Frame Rust 2001 -2004

My frame looks mint and Ive looked it over top to bottom- what are you guys seeing with the rusted out frame-is it very obvious or is it something I could have missed? Im going to get the truck checked by Toyota but I dont know what sense of urgency I should have about this...

 

with my '97 it was very clear.. obvious hole on the inner part of the frame near the pass. side forward leaf eye


BUT from what I understand these holes are caused from rusting from within the frame (inside out) so there could be more severe damage than you can see with the naked eye.

just brng it in asap and have the techs looks at it that way you leave no stone un-turned

 

Hey VanTaco,
The inspection shouldi be free. Like I mentioned I had the 98' bought back and my 2002 has been reframed, but I don't think I have the paper work anywhere, but I'll have a look around for you. Are you just looking for something to show the dealer?

My 98' rotted through, and my 2002 looked like it was going to be ok, but once hit with the hammer you can see where it did rust from the inside out. First two are the 98 and last is the 2002.

 

It's not like your frame is going to look mint one day and have a hole in it the next. I think most of these trucks with rotted-through frames passed inspection a few times when we were thinking 'holy shit, there's no way this thing will pass...' only to have Toyota tell us that it was 'superficial' or 'surface' rust. I don't think you're going to have a mint paint job on the outside and a totally rotten and rusted frame inside. Furthermore, if you don't live in a state that salts the roads, there shouldn't be any issue.

 

so i had my truck looked at today by the service manager and what seemed like 4 other techs once the truck got lifted up lol

just like i thought, they agreed that the undercoating was done very poorly and it flaking off

he was a bit of a dick about the fact that it should go back to the original dealer that did it (10+ hours from me) to be done and that since he won't get paid for it to be redone he's not gonna do it but that he would have his warranty guy follow up with Toyota to see what they can do

when i got there we were talking and i mentioned that if the truck had been inspected and received the coating that the warranty was extended 15 years, his comment "your wrong on that".....5 mins later looking through his recall book..."so it looks like the warranty is extended 15 years"....and he's the service manager? what a dip shit

 

Hey Van, sounds like a dip for sure, but also sounds like he's acknowledging your extension on your frame warranty.

Don't worry about getting re-coated, unless they tell you too, and now you just sit and wait for your frame to rot through. Hopefully this happens before 2017 (or 2016 depending on when it was built) and you get yourself a new frame with all it's goodies.

Cheers,

 

That's kind of what I was wanting to hear. Ive been out under my truck with a flashlight looking everywhere; there is not even a spec of rust anywhere on the frame or anywhere else. Im pretty sure even if I salted it every year from now to 2016 it would still be good- which I dont plan on doing. It's a little bit of a bummer though, because if the new frames are better I still kind of want one. I guess Ill just do my best to keep my frame nice.

 

While it might seem better, realize that a human will essentially be taking your truck apart and putting it back together as quick as possible since they get paid a set amount to do the job. This could bring in problems that were not there before the frame was replaced.

If the frame is good now and undercoated with a warranty, be happy. It it's falling apart, be happy that the recall exists.

 

I recently purchased a 04 taco 4x4 with a broken camshaft [PO ran it low on oil] as a winter project. Before spending my $$$ on rebuilding the 3.4L i took the title to my local dealership today to run the vin in their database to see if there was any history of the frame recall with this truck. I own a rollback so i was hoping to tow it to them to have the frame inspected, and if it passed, undercoated. I was told that the frame recall is now expired and they could'nt do anything for me. I inspected the frame myself while the truck was on the lift but i'm scared i may have missed something. Frame rust is the reason i sold my lifted 85 toy p/u, here in Md. they salt the roads if they are predicting a passing flurry, it really sucks. Should i contact corporate toyota?

 

i finally got my 2003 back from the dealership. It now sports a new frame, rear springs, brake lines, fuel lines, and they installed my lift. It took close to a month and a half from when I dropped it off. I cant wait to put my tires on in the morning!

 

I called my local toyota dealership and they just told me i could get a free frame inspection and i asked about the complimentary spray and the guy kinda mumbled and was unsure.

 

Glad your happy with your truck Fishbomb...but damn a month and half! I had them put on a little lift (billy's, OME coils and an AAL) and they had my truck done in less than four days. I think the had done like 7 or so up to that point, we've got a tonne of salt up here.

 

Fishbomb - did they hook you up with a sweet loaner? was the labor rate on the additional work discounted?

glad you got a shiny new frame!

 

dealership called me today, said Toyota Canada won't respray the frame since a dealership has already done it even though they did a piss poor job

I'm gonna spend some time under the truck the next nice day and hit the frame with a hammer every 2" to see if i can find a weak spot to bust through....the service manager said himself, just wait for it to rust through and come back for a new frame

how does the 15 years work? from time of car manufacturer? from time of first rust inspection?

 

Time from it left the factory.

So in your case, 2016/2017 depending on your trucks build date.

 

Actually it is a 15 yr warranty extension from the Date of First Service.
Build Date or when the corrosion treatment was applied is irrelevant.

If the truck originally sat on a dealer's lot for awhile (i.e.- 3 mos) and then was purchased - the 15 yr clock starts running the day of the sales transaction, aka - "date of first service".
That is assuming you had the corrosion treatment done by 12/31/11 (ex - NY)

 

a buddy of mine just bought a truck from back east with low miles and tons of frame rust. is there one dealer in northern california who is better or worse at handling these frame rust warranty issues? toyota checked the VIN and they sprayed in 2010, so I guess that is good news b/c it extends the warranty. i know he's rather have new frame than buy-back. case opened with toyota in 1/9/12.

 

what year is the truck? buy-back goes thru 2000 trucks and new frame for 01-04.. can't help you w/ cali dealers though

 

It is 2003. Has been sprayed by Toyota and even patched...all the black spray-on stuff is flaking off.

 

HUH ???? Toyota did not do the "patch" correct ????