2006 Tacoma owned for two years and the frame broke in no less than three places.

I know Tacoma owners know about this, but new ones might not. Like myself.
I bought my dream truck (that I could afford) after my battle with cancer. I have owned my Tacoma for two years and here I am, with a broken, useless truck... The first thing I did when I got my Tacoma, was to take it to the Toyota dealership to check on the state of the recall work. They assured me my repairs were done and my truck was good to go. Less than two years later and I have a worthless yard ornament, it should just be a cab and box on wheels within another year or two as you can watch the corrosion eat it away to nothing.
Sixteen years does not seem to be a reasonable life span for such a high end vehicle. Toyota has replied to me that they will do nothing further to my truck as it is beyond its warranty. A mere four years after it was 'repaired' for the recall and the frame simply snapped in several places from simple highway/dirt road driving - nothing off road. The bush guard rusted and fell off the front and you can reach underneath and pull coin sized pieces of corroded frame out.
I am devastated by this and wanted to warn anyone that would listen that this is a major problem and needs to be known...

Does this look like it was repaired four years prior to these photos?

 

Wow, sorry for your troubles.
Welcome to TW.

 

Just where does the Truck live?

It might have been a New Frame you can check by running your Vin and see what was done.

Just what have you done the last 4 years to protect your frame?? Looks to be nothing?

Yes a New frame can be in that condition after 4 winters if the truck lives in a liquid brine state and no yearly frame treatments are done.

It is all vehicles not just Toyota.

 

That is devastating financial news I'm very sorry to see this happen to you.

 

I know you're bummed at the moment, but this is fixable. You just aren't going to get someone else to pay for it. If you got a deal on the truck, consider this part of initial cost and get it fixed. Or turn around and sell it as is to someone who os willing to put in the time and money.

My suggestion for next time is to get it inspected BEFORE you buy it. You state you bought it and brought it in. Dealership could have just as easily told you 2 years ago the frame was F'd and you'd be in the same boat as today. There was a time window for the frame recall and if previous owner didn't get it done doesn't mean you would have gotten a frame outside that window.

You're down but not out. What happens next is going to depend on you. Cut and run? Or double your efforts and get it fixed. Caveat emptor.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld

 

Welcome to TW!

 

16 years is a pretty good run for most vehicles, even a toyota. In a state with road salt 16 years is practically an eternity. I think they make safety caps for a 2006. Safety caps are a weld on repair that my work for you. In a salt state you MUST do something to combat the rust or this is the end result.

 

Glad to hear you beat cancer...

As for the unfortunate truck situation you're in, I have a hard time believing it rusted that much in less than 2 years. But then again, maybe you're driving it thru the ocean everyday and drying it off with salt.

Seems like this entire issue could have been avoided by a simple PRE-purchase inspection. Or hell even a 1/2 second glance at the rear wheel well you should have easily been able to see all that rust and (what looks like) mud. Seems like nobody does these anymore and expects the someone else to be responsible for any issues with the vehicle due to their own negligence.

Good luck with whichever route you proceed take. Just be sure to do a PRE-purchase inspection next time.

 

Seems like nowadays you need to be an expert on any vehicle your interested in because they all seem to have little know issues. Rusting frames, oil consumption, brake line corrosion are a few of the issues i have had to deal with.

 

Welcome to TW sorry you are looking at getting fixed again check dates through vin number it's fixable you will be ok.

 

I would have had it inspected, but the owner lived out of the way which made an inspection difficult. I did not know about Tacomas being made from cardboard at the time.

As for thinking 12 or 16 years is comparable to other brands for longevity, I have a 20 year old Ford with an immaculate frame for comparison. Same driving conditions, completely different result.

Certainly caveat emptor. I am here to pass on my experience and perhaps save someone else from my predicament.

All this talk about brined roads or preventative care for your frame is a bit ridiculous. With all the brands of vehicle on the market, how is ONLY Toyota forced to recall these vehicles? I understand loyalty, but I do not comprehend defending a company that was court ordered to recall and repair defective frames from a period of over ten years. Nor do I believe 12 years is a legitimate lifespan for a vehicle frame, even 20 years seems short. Products should improve with time, but it seems Toyota has bought into planned obsolescence as a business model.