I have a Toyota Tacoma 2003 took it in for a recall on the spare tire carrier lift plate. Told them I heard of recall or safety issue on the frame, they said it expired. Left the truck to do recall I took it in for. They called said couldn't do the recall I brought it in for because the frame was so bad, and that they couldn't believe I was still driving the truck and that it really is a safety hazard. I asked why they couldn't do the frame since it was recalled or a safety issue, again they say it was expired. I asked if he had kids, he said yes. Ask him if formula was taken off the shelves because of recall, and a month later was put back on because the recall expired would you still buy it. He said sorry he doesn't make the rules. How does a recall expire and if it was a factory defect or just a bad product that Toyota used, why aren't they held accountable? went on line and read a forum and there is even a class action suite on this problem. And also even as of today Toyota is still producing Toyota Tacoma with bad frames. I have 7 grandchildren who I help to take places, now they are stranded and myself, because my truck is still at the dealerships, because they refuse to fix it. Please I'm asking to help me with this matter. Desperate in philadelphia. Updated 01/11/2017

- Phila, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was found that the spare tire carrier and subframe was rusted. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 12V542000 (tires:temporary/emergency spare tire). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

- Highland Lakes, NJ, USA

This is a follow from a recent call with the Toyota customer experience center (May 2, 2013). I called to get a status update on the claim referenced in case # [xxx] and was informed the claim was denied because the invoice from the dealer stated the spare tire was stolen. I never received notification that the claim was denied although the customer service agent suggested a letter has been mailed. I was instructed to return to the deal and get the "stolen? comments removed from the invoice. The original invoice suggested the spare tire was stolen because the service department and parts person at the dealer suggested the cable would not break and the conclusion was the cable must have been cut and the tire stolen. This was in August of 2012 prior to the recall notification. There is no evidence to support that the tire was stolen. I returned to the dealer and attached is an updated invoice with ?stolen" removed. To say I am frustrated by the response from Toyota is an understatement. The facts are the spare tire and assembly were missing. The dealer concluded they must have been stolen and wrote that on the original invoice. It is obvious from the recall that the cable broke and the tire and assembly were lost as a result of the this malfunction. Again denied.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

After getting off the highway, as I was pulling away at the end of the exit ramp I noticed the spare tire had fallen from the truck and was in the middle of the road. I was able to quickly back up and load the spare onto the back of the truck. I noticed part of the carrier was rusted to the spare, but the middle of the carrier had rusted through. I had participated in Toyota's frame recall a little over a year ago and believe they should have seen how bad the situation was at that time, and done something to rectify the problem. I had just spent a half-hour driving home on the highway. I can't imagine the damage that could have been caused had the tire dropped at highway speeds during rush hour rather than at 10 mph!! in searching the internet, this is an all too common occurrence for older Tacoma. I don't understand why this isn't considered a safety issue and subject to recall.

- North Andover, MA, USA