2002 TOYOTA TACOMA Unknown Or Other Problems

My air conditioning is not working right blowing hot air. Had it charged and no change, I believe that I have the same issue as others, My air bags light keeps going off and on when driving. I see where there was a recall on other Toyota vehicles that had the same problem as me.

We heard they issued a recall for faulty frames. When someone told us this we contacted Toyota. They said it had expired. I never received a recall of any kind.i take excellent care of my vehicles and this Tacoma only roughly 98,000 miles. The body is great shape, it runs great. My question is if the frame should break and we're going 65mph, who is responsible if someone is killed. We did not know about the recall and we certainly would have had them fix it. Is there any way you can help us resolve this issue with Toyota? Thank you in advance.

I went to get my 02 tacoma tires balanced and was called and told that where the frame was cracked. Upon inspecting it myself the crack is where the manufacturer welded the frame together. I'm the 3rd owner of this vehicle and there original owner didn't get frame warranty recall done. Which led to it running out. Now Toyota corporate has a frame case number ([XXX]) and was told that there's nothing that could be done until enough complaints about this case number reaches a certain number then they'll look into it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

chassis recall

Frame rusted out! Known issue that no one seems to care to help remedy. Toyota needs to do better. Vehicle still in amazing condition but cannot be driven because of this problem

FRAME FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION: TOYOTA HAD PLACED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" TO REPLACE THE FRAMES BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T TREATED FOR CORROSION BUT WITH AN ENHANCEMENT, IT EXPIRES AND DID SO IN 2017. I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND LEARNED THEY HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE SPARE WHEEL COMPARTMENT. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THE FRAME NOT A SAFETY RECALL?? I HAVE HUGE HOLES AND LARGE CRACKS ALONG MUCH OF THE FRAME AND MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY FINGERS GO THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE FRAME! MY MECHANIC TELLS ME BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE CORROSION IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK, THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS IN DANGER OF FALLING OUT!! LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR TOYOTA TRUCKS FOR 2002 AND BEYOND. FOR MANY YEARS THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. THE GOV NEEDS TO DEMAND A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS TRUCK AND ALL THE OTHERS AFFECTED.

Mileage: 155,000

REAL BAD RUST ISSUE ON THE FRAME FRAME JUST ABOUT INTO , THAT IS ONLY 1 PHOTO I HAVE MORE . I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED IN 2013 THE ATTACHED PIC WAS TAKEN 2-3 WEEKS AGO TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE/DRIVE

Mileage: 200,000

7/31/2019, I DROVE MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER SHOP AFTER I NOTICED THE REAR OF MY TRUCK TILTING DOWN WHEN LOADING. PER TOYOTA DEALER INSPECTION, ITS FRAME 3/4 WAY RUSTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES AND VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AND TOYOTA'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE FRAME EXPIRED ON JANUARY 2, 2017. REPLACING THE FRAME WOULD COST $24,000, OR THE TRUCK IS JUST A PIECE OF JUNK. ON THE SAME DAY 1:20PM, I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, 800-331-4331, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AS I DIDN'T BRING IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY ON TRUCK FRAME EXPIRED. 7/22/2011, THE TRUCK HAD A FRAME RECALL IN RESPONSE TO EXCESSIVE RUST AND PERFORMED CORROSION TREATMENT PER TOYOTA GUIDELINE (NOT REPLACEMENT OF FRAME). 2/11/2013, THE TRUCK WAS IN TOYOTA SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY WORDS REGARDING THE FRAME. MY TRUCK IS IN GREAT SHAPE, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, OTHER THAN THE RUST FRAME, WITH ONLY 102,000 MILES. I LIKE THE TRUCK, TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT, AND INTENT TO DRIVE FOR A FEW MORE YEARS. BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THE FRAME WOULD BE AN ISSUE EVEN AFTER HAVING A FRAME RECALL WORK DONE. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD STILL TAKE CARE OF MY TRUCK FRAME, AS IT HAS GONE BAD DUE TO THE FACT THAT (1) TOYOTA DIDN'T BUILD IT WITH GOOD QUALITY PARTS TO START WITH, (2) TOYOTA DEALER DIDN'T PERFORM A GOOD QUALITY RECALL - JUST PATCH/PAINTED WHICH DIDN'T PREVENT FROM FURTHER RUSTING, AND (3) THIS BAD RUST MUST HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE THE 15-YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED; I JUST OVER-TRUSTED TOYOTA AND OVER-LOOKED THE FRAME... I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL FRAME BODY SHOPS. THEY ARE ALL AWARE OF THE TOYOTA TACOMA FRAME PROBLEMS AND THINK THE FRAME HAD BEEN RUSTING A LONG TIME AGO, WHILE THE TRUCK LOOKS/RUNS GREAT. REPLACEMENT OF THE FRAME IS THE ONLY YET COSTLY OPTION TO SAVE THE TRUCK. I BELIEVE THERE MUST BE MANY TACOMA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RESULTED FROM BAD-QUALITY-BUILT TRUCK FRAMES.

THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT.

I PURCHASED A USED TOYOTA TACOMA 2002 ON 12/16/11 (NOW WITH 124K MILES). TOYOTA ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE TO OWNERS REGARDING A SAFETY ISSUE & THE POSSIBILITY OF FRAME SPLITTING WITH STEPS TO TAKE FOR TOYOTA TO COVER THIS ISSUE IN A 1X LETTER THEY SENT OUT IN FEB 2012. TOYOTA SENT THE LETTER TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER & NOT TO ME (THE RIGHTFUL OWNER AT THAT TIME.) I RECENTLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FROM A LOCAL TIRE COMPANY THAT NOTICED A SPLIT IN MY TRUCK'S FRAME (THIS ISSUE WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHEN I HAD ANOTHER RECALL ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF ON 5/11/15). I WENT RIGHT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THE FRAME MUST BE REPLACED (WHICH WAS PART OF THE PROGRAM THAT TOYOTA OFFERED IN THE LETTER SENT TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER, NOT ME' THE CORRECT OWNER AT THAT TIME). TOYOTA WILL NOT ASSIST ME WITH THE REPAIR/FIX BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THEY DID THEIR JOB AND SENT THE NOTICE TO THE OWNER THAT THEY HAD ON FILE FROM THEIR RESOURCES. I HAVE A COPY OF MY DMV REGISTRATION SHOWING THE REGISTRATION DATE, PROVING THAT THEY MAILED THE LETTER & REPAIR DETAILS TO THE INCORRECT OWNER. I SENT A CERTIFIED LETTER TO THE TOYOTA LEGAL DEPARTMENT WITH THE DETAILS & PROOF OF OWNERSHIP, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS I WAS THE RIGHTFUL OWNER AT THE TIME THEY MAILED THE LETTER. THEY SIGNED FOR MY LETTER ON 12/21/18. NOW IT IS 3 1/2 MONTHS LATER AND I HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THEM. WHEN I CALL THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE, TELLING ME THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT CAN ONLY COMMUNICATE BY MAIL. TOYOTA HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FRAME THAT THEY NEVER INFORMED ME ABOUT. NOW MY CHERISHED TRUCK & DAILY TRANSPORTATION IS WORTH NOTHING BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S DEFECTIVE FRAME. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING ISSUED BECAUSE TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE FRAME AND LACK OF PROPERLY NOTIFYING ME, THE CORRECT OWNER, WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE & REPAIR OPTIONS.

Mileage: 124,000

TAKATA RECALL THE CHASSIS OF THE TRUCK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. DOES NOT LOOK SAFE TO DRIVE.

Mileage: 120,000

THE FRAME AT REAR SPRING HANGERS HAS RUSTED THROUGH REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM FRAME DUE TO RUST

Mileage: 140,000

I RECEIVED A INTERIM NOTICE LETTER FROM TOYOTA IN 2011, STATING THAT THE FRAME HAD A COATING DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL OXMOOR TOYOTA DEALER IN 2011 AND THEY PUT A WAX COATING ON THE FRAME TO STOP THE FRAME FROM RUSTING MORE. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY AND I HAD OXMOOR TOYOTA FIX THAT AS WELL. THE ASSEMBLY WAS RUSTING AWAY. THIS WEEK I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (HWY 480) AND THE TRUCK BECAME VERY LOOSE IN HANDLING. TOOK THE TRUCK HOME INSPECTED IT AND FOUND THE FRAME SNAPPED IN HALF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL.

Mileage: 112,000

AS A NEW PRE OWNER OF THE 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA THAT I HAD PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2017. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAVE COMPLETED ALL RECALL PER TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE SERVICES AND MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS DURING THE INSPECTION, THEY SPRAY RUST PROOF ON THE FRAME TO PROTECT FROM CORROSION. IF WAS LUCKY THAT I HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK FOR SERVICES FOR NEW TIRES ON 1/30/18. WHILE THE MECHANIC TRY TO LEFT THE TRUCK FOR SERVICES, THEY NOTICE THAT THE FRAME WHERE RUSTED AND WOULD OF FALL APART IF THE LEFT THE CAR UP. THEY CALLED ME INTO THE WORK AREA AND POINTED OUT HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS. IT WAS BARELY HOLDING THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE TRUCK TOGETHER. IT RUSTED MORE THAN HALF WAY OF THE FRAME THAT SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE BED TRUCK. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDATION TO CONTACT TOYOTA. AND I DID BUT GOT NO WHERE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. Q

Mileage: 171,000

I PURCHASED THE TACOMA 10/9/2013, I NOTICED SOME OF THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN MADE BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, 10/29/2013 FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE GUY, USING A HAMMER, THAT MY FRAME WAS CRUMBLING AND I WOULD BE NEEDING A NEW FRAME AS WELL. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL I EVER GOT WAS, I'M SORRY, AND HOW THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE FRAME ON THE 2002. THE RUST PROBLEM ON MY TACOMA IS SO SEVERE, THE TRUCK IS STARTING TO BUCKLE, NO SPACE BETWEEN THE CAB AND THE BED AT THE TOP. IT IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE NO ONE WILL PUT IT ON A LIFT! IT WILL BE THE COMPLETE AND SINGLE CAUSE FOR THE DEMISE OF MY TRUCK, AND QUITE POSSIBLY MYSELF. I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I WILL BE DRIVING THE TACOMA WHEN THE FRAME BREAKS APART AND I WILL PROBABLY DIE. 9/11/17 I WROTE JAMES LETZ, CEO OF TOYOTA, AND MANAGER OF TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING, I STATED, "I FOLLOWED THE CORROSION PREVENTION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE QUALITY OF THE FRAME ON THE 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA IS INFERIOR DUE TO INADEQUATE RUST PROTECTION AT THE FACTORY." 9/28/17 I RECEIVED A RESPONSE BY PHONE FROM GRAND PRAIRIE, TX. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL LETTER SENT OUT TO THE OWNERS OF 2002 TACOMAS, INFORMING THE OWNERS TO CHECK FOR RUSTING AND CORROSION ON THE FRAME, AND THEY COULD BRING THE TRUCK IN FOR A RUST PREVENTION SPRAY; HOWEVER, IT EXPIRED 2011. THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW HOW SEVERE THE PROBLEM IS. I TOLD HIM I WAS SCARED, AND HE ANSWERED, "I UNDERSTAND I WOULD BE TOO." HE LED ME TO THINK NOTHING WAS GOING TO BE DONE, BUT IT WAS UP TO THE ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT, ODDLY ENOUGH, THAT IS MR. LETZ!

Mileage: 200,000

TODAY I SAW THE TRUCK FOR SALE ON CRAIGSLIST AND WHEN I CALLED THE OWNER HE SAID IT HAS 132000 MILES BUT WHEN I GOT CARFAX THE CAR HAVE OVER 250000. THE IS CURRENTLY LISTED ON CRAIGS LIST HTTPS://SFBAY.CRAIGSLIST.ORG/SBY/CTO/6184326088.HTML

FRAME RUSTED, UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD RECALL HAD EXPIRED, NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED SECOND HAND FROM TOYOTA DEALER.

Mileage: 106,000

TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX SAFETY RECALLS BECAUSE OF FRAME RUST DAMAGE. I NEVER RECEIVED THEIR SHORT TERM RECALL NOTICE ON THE FRAME RUST AND DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE SAFETY RECALL PARTS !

Mileage: 170,620

FRAME ROT FROM INSIDE OUT. SUSPENSION MOUNTING TO FRAME ROTTED OUT. TOTOYA REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THIS AND CLAIMS THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPIRED. HOW CAN A RECALL BE EXPIRED. CASE #1606101548 . TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE VERY RUDE AND DEMEANING.

Mileage: 131,000

EXCESSIVE UNSAFE FRAME ROT FROM INSIDE OUT. TOYOTA SAFETY 'RECALL' OFFER TO FIX 'EXPIRED'.

FRAME RUSTED OUT. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR. SAFETY ISSUE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SPARE TIRE CARRIER RECALL AND WAS ADVISED FRAME WAS RUSTED ALSO AND THEY WOULD REPAIR NEITHER RUSTED FRAME NOR SPARE TIRE CARRIER. COMPLAINT FILED WITH VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ON JANUARY 21, 2016 AND TOYOTA RESPONDED TO THEIR OFFICE ON 02/11/2016 SAYING TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE.

2002 TOYOTA TACOMA WAS TAKEN INTO THE SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION AND BRAKE INSPECTION WHEN THE SHOP SERVICE TECHNICIAN CALLED TO REPORT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE CONTAINS PINHOLES AND IS NOTICEABLY RUSTING, PRESENTING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SHOP TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED CONTACTING TOYOTA DIRECTLY AS HE THOUGHT ANY RECALL HAD SINCE EXPIRED. POST RESEARCHING RECALL INFORMATION, WE DID VERIFY THAT THE "RECALL" PERIOD HAD EXPIRED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AS A CORPORATE ASSET AND REMAINS IN OUR POSSESSION. WE ABSOLUTELY DID NOT RECEIVE ANY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE FRAME ISSUES NOR A REQUEST FOR INSPECTION!

Mileage: 387,383

THE VEHICLE'S FRAME COMPLETELY RUSTY TO THE POINT THAT I FEAR IT WILL BREAK AT ANY TIME. I RECENTLY TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT AND OTHER BELTS AND A LOT OF THE BOLTS BROKE WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE THE BELTS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ERROR. MORE THAN LIKELY, THE FACTORY USED LOW GRADE MATERIALS WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO RUST A LOT FASTER OVER TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IF DUE TO THIS RUST ISSUE, THE BREAKS FAIL OR THE FRAME COMES APART THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. THIS IS WHY I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA AND RECEIVED A CLAIM NUMBER, THIS CLAIM IS UNDER REVIEW. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 77,269

I CALLED TOYOTA IN 2012 TO ASK ABOUT FRAME. WAS TOLD I DIDN'T QUALIFY. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EVERYTHING ATTACHED TO FRAME IN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. LAST FALL THE GAS TANK FELL OFF. FRAME SO RUSTED IT WOULDN'T HOLD IT. CALLED TOYOTA AGAIN, AS RECOMMENDED BY MECHANIC, WAS TOLD I DIDN'T QUALIFY. WENT TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR ON SPARE TIRE HOLDER, THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. TOO RUSTED. TOLD ME IT S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA. I DID. TOLD ME I DIDN'T QUALIFY BECAUSE RECALL EXPIRED. EXPIRED?! I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE!! I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS FOR 32 YEARS. THEY FOUND ME THIS TIME, THEY SHOULD HAVE FOUND ME FOR THAT ONE. NOW WHAT? I AM OUT WELL OVER $3500 DOLLARS I'VE PAID OUT THE LAST 3 YRS AND ITS NOT SAFE! NEED HELP HERE. *JS

Mileage: 75,000

MY TRUCKS FRAME IS CORRODED AND FALLING APART. TOYOTA HAD A RECALL OUT FOR THE FRAME. DUE TO PREVIOUS OWNER NOT HAVING CHEMICAL COMPOUND SPRAYED ON THE FRAME, I AM TOLD THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING REGARDING MY TRUCKS UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. I HAVE BEEN TO IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE BUT TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

Mileage: 130,000

DEAR [XXX], I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR EMAIL BUT I AM COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH MY 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK AT THE MOMENT WITH 134,000 MILES AS OF TODAY. THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE ?DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS AND DEFECTIVE COMPUTER AIR BAG.? OVER A YEAR AGO, THIS WAS ACCESSED FROM HALEY LOCATED OFF RT 288 AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AT THAT TIME. I PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED THEN, NOT TO REOCCUR A YEAR LATER. IN ANY CASE, IF A TOYOTA VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS SUCH AS THE AIR BAG AND ITS COMPUTER THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE PART AND ABSORB THE LABOR AND COSTS INVOLVED TO DO SO NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CLIENT. THE CLIENT DID NOT CAUSE THE PROBLEM, IT IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM I AM NOW FACING IS THAT HALEY TOYOTA WANTS ME TO ABSORB THIS COST OF PARTS AND LABOR TO THE TUNE OF $711.00 FOR A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AN ATTORNEY SPECIALIZING IN AUTO INJURY, BUT WITH SOME RESEARCH AND TAKING WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A LAWYER; HE HIGHLY SUGGESTS THAT UNLESS TOYOTA REPLACES THE PARTS AND LABOR AT THEIR EXPENSE THAT I SHOULD PROCEED WITH HIRING AN ATTORNEY AND EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE AIR BAG AND WHAT HALEY HAS SAID. FOR HALEY TO DISMISS THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND SAY THAT THEY CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE IS IN ITSELF AN ?EGREGIOUS? REMARK FOR WHICH THEY CAN BE LIABLE FOR IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE PASSENGER IS DRIVING THE CAR/TRUCK IN QUESTIONED. INFACT, THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE THE PREMISE THIS PAST FRIDAY KNOWING ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE IF A MAJOR ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN THEY WOULD BE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WELL AS TOYOTA ITSELF. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 134,000

CONSUMER STATED WATER LEAKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FLOOR TO BE WET. THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH