Rust hole in body near rear axle mount

[grilled cheeseus]

I was talking to someone who had a Yaris ("was a great car!") but he had to get rid of it because rust ate a hole through the body near the rear torsion axle mount, and it wouldn't pass NY state inspection anymore.

Some days later I look under mine ('07 3-door) and it's got the same cancer. Click through for the full-size image. You'll see it's not just the hole, but also a crack going down toward that bolt and up toward that weld.



Had anyone else had an issue like this? If so, how did you deal with it?

Mine has had lots of salt exposure. Probably 10 salty winters, though we've been snowbirding to Arizona the last few. I don't know if the previous owner did any rust-proofing, but I haven't.

I am very fond of this car and I don't want to get rid of it. Maybe I can find a welder who can reinforce this area of the body.