Frame Replacement Version 1,123,000

I just received a letter (today is June 12th, 2020) from Toyota Corporate regarding frame corrosion on certain 2011 to 2017 model year Tacoma's. While I don't live in the one of the "Cold Climate States" it makes you wonder why Toyota didn't fix their frame problems at the source years ago. Living in Florida, away from the coast, my frame still looks factory fresh. I feel bad for my Tacoma brethren that have deal with this garbage.

 

I’m going to say it was because money.
If it would be more profitable they would have done it but now.
If it would cause a loss of profit, they wouldn’t do it.

Loss of profit can be many things. From sales to fixes.
Seriously, their sales are just fine.
Even the guy that know about the the potential frame issues still buy them. (Yes, I’m one of them)

 

It's an issue but Toyota has made amends and stands by products that are well over 10 years old.

Try owning any other make and see how they treat you.

 

I got one too, I was wondering exactly that as well. I'd like to see the cost breakdown on fixing the frame building process vs replacing frames on x% of trucks. Really when you think about it the percent of trucks that make it to needing a frame replacement is probably pretty small. It is only in 1/4 to 1/3 of states so that takes a lot off the board, many of those remaining will be wrecked or otherwise totaled by the time it is an issue, and of the ones that do survive many of them won't be totally rusted out to need a replacement within that window. I will give them credit though, they aren't the only ones with frames that rust out but they are the only ones I know of that stand by and replace them.

 

Between reliability and after-sales support, this is why I went with Toyota.

 

I do find it amusing how the Toyota Production Method and their Kata problem solving methods are the gold standard in high quality, efficient manufacturing but yet they live with installing new frames under, what I’d consider, their most widely popular pickup.

 

I don't think the number of replaced frames is small, here in the north east the dealers have piles of changed frames.when you consider the cost of 2 mechanics,for 2 days of labor, that's a pretty big nut to carry.I guess total sales outweigh this added cost.I'm actually happy my frame was changed,new brake lines,fuel lines rear springs,lca's for nothing, even gave me a loaner, cant beat that! I'm not even the original owner!

 

Same here. Evidently it's more cost effective to replace the small percentage of failure rate vs cost of re-design, re-engineer, re-tool.
I'm betting the next gen Taco will see a different frame design. As it stands now, Taco's to '17 are covered, and I'll bet that coverage will extend to the end of the complete 3rd gen run eventually.

 

All Toyota would have to do is choose a steel composition with a little more nickel or chromium in it's steel. Either one would have increased the rust resistance and depending on your point of view, more environmentally friendly. Once the frame starts to rust, turns into dust and deposits it's material along the highway, it can't be recycled. You don't need the frame to last forever, just long enough to where mechanically it's cost-effective to replace the vehicle than repair it. From what I've seen and read the frame is Tacoma's weakest point. Even galvanization would be better than nothing.

 

I agree ^^^, the metallurgy has been around for decades to (help) fix the problem.

 

I feel the lawyers who settled this lawsuit didn't know what they were doing but, unfortunately, it's not just a Toyota problem, all manufactures have it to some degree.

 

Review this thread [https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-restoration-did-it-myself.368199/] and spend 2 days doing the work yourself. I have frame "challenges", but none of them pass the 10mm through-hole test to warrant a frame replacement or a CRC treatment. If the dealership wanted to replace the frame, I'd jump. If they wanted to spray CRC, I'd politely decline. I plan on doing the frame work myself in the next year - needle scaler, wire wheel, naval jelly, take it down to bare metal as much as possible, POR-15 treatment, top coat,... and it should outlast you.

 

Got my letter last month, if they won't replace the frame at the time I take it for inspection. I will let the frame rust away. I'm not a fan of the spray on corrosion protection.

I thought about asking around at different dealerships to see if buying a new vehicle helps with getting a replacement frame. I'm not sure if I want another Toyota truck or not.

 

From what I've been told its the Dana corp, an American company who produces the frames for Toyota, that's not an excuse, but kind of an ironic twist of fate. Yeah a frame is only as good as it's composition, the thing is Toyota drive trains are so good that their trucks can go 100's of thousands of miles sp people hold on to them a lot longer.They did right by me, I'm a life long customer, until they reAlly start messing things up.

 

Fluid film is an awesome product! Try it, it's cheap and not permanent, I use it on my new frame, and it's looking great!