Please help! Is frame recall still going on or did it expire?

Looking at an 03 DC TRD. I'm from OHio so salt is definitely present throughout the winter season. Possibly going to look at the truck tomorrow, and I was wondering, if the person hasnt taken it in for the recall, is there still an open recall for them or has the time expired for it to be taken in. I thought I read somwhere where it said by Dec 31 2011 but I could be wrong??

 

IIRC they are still taking them. I think if you still take it to a dealership, they can declare it unsafe and replace the frame, or depending on the value, total it.

 

Just took mine in for a check and treating in November.pretty sure its still going on.

 

Thanks for the quick replies. Can anyone else confirm this as well? For some reason I thought someone on here said December 31 of last year, but like I said Im not sure. I just don't want to go and buy a truck and then have the frame fail and be out thousands of dollars.

 

For the 1995 to 2000 Tacoma trucks:

The buybacks are still going on if it has been less than 15 yrs from date of first use.

For 2001 to 2004 Tacoma trucks:

Toyota no longer sprays the frame for corrosion protection.

If a truck has frame perforation from rust and has never been sprayed - time has run out. Claims will not be honored.

If the frame has been previously sprayed by Toyota and then develops rust perforation, Toyota will send an engineer to inspect and evaluate before frame replacement or buyback occurs.

Contact your local Toyota service dept. They should confirm this.
Give them the VIN of the truck and have them check to see if it has ever been inspected and sprayed.

 

Call your dealer...

 

Well I talked to the owner and he said it has been looked at an sprayed, so I believe I am in the clear with that.

Just sound background on the truck,

2003 Tacoma DC TRD Limited Auto 4WD
150 K miles
Silver
Original OWNER

In need of a new bumper and eventually tires. Am going to look @ it tomorrow night and test drive it. The guy is asking 8k for it! I think if everything checks out I am geting a deal. However, given that it'll need a new bumper and tires, how much would you try to negotiate on price? I'm thinkin of offering $7500.

 

I talked to the guy and sposely it hasn't been inspected. Called one toyota dealer and they said recall expired dec 12 but someone else said dec 31. Checked online and somwehre else said its still going on. Going to calll tomrw and have em run the vin on it to see. If that doesn't work and the recall has expired, do you think it would do any justice to call toyota corp and complain to em about it?

 

Anyone?

 

Well you looked at it right?
...was it sprayed or not?

It's pretty easy to tell if they did it.

 

Yea I looked at it, didn't appear to have been sprayed... but idk. The owner said he never got a letter for the recall and is he the original owner. I would have imagined that if he got the letter he would have taken it in...Does anyone think itd be worthwhile trying to call Toyota Corp and complain about it or?

 

At this point I'd say walk away and let the owner deal with it, just let him know that if he does get it sprayed than you will be willing to pay his asking price...I doubt Toyota Corporate is going to deal very nicely with someone who doesn't even own the truck complaining about it.

 

Yea true...the frame did appear to be in decent shape when I looked at it. Would you say its worth $7500 ?

 

Just knowing that it is a NE Ohio vehicle and seeing how the salt eats vehicles up there, I wouldn't touch a non-undercoated truck for half that.

But it's your money and your decision to make, if the owner got it coated now and the replacement warranty was still active that would be a different case altogether.

 

It's a 15 year warranty.

So, if you've got a 1995 or 1996 and haven't had the frame checked yet - you might be SOL.

 

Well, I may be in luck. I talked to the owner and he said he called the toyota dealer who he originally purchased it from and they said they would look at it and spray the rust inhibitor...so I am hoping. I thought that it ended Dec 31, but maybe there is some type of exception. IDK? but hopefully itll get taken care of.

 

^ ^ ^ ^
I'll repeat myself.

And... the program ended 12/31/11.
It was not a RECALL campaign. Strictly a voluntary and goodwill program from Toyota.

For this specific possible purchase..... your Spidey senses should be tingling. Continue to search.

 

Lol my spidey senses were tingling very much so after talking to the owner. However, he contacted the dealership which he originally purchased it from and they said they would be willing to do the rust inhibitor on it and provide documentation. Maybe this is an extension of the so called "goodwill" or maybe they were willing to do so since he was the orignial owner and bought it from there? I dont know? I do hear what your saying, but if theres a slight chance that they will still cover it then I am going to consider purchasing the truck. If not, I shall continue my search...