Is this amount of rust concerning? 2021 Tacoma..

I bought a 2021 Tacoma new 2 years ago. It has about 36,000 miles on it now and every weld on the frame is starting to get a good amount of surface rust. Not a big deal now, but I'm worried what my frame will look like in a few years.

Has anybody has warranty issues after cleaning off rust and undercoating/ respraying the frame?

Here are some pics of what is going on..

 

Did you never get it undercoated since you drove it off the lot?

That rust is all normal and superficial but if left untreated it will be a disaster in a couple years.

 

Where do you live? Is this from salt on the roads during winter months? I recommend using Fluid Film coating at least annually. It stops the rust from getting worse and deters future rust development.
https://www.amazon.com/Fluid-Film-E...6&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY

 

it doesn't look good for a 2 yo truck.
Your profile doesn't include your location, but defiantly look in to spraying the frame or having it done.

 

Right now, it's only surface rust mostly on the welds. Untreated it can get a lot worse over time.

 

I didn't get it undercoated, I was under the impression that the factory paint would be enough. I plan to clean everything up and coat it this summer

 

I live in Salt Lake City, so it's most likely from road salt. I plan on coating it prior to winter, just wasn't expecting this to become an issue so quickly. I was hopeful Toyota had sorted out issues with frames becoming rusty.

 

Yeah... I go to SLC at least once every winter to ski (my sister in-law lives there) so I'm familiar with the salty roads. Fluid Film is a good solution and you will find many threads on TW that go into detail about treating with Fluid Film if you search threads addressing rust prevention.

 

You're not too late. Undercoat it in the fall and again every year and you'll be good to go for a long long time

 

For you fluid film guys.... Does this hold up well to car washes? I was considering doing this, but all winter long I try to get a wash a frequently as possible to wash the salt off the frame/underbody.

 

Krown auto anti-rust or similar lasts longer than Fluid Film if you wash your truck often

 

It holds up pretty well to normal car washes. The fluid film is kind of "waxy" and is pretty durable in cold temperatures. It softens up in hot temperatures so don't use a heavy power washer during summer months and it should hold up fine.

 

The welds are the first to rust because Toyota doesn't remove the cladding on welds prior to painting them, and the paint has poor adhesion to the cladding. I've seen rust spots on welds on new trucks on the dealer's lot, back when dealers had trucks on the lot.

I bought a new OEM 4Runner tow hoop overnighted from Japan and it has areas on the weld with missing paint...

No issues reported with warranty if you choose to address the rust yourself. Note the factory rust-through warranty (to the point of developing rust holes larger than 10mm) is only 5 years. Beyond that you're on your own.

If you use heavy tar-like undercoating like Ziebart that encapsulates fuel lines and electrical connectors, the dealer service dept may refuse to work on it, within or outside of warranty.

 

I would be concerned as that is excessive for a 2 year old vehicle no matter where you live. Definitely remove the rust, dry and coat with undercoat.

 

It's interesting to note that the rust is concentrated on the welds... and concerning as well.

 

It looks normal to me for a truck driven on salty roads. My 2020 looks similar. I’m not positive there is anything you can do about it other than park it in the winter, remove the rust abs repaint it every so often, or cover it in goo periodically. I’ve never done anything and something has always failed before the rust killed it.

 

I live in southern Pennsylvania and they salt here.

I got a 6 can pack of fluid film the fall the first year and sprayed the frame, the underside of the cab body, in side the rocker panels, in the bottom of the doors and tailgate.
I was surprised how much was left the next fall but then I don’t go to automatic washes. I only wash by hand or use the pay n spray and spray the underside with the car wash wand.

I then go and reapply every year but usually only need 3 or 4 cans.

 

It's always like that. It's nothing wrong with the car. Just need to be protected

 

Does anyone have a pic of a Tacoma that has been driven on salty winter roads its whole life and also covered in goo each year? I’m curious if it makes any difference.

 

First few years I got the 12oz spray cans, that stuff washed off pretty easy in the car washes. Last year I got a gallon can and a undercoat sprayer. The sprayer puts it on nice and thick and it holds up to the washes much better.