Rust that shouldn’t be!

Anyone have or seen this problem. Below passenger door on a 2012. Cause or what was the fix? Thanks!

 

Oh, yuk

 

See those little black plugs under the door sill!!!. In areas of high salt in winter or wet conditions you should remove and oil underspray every fall before winter including frames, brake line, gaslines etc. and you would not have all these problems with rust and frame replacement. It amazes me that people spend thousands of dollars on lift kits, Bilstein shocks, wheels etc.etc. but cannot afford to spend a few dollars a year to protect the underside of their vehicles. You should do this to any make of vehicle if you want it to last. It is probably too late for you as probably the whole undercarriage looks like this but the door sills could be replaced by a reputable bodyshop..

 

I recently pulled out those rubber plugs and sprayed Fluid Film inside on my 2015 DCAB just as a procaution.

 

You sir. Are my hero.

 

Most of the F150's around here over 5 years ol look like this. I havent seen any second gen tacomas rusting out any place other than the roof though.

 

This is a common thing in salty areas, the reason most people deduced that it happens is the running boards. Snow will pack between the metal and running board, then salt gets into said snow, et voilà! You have the next few months of salt on metal contact and the rust starts.

 

Look into POR15...

 

Not good.Salt getting in from underneath.

 

100% guarantee the drains were plugged and water was held in there.

It would be SO easy for Toyota to fill those areas with a closed cell expanding foam. They would never rust from the inside out [as that one did] if they did that.

 

Every vehicle not just Tacoma should get transmission fluid in the doors , rockers , quarters . Tape off drain holes and make a long narrow funnel and pour trans fluid in , let sit for 1 day and remove tape . Water , salt , wet muck ,can not get to the metal from the inside . Next all Tacoma owners especially new

 

Tape off drains in body and using small long funnel down door channels for example fill with transmission fluid , let sit for 1 day and drain . This should be done to all vehicles . Salt rain and etc can not get to the steel from the inside . More importantly , Tacoma owners , especially new ones need to scuff and prep frame , then 3 coats epoxy primer then 3 coats frame paint ,also Eastwood internal frame coating . Find a way to not drive in salt ,cheap beater for the winter otherwise salt wins even with all the preventative coatings . Terrible frames . I saw a 2005 Tacoma frame that looked 95 years old or more that sat in the ocean for all of those years . The frames are laminated and just separate along with perforation . What a mess . My 2025 TRD PRO is garaged all winter with 6,685 miles and has never seen salt , stii looks new underneath . Good Luck Tacoma owners and remember no salt and it will last a long time .

 

You do realize that ATF has absolutely zero corrosion inhibitors in it right? While the idea is admirable, the product you're recommending is probably not the best.

 

A 2025 vehicle that has never seen salt should look pretty darn good - when it's built in a few years.

 

I would pull the carpet and check the floorboards for infiltrated rust along with the frame.

 

2nd gen’s aren’t known for body rust. You can’t fix that with por 15. You need new rocker panels. Too bad your rust through warranty prolly just expired. You can’t sand and paint it, it rust from the inside out.

 

Fuck I am glad I don't in in one of those shitty rust states.