Frame Replacement - What additional cost to expect from the Dealer?

OMG.. My head hurts. There is so much to read.

 

Thank you for your recommendation @dborrer

 

Go Canadiens!

 

My 97 Taco with 166K miles was in B+ condition other than the silver dollar hole in the frame. Total repairs over 12 years were 1, for a throttle position sensor. So I couldn't exactly complain about the vehicle. But with the frame hole, I got the 150% buyback, like it or not. So of course I bought a new 09 Taco, extended cab, automatic, TRD Off-Road package, tires re-mounted inside out since I didn't want the white wall. And those factory tires sucked BTW. Short life span, noisy on the highway, and while not an off-road guy, they didn't handle snow (daily New-England off-road) weather.

While I do love the 09, TBH, the 97 was a better-built vehicle. And neither is swimming in technology, but for me, it is a pickup to hit Home Depot with, so it is what it is. ~56K miles despite being 11 years old. I changed jobs just about the same time I bought it. I did mount a Blizzard full metal/hydraulic plow on the front for my own personal driveway (1/4 mile long drive), and a trailer hitch salt spreader as well.

• Had a transmission line leak that the local independent fixed.
• Had a frozen up steering intermediate shaft that the local independent fixed.
• Dealer did the few minor TRBs like flash the transmission computer (made a big improvement) and seatbelt bolts.

Usually, I do all my own maintenance, but sometimes I was traveling or lazy, thus my 2 visits to the local independent. Front brakes, exhaust, alternator have all gone so far.

Brought it in for frame inspection and leaf spring replacement ~2 years ago. They changed the springs but said the frame was OK. They couldn't spray it because they didn't have the gear in yet. Time slipped by and I never heard from them about getting in the spray coating and I forgot. I brought it in yesterday and was told that the offer was expired. Grrrrr. I was ready for a fight, but the service guy was good. He said let us re-inspect it. No wink wink or anything.

Got the call this morning that the frame failed inspection. Honestly, I am happy. When last under the truck it is swimming in rust. If it didn't fail now it would have the day after the TRB expired. I look at this as Toyota 'making it right', and it certainly earns them some kudos, even if this is the 2nd failed truck in a row.

Reading these threads I figure I might as well get new shocks (I will reach out to @HeadStrong Off-Road and Marie as soon as I figure out a contact email). Not sure anything else is really in the line of wear at only 56K miles. But if anyone has strong opinions on mounts, bumpers, bushings, racks speak now or I will forever curse your cowardness of not standing up in an anonymous forum.

On the shocks, this thread seems to suggest the Bilstein 5100s, any dissenting opinions?

I'm also curious if anyone has had success trying for a refund, or at least on parts costs, for things like the steering intermediate shaft. It is one of the Ancillary parts listed, but I paid out of pocket ~2 years ago.

Glad this forum is here.

CK

 

That dealer is a real POS - if you every buy again find a better dealer. Mine didn't charge a thing - nothing - nada - zip.

 

Who do I speak to about my frame? I contacted my local toyota dealer and they said my tacoma has no recalls? Please help. I do not have any notification letter from 2017

 

I'm no expert, but a few things relative to the frame inspection.

• It isn't officially a recall, and some dealers will be an ass if you call it as such. I believe it is an extended warranty.
• It wasn't nationwide, so if you didn't buy the truck (first owner/new) in an area that typically snows you would not get a notice, but I suspect you can still ask for an inspection
• You didn't mention what model year you are, but obviously that matters. I think it is 12 years of coverage.

Share out some more info and we can try to help.
###

 

After quite a few weeks, I have my truck back! In on June 9, told it failed the frame check on June 10, got it back July 24. The told me on June 10 that while driving on the frame was OK, that one of the brake lines was rusted and badly swollen and they were not comfortable with me driving on it. So rather than drop the truck back off when the frame was in, they asked if I could just leave it and they would work to get me a loaner. It took a week to get a loaner and then another week for that loaner to be a pickup, but I think they were acting in very good faith throughout.

I just crawled around under the truck and overall it is looking good. The trailer hitch is horribly corroded, but realistically not structurally deficient. They did leave one bolt not fully installed in the process of mounting the hitch, but looking at it, I suspect it got stuck due to corrosion and they simply forgot to get back to it.

I didn't realize it as I thought they were replacing ALL brake lines, but it looks like on the rears, they only replaced the lines on the frame rail, NOT the 2 rubber hoses or the hard lines on the rear-end. I probably would have bought new lines, at least the rubber ones had I known this.

Given that they had the truck for sooooo many weeks, I figured once they told me what parts outside of warranty I might want to replace, that they would give me a few days to source them. Rookie mistake on my part. I knew I wanted to do the shocks and was 90% certain the steering rack. The only reason I didn't pre-order these was because I figured they might break them during disassembly in which case they would be 'free', or they might be so corroded they qualified for replacement. Dumb dumb dumb on my part. They gave me 24 hours to source the parts, and the most they would discount to me was 10% (after I asked).

A dealer 20 miles away will discount 35%, but won't allow counter pick-up, and I didn't have time for shipping. The dealer was ~$2K for the rack, outer tie rod ends, PS hoses, Monroe quick-struts in the front and shocks in the back, trans cooler hard metal line. Rock auto was ~$690 not counting the hard metal trans line ($90 from the dealer) but needed 3 days to get the product to me. Local auto parts store was ~$880 not counting hard metal trans line and I was in and out in 10 minutes.

So I ate ~$200 difference between Rock auto and local parts store, but I can live with that. I still was $1,000 less than the dealership. Same re-manufactured rack, same Monroe shocks. The PS lines were a nicer assembly from the dealership, but the mechanic didn't complain (much).

I honestly thought they were going to try and hit me with a few hundred $s for misc bolts and clamps, but in the end, they just charged me for 4 spring clamps since they didn't like the regular screw clamp style that came with the 3rd party PS hose.

They also replaced the U-joints on the driveline.

So far so good. I need to test the plow and salter wiring, but I can't ding them much for those since they are after-market.

Overall Toyota stood behind the truck and the dealer didn't screw me.

So barring something horrific in the next week, I think I am a happy camper.

CK

 

Great to hear! Just got mine back as well about a week ago. I was planning for this so I already sourced a used but much better condition hitch and sprayed it with rustoleum. I also had some front shocks/springs assemblies from a 2015 I bought on Craigslist ahead of time.

I ordered parts for my stuff 5 days before dropping off truck for the job from Boch Toyota South. Arrived just in time, fortunately.

I didn’t do any steering work except for tie rod ends. The rack and hoses prices scared me off so I decided to skip. Dealer inspected the intermediate shaft U-joint, said it was fine.

I did starter, waterpump, thermostat, idler pullies, tensioner as well. Did all engine mounts, trans mount, and cab bushings.

Ride quality is much better and quieter. I saw they put in new lower control arms and every bolt seems to be shiny new - no charges.

 

Edit/update to my original Post......
"Lovin this 2nd gen" still..... it is a Forever truck now...

Currently at 239kmiles, still on the original clutch.
I have the ClutchMasters Hydro bearing swap waiting in the garage, but until the clutch fails... i've got other things to spend $ on....
I also have acquired a FJ Cruiser (auto) T-Case and will be swapping it in at some point.

This summer has brought new SCS shoes and MickyThompson socks...

What I did just discover and am NOT really happy with is these Frame Extension End pieces that the Dealer reinstalled and were Rusty..... the F's!

So just just be careful and check everything out that your dealer does.... 2 years ago, after I received the truck back, I looked close and I only found one missing connection bolt under the hood and it wasn't anything big. they quickly fixed the forgotten bolt. But I didn't see these end pieces....


I've found this to be a good source of info and decent price on OEM parts....
https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/ plug in your VIN # and go to town....

 

Thanks for the response, here's more information
1. I called Toyota yesterday and you are spot on, it's not a recall, but an extended warranty. That must be the reason why the dealer stated there was no recall when I called them....I would have expected when I mentioned frame to them, they would have looked intot he extended warranty

2. I'm in Vermont, plenty of dirt and salt used when it snows. I bought it from a dealer, I don't know if I'm second or third owner. I was never notified about the extended warranty

3. It's a 2009. When I called Toyota yesterday, they stated that the extended warranty is good until September 2020...so I'm just getting in under the wire. Toyota told me I should be receiving a call from the dealer on Monday to schedule an inspection on Monday

I'll update you all when I get more information

 

In 2018 when my dealer told me what was up with my truck, i'm pretty sure they used the term "Recall" but I could be mis-remembering.... I definitely remember them saying that I was in the "Second campaign" of the Frame recall to boot....
From what i've researched on TW and other sites, the First recall campaign came and went but there was still such a large segment that had not been taken care of so Toyota started a second campaign, which to my knowledge had ended a year back....

 

Yup, 12 years so you are just under the wire. You are past the cut-off for the spray protectant, but if you have rot, and I can't help but think they work hard to find it since it has got to be a cash cow, then you are good.

But what ass*** for not acknowledging when you said recall. Someone once told me of that 'trick', so now I have paid it forward with you.

I'm still kicking myself for not pre-ordering shocks and a rack. Crazy thing is that my rack was starting to swell from the rust. I even have a picture, but they wouldn't swap it until it was catastrophic.

BTW, my 09 only had ~55K miles. Massachusetts just has a lot of road salt and the OEM quality was a bit lacking. My shocks were probably OK, but I will say that the bushings where they attach to the frame were very well worn (I saw them in person with the disassembled truck). So even though I probably could have skipped changing them out now, I do feel it was well worth it.

On the front's, BTW, even if you supply all new parts, since they have to go into the spring compressor machine to be re-assembled, they told me there would be a small labor charge. It was actually the dealer who suggested the Monroe quick struts. They are the same as the shock + spring + bushings, only all assembled right out of the box, so no machine time. Even so, I would have preferred to upgrade one level on the shocks/springs, but I didn't want to get into paying dealer time for assembly.

It might bug me enough that I will drop the tow hitch, sandblast it and paint it. It just looks like crap compared to the nice clean everything else. 15 min at the dealer and they could have cleaned it up. Sighhh. I get it, time is $, but so was being without my truck for 6 weeks.

I am going to give the truck a 2nd pass underneath. Just to make sure.

Since you are bringing yours in perhaps for the first time as its owner, have them look up all the warranty items. The ones that come to mind are:

• Transmission software upgrade
• Seatbelt bolts
• Rear leaf springs
• Frame corrosion
• Driveline U-joints

Good luck!

CK

 

Ferry,
Thanks for relating your experience.
You’re in Massachusetts? Which dealer did you use?

 

I used Wellesley Toyota. Strictly location convenience.

I won't use Bernardi Toyota in Framingham because they actually charged me MORE than list price once on a few parts. That was the first and last time I went in there. Technically they still owe me touch-up paint, which I prepaid for at the parts counter, but of course, wasn't in stock and took weeks to arrive. 3 years later I am still too pissed at them to even go pick it up.

I used to live in Norwood MA, right behind Boch Toyota, but I bought both my Tacoma's over the years at Wellesley. In '97 they were simply polite and easy to deal with, in '09, they had close enough to what I wanted on the lot. But if I ever get a third Tacoma I will start with the dealer that is the least obnoxious on 'paperwork fees'. What a BS scam they are. Just one more thing to have to argue about, and I have no patients for that.

Good luck!
CK

 

Did they tell you when the date of first use was? Your truck must have been manufactured and sold in late/sept-dec 2008, for them to determine your eligibility is up September 2020. Have you put your Vin into the Toyota owners app and looked at it's history there?

I wouldn't wait for the dealer to call you, I'd be calling them and making an appointment before they forget about you and end up beyond your coverage period at which time the only thing they'll say is sorry . Have you visually inspected your frame for any issues? Have you noticed any "10mm perforations" that would immediately qualify the truck for frame replacement? Surface rust and separation arent qualifying issues that Toyota has set in the guidelines for the warranty enhancement program. Also, if you haven't read the court decision regarding the class action settlement against Toyota, you probably should so you're aware of what is available for to you and what is and isn't included in terms of ancillary parts that should be replaced also at no cost to you. Don't trust the dealer to be 100% forthcoming with how the process moves forward.

 

Thanks for the advice. I just received the truck back from the dealer today. They stated that the frame failed the frame test. They sent to results to Toyota with pictures and are waiting for them to get back to confirm the findings. The service guy at the dealer seems confident they would confirm (buy we will see). He said they'd set me up with a rental and the frame replacement would take between 3 to 5 days. I'll read the class action suit to assure I know what to expect. I'll update when I get information from Toyota.

 

Rob, good to hear your truck made it in just under the wire. I suppose no rust-through is technically better, but rust + warranty is a close second.

As for me, my A/C died after a week and ~80 miles since I got the truck back. Given that the A/C is cracked open during the frame swap, I figured that one of the seals didn't hold when they put it back together, no biggie.

The dealership confirmed that the leak IS where they had disassembled things, BUT they are claiming that the line is pitted and the leak is a result of that. They want me to buy a new line and a new condenser coil while at it. With labor, which they did offer to discount, it is still ~$550.

I have already escalated to corporate, but due to Covid the regional teams have been disbanded or are somehow not available. I don't know if that will help or hurt me.

What I find odd is that the tech says the leak is between the compressor and the hose fitting. I would like to ASSUME they changed the seal there, but I can't confirm it. Given that it is an o-ring seal I am not 100% convinced that the AL fitting pitting is truly responsible for the leak. Also, they quoted replacing the condenser as well, but the particular spot of the leak is the line that goes from the compressor to the evaporator (the one in the cab), vs. the condenser (the one in front of the radiator). I'm not sure if they are concerned other joints are leaking as well or what.

Give that the A/C ran fine when I went into the dealership and that now it doesn't, I feel these parts should fall under the 'ancillary' category.

I have no problem admitting that on an 11-year-old truck things do wear out but had the line not been cracked open all would still be good. Had they even offered to go 50/50 right out the gate on this I would have just said do it. But I am now annoyed being asked to pay for this.

Anyone else experience an A/C problem post-frame swap?

CK

 

I wouldn't exactly call it a problem, but my AC didn't work prior to the replacement, but it worked excellent afterwards.