Frame rust questions, new to me 2011 owner, trying to not have to read 100's of posts

I just got a 34,000 mile 2011 regular cab Tacoma that lived it's whole life in Wisconsin.

I have been reading the frame rust posts and have some questions.

The "recall" was for 2005-2010 model year trucks.

Mine is a October of 2010 build. Should I be okay?

Here are the worst spots.





Mostly rust on welds, minor spots of surface rust nothing seems to be penetrating the surface.
The splash pans are pretty flaky; I may just order new rather than restore the old ones.

The rear springs are new, so it have been up on a Toyota rack recently.

I expect if there was a serious frame issue, something would have done, or this is the reason the previous owner traded the truck.

I bought used to save myself $10-12,000 over a 2017.

I hope it doesn't come back to bite me.

 

Check by the boxed section close to the cats. Thats usually the worst spots from what I have seen. The problem is they seem to rust from the inside out, so you might not think its bad till you tap on it with a screwdriver and it goes right through. Currently toyota is working on the 05-2010 settlement, so nothing is set yet. Before that, it was 05-08. And before that, first gens. I wouldnt be surprised to see all second gens fall under the campaign eventually, just gotta give em time to rust out first.

 

Might want to consider getting the frame plugs, that Toyota installed on later models to help with the rust problem.

 

It's a tough call. I have an 07 that started with the welds and at first it looked like just surface rust but the area by the cats was where I developed a hole and got a new frame. My brother in law who lives near me in phila has a 2010 and his frame has nothing not even at the welds. It definitely rusts from inside to out so I'm not sure if you can stop it. Good luck

 

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

I'll take a look by the catalyst.

Is it worth cleaning things up and putting some rust preventer then painting it?

It would look better, but I'd hate to do too much and if the recall gets extended, not be able to get help because of what I did.

I am at the dealer next week for a driveline service, it's one of the biggest Toyota dealers in the state, I'll talk to him about the condition and the plugs that tomwil mentioned.

 

Am I looking at the right area?







I have a 4-cylinder, are the cats different for the 6-cyl?

Do the frames rust on the side or the bottom?

The third photo is definitely the worst of what I can see.

 

I think it's always worth maintaining things, so my answer would be "Always, yes." The only reason IMHO not to wire brush, treat, paint and coat with corrosion inhibitor is if you're willing to gamble that Toyota will one day be replacing it. The hard part is doing the insides of the boxed sections. I personally power washed and vacuumed them as best I could and coated them with the Eastwood stuff.

http://www.eastwood.com/internal-frame-coating-w-spray-nozzle.html

Toyota puts plastic inserts in the rectangles behind the front wheels, so it might not be a bad idea, but they aren't a substitute to the rest of the steps.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-plug-info.345438/

 

My worst side was driver side by cat. The second picture looks like that area. I see what looks like a plug pop that and try to get a look or feel if there's rust inside. I don't like the way those small holes at the bottom of pic looks mine was similar. If rust inside that area very difficult to treat and stop. Good luck

 

Hi Beerline,

The photo with the plug is the passenger side.

I'll try to check that space.

Do the 6-cyl have a cat on each downpipe?

I just looked at a 2006 at the same dealer I bought mine and that frame looks a whole lot worse.

The coating on the frame looks much thicker than my paint and it is flaking off with surface rust underneath.

Not the same coating on that frame as my 2011.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rust-prevention-treatment-consolidation-thread.355928/

 

Thanks for asking. Just picked up a 2010 and was about to wire brush and coat the bottom with Fluid Film. Sounds like I may want to wait a bit to see how this shakes out.

 

Those of you that just bought a 2005 to 2010 MY Tacoma, if "just bought" means after December 2, 2016, need to be aware that you are not class members in the Brian Warner, et. al. v. Toyota class action suit [BWSuit].

The Proposed Final judgement defines class members are those who "at any time as of or before [date of the Preliminary Approval Oder], own or owned...Subject Vehicles"



The Preliminary Order was approved on December 2, 2016--the Long Form Notice to class members reads as shown below:



If I had purchased after 12/2/2016 and had any significant frame rust issue I would first speak to the BWSuit attorneys (the contact numbers and suit documents are here) to verify your status as a class member¹; and next get in touch with whomever you bought from, make them aware of the class action suit, and raise Hell over the fact that they did not disclose this when they sold the vehicle.

If you bought after 12/2/2016 and have frame rust issues it is important for you to take action--the good news is that you are not a class member in the BWSuit action so you do retain your right to sue Toyota individually, or perhaps as a new class comprised of those who bought an '095 to '10 Tacoma after 12/2/2016...

--------------------------------------------------------
¹ - If they say yes ask them specifically about the Preliminary Approval Order date language in the Proposed Final Judgement, and the December 2, 2016 date in the notice to class members. Do not trust the first grunt that answers their phone to be fully aware of all settlement terms, ask for a copy of the court document that alters or nullifies the Long Form Notice definition of who is "part of the settlement". Leave nothing to verbal assurances from a voice on t'other end of a phone line.

 

Rjlem, I believe the v6 has cats on both sides. Mine rusted on both the side of frame and bottom. Drivers side was where hole was developed. I also had a seperation of the 2 overlapping frame channels at the area of rear leaf springs. Look I'm not trying to worry you its just that mine started out slow and miner and turned into a mess. I love my Tacoma but if Toyota had not taken care of this problem it would have been the worst truck I'd ever had vs the best. I don't think yours is as bad but without seeing it in person it's hard to tell. I really wish you the best. Hang tough

 

Spent the better part of the day with my drill, a wire brush and Extend.

No holes, only surface rust, I still don't know what lurks within the frame rails.

So please let me know if I have a handle on this;

From what I can figure from the other threads and the responses to my questions, the rust through in the frames occurs on the box section frame rails behind the front suspension where is is closed up to about where your feet would be in the cab.

 

That cab mount area does not look good.

 

Guys. thanks for all you help.

I feel better seeing things cleaned up on my truck.

Also. after looking at the 2006 at the dealer, and seeing what real frame rust looks like.

 

After photos of cab mount area.







It is what it is.

I have a 2011 and I bought after December 2016.

Any recall that would involve my truck would have to be a new one.

Only alternative other than just driving it and keeping it clean would be to sell or trade and take an instant $3000-4000 hit.