Yet another rust story - how screwed am I?

In April of 2017 I bought a 2003 Tacoma Double Cab Off Road. Only had 50K miles on it and unfortunately I didn't do enough research on the issue of rusting frames. I only looked at the frame briefly and saw rust but didn't think it was THAT bad. Yes, apparently I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed. Private party sale and I guess the seller got me to take his problem off his hands. Thanks man - you're a swell person.

Some pics:

Note that the top two pics are the same area after using a wire brush on it. I'm based in No. Virginia and called the dealer that sold this truck (used) to the guy I bought it from. I talked to the service department and asked if this truck was covered by any frame warranty - he said not that he knew of. Pretty unhelpful.

Any suggestions on what (if anything) I should do?

 

Check if your truck is still under the frame recall.

 

Holy Fuck that's bad, i think there is a 15 year period for you to get it fixed. Contact Toyota like yesterday.

 

I called the dealer that last sold it and he told me it wasn't but he also sounded like he wanted me off the phone.

 

Call Toyota Corp

 

It's an extended warranty, not a recall.

I don't see any perforations, but you've got a ton of surface rust. Have a dealer inspect it.

 

It also does not look to be undercoated, which was required for Virginia trucks back in 2011 or so to maintain the 15 year extended warranty on the frame. Toyota will have the service records for your VIN though.

 

Just bug the shit out of them till you get someone that will help you.

 

Also, if the truck was registered in a warn weather state during that time, it may be exempt from the undercoating requirement.

 

I think I remember somebody saying in one of the many threads on this that it had to be inspected and sprayed by a certain point to remain qualified for replacement. Anything like that show up on the vehicle's carfax?

 

For perspective, this truck is in excellent shape otherwise, no issues at all with the body. Here it is at my brother's shop in CA right now:

 

Ouch wow.

 

You are a lot better than the following thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/i-know-this-isnt-the-first-frame-thread.506613

 

According to the Carfax it started in New York and migrated down to Virginia. That's been it.

Nothing on the Carfax about any kind of undercoating. Lots of inspections by the local Toyota Dealer (Ourisman Toyota in Chantilly)

 

I wonder what a person would have to do to get work orders from those inspections. Asking them is always free. It sounds like they didn't give you the time of day, could be nothing or could be hiding a documented detection.

 

Starting in NY does not help prevent rust. I lost two NY tacomas to rust, and had the frame replaced on a third. My current one wins no prizes either.

If the truck were to qualify for the extended warranty, you would have to have perforations of the frame in any one of about 12 locations before replacement would be approved. Heavy surface rust is not perforation. This frame may be still be solid, and can be protected from further rust by treating it regularly with something like POR 15.

 

You could use new shocks on the rear.

 

Thanks - my hope is that the frame is still structurally sound. Going to take the bed off tomorrow and see what it looks like from there. Hoping that blasting it, then doing a POR 15 coating will be enough to get it back to maintainable. My goal was to put a long travel suspension kit on this, new tires / wheels and a very mild lift. Not sure if it's worth the effort right now - tomorrow will be a revealing day.

Going to take Unchained 5150's advice and spend the morning tomorrow trying to get through to corporate and see what's up.

 

Appreciate everyone's help / suggestions! I'll post updates as we learn more.

 

Looks like a nice low mileage truck, very much worth preserving. Good luck checking with Toyota on the history, and try to find a dealer that knows what they are doing and have them check it out. A hands on inspection is the only way to know for sure. Even if not under warranty, and there are weak spots, there are measures you can take to keep it drivable.