new 2014, question about bare welds on the frames

Hello all!!!


I just bought a new 2014 double cab toyota. I love it, but I noticed some of the welds on the under carriage isn't painted. Like the paint didn't stick to it. They are shinny, reason I spotted them. I notice some rust above the wheel on the body welding.

Is this normal, or should I fix the flaws with some rust-oleic spray paint. Should I ask Toyota customer service?Any tips for spraying the undercarriage?

Thanks

 

Ok, I will post some tomorrow. Thanks

 

I have this same issue on my 2013.. they're sowing signs of surface rust. I try and just keep a constant film of fluid film on them.

 

Take a wire brush to them and paint them.

 

Mine are like this also, not completely bare metal but you can see it. I spay it with some rust inhibitor paint when I find it. Wife's 06 4runner has same on that frame. It seems like it's not a huge issue with the 4runner, it's always been a florida vehicle with a three year stint in VA so it has had "some" exposure to road salt but nothing like you northern guys get. My truck has never seen road salt as far as I know

 

Dealership said Toyota won't do anything until everything is rusted through.

Thanks for not flaming me. I saw the 4 runner post about the same issue.... talk about the OP being flamed.

OK I did my research. I live down south. To prevent rust, can I just use Fluid Film on the whole bottom (avoiding brakes) every 6 to 12 months and not worry? Plus the routine car washing...

I am planning on buying one gallon fluid film and the professional spraying kit. Unless there is a better product.

Thanks!!!

 

Are you driving in the ocean?

 

I live 1 mile from the bay. If that counts, hehe. Mine with just 150 miles (20 when I bought it) and humidity showing more and more surface rust in every scratch and drain hole... seems the assembly line wasn't kind to my Taco. Hecho en Mexico.

I want to own this truck well pass ten years. My first time with a Toyota having this degree of frame maintance.

 

I would coat or paint it then. I always give the under side of my truck a fresh water rinse when I wash the rest of it. I also use a wire brush and rust oleum on any rust spots or bare metal spots. Works for me in Florida, I live pretty far inland and don't spend to much time on the beach lol.
I would take some extra steps if I lived closer to the ocean or spent time driving on the beach or lived up north!

 

Are the rust issues with frames still this problematic? I have to be honest, this doesnt make me feel good about buying a '15...

 

After doing my research. Using fluid film as part of the maintance isn't a major concern. I have a garage and aircompressor already. People on other boards point to different trucks and SUVs as having similar issues.

A few posters used soft coating / fluid film when they first got theirs and no other problems happen afterwards. I wish Toyota would make using a soft coat part of their schedule maintance to educate people. Or part of their last steps of building it.

Now if I could see into the future and know the next generation of tacomas would not have this issue, I would waited on buying a Tacoma. Hehehe.

 

I sold my 2001 S-10 because the entire undercarriage was loaded with rust from never taking care of it. It was getting so bad that it was about to fail the next inspection due to rust issues, when I bought my Tacoma. Other trucks do rust too. A co-worker has a story about the frame breaking in half due to rust on his older F-150 while going down the turnpike!

Even if the next gen Tacomas are built using better steel in the frame or have some better undercoatings on them. I think I would still fluid film or undercoat a brand new one every year, it's a small price to pay to protect a $30k purchase. I wouldn't want to chance it, unless I bought one 6 - 8 years into production and could see that no one who first bought them has any significant rust after that amount time.

 

As for the O.P.'s issue, I would deff clean those welds and paint them prior to undercoating the entire truck with some kind of oil or wax coating.

My 13' doesn't have any welds that aren't painted from the factory underneath, so I don't think it's normal, someone must have missed them at the factory.

 

I do agree with you. I looked at the entire frame and almost every weld has spots of rust. Since I am not in the winter / salted road climate. The easiest approach would be the yearly spray with fluid film. I do not want to spend a long long time repainting unless fluid film doesn't work. My neighbor showed me the rust on his older tacoma. Seems the frame us holding up very well.

 

If it's brand new, isn't this something you should bring up with your dealer before you start scrubbing and painting? I mean at the very least get it on record. I don't think bare metal on the undercarriage (especially the frame) is a normal thing. I would document it via pictures, bring it to the nearest dealership, and keep documenting.


EDIT: Sorry, didn't see the part about the dealership earlier. But to reiterate, make DAMN SURE, they wrote everything down. If that frame starts rusting at the welds sometime down the road that's your ace in the hole. I don't suppose you have a return period do you?

 

This just pisses me off. !!

You go and spend tens of thousands of dollars on a brandy new, top of the line vehicle and when you bring it in for a concern that has been a KNOWN issue for MANY years and they basically tell you to GO AWAY.

I just know that if you saw this BEFORE you bought the truck and asked them to wire brush it up and add some anti rust/paint coverage to fix the issue - it would have been done before you finished your sentence.

I'd bring it to another Dealer - just to get it documented twice - then email Corp and submit your concern and tell them you what it well documented that you have this issue, that's it's a known concern with the vehicle, and you are NOT satisfied with their response.

Toyota has spent millions to correct this and when you bring it in at the best possible time to fix it - you are shown the door.

Request from Corp that this issue is documented and you will return a copy to corporate when/if the condition later worsens to cause you to expend some serious cash to get this later fixed ....

(Sorry, I had my rant switch on ....)

 

My truck came with rust on the cab mount welds right out the factory door Fluid Film, same rust spots have not changed one bit every other part of the frame is still black I do not believe unless you sand blast it then paint it than it will help one bit just cover the thing with FF once a year it will not bother a thing.

 

I am at dealership. Found one person to help me at service department. He is talking with the manager

 

Still no pics ?

 

Where's the best place to host the pics?

Edit: talked to the warranty / body shop manager. Like I thought that toyota makes their tocoma/tundra like it. He recommended for me to paint the frame with plor 15. Not the dealer fault. If it was warranty then dealer would jump for a chance to fix it and get toyota to pay for it.

Edit again; now if anyone wants to tell me of am easy clean then paint fix that doesn't require sandblasting the whole frame, please let me know what products that I can use to do minor touch ups (welds) and not paint the whole frame. Then I can fluid film my undercarriage. Thanks!