While most car owners perceive frame rust corrosion as just a nuisance or as a cosmetic issue, the reality is that it can become very serious over the years and even lead to horrific accidents. One of the main dangers of having a rusted frame is that it will most likely fail to protect you during a potential car accident. Since the frame is the primary structure that supports your automobile, if it is brittle, it will collapse upon impact. Nevertheless, excessive rust corrosion on the frame can cause numerous other serious issues to your car that can also result in fatal accidents, which will be discussed in the following article.
Toyota Motor Corporation Has Recently Been Sued Due to Failing to Properly Treat the Frame of 4Runners Against Rust Corrosion
On December 6, 2018, Toyota Motor Corporation and multiple subsidiaries of the company were faced with a class-action lawsuit filed by 69-year-old Gary Weinreich of South Carolina. The accusation made against the automobile manufacturer concerns the issue of premature rusting of the frames of 4Runners from the fourth generation. Allegedly, the supplier of Toyota 4Runner frames, Dana Holding Corporation, failed to adequately treat the undercarriages against rust corrosion, a problem that hundreds of owners now have to deal with. What prompted the lead plaintiff Weinreich to take legal action was the car accident he went through in May of 2018, during which the front control arm fell off and subsequently caused the man to run off the road.
Over recent years, numerous Toyota 4Runner owners have filed complaints with both the company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with regard to the same problem of premature rust corrosion on the frames of these vehicles. However, it was only on August 17, 2018, that the federal agency decided to open a complex investigation of 4Runners manufactured between 2002 and 2006. What made the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration take this issue more seriously was the fact that Weinreich had initially filed a defect petition, which very few car owners know about. Defect petitions imply a considerably greater degree of severity than regular complaints. Unfortunately, only 43 have been filed over the past decades, which speaks volumes about their popularity.
What Can Happen If I Drive a Toyota 4Runner Whose Frame Has Been Severely Damaged by Rust?
Contrary to popular belief, even if you have a car whose frame has been properly treated against rust, corrosion will still affect it over the years. Therefore, you should expect your vehicle frame to have a little rust within 10 to 15 years after you had bought it new, particularly if you live in a state with mostly cold weather. Nonetheless, when it comes to Toyota 4Runners manufactured between 2003 and 2009, which are the subject of the current lawsuit, their frames will show major rust corrosion after only 5 years. This is why displeased owners usually refer to this as “premature rust corrosion.”
In addition to failing to protect you in a car accident, a frame that has excessive rust will cause severe damage to essential components of your automobile, such as the brakes, the suspension, and the fuel lines, as it can easily seep further into your vehicle. You may experience the following issues if you have a lot of rust corrosion on the frame of your car, which can cause a serious car accident:
- alignment issues: misalignment will put stress on the suspension of your car and eventually damage it and, if you are driving at high speed, the misalignment of wheels can result in difficulty in steering, which may lead to you losing control of the vehicle
- suspension wear: damage to suspension will make driving feel unstable and unbalanced, which can also cause you to lose control of your car and be involved in a serious accident
- uneven tire wear: driving with uneven tire wear is as dangerous as driving with bald tires, as this problem will bring about additional ones, such as improper alignment, overinflation, a worn-out suspension, and underinflation
- shaking: if you notice a constant shaking of your automobile, this means that the vehicle is not steady and may also have worn breaks, unbalanced wheels, and engine problems, and can lead to a car accident as well
- uneven shock: the purpose of the shock absorbers of your car is to ensure a smooth ride and to help you maintain control of the vehicle, so if they are uneven, you can easily lose control when you are driving and suffer a serious accident
The accidents a defective Toyota 4Runner can lead to if you drive it without being aware of the problem of severe rust corrosion on the frame are countless, ranging from head-on collisions and rear-end collisions to intersection accidents and vehicle rollovers. As for the injuries, you may sustain afterward, some can be fatal, whereas others will require a lengthy recovery or will leave you with permanent disabilities, such as traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, paralysis, spinal cord damages, internal bleeding, and psychological injuries. Consequently, if you own a Toyota 4Runner, you should regularly have it checked by a mechanic for excessive rust corrosion, and if they warn you that it is unsafe to drive, please listen to their advice.
What Do I Do If I Have Just Purchased a Toyota 4Runner that Is Susceptible to Frame Rust Corrosion?
If you had bought a defective 4Runner before hearing about the ongoing lawsuit and the premature frame rust corrosion it is prone to developing, you should not be alarmed regarding the safety of your car for the moment. As long as you take heed of the frame for the signs of rust, everything should be fine. Regularly taking it to a mechanic for inspections is also highly recommended, as they have the necessary expertise to let you know when your vehicle becomes risky to drive.
It is very important to know that if the frame of your 4Runner is damaged by rust corrosion beyond repair, you should not pay for the replacement, as you are not responsible for this manufacturing defect. You can file a claim with Toyota Motor Corporation and have the frame of your car replaced with a new one free of charge, which will make you save approximately $15,000, a considerable sum of money.
About the Author
For over 20 years, Jonathan Sharp has been the Director of Claims, as well as the Chief Financial Officer, at Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. His primary responsibilities include managing firm assets, evaluating cases, and financial analysis. Jonathan Sharp plays a very important role in the law firm, whose main areas of practice are product liability and personal injury, as he also manages client relations and the proper distribution of funds.
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