2001 Tacoma 4DR Rust Damage

Have you already called Toyota? Couldn't hurt to try

 

Greenville toyota ordered a frame for my 04 not long ago...whether yours is covered or not will rely on the origional registration date

 

Yeah that's who told me Toyota headquarters.

Mine isn't covered because the original owner didn't get the Tacoma serviced in 2012.

 

So I contacted the dealership I got my truck at, and they agreed to fix the rust issue all they will do is patch it. But it's free so yeah.

 

My sway bar mount on the drivers side let loose today in the woods. I am cutting the GD thing off, I like how it rides without it anyhow. I removed the end link yesterday thinking it would relieve stress on the mount, guess I was wrong.

Made a nice hole in my frame, but on the bright side it'll be easier to weld now. Lol these frames are a joke.

 

So I contacted headquarters one more time, this time through email so I could send them photos of my frame. Maybe this can shed some light for them to finally realize this is still a problem. Especially since it's not my fault. I'm losing hope in how Toyota handles the customers.

 

I'll probely be branded a jerk for saying this, but take some ownership! You bought a 15 year old used vehicle with a massive defect that could have been found during a PPI. Toyota does not does not owe you anything.

 

Okay first of all, the original owner didn't take responsibility like he should have and gotten it looked at. Second, the whole underbody was black when I looked at it before I bought it. People are shady as fuck. So Toyota doesn't owe me anything? I think they owe me a new frame, for sure. I really could careless what you think unless you work for Toyota, do ya? And take some ownership? Hey buddy this is my first Toyota it isn't like I knew anything about the rust replacement campaign. They should still take care of this problem, either replace the frame or buy back the trucks that are still out there on the roads about to shatter to pieces.

 

Where does Toyota draw the line at claims? Despite being undercoated Stevie Wonder could have seen that frame was rubbish.

 

So just continue making payments on a rust bucket, 13,000 damn 5 years til it's paid off and it still won't be worth anything. The frame didn't show any rust or anything it looked fine.

 

I'd say yes and no to the jerk comment. Yes, most of the people who post frame problems on here could have probably found out that the frame was a POS but most don't even know about the frame problems that are going on with the trucks. I would put money on it that if it were you who bought a truck that looked good and found out later that it wasn't, you would be the one on here looking for advice, calling Toyota and wanting someone to do something to help you out. Anyone who drops thousands of dollars on a vehicle would never suspect problems like this to happen. Yes, problems always occur when you purchase a used vehicle and most accept that something will go wrong and it is now the new owners responsibility to take care of it.

Not trying to be an ass about it but this forum isn't to tell the OP that he is a dipshit for buying a fucked truck, we are posting to help the OP resolve issues he/she may roll up on. It gets old reading post with no solution/advice to help the OP, If you can honestly say that you would just shut up and take it after dropping thousands then good on you. If you have nothing to contribute to the OP, just move along.

 

On another note, didn't Toyota sue I believe Dana (read it somewhere on this forum) for the frame problem?

Soooo....
Toyota makes Tacoma's with frame issue
Toyota sues company that produced frames
Toyota wins lawsuit and gets millions
Toyota sends out letters to owners to get the frame undercoated (2001-2004) or buyback for older ones
Toyota says you have till so and so date to do so
Once date has passed you are out of luck and Toyota keeps all money for frames that weren't undercoated
Toyota makes out on this deal
New owners are screwed out of thousands.


Yes, I believe Toyota should make it right with any and all Tacoma's that have frame issues. They sued another company to resolve the rusty frame issue but since original owner decided not to take advantage of the campaign the new owner is told to take ownership of this problem. Toyota pockets millions and isn't at fault. Hmmmm

Maybe it's just me who sees it this way

 

I don't think you'll be the last one to be irritated by frame rust. I'm as these trucks change hands that a lot of people are going to find out the truck they bought is rotten and has no coverage. Toyota has to draw the line somewhere or else 5-10-20 years from now everyone will be wanting free frames or a buy back. I paid half of what you did, but still put it on a lift before the cash changed hands. I was happy mine was replaced six months prior to me buying it, but that still did not stop me from putting it on a lift.

 

Well lucky you.

 

I don't hang expensive purchases on luck, so luck had nothing to do with it.

 

I'm saying you was lucky it was replaced prior to getting your truck.

 

The only thing wrong with that statement is that no matter how much time has passed it doesn't negate the fact that Toyota proved (in court) that these frames were defective. Therefor they should be 100% liable to replace any and all frames that need it. My truck is only 12 years old and is going in for its 2nd frame patch job. The rest of the truck is rust free and looks like new. Total bullshit that Toyota can get paid millions from a company found to have produced and supplied faulty frames and Toyota has some bullshit loophole to back out of replacing frames that are faulty. Whether or not some undercoating spray was applied to my frame doesn't have any affect on it being faulty

 

In regards to the argument of who's fault this is all are valid points. It is easy to sound harsh online, keep that in mind when writing and reading posts. All are good points.

+1!
Some state require dealers (used shady dealers included) to disclose any findings. Sometimes it is "at the request of the buyer" or sometimes it is just always required. I know because i looked at well over 100 tacos over 4 years in 8 states and some (IL) made it real easy to find faults. (BTW, 90% were rust buckets) It might be returnable with out a lawyer if you read up on the laws. But also look into the cost of replacing the frame before you get a lawyer involved. If a large chunk of the $13k was dealer fees (never returnable) and you add the cut to a lawyer it is likely not worth the effort. But if the body is fine and the engine is good it might be worth rebuilding given how well these hold value. What kind of dearer did you buy it from?

 

Does anyone know what the coating toyota applied was? was it thick like urethane or chassis saver? What was it? how would one identify it?

Yeah, in looking at >100 tacos while shopping i saw many that had been painted over. Some very well. Or some with no rust except in crucial places. I had one dealer threaten that i had to buy the truck because i poked my finger through the frame and left piles of rust all over the parking lot. It was freshly painted black over the rust, likely buy the used dealer.

 

huh? please @carofchoice explain this. I bought used from a owner and never knew about this. I owned 4 toyotas in the past. explain.