2002 Tacoma Rusted Frame

animal activist UNITE!!!! HOW DARE YOU BEAT ON A DEAD HORSE.

 

Is it 4wd?

What would you take for it, just like it is?

 

Don't want to be mean or rude or anything, as I can understand how frustrating it can be to find out the frame on a beloved vehicle has gone crap

It's up to the owners to maintain and protect their cars against rust. If owners skip rustproofing, especially in cold weather areas, the frame will inevitably turn to swiss cheese in a few years, but it isn't entirely Toyota's problem, as any unprotected steel will rust and corrode badly after a few years of exposure to the salt and chemicals put on roads during winter.

There was a defect with the corrosion resistance of frames, it is a known fact. Toyota tried to fix the problem with the frame replacement campaign, but Toyota can't stand behind their products forever.

Go talk about frame rust to Ford or Nissan (their Rangers and Frontiers/Hardbody/D21 rust as bad as Tacomas). They never acknowledged the problem and never offered a solution or frame replacements. Toyota was the only one.

Unfortunately, it seems the previous owner (or few owners) of your truck skipped rustproofing and even the frame spraying campaign. There's nothing Toyota can do for you, as they can't force owners to rustproof their cars or come to them for recalls/campaigns. It seems you just bought someone else problem :/

What you can do is, depending on where and how bad the rust is, cut off the rotten parts of the frame and patch it. Or you can still sell it as is for parts.

 

Bought truck second hand, I think it was buyers remorse, not fully checking the vehicle before purchasing, or take it in for an inspection.

 

Who knows what the real cause of the poor frames was Toyota could only go after Dana ( Who is now gone)

I know that the Liquid Brine is sure not helping things

Did Dana go with a lower bid to the steel manufacture to put more money in the pockets of the Dana share holders ??

Was the steel made with something lacking but not shown on the paper work with every coil .

Pretty impressive coil goes in one end finished frames out the other so to speak

Not that I really looked to see who made the steel .

There are still people unaware of these problems that include Used Car Dealers let alone the general public .

I have a friend That received the letter since they bought the truck new . Sad fact was the wife seeing the letter just figured it was some sort of advertisement and tossed it unopened .

How often might that have happened

 

I just read through this thread. I am in the same boat with a 2002 rusted out. I was wondering what you finally did with the truck................Frankie

 

Perhaps I should toss this question up to the entire forum. What would be the best course of action for me now. The truck's frame is so bad that I can't drive it down the road without possibly causing an accident. Is it best to part it out? Should I try to sell the entire truck. It is a 2002 sr5 4x4. I loved the truck as with the fatal exception of the rusted frame, ran great. 130,000 miles on the clock...............What to do????????...........Frankie

 

If you are in a state with vehicle inspections, you will be hard pressed to sell it if it needs inspection.

Best course of action will be a part out. Or maybe buy a truck that needs work, transfer parts over, and have a good reliable taco.

 

If you go to www.toyota.com Click on "Owners" enter your V.I.N & you can get all Toyota service records for your vehicle. You can then begin to add your own notes & maint.
Click on "Vehicle Specs" to see date of first use and all options that came with your truck.

 

Not knowing where you live if the price was right I would buy it in a minute .

Everyone is scared off by a bad frame .

I guess it is all where your skills are

 

The phosphate step was omitted by Dana causing these issues. The steel de-laminates from the inside-out. Severe corrosion noted after only 3 years in states the use salt as a de-icer as this stepped up the reaction and decomposition of the iron.

 

What could you offer me for it? It has about 130,000 miles on it. Everything is good except for the frame and the AC. 4x4 extented cab sr 5, bed liner........Frankie

 

So Phosphate is added after the frame is completed ??

 

My frame was replaced last spring. Had to go back twice to have things corrected that were wrong after the replacement. Frame swaps are not a bed of roses you got to do a thorough inspection when picking up!

 

I just saw your reply. [The trucks probably been sold by now.]
With the frame in that condition, I'd be willing to take a chance and offer you $1000. It would likely cost several thousand to replace the frame, as it seems to be too far gone for any repairs.
Thank you!

 

FYI: A new frame is $4000 + 80 man hours labor at a stealership. IIRC

 

80 seems high. Id believe 40 though. When my dad had his 08 done, the frame shipped in on a Tuesday. By Friday afternoon it was ready to roll out the door.

 

yes, this is so very true
what a PITA it was

this is a real possibility?

good info here
what model year did this start exactly? was it when the frame design changed?