99 Tacoma rusted out frame, any recourse?

I naively bought a 99 tacoma off craiglist only to learn that the frame is rusted out entirely. I don't think it's safe to drive, and i've been told that the window to have toyota buy it back or replace the frame closed in 2011. Do I have any recourse? Any advise?

 

Not much you can do, you can try the route to claiming you were sold a vehicle unfit for the road but even then probably a waste of time. There are some places that will patch it though.

 

You're pretty boned, man. If I were you I'd buy a frame off a scrapper in a Northwestern state like here in Cali and swap it onto your truck. It'll be better than patching it by a welder, and cheaper too if you do the labor yourself. I've seen nice clean frames go for less than $1,000 here.

Toyota never replaced the frames on 95-00 trucks (correct me if I'm wrong) and only on the 01-04 trucks. They just bought the earlier model year trucks back and crushed them.

 

Buying a frame & moving your truck onto it would be best, but if it's not an option find a place that does welding. I've seen Tacoma's with flat stock metal welded along the sides of the rotted frame, basically they build a frame over the frame. You can do it worst section at a time to spread out the expenses.
If you go the patching route, great excuse to take a welding class & buy some new tools....

 

I have no mechanical experience, how much would it cost to find an old frame? and then once i have a replacement frame how much would it probably cost to get it swapped out? Guy at the shop told me it's so cracked they wouldn't have much to weld anything to.

 

Toyota isn't going to help you much. Like the guys above have said, ideally find a solid frame to swap or 2nd best option repair what you have... Easier said then done but not impossible even on a tight budget. If saving the truck is not an option for you then Part Out or sell it as is and move on... Good luck!

Here are a couple threads for inspiration:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gray223s-the-resurrection-98-rebuild-build.373116/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-rehab-plans-on-my-99.475827/

And even though you already one your truck there is a TON of good info in here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-tacoma-buyers-guide.156943/


Oh and (We might be able to help more if you show us just how bad it is)

 

Wow that totally sux . . Id prob try to go after the guy that sold it to u knowing what was wrong with it . .

 

The labor will cost a lot. You're essentially taking the entire drivetrain, body, and related systems and swapping them onto a new truck. Couple thousand at least. Maybe more. You can buy a frame off car-part.com

If the guy who sold it to you said explicitly there is NO rust you can bring him to court for fraud. Court and legal fees will be a pain though.

I hope you didn't pay too much.

 

Wow. I wouldn't drive that if I were you, that is some bad rust.

 

When Toyota was repairing the frames and/or buying back the trucks to crush them I believe the figure was around $14,000 to put a new frame in the 2001 and newer trucks. The cutoff at the 2000 model was because the buyback on these was going to be less than $14,000 in most cases. If your frame is that rusty chances are every nut and fastener will be rusty and not come apart very easy and things will break. If you have the time, parting it out will get more return than just selling it or get another truck and use this one as a parts truck.

 

If I were you I'd check you local state laws, maybe talk with a lawyer. You may have some way to go after the previous owner but that may be an "empty well". You defiantly need to get that dealt with before you drive it any further. If it is that bad in that spot the rear spring hangers are probably in bad shape too. Don't let a shop put it on a lift, it could snap the truck in half...

 

okay thanks everyone, I don't think i have much of a case against the previous owner as he didn't necessarily say there wasn't any rust, When i looked i naively thought that it was normal for an old truck to be rusty and i'd be fine. So i know it's my fault, just looking for other options, i don't want to sell it to anyone else in this condition.

 

I'm pretty new to all this, how do you go about selling a truck for parts? How much do you think this is worth considering everything but the frame is in pretty good shape?

 

Check to see if your state has a "lemon law" on used cars, it's possible your truck will fit the allowances depending on mileage and other factors. Worth checking into.

 

Hope to one day see you on an episode of Judge Judy.

If I were you I would definitely hire a lawyer and no longer comment on this thread. You were sold an unsafe vehicle. Unless he implied as is or something.

Did you check if VIN was on recalled list (I know I said not to comment anymore)?

 

Depends on what the truck is. What trim model, cab variation, engine, drivetrain, 2WD/4WD, TRD vs. non TRD (sticker on your back fenders).

You put it up on Craigslist and say you're parting it out is what a normal person would do, but here on TacomaWorld you can make a part-out thread on the 1st Gen Marketplace.

How much did you pay? I can help ya out on value.

 

Be Nice to know where you live

From the pictures I don`t think it is that bad but then I have been fixing these Frames since they started to rust

How much do you have into the truck ??

This is a 18 year old truck if it lived it`s life up North what do you expect .

Not being able to repair this yourself or have friends that can help it will get expensive

We had one like this awhile back the seller had no clue Tacoma`s had frame issues and never looked or knew of the problems might be the case here

 

I live in ohio, spent 4,900 on it. The guy who sold it to me never mentioned any rust but he didn't explicitly say there wasn't any. I just spoke with him on the phone and he said when he bought it a year ago he got under the car and banged on the frame and thought it was fine, but did acknowledge he knew there was a weak part.

 

It sounds like he knew there was rust. Maybe that's why he was selling it.

I'd talk to a lawyer, see what they say. Otherwise you can get some money parting it out. What options do the truck have? v6? 4X4? TRD?