2005 Rusted frame - patch or replace??

Hey y'all,

New to the forum and desperately looking for advice.

Bought a 2005 Tacoma sr5 4x4 manual 7 months ago from used car dealer. Broke a strut recently and the shop i took it to says my frame is rusty and has a crack.

Of course the frame recall expired last year.

So I call dealer. They won't take the truck back or give me any money back but are willing to have a fabrication shop weld on a frame kit and patch it up. They claim they didn't sell me the truck this way, which is of course a lie I cant prove.

I called an auto fraud lawyer, they said they there's nothing I can do to return the truck and refused to take the case. Advised me to get the lot/patch.

Now the dealer just called me and they are offering to do a frame replacement, though with a used "rust free" frame. They want me to pay $2,500 of the cost they are estimating could be $10k

Is this a good deal or am i about to get screwed again with potential complications of replacement and various other part issues?

Any advice on how to handle this, what to expect, and what else should be replaced would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

Welcome to TW. By the simple fact of offering an olive branch, they're admitting guilt in my eye. Why else would they offer to cover $7500 of labor if they know they're in the clear? It's a tough decision. You could make a stink and contact the local news and put them in the spotlight for selling you an unsafe car, but that could just end up with them rescinding their offer. You could also just pay that portion and chalk it up as a life lesson, but would that work come with a warranty? What if it causes other unforeseen issues? I don't know the right move here, just food for thought.

 

7 months is pretty far out for holding the used car lot responsible. The decision you need to make is if a used $2500 frame is worth losing the amount you already invested.

 

They'll pay completely for a frame patch kit install/welding? If so, I'd do that.

 

What type of shape is the rest of the truck in? Are you gonna keep it for a long, long time? $2500 for a new abet used frame isn’t bad at all.

 

Thanks for the responses so far.

I'm not opposed to a new frame, and if at that cost. My concern is if other things should be needing replaced while such a complicated job is going on. I read when Toyota was doing the frame replacement via recall they all replaced control arms, brake lines, and springs as part of the process. Is this a must? How well are things going to fit back together?

Thanks for the suggestion about a warranty.

 

When you buy a truck with a rusty frame, I would assume a lot of other thing are rusty too. Be careful!

 

OP, what kind of a used car dealer are we talking here? Is this an actual Toyota dealership selling their trade-ins off to the side of it, or are we talking a used cars only dealer?

 

Used frame sounds kinda sketchy. Would have to be off a hail damage vehicle for me to sink 2500 into a frame. And if it’s in a salty area i would want the interior of the frame inspected too. That’s where the rust starts.

I’d get a patch welded in and then sell the truck as is with full disclosure and take the hit and get something better if possible.

 

Not a Toyota Dealership. Just a small used car/truck dealership

 

Well with that being the case are they planning to do the frame swap themselves or sub it out to a Toyota dealer?

 

Sorry your truck's frame is bad. It is past the extended Toyota warranty.

My $0.02 would be to take their offer on the frame replacement.

Can't say if they knew your specific truck had a problem when they sold it. As you look at Tacoma world you will see that many, many, many are surprised to find a pristine-appearing truck has a failed/failing frame.

Hopefully will result in a much better lifespan of the truck. Once the frame has rusted to any failure there are likely other places that are similar.

Good luck.

 

Take the truck to an independent fab shop and pay them to give you a professional assessment.

 

They didn't say. I will find out tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone for your replies