Anyone with 01-04 tacoma get your frame replaced?

What is the normal life-span for truck frame against rust anyways? Should we expect a typical truck to have rusted frame at the 15 year mark? Can these 1 gen owners go in for an inspection in the later half of year 14 and hope to get a new frame from the truck? Would that be still be a case of Toyota fixing what they screwed up in the 1st place or would that be considered a freebie since almost all frames should be rusted thru by year 14?

 

I don't know about the 14 year thing, but, the life of the frame really all depends on location.

Theres 96's in CA that have perfect frames, and then theres 6 year old trucks in the rust belt that are getting new frames.

 

I learned about this recall last Friday (today is Thursday) and by Tuesday PM I had my truck inspected at the dealership. They said my vehicle was not driveable and they gave me pretty nice Camry as a rental.

I just got a call today (Thursday, 2 days after the inspection) and Toyota had already approved my frame replacement. The dealership I went to had already done a few so the tech. seemed pretty confident about the process.

The service advisor said they'd order all the parts first, then the frame. Then they'd start the replacement process. They expect 3+ weeks from now.

I'm stoked to get a "new truck." Would have liked the buy back option, but I'll take a total replacement.

I'm looking to get them to do some other work while they're at it (timing belt replacement, fluids, transaxle service, etc.) Not sure how much that will cost. Did anyone get these done complimentary or for just the cost of the parts? I'd like to hear about it so I have some negotiating room.

I've added pictures of my frame. These are both in the same place, just under the driver and passenger doors. The tech. said mine was the worst they'd seen.

 

It is possible to get a deal from them since your truck is already in the shop but I would not count on it. When I had my 01' last summer for a frame respray, I complained about the rear bumper rusting out and was looking for a deal on getting a new one replaced, they were not to recptive to that. I rarely bring my truck to the dealer for general repairs/ fluid flush unless it is somthing serious. If it were my truck I would ask them about the timing belt, but leave the fluid work for a small shop, you will get a better price.

 

My Toyota dealership told me They would not charge me
for installing any new related parts. He said I could even
buy my own shocks & they'd install them.

I'm still not happy about my trailer hitch however. See
my letter below about that. Looks like I'll be taking my
Taco in for her new frame soon.


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.

 

the frame recall is only for the northern states that use way to much salt durring the winter. just got my taco back from undercoating. it looks like a guy did it in his garage with a rattle can but toyota says it's garanteed for 15 years

 

Had my truck in for the replacement. They use your VIN to order the correct parts for YOUR truck.
Frame was the last to arrive. Took about 3 weeks for everything to arrive. I was called the day the frame came in.
Dropped the truck off on Tuesday morning and it was already done by Monday morning. Took the tech about 4 days and I was the 1st for the dealership. The next replacement will go even faster.

Parts gave me a discount.
I had new shocks f/r replaced. They were original (97K) and labor is free if it involves parts they are working on.

New clutch also. Heck, it's laying on the floor and easily worked on. I saved $300 on labor when comparing the cost of a clutch replacement to my 1992 Toyota.

I made a list of items to look at when rebuilding the truck and also a free-hand. I told him if it needed replacing, just do it.
Actually, I didn't need anything but some were replaced because I wanted the items replaced.

The mechanic could have run up the bill but he didn't.

Clutch parts (clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing=$248.37)
Labor=$127.50

Two radiator hoses ($25.54)
Labor was free.

Replaced original fuel filter ($28.32)
Labor $34.00

Two front shocks/struts ($243.38)
Labor was free.

Two rear shocks ($66.04)
Labor was free.

Six pints of gear lube 80W90 ($24.90)
Labor was $68.00
He did tranny, f/r diff, transfer case.
I think Mike had some extra fluid from previous jobs so he didn't charge me for some lube. Heck of a good guy.

There were a few other small ticket items, parts broke, etc. that aren't in the hardware kit. Hey... I got new stuff. I can pay for a bolt or two.

Total extra parts cost to me was $788.75.
Extra labor was $297.50.

It cost me about $1,100 out of my pocket but these were items I got at reduced parts prices/labor.
No way I could drive in and have the same parts replaced at this price.
Much of the labor was free because they were already doing the work operation.
Why take my 9 year old worn shocks off the old frame and transfer them?
It wouldn't make sense.
Free labor to put new ones on.

Basically I ended up with a rebuilt truck that will last for many years without a truck payment!

A new muffler was replaced last year and now if I ever need new shocks or muffler, it'll be replaced for free by the dealership.

I don't care for the new style Tacomas. I like my '01 AC. Heck, a new replacement truck would have been $28-30K.
I have a new one for $1,100.
Resale should be good down the line.
Try to find a good Tacoma on a truck lot.
Aren't many out there.

I'm happy!!!

 

Look I like many of you TOYOTA OWNERS are displeased with the quality in the last few years. The fact is there is no other car/truck company in the world that would call back a truck for a frame replacement or respray or offer to by back the truck over blue book price. I have owned a chevy truck in the past and I will never ever buy one again. After that truck I bought Toyota and would never go back.Toyota will come back to be the leader in the car/truck dealer that we all have come to respect and contiune to buy from. How many of you have purchased other cars/trucks in the past and thought shit! this company could give a rat shit about my vehicle after it leaves the lot. Well I will tell you that Toyota has always cared about Its owners and vehicles. They have never let me down and they are doing the best they can do to restore their goood name. The media has blasted them for weeks, and I have never seen Ford/Chevy/Dodge come out with an apology ad like Toyota did promising better quailty control and realizing they made a mistake and correct that mistake.

 

tmt411,

 

Apologizing, after knowing you're in the wrong, is not how Americans work.

 

so im just reading bout this recall today.. however im in california.. i do go up to tahoe on a regular basis and this was inherited from my deceased father in law.. im not sure if they recieved a letter about this recall (in laws) but i wonder what i should go about doing..

i cant find any info on toyotas website regarding the frame rust issue only brake issues DUH!!! can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

You don't need a letter.
You can go to any dealer and they can check the frame.
Of course, California vehicles are less likely to have a rust through and some dealers might not know what you are asking about.
Your truck will probably pass but once you get the check, your frame warranty will be extended 15 years from date of first put into use.
If your truck would eventually end up in an area that did make the frame rust through, it can be replaced with warranty.
My truck was originally bought in New Hampshire (one of the rust states) but I'm in Iowa and Iowa isn't on the list.
My frame did have the rust problem and was replaced.

It's best to bet checked by a dealer and then you will be in Toyotas system.
I think you have until October 2010 to get it checked and in their system.

 

Here's some more info thanks to just released internal Toyota docs:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Documents-Toyota-boasted-apf-1226776468.html?x=0

 

Here is the link to my thread with detailed photos
of my 2002 Tacoma rusted frame replacement...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/83278-frame-replaced-dealership-photos-process.html

 

i'm glad my thread got such a discussion about this 6 months after the fact haha, my taco has been great since i got the frame replaced no problems what so ever. can't wait to continue modding this summer...