02 Tacoma Rusted Frame ~ Letter to Toyota...

This is the letter I just sent to Toyota, your thoughts?

I, like most Tacoma owners bought my truck because I believed Toyota
was a company that stood behind their products & you could count on them
to do the right thing. I am greatly disappointed in how Toyota is handling
my Toyota Tacoma rusted out frame replacement warranty operation.

I am unemployed at this time & really don’t appreciate the added burden of
the cost Toyota is putting on me & I believe it is quite unfair.

This is my complaint: I added a class 3, two inch trailer hitch to my 2002 Tacoma.
It uses 4 bolts, two 10mm factory & two supplied with the new hitch. Well BECAUSE
the frame is so rusted, one of the 10mm factory bolts broke off when I tried to remove
it to mount my trailer hitch (I was using a hand ratchet, NOT an air tool). So now I only
had 3 bolt points for a 4 bolt hitch, and I had to have the hitch welded onto the frame.

Well now BECAUSE the rusted out frame has to be replaced, my trailer hitch I
normally wouldn’t have done anything with, cannot be removed & reinstalled
on the replacement Toyota frame. The trailer hitch needs to be replaced BECAUSE the
frame needs to be replaced – and the hitch was welded BECAUSE of the rusted frame!

I don’t believe my Tacoma should be better than it was before the frame replacement,
But it shouldn’t be LESS than what I had before the frame replacement either! I have
petitioned Toyota, (both dealership & corporate) They told me “Sorry, we won’t cover
your trailer hitch” I believe Toyota caused me this loss and they should be the ones
to cover the cost of it. Toyota is going to pay $10,000 to $12,000 to do this rusted out
frame replacement operation. In comparison, why not cover the cost of the trailer hitch
(approx. $200) on my $8,000 to $9,000 Tacoma. (And/ or why doesn’t Toyota buy this
truck back like they did with others?)

I don’t believe Toyota is doing all they could or should in my case - the lack of
covering a $200 part is costing them a LOT of ill will. Toyota shouldn’t simply say
“Sorry”. Toyota needs to do the right thing… and strive for customer satisfaction
in accommodating my loss as a result of their frame replacement repair.

 

Good for you! And well said... I was lucky that with my 2000 and the after-market hitch, they listed it as having a "towing package" for pricing of the buy back.

Sorry they won't fix you up with a new hitch.......but maybe your letter will make a difference! Best of luck and keep us posted as to how you make out!

 

I think I'm with Toyota. Sorry. Something about this makes me feel like they aren't doing anything wrong.

 

Could you please expand / explain what this “something” is
that would have you side with Toyota on this situation?

 

I agree, Toyota is addressing the frame warranty issue and replacing the frame, anything other than factory installed is really not there concern.

 

And I know that sounds cold but thats just the way it works.

 

Agreed, but is it the way is should work?

 

Depends on your point of view, from the consumer ofcourse not just doesn't seem fair. But from the company's point of view its the only way to be fair to everyone, do only what is nessary to correct the company's fault. It has to be that cut and dry unfortunatly because if they get into peoples modifications and rebursing them for loss of parts, then it would consume a rediculous amount of time. And in the end would leave both parties unsatisfied.

 

Like he said ^^ it could go either way depending how you look at it. I think it's good that you are standing up for what you believe in though. Plus you already wrote the letter why not send it. Good luck.

 

Well written. It sucks yes. However, one could say that the frame rusting ruined the rigidity of the frame thus causing excessive tire wear for the last 6 years and I would like you to replace my tires for that time period.

In your case, you lost a hitch valued at approx. 200 bucks. Well, say they have 1000 Tacomas need the frame replacement. The replacement is valued at say 10,000 bucks.

For just the frame job it comes out to $10,000,000
Now add a $200 for each(Assuming everyone has a part that required more than usual attention due to frame) and that comes out to $200,000.
So a total of $10,200,000.

It sucks for you yes, but if they bend the rules for one, they would have to accomodate everyone to the point of Toyota no longer existing, which in turn would cease any and all frame replacements permanently.

 

Come on man, when you installed the hitch did you properly prep the surface? because if you mounted it to a rusty frame, your fault.
If the bolts were so rusty that they broke, I'd imagine it wasn't prepped properly, if you hadn't tried to remove the hitch because of the frame replacement, you would have attached a trailer, and it would potentially fall off.
Also, you could have drilled out the broken bolt, tapped the hole (if needed) and bolted it back up.
So, if you did prep properly, as in scrape the mounting points down to bare metal, paint and then attach the hitch, then you are in the right. but it doesn't sound like that is the case

 

I agree with everyone below me for my reasons for being on TOYOTA's side.

 

Agreed.

It is ridiculous (or rEdiculous, for the challenged) to expect Toyota to replace not only the frame but the aftermarket crap attached to it.

My advice would be to get a grip and gracefully eat the $200 bucks while Toyota voluntarily eats the $10,000-$12,000.

Who the hell else stands behind their stuff like that?

 

Thank you guys, I asked for feedback & I got it!

I still can’t help but wonder how some of you
would truly feel about this if it were your Tacoma
going through this little ordeal. I do respect your
opinions nonetheless. Thanks again

 

I had the frame replaced on my 2001 AC.
I have an after market hitch on the truck.
It was removed for the replacement frame and later reattached when the frame job was done.

If you were breaking bolts and then welding to a rusty frame, that is just plain dangerous.
If the frame was so rusty, what makes you think it would tow anything safely?

Anytime an item is welded to the frame, I consider it attached forever!

A new hitch isn't too expensive but good luck with the job hunt.

Toyota has given you a brand new frame with new springs, brake lines, lower control arms, emergency brake cable, hardware, fresh antifreeze, brake fluid, A/C recharge and free labor.

Toyota has extended the life of your truck for many years and you're whining about a frame hitch?

I give Toyota an atta boy. They have gone far beyond anything expected.

I know I'm happy with my frame replacement!

 

I'm with Tic Taco...not the fanboys!

Give'em hell, Tic. Don't take their sh!t! It's clear that you relied on their representation of Toyota Tough in the purchase of your vehicle. Acting on that reliance, you installed a trailer hitch. Because of Toyota's failure to deliver on "Toughness", you're out two bills.

As for the fanboys...karma's a b!tch dudes.

 

Thats all fine and dandy lol but the fact remains this battle over the hitch is a lost cause.

 

Oh yeah...yer SOL Tic...but don't let that stop you.

 

how about this... If I had to get my frame replaced and I had rock sliders welded to the frame I wouldn't except them to buy me new sliders. I would either take them off or suck it up and deal with my loss.

 

Sorry about your situatuion, But I too have to agree with Toyota on this one. You decided to weld the hitch on, against the correct way, even though it was your only option at the time. They are replacing the bad part(frame) but I doubt they will cover any non OEM modification done to it, which would be a welded on hitch.