rusty frame replacement question?? please help!!

I got an 2oo3 tacoma that the frame is so rusted that the leaf spring shackle is now about 1 inch into the frame. Plus some other holes. The question I have is: If there is some damage to the bumper from the previous owner, he said that he back into a fence which dented the bumper in, will the dealer ship or toyota decline my frame for replacement. Should I get a new bumper before I take it in for the inspections?? Has anyone taken in there tacoma with minor fender benders?? What did they do, say about that?? Any help with this would be great.

 

I have not done it yet.

 

A rusted frame is a rusted frame, no matter what kind of damage is done to the other parts of the truck. From the way it sounds you just have a dented bumper from a minor incident...no big deal.

Take it in and get a new frame on Toyota's dime.


And snap some pics of the rust before you do so.

 

The recent deadline was for 95-97 trucks IIRC...the newer 1st gens are still covered. OP has an '03

 

Where have you read this info?? I've called a dealer and one person there said that the truck was still good on two recalls that being the ball joint and the frame, I then wanted to get more info on the matter and they transfer me to a service manager and he tells me that the program has expired and it was going to cost me money to do the inspection on the frame and if needed it would also cost me for a rental car if it failed. SO I'M NOW CONFUSED!! So I call Toyota Corp. and they tell me that the truck is still good for both recalls or wantever they call it, and that it would cost me nothing for the inspection. NOW I'M REALLY CONFUSED????

Does anyone know anything on this recall and if it has expired. I was under the assumtion that this recall was good for 15 years from the date the truck came off the line.

Are dealerships given people the run around or is this just me

 

No what I was trying to say was that I don't want the dealership to say that because I have a dent in my bumper that is the reason the frame is so rusted. Wanted to know if anyone brought there truck in with a dent and they gave them the run around on that issue???

By the way want does IIRC stand for??

 

Last I heard it expired end of last year. The frames are warrantied for 15 years AFTER it has been replaced or inspected and coated with anti corrosion paint.

IIRC is "If I recall correctly"
My front bumper was missing and the front fender was damaged when I had mine inspected, no issues.

 

No I'm not driving the truck TO F!@#$ SCARY. It makes noises like metal snapping when I make left turns.

We bought this truck 1.5 years ago and over the last couple weeks I've heared these weared noises. Now we have not received any info on frame rust or alike it just happened that a friend of mine told me that toyota was recalling the frames. So If that is the case how could have I brought it to toyota for an inspection before 12/31/11. If Toyota has my vin# for inspection on the ball joint and frame and for that matter every vin# out there, there should be NO TIME LIMIT TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THESE TRUCKS ARE DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE MADE RIGHT.

 

So in 40 years if I towed a tacoma out of a swamp Toyota should fix it for free?

The truck is way out of warranty and Toyota voluntarily recalled the frames and extended the deadline many times. The recall started years ago, they have to have a cut off at some point.
It is your (the owners) responsibility to have your vehicle checked and maintained regularly. If your frame is that bad, any shop or person with any mechanical knowledge would have spotted the problem. You dropped the ball by not having your truck maintained and checked. Toyota went above and beyond to fix people's frames.

The frame on my Ranger, and many others, rotted out and Ford said it was out of warranty and not their problem. Here we are nearly 10 years after your truck was sold, 7 years after the warranty expired, and you expect them to fix it for nothing? Seems unreasonable to believe that a truck should be warrantied forever.

 

this^^^

 

Yes, I received the recall for the corrosion treatment a week ago. Brought truck in yesterday for inspection. Was told by dealer that my 2002 frame qualifies for replacement. I think thats a pretty nice deal for a 10 year vehicle! They'll have the truck about a week for which they also provide a free loaner. Dont recall any buy back provisions like I have seen on other posts...

 

Not sure if it will work for you, but if the truck does not get covered by Toyota rather than scrap it there is a complete frame that a guy is selling on Craigslist here in NM. Not mine and I don't have any connection, but seems like a deal for someone. I think he's posted it here on the for sale section too. I might be remembering wrong, but seems like he is only asking something like $100 for the frame.

Would think even with some sort of transport company shipping it that it would be worth that to someone to save another Tacoma from being scrapped. Anyway, just a thought. Best of luck with your truck!

 

agreed. There seems to be a ton of mis-information out there concerning this situation. Too many stealerships are givin folks the run-around (which is weird because they really make out from Corp. on frame-replacements $$$)

To clarify again, it is my understanding that you have 15yrs from when the vehicle is originally purchased to be eligible for the 'recall'. I am not aware of any stipulations regarding a 12/31/11 deadline to have the frame inspected, especially on an '03.

OP - IMO you def don't need to be concerned about a dented bumper, unless your frame is also bent.

 

You only get the 15 year warranty IF you had your frame inspected. Once they check/spray/replace, whatever to your frame, THEN you have 15 years. The dont warranty the recalled frames for 15 years unless they check it and say its good.