Looking for Advice--2000 Tacoma

I have a 2000 Tacoma 4WD I bought new, it has less than 60K original miles. Long story short, I was told today it is so rusted out it is unsafe to drive. I know Toyota was buying back rusted out Tacomas back several years ago. Is this buy back deal still in force? If so, I'd appreciate information on the process.

If there is no buy back option, I would think there might be some interest in a low milage engine and other parts. Any advice on how to go about finding those who might have an interest?

Thanks
Clifden
Ohio

 

Us 95.5-00 owners are out of luck for frame replacement/buy back. Find a clean frame or parting out are good ways to keep your investment or recoup costs.

 

Put up pics of the area they are talking about. I smell a Rat (unless it really is a pile of junk)

 

To be good for a replacement one (of many) of the requirements is that it is less than 15 years from the in service date. Being a 2000, you're well past that unfortunately.

Plus, they only bought back and crushed the <2000's. The only replaced frames on 2001+'s

For sure there will be people here beating down your door for that motor and body, but you may still be able to salvage what you have. There are frame plates you can have welded on, or you can do a frame swap provided you can source a rust free pre-2001 frame. I know the 95-00 and the 01-04 frames are difference, but I'm not exactly sure how. So a 2001-2004 frame may require some fabrication to fit your body...

 

Something I noticed the other day, near me in South Carolina:

https://greenville.craigslist.org/pts/d/fair-play-tacoma-frames-parts/6881540036.html

-Mike

 

did the Toyota Motor Corp never send you a letter, perhaps in the late 2000s (10 years ago?)
Ohio should be on the 'cold climate' states
did you move or buy your truck in a different state?

i have heard the frame change was in 1998 (late '97 production) were the frame design changed again in 2oo1???

 

Post up some pictures of your frame so we can judge just how bad it is.

sometimes the rust is repairable just by cleaning, stopping the rust, then welding support metal on. Othertimes you need a different frame.

 

If it does end up being repairable, check this out. https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/tacoma-safetcap-chart/

 

Did someone say low mileage engine?

 

I have a frame, but I'm in NM.

 

The garage in question is above reproach, I trust them implicitly.

Yes, I did get a letter and took the truck in annually for 2-3 years. It was given a clean bill of health each time. For the next several years I was out of the country a great deal, and I simply forgot about having it checked again. That's on me.

I am going to scrap the vehicle, and would entertain offers for it as it stands. Not sure of the protocol for offering a vehicle for sale here, however. Perhaps the best thing to do is have anyone interested send me a private message.

 

that is weird they would give it a clean bill of health and now its completely toasted not worth fixing, if in very good - excellent condition (overall outside of frame) these trucks maybe 'worth' MUCH more than you might think, especially with 60k on the odometer

 

Two different garages. Toyota dealer looking at it in the early/mid 2000s, local independent garage looking now.

As I said, I am not going to attempt to fix it, so it is available.

 

If you do not want to fix it- I bet you could post it for sale on this forum as is and someone will come and buy it and do the frame replacement. Sounds like you have a gem- don't let someone fool you into thinking your truck is worthless.

 

Understand. No one told me it was worthless, just unsafe to drive. The vehicle is currently at the garage, I am out of town. I will pick it up this afternoon, then drive it the one mile to my home.

 

just out of curiousity, since you stated original owner/bot new, did you opt for the underbody protection package (or did the dealer you got it from offer this?)

 

You can sell it here in the Buy/Sell/Trade section but you need at least 50 forum posts to be able to so, per forum rules

 

so keep talking to us OP, get your quality postings up
show us some pics if you have them!

 

I don't remember, that was nearly 20 years ago. I know I did not take it to an after market place like Zebart.

 

stay AWAY from ziebart