Toyota is replacing the frame on my '05!!

I live in Maine and have an ’05 Tacoma Sport with just over 80K miles. I am the second owner.

It failed inspection a couple of months ago because of rust holes in the frame.

I “called” (key word here) a local dealership and spoke with the service manager about the problem. He said that he couldn’t help me and gave me the National Toyota Customer Service number. I called and got zero help from them other than opening up a case on it.

After reading some of the posts on here, I figured my only solution was to get it repaired on my own and started checking out some welding shops. During this process, we decided to try the dealership one more time so we spoke directly to the owner of the dealership.

He was very concerned and arranged to get my truck to the body shop and see how bad the issue was. We arranged a time and he was there personally while his guys put it on the lift and took pictures. They said it was safe to drive and sent the pictures off to Toyota. I sat back and waited.

A month and half later….

My Tacoma is going in Monday to get a new frame under it with no cost to me!! Awesome!! (When you think about it though, it is not awesome that a $25K truck, 9 years old with less than 80K miles on it would need a new frame).

We have never even bought a vehicle from this dealer.

We were told that Toyota will be issuing a recall eventually..

 

WOW, that dealership sounds like a keeper.

 

Sad that the frames are still as shitty as they are but glad it all worked out for you!

 

Great to hear man. You should also get a whole slew of new parts if it's anything like the 1st gens! My 02 was re-framed last june. It included new brake lines (hard an flexible), new leafs, coils, shocks, I forget what else. But you will basically be getting a half new truck.

It is unfortunate that Toyota is still having this issue though. Only 80k and rusted through is pretty shitty.

 

Wow that's great to hear! Sucks that an '05 frame needs replaced already tho. Nice to see a decent dealership around. Mine woulda told me go shit in my hat.

 

nice dude, im also the second owner of my taco with a lot more miles than yours.. if yota issues a recall imma be all over it, i want to take my taco to 400k but MD salt probably wont let me

 

x2

 

Enjoy your brand new truck! Now you'll be able to drive it until 2025.

 

This is a big part of why I bought a Tacoma. Name another manufacturer that stands behind their product like that...

 

Glad to hear it! I heard back from my dealer and said that the regional office wasn't interested in my complaint. The dealer told me to pester the customer service number. As soon as I got off the phone with him I called Toyota cs and feel like I made progress. They elevated it for someone to look at it and had me email pictures along with my claim number...she said she would be calling me back in 3 days max either way

 

Or for another 8 years before it rusts out again

 

lol but its true.. with all that damn salt.... would be cheaper to just give errybody tax incentives on snow tires or something

 

Glad that ended up well for you. I just traded mine in to avoid their games and telling me its my problem

 

Everyone phone that dealership now

 

A friend of mine has an '03 Tundra that he has had since new. Acton Toyota of Littleton (MA) just changed his frame and has all new brake lines and got it back 2 weeks ago.

He contacted the dealer and they told him to bring it in. They looked at it and suggested he not drive it anymore (it was bad). The work and parts were free and he got a loaner car while the truck was in the shop.

The whole job took them almost 3 weeks.

 

So worth it. The value of my brothers 01 Tundra at trade in with a new frame was mind-boggling.

 

Heck, while the new frame is out, why not see if you can buy some POR 15 or Eastwood rust treatment and pay the shop labor charges for applying it?

 

Unfortunately, unless he's planning on moving i don't see that ^ happening.

 

at the frame! But glad its working out for you OP. Hope we all have this outcome if we have issues like this. You should name the dealership. They deserve business if they are treating people right.