2001 rust hole came out of NOWHERE

Actually, while were on the subject, lets say I drive through a normal or muddy puddle or 20. And then lets say some of that water gets inside the frame. Do I still have to worry about rust from the inside?

 

Depends on the wildlife in the puddle !!

It just as easy could have been faulty bell housings

Then just who is really at fault for the frame failures ??

Sure Dana Corp made the frames but who did they source the steel from ?

Was it a cost saving measure by the steel mill trying to hold the price down with steel being made in China and Russia

Was the steel ordered by Dana trying to cut costs Buying enough coils one can have any blend pretty much .

Dana went bankrupt bought out by this new company or has the name been changed to protect the guilty .

 

Taco,

For what its worth my thoughts...
I've somehow managed to jump through the hoops on my 2002 with 258,658 current miles.

I had no idea I could get it covered and basically planned to keep plating the frame. I would have done this sooner if I KNEW about it.

Brought it in to Toyota for the Spare Tire Carrier recall. The mechanic found a hole in the frame near where I had it plated. Wasn't surprised. The dealership hung onto it for a day to look into the frame and document it. They got back to me only after I inquired. The dealer would not touch it, suggested going direct to Toyota. I called them Friday the 22nd, explained I had followed their recalls, had put my own money into plating a couple spots in the left rear wheel well area, said there was a hole in the frame and it was still perforating, and they said they would get back to me after a business day. Today Toyota called and said it would be covered and call the dealership to schedule it.

What I have learned from this, AND more from the dealership mechanic, is Toyota would cover the frame if I followed their recommendations. I had it undercoated by Toyota in 2011 meaning they extend the warranty for 15 years. In conversation with Toyota today they told me the frame warranty would be good until 02/2017 for my truck built in 02/2002.

Also, I was really worried about having my truck registered from Tennessee when I went through this but it didn't seem to effect the outcome. Since moving to Virginia I took it to a VA dealer and they didn't mention anything. Good luck.

Did you have the frame under coated during Toyota's time period?

 

No I never had it inspected before. I assumed that the previous owner had already taken care of things or that my VIN # was not apart of the warranty issue. I have never received any communication from Toyota about this safety issue with our frames.

Thanks for your post and concern

 

It's 15 years, not 15 years and 60 days. The problem is yours to fix, and is well and widely known. Assuming someone else fixed it and not being proactive and responsible for your own information gathering and vehicle doesn't dictate Toyota be responsible in your absence.

Good luck.

 

Thank you Evergreen for the post, I had know idea about any recommendations by Toyota during that time period, otherwise I would have for sure followed them. I purchased the truck in 2010, maybe the previous owner did it.

Glad to hear that Toyota got you taken care of. So the replaced the entire frame right? Thanks again for the info.

 

2nded!
They clearly were trying to ignore the issue in hopes that magic would fix the problem in future models??.. This represents incompetents and dishonesty within the company. I will mostly likely be very reluctant to purchase Toyota vehicles in the future.

thanks for the post.

 

I found out about this class action law suite from the service manager at my Toyota dealership when I stopped in to check in a few weeks ago. I am hoping for the best out of it and encourage everyone interested in this topic to contact the attorney's office that is working on it to make sure they cover your vehicle in the settlement.

Here is a couple links to info or you can contact your dealership, they should be aware of this:
https://www.bigclassaction.com/laws...-Corrosion-Class-Action-Lawsuit.php#claimform
https://www.bigclassaction.com/settlement/toyota-agrees-3-48b-settlement-in-truck-frame.php
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit...-rust-prone-truck-frame-class-action-lawsuit/

 

While I agree the frame problem could've been handled differently, good luck finding a small to midsize truck with the reliability of the taco. You'll likely get nickeled and dimed to death with any other make of small truck more than 3 or 4 years old. I have friends who know, lol.

 

They all have there issues, you are correct. Tacomas definitely do not have many of the small "nickel and dime" type issues but I would have to say that a frame issue caused by a manufacturing error/defect which causes a serious safety hazard and makes our vehicles un-sellable for their true value is a bigger issue than the nickel and dime stuff that other midsize trucks have. Toyota found ways to master creating a bulletproof engine and preventing small issues in trade for installing a frame that is guaranteed to crap out in a significant way within 15 years of leaving the plant.

 

Custom frame sections to fix rusted ones.

www.autorust.com

http://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota-tacoma/

 

here we are a year later. issue will still be the same.

you are also forgetting the thousands of Tacomas with no rust issues. and the thousands of other manufacturers WITH frame rust issues who don't give a shit.

either fix it, sell it, or crush it; but complaining about something that's well over with and already handled better than other manufacturers won't win you any sympathy.

for reference, I treated my frame from day one, 7 years before any frame mentions. mine is fine with minor surface rust, that's what my environment will do.

 

That is what Happens when Toyota Built the plant in the USA and used American Steel ..

It won`t be long Toyota will pull out of the USA market .

 

LOL..What!?

 

You have a picture of what it looks like?

 

I hate these threads.....



If you need me I will be at the carwash.

 

Lol replying to a response from a year ago?

 

Figured I could see what it looks like to make sure I won't get it. Sorry for making a zombie thread.

 

The OP bumped his own thread from a year ago see post 44 then 45. Goes from 1/25/16 to 1/18/17.