Frame Rot

I am new to the forum and forgive me for asking this, I know it has probably been talked to death. I have a 1990 Toyota Truck, thinking about upgrading to a newer truck. I don’t want a new one, might find a solid first generation Tacoma. Does anyone know exactly what year the bad frames were put in production? What years are “safe?” I live in North Carolina, so Road salt is not much of a contributing problem. When the bad frames were made, was every truck affected or were there some lots that were correctly coated.

 

All years up until about 2012. If you live somewhere where rust is a concern, find a truck out of state with a good frame and make sure to treat it with rust prevention and stay on top of cleaning it during the winter months. Its a Toyota curse unfortunately but it can be avoided with proper maintenance

 

i don't think Toyota has ever made a properly coated frame. salt will rusty the frame. there are no safe years especially not with 1st gens.
mine has been in California is whole life. no rust.

 

The problem has grown
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-coverage-for-2011.590939/

 

I live in CA too but spent 5 days up in Tahoe a couple weeks back during the big snow storms, and they were heavily using chemicals on the road. I have a bunch of surface rust in spots now where it was otherwise pristine before. Even here in CA you have to be careful if you venture into the mountains or live on the coast

 

Welcome to TW!

If buying a truck from the North, then make sure the frame is replaced (especially on first gens).

 

i lived in the mountains for 10 years of my trucks life! we must not salt those roads. actually i don't think we did anything but plow. but thanks for the warning. I'll have to hose off the truck if i go to Tahoe in the winter.

 

I’m in South Carolina. Just check the frames.
Rust isn’t a huge deal in these parts, but can happen.
Most Gen 1s had the frames replaced by recall or they got crushed. So, survivors should have better frames.

These are high enough that a look-under with a flashlight should inform mightily. The frames are there for the world to see.

 

All toyota trucks are affected by frame rust. Even pre-tacomas and they still are to this day. Even tundras, sequoias and 4runners are affected too. And don't go think that the others manufacturers are doing better. They don't. Toyota is the only one who did something about it (buybacks or frame replacements). That's why you don't hear so much about the other manufacturers (google it up and you'll see they rust just as bad)

So, who or what is the culprit?
The real killer is the winter salt and chemicals, that is why you see frame rust and rot issues mainly on trucks from cold climate areas. This crap is really corrosive and it only takes a few years of exposure for a car that isn't rustproofed to turn into swiss cheese. If you live in one of those states you either:

A. Don't drive it during winter (use a winter beater car instead)
B. If you have to drive it, rustproof your truck/car each year before winter

If you live in a place where winter salt and chemicals aren't used, you shouldn't really fear rust and rot issues (just don't go drive in saltwater or park in a pond)

 

I beg to differ, the frames rot from the inside out, so just looking at the outside doesn't tell the whole (or perhaps hole) story. Common practice is to take a ballpeen to the frame rails, especially at the forward spring hangers of the rear diff, and along the gas tank, and catalytic convertor.

 

I’m new to this-you are probably right.

 

That is not correct. Survivors have exactly the same frame as these that got crushed. Survivors are either operated in salt free environment, or constantly (!!!) maintained against rust or already rusted through just do not know that or don't want to know that.

And this is very correct statement. Post 2012 frames are just to new to show in media. Few years more and I'm sure the "warranty deal" will rich next gens Tacoma and 4runner. Other manufacturers have the same problem, just don't want to do anything about it. For example famous Nissan truck problem in UK. But it is just one example of notorious problem with all manufacturers.

 

Sounds like I was severely misinformed about the recall. There goes one local “expert” I will no longer listen to trustingly.
I was told the recalled frames were replaced, in total. Seems that’s incorrect.

 

That would be if it was a recall. But it is not a recall. It is extended warranty what means if frame fails within warranty period it will be replaced.
There is a major difference between recall and warranty. Recall assumes that the item is faulty in all vehicles affected by the campaign and therefore will be replaced or fixed unconditionally. With warranty the failure must be confirmed by inspection before failed item is fixed or replaced.

There are Tacomas with good frames that were not replaced because they did not fail. There are vehicles with frames replaced under warranty (some are already rotting again). Finally there are vehicles with rusted frames but already passed warranty period or did not qualify for warranty prerequisite (frame undercoating under separate recall campaign ). Some of these bad frames were repaired or replaced by owners (owner's cost). Some of vehicles with failed frames are on the way to be parted-out, some to be sold by sneaky sellers, some are waiting to be repaired (if possible).