2003 tacoma frame recall

They'll take your truck for a few months to frame swap it if you get approved. Our local dealer took a significant amount of time swapping my buddies xtracab 03.

 

I'm ok with that.they had one in the shop,we talked with the tech and went over a few items I would be replacing to make sure the truck is 100%when I get it back....I'm all good with free labor...ill pay for parts I don't have to install.ive been working on kia cars for 8 plus years...I know all about free labor....

 

They only had mine 6 days once the frame arrived. This was in Kentucky.

 

They won't buy it back. The buy back was for older trucks.

 

I was hoping not....but I read the official customer handling procedure document anyway......free and clear title is the only way they buy back....but I was warned so I did the research......a lot of misinformation on here,like undercoating......not needed if truck is from certain states.all trucks have 15 year warranty extension,upper states have to be coated as stated....I am the second owner,truck was purchased new in Asheville nc...spent 173000 there,that's were the rust came from.but it never had to be coated....just had to complain of rust before the time period was up.6 30 18...

 

The tsb for warranty extension on frame corrosion was updated 6/16.....

 

Can you post a copy?

 

I agree, and I am careful to point out that all trucks are covered, while the undercoating requirement is only for those cold climate states (CT DE IL IN KY MA MD ME MI NH NJ NY OH PA RI WI WV VA VT DofC). There are many examples here where cold climate trucks were not coated by Toyota before the deadline, and the warranty was nullified.

Also, the repair/buy back provision is in the original extended warranty notice to '01-'04 owners, although I have not heard of an account where an '01-'04 was repurchased.

 

Go to the 1st gen buyers guide in upper drop down box....a lot of info there including official toyota documents..

 

Got the call today.frame is on the way.looks like I will get control arms ,but not rear leafs.
Just means my lift kit will include full leaf packs...I just hope the guy doing this knows what he's doing.....

 

Should come with rear leafs if it’s an 04. My 03 did a couple months ago.

 

The cat I'm dealing with(advisor)is pretty new to the whole dealership,ill know for sure the day I drop my truck off.
He said kit....so it must include several items.
I am ordering wheelers brake lines and some other items that I know will be needed for reassembly.

 

Did they hit you up for any other parts they wanted to replace but not in the kit?

 

Comes with new brake lines also, although I’m sure those are better

 

I took in a bunch of my own parts. If it came off anyways they put on for free. Things I had them do that was extra was 50% labor. Only thing they fixed I had to pay for after I gave the greenlight was leaky valve cover gasket. It was a good experience.

 

I had my tech slather every bolt and nut that he had loose with antiseize compound. I took a brand new bottle in and got back maybe 1/4 of it. But years down the road, I'll still be able to get stuff apart.

 

I am aware it come with the hard lines.....but the rubber line on mine are junk and the connector/unions are needing replacement.and I'm doing a lift asap after I get it back.....
My calipers are corroded,but ua can't replace them with out the lines,banjo bolt on the caliper is a lump of rust...and the union from hard to rubber line are sketchy...ya might get it loose....ya may break the end off.....
Plan on 2 new calipers with lines.
I was going to do a tundra swap,but I think ill go with drilled and slotted rotors to handle the heat the 4 piston calipers are causing..

 

Our dealer is probably one of the worst in the country. That had to do with the dealer taking 6+ months on the swap. They denied my warranty claim on my 2007 Camry for a melted dashboard.

 

Been following the rust issue. Wanted to share a picture of what a 2001 Taco that has lived in Nebraska for 17 years looks like. Nebraska does NOT require the undercoating, so it was never done. A few years ago I checked out the frame and it looked visibily solid so I never took it in before the 15 year extended warranty deadline. Even if I did I doubt much would've been done. My mistake. I should've took a hammer to the frame. Looking to find a shop to mend the frame. But I'm not complaining. It's my own dang fault for not staying on top of the rust issue.

 

Wow that's pretty bad for a truck from the lower midwest.

My '03 frame was just inspected, and they were not able to fail it because there were no perforations. This despite how bad it looks on the outside. My warranty is up in late November, so I have one more chance at it. But it really looks like this one is going to hold together. So next year I will be planning to weld on reinforcement brackets and do a though frame repaint/rust prevention job. I was holding off investing any more money in this truck unless the frame was to be replaced. I have also been looking at a few 2nd gen tacomas which fit my price range. But there is no reason to do that just yet. After owning 4 1st gen tacomas, I'm not ready to move on unless I find a very good deal.