Toyota Frame Rust Recall

At least they gave you a truck. My dealership wanted to give me a camry or a corolla. I insisted it be a truck since Im turning in a truck. Turns out my dealership doesnt have any trucks in its rental fleet so the biggest thing they have is a highlander so Ive been driving that for 2 months. I had to take the first one back after a month and a half because they were taking it out of their rental fleet, I put about 3500 miles on it. Supposed to be getting my truck back today.

 

The first couple of days I had a Camry. Once Toyota “approved” the frame failing inspection they took the Camry back and now pay for a rental from enterprise. The frontier is an enterprise rental not the dealership’s at all.

 

Yeah thats what I was shooting for with my dealership but they wouldnt swing it for me. I knew it was a possibility but I could never get them to offer it.

 

My dealership used the local HERTZ rental group up the street. I was in a 2018 Chevy Cruze. Not what I wanted but I only needed it for a day and a half till the frame was finished.

 

Got my truck back yesterday afternoon. Everything looks and feels great frame wise and the parts I had replaced. I had a new power steering rack (leaking), intermediate shaft on the steering rack (Ive had an inch of play in the wheel since Ive owned it), and new shocks done. The list of what they replaced under warranty is pretty long and includes things from bolts and fluids to new LCAs, trans mount, wheel cylinders etc. Ill try to post it up. I got in it this morning and am throwing CEL p0456 though. Guess Ill have to take it back in to get it checked out.

 

Looks very similar to my list except for the things you had them change ontop of the warranty.

Mine was making a loud/rattle drone and the brakes were working so it went back as well.

Good luck, it's gonna feel like a new truck otherwise

 

Just picked my truck up from the dealer last night exactly one week from when I dropped it off. They gave me a new Corolla to drive for the week, it was nice but I missed the truck. The service writer said the total cost of the frame swap and parts was 11 grand. Truck seems to drive fine. The only issue I am having is the 2014 Toyota entune gps radio I have keeps rebooting since I got the truck back. I don't know if it may need a software update, or if it is toast.

The dealer installed new TRD Pro shocks and struts that I supplied at no additional charge. They also transferred over my Western Plow mount, and the Firestone ride right air bags with no additional charges. I also supplied a new trailer hitch that they put on the new frame. Overall I am very pleased.

The only additional work they recommended was the parking brake and machining the rear brake drums. The parking brake was still functioning but it had a crack and would eventually need replacement. So I had them go ahead and do that work.

I upgraded from 5100's set at 1.75 to the Billstein Pro shocks. I haven't taken measurements, but I think it sits about the same and the ride is not noticeably different than before. My butt dyno tells me the truck has 5% more HP and that it might be a hair more firm than before but on the road it is not a huge difference in ride quality. 12/27 update: Last night I was on the expressway possibly exceeding the speed limit and came over a bridge that had a larger than usual dip. I felt the suspension absorb the drop like a cloud. Worth every penny.

I should add that I kept my old 5100 assembled struts and shocks. I think they are about 3 years old with approximately 30-36 thousand miles on them. they don't look great but still have life in them. I don't know if anyone might want them or if I should just keep them as a backup set.

 

My handbrake doesn't really work on my DCSB 6 speed Manual and I'm regretting not having them fix it while they were doing my frame.

Bad planning on my part

 

Update:
I was able to fix the radio rebooting by disconnecting the negative battery terminal for about 15 minutes and hitting the brakes or turning on the lights to discharge any power left in the system. Works fine since.

I did however find that the dealer installed my struts on the wrong sides of the truck. So my truck currently sits an inch higher on the passenger side. They are going to correct it, but right now I am waiting until they have a loaner available so they can fix their mistake. I thought it looked funny when I picked it up but I didn't catch the error until over the holiday weekend. I am glad they will fix it, but I am really disappointed that they made the mistake. I know mistakes sometimes happen but now I have trust issues with this shop even though they have been nothing but great to me. :-/

 

I know what you mean..i just replaced the body mount bushings trying to locate a noise.One had the bolt bent and two of the bushings were crushed.

 

Question: During the frame replacement, are the LCA's replaced without cost? I did not think they were part of the frame so a charge would be incurred if the alignment bolts are frozen...which mine are.

I was going to go and have the LCA's changed tomorrow but I also need to get the frame attended to on my 2006. It has long perforations in the frame that have now become apparent. It passed inspection earlier this year. Now its looking pretty bad. Wisconsin truck bought in February and now in South Carolina! This warranty extension comes just in time as I'm out of the period of the in service date!

 

I just had mine done, and they did replace the lower control arms on mine at no additional cost to me.

 

That's interesting. I did not suspect those are considered part of the frame! Could have saved myself the cost of the California LCA's and shipping if they put in new A-arms.

 

just drove through my local dealer, they had 8 new frames stacked up outside. must be hitting it hard.

 

I or rather my truck qualified for the recall a few months ago. I noticed that several members have had related components installed at little or no cost so I purchased Energy body mounts, steering rack mounts, sway bar mounts, leaf spring bushings and the LCE street header. I also have a complete set of Bilsteins and stainless steel brake lines. Installation of these parts was "no problem" when the frame check was done, now that the frame is in it became "no, we cannot install any unauthorized parts whatsoever" (I was prepared to pay for the header swap)
Do I tell them to pound salt and go to another stealership or will I lose my frame replacement if I do that?

 

I really think this is all at the discretion of the dealer. If they have already initiated the order for the frame and associated parts, I think you are out of luck. If not, you may be able to go to another dealer but you may end up with one saying the same thing.

If it were me, I'd explain the original understanding you had with the service guys and if they are still playing hardball, maybe meet them in the middle for the labor.

I had a few things done but they didn't charge me labor, but were also oem parts.

Good luck

 

I called the Toyota mothership and got about the same answer.
I called another local stealer who said they had no issues with installing customer supplied parts but that's what I was told by the stealer in question.
Please don't misunderstand, I am ecstatic about getting a frame replacement - just having some confidence issues now.

How do I meet them in the middle of flat refusal to install any customer supplied parts?

(sigh)

 

That sucks I’d ask for someone higher!
I did not have to I met the dealerships owener and tech doing the job before during and after!
We agreeded that he didn’t have to warranty aftermarket shit other than install.
Also that labor applied was after removal of non frame supplied parts.
And that oem parts or aftermarket parts supplied by them carry the dealers 1yr warranty.
166k and 10yrs old she’s like new tech did an awesome job!
I got the tech a gift certificate at a local dinner for 50$.
Dealer had tech do needle bearing after I grumbled for cheap, parts at cost and split labor.
Can’t say it wasn’t bad before but it was noticeable after!
7k since then and it’s right as rain!
I wish all all tacos an awesome frame replacement if needed!

 

I'm out on the border of SC with GA with a formerly Wisconsin vehicle. I had to take it to a dealer in Augusta, GA as the local dealer passed the vehicle originally in May of 2018. This time, with a wide crack in the frame, about two feet long and holes in the body mounting tabs, the GA dealer was horrified. Took it in on a Wednesday, got a call on Thursday that the frame was approved for replacement and they asked me to come in today for a discussion with them of how this would go. My Tacoma is a 2006 and the original 12 year warranty period ended in July of 2018. As most of you know, the warranty has been extended to end of January 2019 and just in time for me.

Ok, so that's the background. I've read many posts and in a great deal of them, the poster describes how they were asked to pay for incidentals in regard to the frame. One of those issues talked about was a steering rack and lines that the poster was asked to pay for. This has been just one of the examples.

So, when I got to the dealer, during our conversation, they gave me a piece of paper entitled "Remedy Enhancement Program " and it is page 3. So obviously there's more to this, but I haven't seen this paper mentioned anywhere else. I thought it was important to mention, because it gives a list of the ancillary parts that are reimbursable. There are conditions but they are reasonable. I mention this because the list includes parts like the steering rack and lines as described earlier. Yet people are being made to pay for it when it is reimbursable when removal damages the component or where reinstallation is impossible if the component is too corroded.

Just thought i'd put this out there as I haven't seen this referenced and it is fairly important.

 

When I took mine in it was for the leaf spring recall. I haven’t even seen my truck since December. It’s been approved and as far as I know a frame is coming. No mention to me at all of forms or discussions about how they will proceed.