing as the cost of repairing the frame was not worth the value of the car. They instructed me to call Toyota directly and have been told I am on my own. There are 96,000 miles on the car and this was the first time rust was noted. We never received any notifications that there were problems as I am not the original owner. I am stuck with a valueless car with no help from the parent company.

- Bedford , MA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while attempting to enter a parking space, the front driver's side wheel collapsed to the ground. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the ball joint was split. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 05V225000 (suspension: Ball joint) and was told by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 180,000. Updated 06/10/13

- Oxon Hill, MD, USA