2003 Lexus GX

FRAME IS ROTTING FROM INSIDE OUT, EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS COMMON TO THE EARLY/MID 2000'S TOYOTA TUNDRA, TACOMA, AND 4RUNNER, THE LATTER OF WHICH SHARES FRAME COMPONENTS. TOYOTA, FOR WHATEVER REASON, COVERED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA THROUGH RECALLS, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER OR GX470.

Structure problem. Went to the mechanic for a routine oil change. He said the frame is rotted, rusted away so bad he could stick his finger through the frame. They said it was unsafe, couldn’t even hoist it up on the lift. The body, exterior looks fine, no rust at all, but the frame is evidently rotted away. Faulty metal or treatment??

TOOK MY 2003 GX470 TO DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION. IT HAS 128,000 MILES ON IT. THEY ADVISED AFTER REVIEWING FRAME STRUCTURE THAT THE VEHICLE CAN NO LONGER BE PUT ON A LIFT BECAUSE THE FRAME IS CRUMBLING AND ALSO ADVISED VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVEN. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND A FRAME SHOP FOR THEIR OPINION. THEY WERE AMAZED HOW THE BODY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RUST YET THE FRAME WAS TOTALLY FALLING APART. FRAME SHOP ALSO AGREED ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT SAFE WAS TOTAL FRAME REPLACEMENT. FOLLOWING UP WITH LEXUS DEALER ON FILING A CLAIM WITH LEXUS.

WE WERE PROCEEDING TO MAKE A R.H. TURN FROM ON TWO LANE ROAD TO ANOTHER IN A 2003 LEXUS GX WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND ESC COMPLETELY FAILED . ALTHOUGH I PUSHED TRANSMISSION'S LEVER IN NEUTRAL . THE REAR END SKIDDED OUTWARD AND NO ESC OR ABS WAS EVIDENT. I STEERED INTO SKID AND THEN STEERED INTO DITCH TO AVOID OFFSET COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AND SKIDDED INTO DITCH ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF ROAD . SEVERE CONCUSSION AND AMNESIA FOR DRIVER AS DEAD SLAMMED INTO DRIVER'S WINDOW . PASSENGER SUFFERED LEFT LEG INJURY. I REPORTED TWO PRIOR INCIDENTS TO NHTSA JAN 9 , 2010 , ETC AND NO RESPONSE . NOW I AM GOING PUBLIC AND TO SENATOR ROCKERFELLER THAT NHTSA IS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS GX470. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT'S MOTHER-IN-LAW ACCIDENTALLY ACTIVATED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE BUTTON. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.