Toyota Frame Rust Recall

Happy to say my inspection failed today. Going to tool around in a new Corolla for a few weeks (months?), then hopefully all is good. 2008 with 100,000 miles...

 

Seldom have so many been so happy to fail! I remember the joyous day in April last when I failed. Spent 2 1/2 months in a brand new fully loaded taco. Hope they do as good a job on yours as they did on mine!

 

So let me get this straight. If I buy a 2005 Tacoma with 131000 miles within the next week I can schedule an inspection for the frame with a local Toyota dealer as long as its done before sometime in January? Regardless of just buying it? Looking at a 2005 and a 2009.

 

It doesn't matter when you buy it, as long as it falls in the time limit. The 'recall' belongs to the truck, not the owner.

 

The first gen buyback required you to have title for 6 months. Not sure about this one.

 

If the VIN qualifies as a frame on the list it will be eligible for possible replacement. Check the VINs.

 

Mine is a 2005 with 175,000mi on the clock and failed yesterday. They won’t give it back because it’s a safety issue. Best/funniest part is my loner is a 2018 Nissan Frontier! Hahaha

 

What list and where do I check the VIN?

 

Inside the drivers' side door or dashboard on the driver's side. 17 digits. Check with any Toyota dealership and it should be in their database. Good luck hunting. Remember 300 K is common for a Tacoma engine.

 

Give a feedback on the Nissan if you would.

 

Crash that fucker and sue em

 

Toyota's website.

 

My brakes were also horrible when I got the truck back. They overfilled the master cylinder and it was overflowing on the way home.
Called back the next day and was told "sometimes the brakes are hard to bleed" It was hard so they gave up.
Bled it myself, they will never see my truck again.

 

So far I’ve just driven it home from the rental place and keep in mind it’s new vs my taco which is a 2005 with 175k. Initial thoughts are that my taco feels lighter on its feet. the Nissan shares a lot of characteristics with my old f350 in that it feels heavy and labored driving around town. The Nissan isn’t as peppy and is hard to turn when going slow.

 

Been a lurker here for quite some time. I benefited from the many threads on this subject so I thought I'd post my about my frame experience today. I have a 2006 with 93,00 on it. My weekend truck. I tow a camper 10-12 times a year, a quad trailer also. My dogs live and ride in the back when I go small game hunting. My truck is very well maintained and garage kept. My winter driving is almost exclusively done in my Subaru.
I took my truck in for an oil change along with transfer case and diffs, at the end of September. I have done the frame treatment, performed in 2016. I was surprised when I was told my frame had a perforation and was unsafe to drive. I took it home, parked it in my garage while waiting for my new frame, and started my research.
I first contacted a friend who is a master tech in Boston (who also does frames, what a wonderful resource to have!) and asked him what I should have replaced based on the age and condition of my truck. He suggested all 4 shocks and stabilizer links, which he purchased for me at his cost and shipped. I was told the frame would be there in 4 weeks and it arrived at the dealership almost exactly then. Took a week for them to finish the frame they had scheduled and started mine a few days later .
Once my truck was apart I received a call suggesting that they replace the needle bearing and the badly rusted power steering lines. I stopped at the dealership and the tech took me back and showed me my disassembled truck and his concerns. The frame, other than the hole, appeared to be in decent shape. The rust was limited to a small area in the front on the passenger side but you could push through the rusted area with your finger. He knew where to look and thank goodness he did. He showed me the rusted power steering lines and I agreed with his recommendations. 2 days later I got a call that my truck was done pending test drive and I could pick it up the next day. An hour later they called me back saying the power steering pump had failed and they had things back apart and were trying to fix. Since I could not afford a new power steering pump at this time ( I already had $600+ in suspension parts plus another $800 in the necessary replacement parts, including the fluid changes in the transfer case and diffs that I originally came in for) they got me rebuilt pump for 150 and absorbed the labor. I was very happy with what I believed to be a reasonable solution and I only had to say "it was working when I drove it in" one time.
About a week after I got my truck home I detected a small but growing coolant leak. I took it back in and a couple of new clamps fixed the problem. I was given a free oil change for my trouble. In every other aspect the truck operates flawlessly.
I had the truck out all day yesterday cause it was sunny and dry. Its been about 5 weeks since I got it back. The ride is incredible. No squeaks, rattles, nothing. It feels like a brand new truck. The outside is pristine and now I know so is the inside. Every fluid except transmission is new and clean. (that was done at 60,000) I am looking forward to many reliable years with this truck and I still love driving it.
A couple of observations. It seems that dealerships are in 2 basic categories with this frame swap issue. In reading about some of your experiences there are dealerships that want no part of this issue. On the other hand there are dealerships that have not only embraced the repair but have trained techs to become very good at it ( and consequently are able to make a lot of $). Keith from Baierl Toyota in Cranberry Township, Pa. not only went the extra mile in inspecting a frame that looked outwardly sound, but he was the tech that did my swap. He was experienced and quite frankly looked like he enjoyed the challenge. If you are in the Pittsburgh area and want someone to do your frame inspection I'd call there and ask for him. The truck he returned to me was better than expected. If I could only talk my wife into letting me get new tires with 6/32s left it would be EXACTLY like driving a new truck
Dont know if my story will help anyone but if it does it was worth an hour of 2-finger typing.

 

When I got my loaner taco, after that drive home I never even compared it to mine - they were two different beasts altogether. The loaner was a DC 2018 auto, and mine is a RC 2007 manual. Mine was much lighter on its feet, very very different. But then, I don't like driving auto transmissions. It's not so much 'driving' as it is 'steering'. Like operating a boat.

 

Damn thing has a turn radius like a semi truck.

 

Just posting a picture for reference....AND to see it I could do it

 

No go on the loaner as I didn't ask. I was heading out there today so I had my brother follow me in my other car.

They are going to fix the brakes, fix rattle/vibration and do an interior detail service at no cost.

I'm happy with this, should be nice and clean on the interior afterwards.

 

Good. Sounds like you are satisfied and I hope to be there soon. I'm thinking of new shocks and cab mounts. Anybody out there with suggestions for shocks for a 2007 TRD Sport it would be appreciated.