2001 Tacoma 4DR Rust Damage

That frame is in horrble condition and I guarantee it would be eligble for a replacement IF your truck is still in the time frame.

Just because you can't see clear brown/orange rust doesn't mean it's okay.

 

You can do a quick check on the manufacture date by checking the plate on the driver's side door frame. The in service date would have been after that date. You can also register on the Toyota owner's site and see the dealer maintenance records, and the in service date. You will be looking for the undercoating record back in 2011 or there abouts.

The warranty extension was not open ended, and owners ( in cold weather states) had to have inspection and rust prevention measures performed at no cost the them by a toyota dealer within a specified time frame. Toyota has been fair with this warranty, but all good things come to an end. Shame on the prior owner for not keeping up on this. That frame is toast.

Good luck with this and keep us updated.

 

My truck came from New York and I purchased my truck in Asheville, NC. But most of its life was in NY so I'm guessing the snow and everything really messed it up. It had one owner and after 2013 it went from used car lots to used car lots til it ended up in the mountains here. It hasn't had the undercoating, that was the used car dealer painting it to make it look good, and I see where they bondo some parts of the frame and painted over. I'll be calling the Toyota HQ tomorrow, no one is there today. And I'll be telling them about my problem. I just hope they can get me a frame cause I'm telling you guys I love my truck. And I want to modify it but not going to put money in it if it just falls apart, or worse kills me and my family while driving down the road. Thank y'all for all the feedback and help. And if any of you guys are in the mountains of NC, let me know I got a couple of trails.

 

Are you 100% that it wasn't coated by Toyota also? My coating is peeling off like crazy and maybe yours was too and that's why the dealer redid it. Check your local laws too, see if its legal to sell the truck with that type of damage. Its a safety hazard and since you only owned the truck for 3 months it's something to look into.

If you know for a fact that Toyota did not undercoat the truck then there is nothing Toyota would be able to help out with. Have you already registered on ToyotaOwners website? The undercoating process may be on there if it was.

 

I took my truck to the DMV they have a guy that looks over my truck to tell me if it's unsafe to drive, which he told me it's unsafe and to contact Toyota about the problem. But he said state of NC doesn't do anything about used cars/trucks, it would have to be a new car and be considered a lemon.

I'm checking in on the undercoating. It is flaking a lot it might have had it but I'll update y'all.

 

One says it had a special performed campaign done but doesn't really specific on what, and the other was the spare tire holder was replaced because of rust.

 

I'd look at that site on a desktop. There might be more info that's not displayed in the detail line. I would not be surpsied if Toyota says no coverage when you call them on Tuesday. If the truck was registered in a non cold weather state during the campaign you could be boned.

 

Check on the manufacturing date as someone elss mentioned (on the driver door)

That frame coating doesn't look like toyota stuff. I believe they use very light spray

 

Rust is like cancer. Some can be contained but when it spreads nothing works. In the old days we changed fenders, quarters but chassis were a PITA. Sometimes you got lucky and found a good donor car, many times it was not worth it.

Hopefully, Toyota will swap the chassis for you. If not I would not drive the car, in particular with family regardless of how much I liked it. it just is not worth the risk IMHO.

 

Toyota being fair would be admitting the frames need to be repaired regardless of some bullshit spray on bandaid solution to then qualify you for a frame replacement. I would like to know how many frames they replaced after the frame was initially inspected, passed, then crc sprayed. I'm willing to bet that it's in the 1000's

 

That may be, but those were the requirements to maintain the warranty, and they did not cost the owner anything but the time to take it in for service. Toyota also had to get a handle on the potential liability they had on their hands. Other manufacturers did not do that when their frames started rusting in two. I've owned four tacomas, and I made sure I brought them all in for warranty service as notified. Two were bought back, and one frame was replaced, and one is still under warranty four years after the crappy undercoating job. Whatever it cost them to do all this is a lot less than a few lost lawsuits related to frame failure resulting in injury or death. I'd like to see them cover them all for longer without pre-conditions, especially since my '03 is nearing the end of the warranty, (and I want to keep it forever). But that's probably not going to happen, and I accepted the responsibility I had as an owner to follow through on the warranty requirements. I could have been SOL with three undrivable trucks if it were not for the extended warranty.

 

I agree 100% if I had owned my 2004 Tacoma back in 2011 I most definitely would have taken it in for the free inspection. My frame was solid 6 months ago, I figured I could get a few years out of it before it started to show holes. Not so lucky. Toyota should be replacing all frames in need up to the 15 year warranty IMO

 

I see your point. I didn't buy any of my trucks new, but I owned the first three during the initial service campaign, which made it easier to have the service preformed. I'm very lucky that the prior owner of my '03 had it done before the deadline. I did not check that out before I bought it (from an out of state dealer no less) and certainly knew better. I'm an sure I would feel differently if it were not covered. It really makes me angry at those prior owners that didn't get it done, and now left a good number of subsequent owners without any remedy.

In the OP's case, I wonder if the prior owner bailed on the truck after the 7/13 dealer service which included "check over vehicle". Dealer may have told him or her that the vehicle was not covered due to no undercoating before the deadline. Of course, it was also over 10 years old, and could have been time to go newer.

 

Update: Call Toyota HQ and they gave me a case number. Asked me where I got my truck at, when did I notice the rust on the frame, and got all my information. And just so y'all know the "put on hold music" sucks. Like it's pretty bad. But she told me that the Special Request Toyota Group will call me either today or tomorrow. I just hope they can tell me good news.

The rep said it doesn't matter if you had or haven't had the Toyota undercoating done. They still want to fix the issue. So anyone that has rust damage on their truck, call now and find out if you can get a free replacement.

 

That is fantastic news. Here's hoping for good outcome.

 

My Toyota dealer looked my truck up and it didn't have the coating done, but said to call Toyota suggesting that they can do more than they can at the dealer level. So I did and toyota sent it to their management team and they'll contact me. I sure hope they fix my rusty frame!!!

Here's what I'm dealing with on drivers side where sway bar mounts. Passengers side is better, but not far behind. I'm limiting my off road driving for work until I get this sorted out...

 

That's awesome man!!! Hopefully anyone who calls HQ about this gets a new frame.

Maybe they changed things, I was told by HQ that the frames had to be undercoated.

 

Following

 

Hey guys, well the first owner didn't get my truck services in 2012 so therefore I can't get a new frame.

Cost for a frame for a 2001 Tacoma double cab is 80,000 and labor is 7,000. There is no buy back program either. So I'm going scrap yard looking for me a frame.

This is crazy cause there are still tacomas out there that are death traps and they won't do anything about it unless you had it serviced in 2012. I got 13,000 dollars left to pay off my truck and I'm not happy at all.

Hope y'all have a better chance than I've had. And if y'all find a frame for my truck let me know lol.

 

https://asheville.craigslist.org/pts/5733361611.html

Hope this helps