2006 Toyota Tacoma steering problems

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The frame of my 2006 Toyota Tacoma (VIN: [XXX] ) is severely corroded and compromised. I recently acquired the vehicle and discovered that it was part of a past Toyota recall/program for frame corrosion inspection and replacement. However, it appears the previous owner did not take the vehicle in for the service. The frame now shows advanced rust and structural weakness, which puts my safety and the safety of others at risk. I am concerned that the recall program was not adequately communicated or tracked, and I am requesting that the NHTSA review this issue for potential reopening or expansion of coverage for affected vehicles like mine. The vehicle is available for inspection if needed. Thanks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11660044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The universal joint on the intermediate steering shaft corrodes and seizes causing a potential problem steering. It is a serious safety issue in my opinion. It is an on-going issue.

NHTSA complaint #11442396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THIS VEHICLE IS COVERED IN THE TOYOTA RUSTY FRAME LAWSUIT. AS SUCH, IT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND DEEMED NOT TO NEED A FRAME REPLACEMENT BOTH TIMES. IT WAS TREATED WITH CRC. ITS LAST INSPECTION WAS IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. ON SUNDAY, MAY 17TH, 2020, THE FRAME BROKE AT THE FRONT CROSS-MEMBER CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM TO SEPARATE AND STEERING THE VEHICLE/CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE BECAME NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. FORTUNATELY FOR ME, THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND TURNING LEFT (IN REVERSE AT LOW SPEED) AFTER A FULL 2 WEEKS OF DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA. I QUESTION ALL INSPECTIONS OF FRAMES BEING PERFORMED WITHIN THE TOYOTA DEALER NETWORK AND HOPE THAT NOBODY HAS THIS FAILURE WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING AT SPEED AS THE RESULTS WILL BE CATASTROPHIC.

NHTSA complaint #11325342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN YESTERDAY. UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT A FAMILIAR INTERSECTION, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE TURN DUE TO VERY STIFF STEERING. THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK CAME VERY CLOSE TO A VEHICLE COMING INTO THE INTERSECTION FROM THE STREET I WAS TURNING INTO, AND THEN THE USUAL RETURN OF MY WHEELS TO STRAIGHT AHEAD DID NOT OCCUR AS EXPECTED, AND I HAD TO QUICKLY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK BEFORE I RAN UP OVER THE CURB ON MY RIGHT. LUCKILY THE CAR COMING INTO THE INTERSECTION HAD BEEN FAR ENOUGH BACK FROM THE INTERSECTION THAT WE DID NOT COLLIDE, AND IF I HAD NOT FORCED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AT THE END OF THE TURN I MAY HAVE HIT PEDESTRIANS ON THE SIDEWALK. UPON INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM WITH A MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT (YESTERDAY AFTERNOON) AND AT ONLINE FORUMS, THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE SEEMED TO BE THE U-JOINT ON THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN DOWN JUST BEFORE THE STEERING GEAR, JUST INSIDE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. PER SOME ONLINE FORUM ADVICE, I USED PENETRATING OIL ON THAT U-JOINT TO LOOSEN IT, WITH GOOD RESULTS (STIFFNESS IS NOW GONE). BUT THIS SEEMS MOST LIKELY TO BE A TEMPORARY FIX. I DOUBT THAT LOOSENING THE U-JOINT TODAY WILL KEEP IT FROM A REPEAT PERFORMANCE AT SOME UNKNOWN AND UNPREDICTABLE TIME. CLEARLY THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS, AND PER ONLINE FORUMS, IT HAS APPARENTLY BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE FOR A WHILE. THERE ARE NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THE U-JOINT, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO PUT A MORE PERMANENT LUBRICANT (GREASE) INTO THE BEARINGS OF THE U-JOINT. ALSO, THE U-JOINT IN QUESTION IS NOT PROTECTED BY A RUBBER BOOT, AND IS COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO ALL THE WATER, DIRT, AND SALT THAT SPLASHES UP WHILE DRIVING. OTHERS HAVE NOTED THAT SPRAYING WITH PENETRATING OIL OR THE LIKE IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX, AND THE STIFF STEERING PROBLEM RETURNS AFTER A TIME, MAKING AN ACCIDENT MUCH MORE LIKELY.

NHTSA complaint #11321520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STIFF STEERING WHILE STATIONARY. DIFFICULT TURNING WHILE MOVING AFTER NOT USING THE VEHICLE FOR A TIME. THIS OCCURRED AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO AT THE DEALER FOR A RECALL IN 2012 OR SO. WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK IT WAS OK BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO IT. THIS PROBLEM JUST REOCCURRED LAST WEEK AFTER I DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE.

NHTSA complaint #11210481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE STEERING WHEEL GET REALLY TIGHT AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO LOCK UP ON ME. CALL TOYOTA AND THE DEALER ABOUT IT. THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE. TRUCK HAS 86,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #11206388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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RUSTED FRONT END PASSENGER SIDE COMPONENT BROKE OF THE FRAME DUE TO CORROSION. TOYOTA WARRANTY FOR REPAIR EXPIRED 31 JANUARY 2019 AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA 2 MONTHS LATER AND TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR REPAIR. VERY DISAPPOINTING ON TOYOTAS END. THE RUSTED FRAME TAKES LONGER THAN 2 MONTHS TO CORRODE. TOYOTA CARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH ME AND FIX THERE FAULTY AND VERY UNSAFE PRODUCT!

NHTSA complaint #11194651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY 2006 TACOMA IS VERY STIIF STEERING WHEEL EVERYTIME I USE THE VEHICLE . IM AFRAID OF ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #11115768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE STEERING ON MY TACOMA SOMETIME STIFFENS AND DOES NOT RETURN BACK TO CENTER OR SOMETIMES YOU CAN BARELY TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT DUE TO THE LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT RUSTING IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY YOU HAVE TO TEMPORARILY PUT WHITE LITHIUM GREASE ALL OVER IT BECAUSE THE DESIGN IS WIDE OPEN TO ROAD SPRAY AND SALT I'M ALMOST GOT INTO 5 HEAD-ON COLLISIONS.. AND RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS AND ALSO VERY DANGEROUS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOME KIND OF PROTECTION OVER THE SMALL U JOINT IN THE STEERING SHAFT SPRAYING IT WITH PENETRATING OIL IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A $500 REPAIR AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL LAST BEING UNPROTECTED ONCE AGAIN

NHTSA complaint #11092209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TRUCK HAS HARD STEERING IN ANY CONDITION. TOOK TO DEALER DEIHL IN BUTLER PA. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING SHAFT. THE DEALER IS GREAT THEY REPLACED MY FRAME REAR SPRINGS ALL U JOINTS AND DRIVESHAFTS.WE WERE TOLD THIS REPAIR WOULD COST $450 ROUGHLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED TOO..

NHTSA complaint #11091581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING LOCKING UP.TOOK SHAFT OFF WITH U JOINT. GOT OT TO LOOSEN UPWITH HEAT AND LUBE.PUT BACK ON TILL I CAN GET NEW ONE.DTARTING TO LOCK UP AGAIN. HAD FRAME RECALL DONE.TOYOTA SAID NO RECALL ON JOINT AT THAT TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11088740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT U JOINT SEIZED. IT IS SMALL AND EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS, AND THERE IS NO PROTECTIVE COVERING. IT IS A DANGEROUS PIECE TO HAVE FAIL. MANY OTHER TACOMA OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL YEARS EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11082561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING GETTING VERY STIFF. HARD TO STEER AND HARD TO RETURN STEERING TO STRAIGHT AFTER COMPLETING TURN.

NHTSA complaint #11075537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING HAS SEIZED UP. U JOINT CONSTANTLY NEEDS TO BE LUBED.

NHTSA complaint #11074135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME REALLY STIFF, BECAUSE THE #2 SHAFT STEERING WAS POORLY DESING, IT'S RUSTED AND GETS DIRTY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE A BOOT OR NOTHING COVERING IT. TRUCK IS STIFF WHEN TURNING, AND ALMOST GETS STOCK WHEN TURNING BACK TO STRAIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11074189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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LOWER INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT BEARINGS RUST RESULTING IN THE STEERING WHEEL BEING DIFFICULT THE TURN. SOME OF HAVE REPORTED THE STEERING LOCKING. THE PART NUMBER IS: 45203-04020.

NHTSA complaint #11045318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS RUSTED, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THIS JOINT IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS BY A BOOT, OR SOME OTHER MEANS, TO MAINTAIN LUBRICATION AND PREVENT THIS JOINT FROM RUSTING. ONLINE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON, AND VERY DANGEROUS, PROBLEM. DUE TO THE COST OF THIS REPAIR ($400- 500), MANY PEOPLE MAY TRY TO SIMPLY LUBRICATE A DAMAGED JOINT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10980365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 70 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY, AND THE SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL ALSO VIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10936570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING ISSUE. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL I EXPERIENCE STIFFNESS ON/OFF ON THE TURN. I NOTICED THE U JOINT WAS RUSTED OUT. I SPRAYED IT WITH SILICONE, WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE, NOW THE STIFFNESS IS BACK. I BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS U JOINT REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA complaint #10881356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING ISSUE. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL I EXPERIENCE STIFFNESS ON/OFF ON THE TURN. I NOTICED THE U JOINT WAS RUSTED OUT. I SPRAYED IT WITH SILICONE, WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE, NOW THE STIFFNESS IS BACK. I BELIEVE TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS U JOINT REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10875263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WHILED I WAS DRIVING I WENT OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE FAN ON MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP TO BE CHECKED. THIS I WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE FRAME ON MY 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS CRACKED AND CAVING IN WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNTS ATTACH TO THE FRAME. THIS CAUSED THE MOTOR TO DROP DOWN AND THE FAN STARTED HITTING ON THE SHROUD. ALSO IT PIERCED A HOLE IN MY UPPER OIL PAN WHEN THE MOTOR DROPPED DOWN AND HIT THE RACK AND PINION. UPON RESEARCH THERE ARE MANY MANY CASES OF THIS HAPPENING TO THE 2005 -2006 TACOMA TRUCKS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10785651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE STEERING COLUMN DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,435.

NHTSA complaint #10767343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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AFTER FRAME WAS REPLACED I STARTED HAVING STIFFNESS IN MY STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #10745707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WITH OUT WARNING, MY STEERING GOT VERY STIFF AND THE WHEELS WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER AUTOMATICALLY. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT IT COULD BE THE U-JOINT ON THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT. I SPRAYED LUBRICANT ON THE U-JOINT AND THIS TEMPORARILY RESOLVED THE ISSUE. THE BINDING RETURNS EVERY WEEK OR SO. THE U-JOINT IS NOT PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS ALLOWING ROAD GRIME, SALT AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS TO GET INTO THE U-JOINT. THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER THEY STATED TO KEEP LUBING IT UNTIL IT STOPS WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE DANGEROUS AND I WILL BE WORKING TO REPLACE IT. I AM SEEING THAT THE COST IS ~ $350 TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE REPAIR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS THIS IS A VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND MANY TACOMA OWNERS OF THE 2005 TO AT LEAST THE 2012 MODEL ARE INDICATING HAVING THIS ISSUE AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10721170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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STEERING SHAFT BINDS SUDDENLY AT LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING INPUT.

NHTSA complaint #10705481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA complaint #10689660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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SEVERAL WEEKS AGO MY POWER STEERING STARTED TO ACT ERRATICALLY. IT FELT LIKE I HAD NO HELP WITH THE STEERING. I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN A FEW MOMENTS LATER IT WOULD FEEL BETTER BUT THE RETURN MOTION IN THE POWER STEERING WOULD STILL BE SLUGGISH. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAID TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL AND ADD FLUID IF NECESSARY. I TOPPED OFF THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THAT HELPED A LITTLE, BUT THE SLUGGISHNESS IN THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO BE ERRATIC. MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 1/7/2015 WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DEALERSHIP, ONE OF THE SERVICE WRITERS EXPLAINED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IN THE POWER STEERING COLUMN HAD GOTTEN DIRTY OVER THE YEARS AND WAS NOW SLOWLY BREAKING DOWN. HE SAID IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND TO JUST CONTINUE DRIVING UNTIL IT GRADUALLY IS CONSISTENTLY VERY SLUGGISH. GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A 65 MPH AND HAVING THE POWER STEERING FREEZE UP ON YOU AS YOU ARE MAKING A TURN IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME, MY FAMILY AND OTHER MOTORIST. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE TOYOTA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10671847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLES WERE RUSTED AND THAT THE U-JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10651597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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RETURNING HOME WITH MY GRANDSON FROM VISITING A STATE UNIVERSITY I HEAD A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT A RUBBER BUSHING HAD FAILED BECAUSE PREVIOUS MODELS OF TOYOTAS (TERCELS) MADE THE SAME SOUND WHEN THE TORSION BAR BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON RETURNING HOME I FOUND THE SWAY BAR HAD COME OUT OF THE LEFT BRACKET WHICH SECURES IT TO THE FRAME AND WAS STRIKING THE FRONT LEFT SPRING OF THE SPRING AND SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLY. THE SWAY BAR BRACKET HAD BENT UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE SWAY BAR BECAUSE THE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT WHERE THE REAR SWAY BAY BRACKET MOUNTING BOLT CONNECTS TO THE FRAME. THERE IS NO FRAME MATERIAL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME TO REATTACH THE SWAY BAR BRACKET.THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME HAS RUSTED OUT. LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME IT HAS EXCESSIVE RUST. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS SINCE 1977 OR 78. OWNING TERCELS, COROLLA, CAMRY, 1995 TOYOTA PICKUP AND A 4RUNNER. TOYOTA QUALITY THIS TACOMA IS NOT!

NHTSA complaint #10618572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.