Replacement Frame in 1st Gen already rotted beyond repair.

My '03 Tacoma has 83000 miles on it. Babied and hardly driven since I bought it new. Always garaged, occasionally under-sprayed with heavy oil. In 2013 I got notice of the frame recall program. While I could find no rot on my frame then, the dealership claimed it was rusty enough that it had to be replaced and replaced it. I think I had about 35K miles on it then.
Last year I returned to the same dealership for some other maintenance and they informed me that the replacement frame had now rotted through and the truck was no longer road safe. I think it had 75K miles +/- on it then.
I know the truck is over 20 years old so I do not need to here from all the keyboard cowboys about how vehicles should not be expected to last forever... troll someone else. Two rotten frames in 75K miles is outrageous... especially when the second frame had supposedly been improved to fix a rusting issue. The "improved" frames only last 40K miles?
Recall that Toyota replaced the original frames because they admitted that they had determined that "deficient steel" have been used. One would expect that they improved the steel quality when they went to the huge expense of replacing all these frames, but apparently (based only in my experience) the new steel was more deficient than the old. The original frame was in much better shape than the new frame was after about the same mileage. They had increased the rust-through warranty to 20 yrs / 100K miles, but at this time my truck had just passed the 20 years. But this problem is mileage related... not age related... a vehicle sitting in a garage isn't getting exposed to the elements.

I thought Toyota would be as shocked as I was about this... a truck babied like this was going through two frames in 75K miles, but they obviously see these trucks as a disaster they want to forget. The agent (who was great and very understanding) says the only possibility of getting any help here is if I can show that it was common that the replacement frames were rotting as bad as the originals... that they did not properly fix the original issue. He said I should try to find others with the same problem so that Toyota might re-open the original recall. But how many of these 20+ year-old Tacomas are still out there?
If you have a similar story please share it. But if you are just a clown with nothing to do but haunt forum threads with your unrequested opinion, please take a hike.

 

How bad is the replacement frame? Can you not patch it and carry on. I find it hard to believe it’s shot with so few miles.

 

You could find no rot, but had them replace the frame anyway. And now they say you need a new frame again? Have you verified their claims, or are you just parroting what the dealership is telling you?
Sounds like the dealership is trying to get more money from their favorite sucker.
I’m surprised they haven’t told you the muffler bearings are going out.

 

Pics would help a lot.

 

DCSB? You gonna sell it?

 

So you were given a second chance to take care of a nice little truck and you decided to just ignore the rust?

I think THAT'S what is outrageous. Your truck deserved better.

 

That's quite the opening salvo. Insulting potential responders before they even have a chance to say a word...

 

I wonder if all the road salt used near OP has actually made him salty AF too.

 

You're not gonna get much traction here insulting people right from the get-go. While I understand that you're frustrated with your frame, it's no ones fault except yours at this point. Should have learned the first time to take better care of the replacement frame. I used to live in a town (overseas) right on the ocean, and every resident would rinse the underside of their car almost daily. Parking them in a garage alone wont stop the damage from happening.

 

Did someone request a clown?

Not sure what you actually want out of your post other than griping and asking others to post similar gripes, or as you call them, stories.

Are you looking for some sort productive input? Or just creating a therapy group?

 

Clowns and Keyboard Cowboys eh? Good luck with your problem! Oh, and next time, post some freaking pictures!!

 

Where do you live so that we may avoid that area with our super susceptible frames?

 

Where do you live, in the salt belt? Is it driven all winter if you are? What ''heavy'' oil were you using? Regular oil will wash off quicker then you think. Some of the chemical cocktails they are using for de-icing are FAR more aggressive at causing rust then just the old rock salt and garaging a vehicle is sometimes the worst thing you can do as the higher the temps, the more aggressive salt, water, and chloride become.

And pics tend to be very useful.

 

I know one thing for sure, sometimes garaged vehicles tend to retain more moisture and can actually increase chances for rust in the right circumstances. Definitely have to throw up some pics..sounds very frustrating, do you work on your own vehicle at all...aka, did you notice over time the issue your describing or did you just find out after taking it to the dealer recently? For a vehicle as well maintained as you described, it seems nuts to for the issue to show up over night.

 

OP:
You clearly set off a nerve with your post. Reconsider that approach in the future.
Toyota won't do anything for you. You can repair it, find a donor frame and swap it, or sell the truck to someone who will do these things. If it is as nice as you say, it has value but not the value you probably expect for keeping it so long.
GL~

ps: Post photos of said frame and truck.

 

I'm having a hard time believing this.

 

I'm not depending on where he lives, what they dump on the roads in the winter and whether or not the garage is heated. A heated garage in the great salt north is great for you, and the worst thing you can possibly do for your ride.

 

Well in order for Toyota to avoid the 'chicken tax' from a 60's bill limiting compact truck imports.....
they had to source as much domestic sub contractors as possible...

unfortunately you cant use the same chemicals as over seas........zinc chromate...ect...
zinc puts out a deadly vapor when heated.....

so this is what you get.......FJ's have the same problem...

4 runners which are 100% Japan.....and do not rot...
neither do most of their sedan's ...that arnt made here...


Dont know who told you the replacements where new and improved.......they are not
same mfg.....US made can not use good chems.....or good paint........just a fact...


IF you're told you have a replacement frame.......you need to be very afraid.......and diligent

 

Interesting post lol
More the fact that he ignored the replacement frame .

 

You've made many friends here, ya hear? You'll go far pilgrim....