Frame Recall - Bought a lemon

@Snitz - good luck. Hopefully you can get some legal help, and/or recover part of the money from a resale.

Maybe I'm an optimist, but when I saw $12k for a 65k mile truck, I started seeing it as a worthwhile project if it's 4wd - especially if the inside/outside/under hood are as clean as claimed. I'm betting there are a few others out there that would feel the same way.

 

Im with @clip

For that money and those miles take it to a mechanic and make sure the rest of it is in good shape. Then investigate if it really needs a whole frame replacement or if you can repair what is there. It is gonna involve some welding but its a better alternative than taking it in the shorts.

https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/

 

New plan is we are gonna get my son a dif car, park this hunker for a wjile and swap the frame this fall. With a new frame this truck will be phenomenal… just didnt want to spend $18k (total) and 3 months to do it. Frame is around $3k it seems and I figure it will be $5-6k in parts when all said and done.

 

Will just be the family beater when its all said and done… hopefully for another decade!

 

I think that sounds like a great idea. For the price you paid it is worthwhile.

FWIW, I am trying to find something for my kid to run around in....its tough.

 

That’s a great plan. Quality time together and learning with something to show for it in the end

 

That sounds about right. Toyota got 12K on my swap but that's parts and labour.

 

I am not sure where in Maryland you are located but before you go the whole new frame route on your Tacoma I would suggest you talk to Adam in Churchville, MD. Harford County. He has done some pretty impressive stuff with frames.
https://yellow.place/en/freestyle-fabrication-and-offroad-churchville-usa

 

If youre not hurting for cash and can take on the project, that sounds like a great idea.

Have you looked into the fine print of the Corrosion Resistant Compound (CRC) campaign and the original frame replacement Customer Support Program? I thought having the CRC applied by a dealer did offer some sort of additional protection as Mike mentioned below, but could be wrong about that. That being said, I didnt think the 2nd gen CRC program started until late 2019(ish) time frame, so something might be off there..

 

Unless I'm mistaken in that first pic you posted it appears like the body is rusting out as well. Sounds like you're aware and accounting for the other components that are rotted out, but that can quickly spiral out of control with unknown/hidden surprises.

 

All depends if the first date of use can be nailed down, the CRC program would buy you until 12 years from that date.

 

That's how it was with gen 1's, except 15 years from in-service date. Getting the Toyota frame treatment done was a requirement to qualify for a replacement later on. There was a deadline for it too. If your frame rotted but the truck never went to a dealership in the past to get the frame treated, then no new frame.

I think that particular rule may been exclusive to the "cold weather states" that Toyota lists in the bulletin, but Maryland was definitely one of them

 

I have a 2010, my date was Sept 2009 (I forget as I bought used but I had it on the paperwork). I got the coating in time and experienced rot in April 2021, which was immediately brought in for the new one. Scope my sig for the miles..and I have pics in the album.

And yes re the strictness, my friend missed the 12 years by 2 months and was SOL

 

That's awesome you got yours replaced, like giving the truck a whole new lifespan.

Yeah I remember on around the time the last 2004s could qualify for new frames (2019), around then and into 2020 there were several threads on here from owners that were trying to take their '04s in for new frames but got turned around because the window closed on them. Sucks but I kind of understand, they have to draw the line somewhere. Rot bad enough to create holes definitely doesn't happen overnight

 

I was almost hoping they'd make me an offer as the truck isn't exactly the most valuable Tacoma. Then again they don't make what I'd really want anymore plus I don't want another payment etc. Besides the frame they did new LCAs, brake lines, leafs. I paid for new shocks and coils since they were original anyway. Rides like a dream

 

The concept of spending a large sum of money on a machine and not inspecting its mechanical integrity or mechanical components just blows my mind. Instead of checking for rust, leaks, cracks, splatter, noises, clicks, etc… (signs of deterioration) and basing a decision to spend $12k on a fresh detail and coat of wax just leaves me speechless.

Good luck OP.

 

Get a grip Karen. Caveat emptor.

 

People make mistakes, I've done the same thing though it was several hundred dollars spent

 

Yes, people make mistakes. Missing a pink sock while sorting white laundry and turning all your clothes pink is a mistake. Purchasing a machine because it was clean and shiny, and instructing your child to use it while it isn’t fit for purpose and can likely injure or kill them is negligence.

For example: If I directed one of my contractors to use a specific tool and it malfunctioned & caused an injury or death, that’s a negligence claim. The onus to prove otherwise is on me to demonstrate the tool was maintained and functioning safely before instructing, or knowingly allowing, someone else to use it.

If OP knew about the danger and instructed their child to drive the vehicle anyway, then it would be gross negligence. As you can imagine, that’s a whole lot worse.

OP has a responsibility to ensure the vehicle sourced for their child’s transportation is safe for its intended purpose. Not knowing how to do so, or in this case, knowing but choosing not to do so (due to inclement weather), puts zero burden on either the manufacturer or the seller.

 

And like I thought, the OP has decided to simply take the loss. I'm fairly certain that in the end getting this truck "fixed" instead of getting either her money back or fairly compensated will be another bad mistake. Thanks for the name calling.