02 Tacoma Rusted Frame ~ Letter to Toyota...

if it were me id ask them to cut the hitch off the frame and ask for it back so u can buy some new bolts and put it on your new frame when you get your tacoma back
so that way there not out of any money and you still have a hitch

 

To cut the hitch off would damage & weaken it.

The dealership did offer to give me back either the
whole frame or the rear half (that much they would
cut).

 

First, that letter came off as very hostile. I doubt it'll be well received.

Second, you, not they, welded the hitch to the frame. While the root cause was a rusted frame, there were solutions at that time that could have addressed the issue. So I think you screwed yoursef. Of course, if the frame is that rusty, couldn't you just rock the hitch a couple times and get the frame to fall apart, thus releasing the hitch?

Third... yeah, i wonder why your frame isn't being recalled. But, then again, it's 8 years old. I don't know where you live, but that could be considered normal wear & tear. I mean, I bought a 5 year old Explorer and it was rusting pretty heavy already. Sorry, charlie. Winters can be hard on cars. Of course, if you're in the Mojave desert or something, then you may have a good point.

Final thought? You really don't have a good reason to complain yet.

 

i ment cut the frame to where it dosnt affect the hitch

 

I'm happy for you as well. But as I read others posting
other places, there are a lot of folks not happy
having all kinds of problems with this "deal".

 

If you owned any other truck,would your "rusted frame" be replaced on their Dime??? And do not "dumb this down" by saying no one else has "rusty frames"....
The "Ball joint" recall was due to one scratched BUT they again "ATE IT"....Go to a Jeep forum right NOW and see what "they" will do for your bad BJ's

These "recalls" have shown how "spoiled' we are as consumers.....You are giving me what?? Well I deserve more......,why???

Trucks have thousands of miles on them and you WANT everything replaced by Toyota .......My shocks were 7 years old,I paid for the product,they ate the labor...WOW,I need to throw a "fit"...
My gas tank skid was rusty( surface only) BUT if I jump up and down,they will paint or replace it.NOT.....

To those "Running" their mouths about "fans".....dam straight.....owned them since '81 and have taken most over 100k without even "touching" the bank on PM's.....great service from them creates customer loyalty;1st to finance a new car for a young man,find the exact car or truck my wife and I are looking for instead of "Steering" us to what they have,handled re-calls professionally,not hiding behind "lets try this 1st".....

Toyota is "Paying the price" for growing to #1,consumers want it ALL and be damm'd if anything is wrong with it,GIVE ME GIVE ME GIVE ME more,then let me sue you for just a little more....
Will I leave them,hell NO...I'm trying to buy stock and get them to give me a great deal on a 2010 Camry to replace the '95 with 147k..

S

 

Shoulda drilled out the one that broke and used another one in.

If my truck gets a new frame, I'm expecting to buy another set of sliders since the ones on my truck right now are welded on.

 

Bingo! Best post of the thread.

 

I thought they WEREN'T doing frame replacements on the 02. Are they, or aren't they?

 

What's the ball joint recall?

 

Wow, it indeed appears that Toyota can do no wrong
in the eyes of some. I have enjoyed my Toyotas over
the years - never worshiped them though.

 

You broke a bolt and didnt feel like drilling it out and getting a new one, so instead you welded your junk onto your frame.

I dont see how this is Toyotas problem.

 

Well said my friend.

 

Frame replacements on 2001-2004.
They have the frames available.

1995.5-2000 are 150% KBB (excellent condition retail).

 

I did a good looking over of my frame, and there is no rust that can be "seen". Even the hitch bolts are not rusted in any way. In fact, the frame, other than a light coating of dirt, looks still fairly new. Everywhere.
02 Prerunner Dbl cab 3.4l

I'm confused as to how some frames are bad and others are not. Or did I just get lucky? Although I do feel bad for those who have been befallen with a bad frame. However, I know of no other car mfg who offers such replacements "out of their own pocket". Sure this may not help Toyota's current situation with all the recalls for this and that, but I would still buy another truck from them. They are still better than any other vehicle brand out there...and for all the obvious reasons. Good luck to those who need a frame.

 

I'm sure there's a way to have them cut the frame where the hitch is welded on, then you could take it to a machine shop and have them cut the hitch off the frame. I'd have to see some pics but being experienced with the machines used in those shops I think it'd be possible to save it.

I think you're not crazy for being mad.. but Toyota is not liable for anything you add to the vehicle after purchase

 

Thanks

 

Here's some more info thanks to just released internal Toyota docs:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Documents-Toyota-boasted-apf-1226776468.html?x=0

 

It would see you are the one who thinks he can do no wrong.

The truth of the matter is that you have been pretty much a bonehead from start, staring with the decision to attach the hitch to a compromised frame right up until this last post.

Hopefully, you can learn from this.