Strong intereste in a 1st Gen Taco but with strong reservations due to frame rust

Hi new 1st post here and hoping to make this a regular forum once I get a Taco.

I REALLY like the styling of the 2001-2004 models much more so than the 2nd gens.. The only reservation I have about buying a late 1st gene is the rust issue. I live in Chicago so I will almost guaranteed to be affected by it.

What isn't clear to me is - Are only a small numbers of 2001-2004 models afflicted with with the rust issue? Or can we safely assume all will be affected?

If I purchase a 2004, should I hope the original frame will fail the rust test within the 15 year warranty? Or is it realistic to hope to pickup a 2004 unit without the rust issue on its original frame?

Thanks!

 

All the frames are the same.

If you get a truck that spent most of its time outside in the winter (read: winter with snow and salt, not CA winter) it will most likely fail well within the 15 years, so you'll be able to get a new frame for the truck free of charge.

 

are there any restrictions to the frame replacement warranty for 01-04 models? IE - I would need to be the original owner, or the registered owner for x amount of time etc...

 

That I'm not sure of. I have heard that for the 95.5-00 trucks Toyota started to only buy back trucks that people have owned for more than 6mo - 1yr due to people taking advantage of the buyback. Haven't heard anything about the 01-04s.

After inspection, Toyota will either swap frames (if it fails) or spray on a rust prohibiter (at least thats what they say...I got mine insepcted and they didnt spray anything)

 

Does anyone know if the 15 year warranty starts from 04 since mine is a 04 or does it start the day they discovered the problem?

 

15 years from the day it left the line.

 

yes from when it was made. but as long as you go and have it inspected then you should be fine. one of my friends works at one of the local yota garages and they either bacically say your frame is garabe and replace it along with (brake lines, lower control arms, leaf springs, shocks, and exhaust) which is a big feat for yota cause he said it cost toyota about $10k for everyone they do. now say your frame passes, they then in turn (well suppose to) get the surface rust off then spray some kind of undercoating on it thats suppose to be bullet proof, which i have yet to see. so don't let the frame recall waiver you in choosing one of these beast, because if it does have a bad frame toyota is suppose to take care of it, and second why would you buy one if the frame was already shot right.

 

Wow. I didn't know they will replace all that stuff. I just had my tail pipe and muffler done. Now the Cat Converter is leaking bad. Really sounds rotten. I also had my emergency brake cable replaced due to corrosion. I'll be taking my 2001 in this coming week for the second inspection in 18 months. I'm hoping they do something this time other than hit the frame with a hammer in the parking lot and say it's fine. This time I'm going to a different dealer and they want to do a detailed inspection on it. It's not getting any better, I can assure you of that. I hosed off the underside today and the driveway was full of metal scale today. I could have filled a coffee can with it. The rest of the truck looks great. The underside looks like cancer.

 

yeah thats what he told me, the only problem it that say you have aftermarket springs, shocks, and such they would replace those, well they well with oem stuff, but thats to be expected. all i can say is that my frame still looks better then the one i had under my 98, wow i could push my finger through it, i guess thats one of the down falls to living in maine were they use calcium and salt (frame killing solution as we call it). but yeah take it in a give them holy hell, if you are washing it and you are getting chunks coming off then then they should have replaced it, unless they are saying it's surface rust. i'm so glad i have a friend that works there, and it doesn't hurt that his family owns the dealership ha ha

 

I know about road salt. We have it here also. I comes in on lake freighters and there is a mountain of it visble from the highway.

I'd love to keep this truck. Hoping they replace the frame. 52,000 miles is not much!

 

Hi Ywen.
Chicago area too. I got my 02 Taco few weeks ago, fortunatly frame is in really good shape, according to dealer, only surface rust. They still waiting for license from Fire Marshall to do frame corrosion treatment in Illinois. When asked them how long it might take, they can't say. They will notify. I contacted Toyota anyway, and they gave me case #. Every thing went smooothly so far, and I love my Taco.

 

oh wow thats not many miles, jeeze mines got like 167k on it and it still runs like a champ, got to love the little 2.7's. but as for frames, mines not bad yet but i think they guy who owned it before me took care of it well, and i take mine to the car wash one a week in the salt season i mean winter ha ha and wash the under carriage. i think the manual even says to do that.

 

Don't worry about it. Toyota is THE best about taking care of their customers. If there's a problem, they'll fix it. They did stop giving the 150% buyback to owners of the 95.5-00 Tacos who bought them less than a year ago b/c of people taking advantage. It you have the '01-newer, they will replace the frame for free. I had a '92 that was almost ten years old that had a recall on the head gaskets that Toyota replaced for FREE. They will take care of you. Don't worry about buying a Toyota.

 

I'm seeing a local 2004 DC Taco with TRD off-road (funny no badging though) available for $22K with 32K miles on it.. Good buy or no?? It feels like I can spend 6-7K more and get a brand new Taco TRD DC.. Why are these vehicles so expensive!

Oh and I see these bumps at the front of the bed.. Can any expert here identify if it is normal?

 

32K miles is very low, but $22K is WAY too much. I looked at a lot of trucks from both private parties and dealers when I bought my 2003 double cab. The highest priced 2001-2004 truck I saw was at the local Toyota dealer. It was a 2004 double cab with 40K+. They wanted 19K and said they would come down to 17.5K. I wound up getting mine from a small car lot for $13K (60K miles). $4500 can buy a lot of maintenance! The TRD package will add a little more to the truck. There were some 2005 double cab trucks out there that were a better deal (not much more expensive than my 2003), but I also like the 1st gen look more.

I don't know about those bumps you circled. My truck came with a factory bed liner so I have never seen back there under it.

Matt

 

Those "bumps" kind of match the tailgate don't they?

I think the "bumps" are a way of adding strength to the stamping.
I wouldn't worry.

 

I took mine in a few weeks ago for the inspection. Not sure about anything before 01, but 01-04 you get a new frame if it fails. If it passes, you have 15 years from the date the first owner took possession of it. It doesn't matter how long you've owned it or how many people have owned it. On mine, they didn't do any rust proofing, but they did wash it for me, saved me 3 bucks.