2021 Tacoma Extensive Frame Rust All around on Welding Spots

Hi Taco Community,
I have a 2021 Taco TRD Sport 4x4 5' DC. Truck bought brand new 2/23/2021 for $34,800 (10% off from MSRP) - was a relatively easy purchase. Just saw this rust all around the entire frame. I know, some of it, or most is surface. Some however is starting to go deeper. Concern is that its all on all the welds only. You can't just grind off a weld throughout and treat - paint... or? I need some TACO opinion, please. Please be gentle. (40,000 miles). Who cares how often I was my car, right? The freaking Taco is rusting away right underneath of me.
Thanks so much

 

What state / climate zone do you live in? Do they salt the roads in the winter?

 

Normal.

Now you get to read about about Fluid Film, WoolWax, NH Coating, etc.

 

Very normal for these frames if you don’t coat them with a rust inhibiting spray like mentioned above. I used rust check coat and protect up here in Canada. My 2022 has next to 0 rust, a sight bit on U bolts for rear leafs but extremely minor.

what you have is so minor I’d spray over most of it and in the areas where it’s more flaky I’d wore brush it by hand and spray as well. Problem solved

 

You live in the salt belt, it's up to you to protect it. I live where there is no salt and have no rust. It is what it is. Take responsibility.

 

in Utah. I know what you mean and why you are saying it "SALT", yes there is that, but I also wash the truck - have a membership at one of those car washes, and that is still no justification for all frame welds rusting. Just the welds, isn't that interesting? I just emailed Toyota Brand Engagement Center about it. They are usually pretty good. They will discuss it with a brand service center and then have it inspected - I am hoping that they won't charge me 85$ consultation fee... that drives me nuts - you can't talk to anyone about any technical aspects, warranty questions, etc... unless you pay the $85 first. Thanks again.

 

Thanks for your kind words. I am happy to hear this is nothing too big to worry about - I hope. I am more like on the "FREAKING OUT" side of things, especially when I saw this today. What's so concerning is that its only on the welds, every single weld.

Thanks for making these recommendations. I will see if I can get the car to a local service place and apply that Rust Inhibiting Film / Spray etc... - you know, put it up on a lift.

 

Paint never seems to adhere tightly to welds. This is normal. See below.

Exactly.

@hiPSI says it best. I'm in CT - probably the worst for caustic deicing chemicals. Invest in a small stock of rust-reforming rattle can primer. Or review the threads on FluidFilm, etc. and get yourself a plan set up.
BTW FWIW, my '06 TRD OR AC had the frame replaced after 9 years. The rust-through spots were NOT located at welds.

 

great suggestions. Thanks!

 

Welcome to the rusty frame club. Maybe Toyota will finally learn how to paint a frame on the 4th gens.

 

i wouldn’t hold your breath.

OP, make sure whatever you get applied that it isn’t a rubberized coating that dries. These are terrible at trapping moisture and salt etc behind them and rusting without you noticing until it’s really bad and too late.

Fluid film
NH oil
Krown
Rust check
Rust cure formula 3000
And various other aresol products that are dyi, that is not applied from bulk with spray guns.

 

Lucky you.

So: "Take responsibility"??? Is this really necessary? (fair?) For what? That a manufacturer hasn't been able to remedy an issue that has now been going for about twenty years without a fix? >>All the way to at least 2021? at this time<< ?

My frame is now officially warranted by Toyota until 2026. Toyota has essentially been covering it under warranty since it was built: in 2014. What does that tell you?

"Salt Belt" my arse. My other non-Toyota vehicles aren't rust buckets and one of them is 25 years old. (1998)

 

undercoat it....its not rocket science, no need to rant about minor superficial rust

 

Here’s what I did with my 2007 to keep it rust free, worked for me:

Clean truck in fall, apply heavy fluid film to frame, don’t wash it till spring.

The fluid film will protect the frame, underside from salt. Wash the body of the truck if you need to but don’t wash the frame.

pretty sure lots of those car washes recycle their undercarriage wash water…. Sooo it could be like a salt wash station?

 

My truck is the same year as yours and the frame is starting to get much more rusty this year. I’m assuming I’ll need a new frame eventually. The big question is do I just leave it be and let it rust badly or treat it with fluid film. It will really suck to get denied a frame replacement at the 12 year mark and then have it fail the following year. It’s pretty pathetic that the engine will outlast the frame.

 

My sheet metal outlasted the steel frame on my 2004, think about that! Toyota is doing something wrong here.

 

Mine did the same in Wisconsin. I did treat my truck with crc rust corrosion in the beginning but the weld rust do show more. The body is in pretty good shape beside some spot I missed by the rubber grommets. I've switch over to por15 and used that on the welds and it seems to be doing the trick. Only time will tell.

 

Op's truck has normal rusting for not having any rust inhibitor applied. If cosmolined when new, this would never happen. I swear toyota frames can rust as quick, or quicker than any brand out there if nothing is done.
Now the real work will have to be done so it doesn't get worse.

 

All brands frames rust similar to the OP's. My '16 2500hd had the same rust on welds thing going on after the first year! Chevy even coats the frames in wax or something. My father had a '96 and took great care of the paint and interior, but the undercarriage looked like it was off Titanic after a few years. My brother has a "13 F150 that had a hole rusted through in the drivers side lower control arm! All vehicles in the "rust belt" need undercarriage care. Get it undercoated. Pick your method and and type of undercoat, and keep up with it. Don't rely on the warranty, I would hate like hell to have a dealership replace the frame on my truck. They can't even change the oil without a screw up. Can you imagine what problems you'll have after they replaced the frame? Op- you just need an oil spray and the frame will look like new. Good luck, don't worry, you don't have a problem there.

 

I pick up my Tacoma tomorrow and will have it undercoated with NHOU within a couple of weeks. I learned from my '05 Tundra.