TOYOTA(2001-2004 RUSTY FRAME)WON'T REPLACE ANYMORE!!!

these PRETZELS are making me thirsty

 

I was the second owner of a 99 tacoma. I got several letters and finially took it in. It failed and I had a check within 3 weeks for 12k for a 13 year ol truck with 250k miles. It was so pleased with Toyota that I went back and spent 35k a new one. I think they went above and beyond what they had to do about the problem.

 

umm... 2001 tacoma owner here, i just noticed this forum. my undercarriage is super rusty, im guessing toyota wont try to fix it now since its too late now? should i call and check with toyota?

 

I would, never hurts to try, just take it to your local Toyota dealer and tell them you understand that Toyota is offering frame replacements and would like to have them see if yours qualifies for the recall/replacement.

 

I don't believe it was ever a safety recall by the NTSB. Toyota replaced them because they wanted to A, sell new ones B, because they wanted to save the reputation they had earned. The PO chose to ignore the offer. Ford and GM both had frame issues both ignored it. The Ford 150's broke the rear frame ends off right at the spring hangers Ford never put frames under their trucks and neither did GM. The recall was well publicized and people had lot of time to deal with it. I think Toyota was very generous with their offer and how long do you think is enough time? 10 years 20,30?

 

thanks maineah for the replied.

 

If its a 15 year warranty, 15 years from the date of manufacture seems appropriate.

 

Have you had any luck? I am in the same position with a 2000 tacoma, which I just purchased in December.

 

Right there with you. for some reason i am being told if i took my truck to north carolina they will fix it. I will keep you posted!

 

My Tacome failed state inspection yesterday. due to rust perforations in the frame. I drove it to Berlin City Toyota in Portland Maine where I had the rust inspection/treatment done after the recall. They seized my truck for frame replacement and sent me away with a nice almost-new Matrix. I'm sure I could have negotiated for a pickup if necessary

 

I have a 2003 Tacoma and just got it back last Friday (Aug,9,2013) with a new frame. They did it in two weeks. I took it in for a spare tire mount call back and they spotted two holes above the back spring mounts and had me bring the truck in that Friday (July 26).The frame isn't ordered until they impound the truck. New frame, back springs, all brake lines, new coolant, new brake fluid and all the mounting hardware plus a fresh alignment. I did a couple things like fuel filter and plugs while it was dismantled. I do want to add that the truck went in for a frame inspection in 2011 and nothing was seen at that time. It's easy to see that it rusted from inside thru to the outside. I had a friend that just got his check from a buy back with his Tacoma. It was a few years older than mine and I understand it was only eligible for a buy back. He had two dealers that said no way ,,,but he stayed with it and contacted someone who knew who to call. I wouldn't argue about his truck deal as that's what I was told,,,,but I will argue about mine.

 

I picked up my re-framed Tacoma today. It drives like a new truck. I did opt for a new set of OEM shocks for $112 plus tax. No other dealer charges. I will buy another Tacoma if I out-live this one.

 

toyota has done good on this whole thing, but as a t-100 owner, A) they didnt do the frames on them even though they had similar problems B) they didnt recall the faulty clutch bracket that goes out in virtually every manual transmission one.

Reason? Only 500k of em made, so they are able to get away with it

 

Back in October of 2014 I had my truck in at the local brake shop to have the brakes checked. They informed me they were unable to put the truck up on the lift as it kept breaking through the frame. I called the local Toyota dealership in Iowa City where I had bought the truck new. They said to stop by and they would check it out. I took it there, they looked at it and said it was too dangerous to drive and they would replace the frame free of charge.
They paid for a rental car. They did warn me the average time to get the ordered frame(including brake lines and connecting parts) was around 3 months.
Finally in February, 2015, I was thrilled to get my truck back though I did like all the accessories on the 2014 Camry rental. The rental cost was over 2,000 which they paid. No charge for the frame, parts, and labor. It was like having a new vehicle minus all the bells and whistles. I must say this has restored my faith in Toyota.

 

I got a recall on my 2003 for rusty spare tire carrier and when replacing it the dealer told me my frame was bad. I had a recall three years earlier to bring it in for a check and they cleaned the frame and coated it and by doing that I was auto okayed for a new frame which I did. Three weeks later I had my truck back with new frame, springs, e-cables and new hardware plus truck rental all paid. Went by the dealer last week 03/3/2015 and he had 11 new frames stacker out back so someone is still getting new replacement frames. Just saying!!

 

I have written toyota multiple times, the last letter being august of 2014, and they said they wouldn't replace my 2004 frame.....did they start replacing their frames again for the 2001-2004 recall? I would be glad to drive to your dealership in iowa from florida if it meant i could get my frame replaced

 

HF13,

In order to get your frame replaced it must first be eligable. In order for it to be eligable you must (or the previous owner) have taken it in when the campaign was on for checking the frames. I don't know your particular area, but my area deadline was October 2011. So if the truck was brought in before that for toyota to have a look at they THEN extended your frame warranty for 15 yrs after being brought into service. If you did not have your truck checked by then.....SOL unfortunately.

Hope this helps and sorry for situation.

I'm coming from experience as I had a 1998 buy back, and a reframed 2002.

DC

 

Where exactly are you all finding the frame rust? I've had mine here in VA since I bought it new in '04. I see very little frame rust. The spare tire carrier checked out ok.

 

most report its the rear leaf spring mounting points and from what I have read about, its also the inner sides of frame rails often can rust through just about anywhere you see connecting points welded like cross supports but its mostly near the rear where it gets splashed with road salts the most.

I am no expert on this but from what I understand it is the frames were built from bare metal and welds were not cleaned before the frames were coated so all the welds started rusting as soon as the frames were built. this usually isn't an issue since the rust itself seams to seal the frame and it doesn't get bad unless you put it in salt bath every year such as northern states with salted roads.

that's about as far as my understanding goes on this issue

 

My outside frame checked good on the check and repaint. Sometime afterwards it came thru at the rear spring front mounts. No question of it rusting inside and coming thru. I expect the entire frame was dangerously rusty inside. Our winters speed it up. I put an aftermarket hitch on when I got the truck and it was so rusty that the dealer asked me if I was sure I wanted it back on. I've seen several that did exactly as mine but one friend had his break at the rear shackles and the back frame and bumper along with a grain hopper trailer went bye bye so always check the rear shackle mounts also. JMHO..