Rust Recall Issue

Hey Guys,

so I bought a 2005 TRD Sport with a crazy amount of rust. I had my parents (who live in KS) pick it up without myself actually looking at the truck. The truck was never shown to my folks either, only pictures of some rust issues (it was my uncles who worked at the Toyota dealership Maintenence dept.)Obviously the thing had a rust recall. It was sold from a Toyota dealership in my hometown, Manhattan KS. The dealership never disclosed that the truck was ever eligible for a rust recall (I was told about the recall from a homie here in Colorado recently) and they still sold the truck. The truck seems unsafe to drive if I say so myself, and the recall expired in 2019. Am I eligible or entitled to compensation for this? The dealership never mentioned once about the frame being eligible for the recall, and wouldn’t they be required to do something about it before selling to the general public? It’s so rusty that the gas tank is falling out from the buckles rusting off. Does anyone know of a warranty extension? I just feel like the dealership sold a truck they didn’t disclose as unsafe to drive or at least didn’t even let us know that there was a recall on the frame in the first place. Also, as a dealership inspecting the vehicle, wouldn’t they be required to do something to the frame before selling? Just curious, thanks guys.

 

The dealership can probably get around the legal aspects of selling the truck because it was never a recall, just a warranty extension program.

 

Nope, its actually a class action lawsuit, meaning black and white. It needed to be inspected before that expiry date.

There was 2 warranty extensions, one was for the replacement, one was for the undercoating, toyota did all they had to do and more.

They don't have to advertise the campaigns, just notify the last registered address via mail. After that, any visit to a dealer would trigger the campaign notice.

 

So Bishop, the truck was a fleet of that Toyota dealership, it was a company truck for Toyota as my uncle was the person driving it (Maintenence for Toyota) as he never owned the truck, it was always owned by Toyota, so nobody was the recipient of the notice. So does that complicate things?

 

If it was obviously unfit to drive when it was sold you may have some recourse depending on the laws in your state but unless it was sold as certified probably not, most everything that's not sold as certified is sold "as is" and it's the buyer's responsibility to inspect the vehicle before buying.

The frame replacement program was nothing more than an extended warranty/customer satisfaction program on the frame (and related components if the frame was eligible for replacement) for trucks sold in certain states, it was never a recall.

 

I don't think Kansas was one of the cold climate states that qualified for the frame replacement.

 

If you message me the vin I can look at if it ever performed any of the campaigns.

Regardless you're kinda SOL, its been years.

 

yeah I checked the VIN with Toyota and it qualified, but the person with Toyota said the warranty had expired.

 

Even if it’s sold by Toyota through their dealership? I feel like legally how the hell could you sell a truck with that much rust that it’s unsafe to drive? I was reading some APA cases and idk seems like they should have disclosed that it was unsafe to drive, that’s something a normal person shouldn’t have to determine by looking, that’s a mechanics job or in this case the dealerships job.

 

That’s why you don’t buy trucks sight unseen, especially not 18 year old ones.

 

Totally, I just needed something good and Toyotas are that

 

Posting your problems here won't get you anything but opinions, and maybe some sympathy - contact the dealer, then an attorney. You are likely SOL, take your lumps, get over it and find it a new home........

 

Im not a lawyer and have no clue as to what classifies as unsafe but I’d be willing to bet a little lunch money if the frame is not perforated it is still safe. If it fails state inspection due to excessive rust you probably have something. If it’s just rusty as shit but the frame is “safe” and passes inspection that’s on the buyer.

 

that’s all I was looking for was advice

 

I'm not saying I disagree with you, I'm just saying that's typically how things work in the used car market they are either sold certified or as is. You would think a dealer would at least give it a lookover and not sell it if it was unfit to drive it but I don't know what the law is regarding them selling it in that condition.

 

Now why would your uncle let you buy this rust bucket?? If it was essentially his truck AND him working at a Toyota dealership he should have been aware, and made you aware

 

I’ll have to post some pics in the morning… it’s pretty gnarly on the rear driver cross joint

still I don’t care if I don’t get anything from this

 

Exactly my friend

 

copy that

I’m not even disappointed with how the truck has been, it’s been great, I was just curious about the legal aspect if a dealer could sell a truck that has that much rust without disclosing.

thanks for the info though I appreciate all you folks here

 

Post some pics to this thread when you get a chance. In the meantime start searching this forum for rust repair and prevention. Welcome to the forum and don’t beat yourself up. Not the first to get a truck with some rust and won’t be the last.