Limited Service Campaign for Corrosive Resistant Compound

the thought occurred to me...

clarify whether Toyota has made the statement that they will stand behind the frame for 15 years...

 

Hey, I just saw the "service campaign" . I have lots of rust on my 2005 but I don't see any actual holes. Do you need an actual hole? It seems in reading through most of the posts most holes are on the longer frames? I will crawl under truck later this evening to look better. I have been cursing the truck every time I go under d/t all the rust for 10 years! Now I probably don't qualify for new frame.

 

Just take it in for an inspection at a local Toyota dealer. Better safe then sorry. My dealer found 4 more "holes" than I found and I thought I looked pretty well.

 

Why are you accepting paying for parts when other dealerships have replaced those parts at no charge to the customer?

I will not roll over so easily nor can I afford 3-4K for parts because my/their frame rotted out prematurely.

"the dealer will provide an appropriate remedy at no charge to you"

 

I Agree - but only to a point. A decent truck that that needs a new frame - but otherwise is in good or better shape - and just needs the frame replaced - In my opinion - should have it's frame swapped with any and all parts that need to be changed Due to the frame replacement swap.

However other items that need service and/ or replacement, the dealers probably will not cover. For example, It needs a brake job. The shocks are going south. Clutch will need changing shortly, etc. etc.

Items that need to be replaced due to the frame replacement should be fully covered - for example a functioning E brake cable but is so rusted that removing and replacing would probably be a safety issues after re installation. This should be covered by Toyota . Other maintenance issues that needed to be done are not the responsibility of Toyota. (i.e. tune up, brake job, Clutch, etc. )

Now if the dealer is willing to change items at that otherwise need /or will shortly need changing, at the time of the frame swap for only parts cost - I think the Dealer is being more than fair - trying to help/please the customer .

I just wish they did not mark up their parts up soooo bad that many customers will balk at the free labor being offered. Because, the Dealers would sell more parts, have happier customers, dealers will warranty the replaced parts, the frame swap is a little less irritating to the customers - and finally the truck is back, in great shape and should run for many miles with out bullshit pars problems.

IMHO

 

Shocks and axle shafts are not included. Read before you criticize someone. The frame rotting out has nothing to do with a shock going bad or and axle shaft issue.

 

Axles, shocks, and the clutch are not part of the frame service campaign. My truck is bone stock and all original underneath. I figure this is a good time to spruce things up (after 10 years [manuf Oct 2004] and 140k miles) because it is going to be in the shop anyway and they won't charge me for labor.

The u-joints in my front axles are worn and the boots are probably not long for the world. My clutch's pilot or throw out bearing chirps at idle. The shocks... Well, the shocks are just spent.

I suppose one could try to argue the axles and shocks wore excessively due to the shoddy frame, but I think that's an exceptional stretch in my case. And honestly, Toyota is about to sink $13k worth of maintenance into a 10 year-old truck worth around $9k at no charge to me and they agreed to do the other stuff I am electing to do for the cost of parts. It isn't exactly like I'm getting the bad end of this deal.

 

Oops, I forgot one thing - they said I could supply my own parts, if I choose to do so. They won't warrant the parts in that case, but - this is awesome - I am buying the parts off eBay from a Toyota authorized parts source that will warrant the parts so long as they are installed by an authorized Toyota service department. There are still some risks in this scenario, but nothing egregious.

 

ccarlson,
sounds like your coming out ahead. I spoke with my dealer and they offered the same thing. Now we are just waiting for VA to be opened to the LSC finally.

 

Now That's a Win!

 

I'd take it I'm getting a new frame based on this? Thought I only saw surface rust until I looked up next to the cat on the drivers side. I can pick pieces of the frame away from this spot.

 

That is pretty close to what mine looked like (check pictures here), and they are replacing my frame. In fact, I think your frame looks a little worse than mine!

I pretty sure the forward hole (the one on the right in the picture) it supposed to be there, but the rear one (left in picture) is not. If you look on the passenger's side, you may see similar deterioration. I don't quite have a hole on that side, but it is developing.

Good luck!

 

Ccarlson, I saw your pictures on the previous page and that's what got me to go look in that particular spot. Here I thought my frame was OK!

I'm also going to get my 5100s and AAL installed while they have it ripped apart.

 

I have been reading that there is a back order on frames and it takes two months to get a frame once the dealer places the order. Is everyone having the same response from their dealer? I am waiting with a loaner Toyota Corolla, but darn two months!?!? What is the frame manufacture doing, it is like they just have a couple temp employees manufacturing the frames.
This will most likely be my last Tacoma, hate to say it because they are my favorite.

 

I had my inspection this past Friday and was told to expect it in around the first of the year. They said they were replacing about 6 frames per week right now and about start trying to get 8 or 10 done each week. Also, they said that of the 2006 frames they are inspecting, there is roughly an 85% fail rate at the moment...

 

Eeek, I'm east of Toledo and I'm taking mine in tomorrow for inspection. I'm pretty sure mine is going to get replaced, but I don't want it to take that long! Did they provide you with a rental?

 

Apols in advance... long-winded post!

First of the year?! Gee whiz that's a long time. I had mine inspected last Thursday and they estimated 4-5 weeks. I can't help but wonder if the time disparity between locations is a matter of frame supply (batches allocated to a specific state), labor supply, or perhaps space. I can imagine scenarios where each could be a factor.


Some pseudo-random thoughts on the delays...

Note: I am a UNIX SysAdmin & Software Engineer - I do not work for Toyota, or in the automotive industry for that matter, and my only vested interest in Toyota is getting my Tacoma patched up.

I know a lot of folks have raw nerves at the moment and could not care less about the challenges Toyota faces on this (or any other) issue; however, if considered from Toyota's perspective, one can sorta understand how they might be having difficulty meeting demand because they are essentially working to supply unknown quantities in markets they are not directly linked with. (I suppose one could argue the opposite, of course, since Toyota knows how many of the potentially damaged trucks were sold and what their failure percentages are.)

When it comes to making and selling new cars, they project demand and then throttle production based on market feedback in order to control costs and generate revenue while hitting pricing targets.

In the case of the frame repairs, it doesn't seem like Toyota has much of an immediate financial upside. The best they can probably do through this process is attempt to satisfy customers who own problematic trucks in the hope of fueling future sales while controlling expenditures by only ordering frames they actually need. I suspect they order the frames in batches, which could mean they may need to hit a demand threshold before a new batch is ordered. Such a scenario implies a potential for supply side delays and thus wait time on the delivery end.

As for labor... As I understand it, this task requires two technicians two full days to accomplish. Working flat out, two qualified technicians can ostensibly turn around 2.5 frames a week. While those technicians are working on frames, they are unable to do more "business as usual" work, which means other customers are - potentially - going to experience some delays as well. I can also see where the company might be inclined to weigh some customers needs differently than others. A customer in need of a brake job or a timing belt is a maintenance opportunity that can easily be lost to competition if left unsatisfied while there is no competition for frame replacement work.

Perhaps shop space is another concern. I have no idea how much space a disassembled truck consumes, but if a shop has to allocate a significant amount of space to handle the frame replacement, they may be limited to how many frames they can swap in a given amount of time without impacting other work.

Bigdog - it does suck to be stuck in a Corolla for a few months, but I would suggest trying to be positive about it, if you can. I mean, you aren't paying for the rental; you aren't putting miles, wear, or tear on your truck; and, if you do a lot of driving, you are probably saving a fair bit of coin due to fuel economy. Unless you use your truck for business that involves hauling stuff - in that case, the Corolla totally blows.

I know the above is all a bunch of long-winded conjecture on my part... I am just trying to offer some food for thought by considering the fact that there is always always always a bigger picture.

As for me, I am satisfied with the fact they are going to replace my frame. Is it an inconvenience? A little bit, sure, but what in life isn't? If you really want to understand inconvenience, expense, and frustration, try owning an airplane and dealing with the FAA. I guarantee that will redefine your perspective and perception of inconvenience!

I have owned two Tacomas in 14 years. A "bought new" 2000 that Toyota bought back from me for $13.5k for a failed frame, and a used 2005 that they are basically going to make like new. All up, I have spent about $32k total on Toyota products in the past 14 years ($2,285/yr). In about 6 weeks, I will have what will essentially be a brand new truck. If I drive that truck for another 10 years (my intent), assuming new tires and other maintenance items at the rate I have experienced the past 10 years, I will be looking at having had the utility and reliability of a Toyota truck for the better part of 24 years for about $1,600/year. That's really not too shabby in a land where the average car costs close to $30k and where most new car owners keep said car for around 71.4 months (~$5k/yr).

 

Makes sense, sometimes I do need my truck for work when I have to haul test equipment to multi-sites. Yes, saving bucks on gas and I will just make do with the Corolla.

 

I dropped mine off yesterday. I was supposed to get an access cab Tacoma for a loaner but it was still out. So I'm rocking a prius. I've got a commute so the 55mpg it's getting is great. But in my 25 years driving I have NEVER driven anything so lame. Most pathetic vehicle ever. I was a traffic menace last night trying to merge onto the highway. I'll have to take a different route today. And cornering? Forget it. As a commuting appliance I suppose these make total sense but it handles worse than my truck and has no sack. I honestly would prefer to leave it home and drive one of my other cars but I don't know when my truck will be ready so I'm going to continue to drive it.