2007 frame rust ??

Joined this forum way back when I bought my 2007 tacoma. Haven't followed in so long I created a new account. Anyway I received a frame recall around 5/24/2015. I took it in immediately and supposedly the dealer sprayed the frame. They said there was rust but no holes to issue a frame replacement. Fast forward to last Thursday with only120,000 miles on it (sits in my driveway most of the week).I was checking the air in my tires when I noticed part of the frame in front ospring mount looked odd. Reached in and grab the frame to noticed its flaking on the inside. I could probably break a chunk off with my hand. My truck runs great, but I'm afraid to drive it and Toyota or the dealer will not help me to make it safe. I know my truck is 14 years old, but I did the recall and hardly drive it. Anyone else have this problem or can help?
Thanks
Joe

 

It’s technically not a recall it’s more like and extended warranty on the frame only. If you got the notice about it in the mail and your Tacoma falls within the guidelines Toyota has to either undercoat it to prevent rust or replace the frame if there are any small pin holes in the joints or if it’s beyond preventative measures. I have two notices that I received in the mail for my 09’ Tacoma but if it doesn’t fall in the specified guidelines of mileage and year and if ya procrastinate about it then the frame replacement will be denied. Not sure how
It works if you already took advantage of the warranty by having it undercoated tho….

 

When I received the second notice in 2019 I called the dealer right away and they said I already had it done in 2015 and didn't need to take it back. I guess I should have done better homework instead of trusting a dealer's word. Thanks for the info.

 

If you look by the catalytic converter especially the driver side you probably have a hole or can punch right thru in the area. The only thing you can do is get a good welder and see what they can do because toyota not gonna do anything because it's over 12 years from first registration. Good luck

 

You are not alone in having a frame rust out, a lot of people aren’t aware how bad it can be and just trust Toyotas awesome reputation for reliability.
Like it was said earlier a good off-road shop will have probably fixed other frames, if you have one in your area.

 

Actually, the frame treatment (potentially) qualifies you for the extended 12 year warranty for frame replacement. It’s not one or the other - although if you take your truck in for the initial inspection and it’s ridden with holes I suppose they might skip straight to replacement.

 

There’s really no easy answer here. Take it to a shop that works on frames and get an assessment and quote for making it safe. Your frame was covered for 12 years and Toyota will not help any longer.

 

I wouldn’t do anything else until you crawl under have a look at the rest of the
frame. Do as @Beerline123 said, take a look there where the cat is on the drivers side.
Don’t be afraid to take a small ball peen hammer and tap suspected areas. You aren’t going to hurt anything by tapping the frame. It will help give you an idea of how bad it really is.

 

Here is what I recall I was told last July when I purchased my 2014 which had not yet had the inspection and coating performed yet. They (dealer) advised me that it had to be done before March. They used the words: "very important to get this taken care of ASAP and/or before the deadline. I took it in for a few things that needed to be corrected and an oil change and they brought this up every time they looked up my VIN. So did Toyota USA when I called them to ask a question about my truck. I believe the bulletin on Toyota's "look up your VIN" website said the same thing. I think March 30, 2022 was the drop-dead date and either for my specific truck or any 2014. Don't get the inspection done by the deadline and the 12 year extended frame warranty is kaput: It will not be eligible for the 12 years frame replacement warranty, (2026) from the date of first service. If I -do- develop a "qualifying" hole in the frame within the next four years, the frame will be eligible for replacement. I got the clean, inspection, plugs, and coating treatment done in August of 2021. I assume I'd just have to call a dealer to make an appointment for another frame inspection. Time will tell.

 

It’s better to wait until just before the cut off period. My understanding is that once it is inspected and passed. That is it. It passed. No more reinspection.

@PennSilverTaco just went through this.
He probably knows the details.

As for the OP (and me too). We are out of the 12 year warranty. We got what we got. It’s our problem now.

Thankfully, my frame still looks to be in good shape.

 

The recall notice you got in 2015 was the original factory recall - not the class action settlement that resulted in the 12-year thing. I got that same notice (I too have a 2007), and missed it by 2 months because I misread/misremembered March for May. But then the settlement came along and saved my bacon, and I got my frame replaced in 2018.

I don't know if an inspection pre-settlement has much to do with it anymore. You could try to throw yourself on the mercy of the court (Toyota HQ), but I am guessing you really have no recourse. If you search this forum, you will find options for repair/mitigation - they do exist.

 

Actually, it passed both Pennsylvania state safety inspection at my mechanic and the Toyota authorized inspection at the dealer on the same day in August 2021: Service writer told me to bring it back a week before the recall period was closed for good to have it checked one last time. Neither of us (me or the service guy) were expecting perforation to be found. To my surprise, they found it; Toyota approved the frame replacement a few days before the end of September and they actually did the replacement the week before Thanksgiving. I was allowed to "visit" my truck every day during the 4 days the dealer had it, and I've put over 3,000 miles on it without issue since the replacement. I got incredibly lucky. My mechanic missed the perforation that led to the frame replacement in August (though I know it was there) and my truck passed Pennsylvania's obnoxiously stringent safety inspection. The frame had surface rust and was "delaminating" (the best word I can use to describe it) on the driver's side under the door, but the dealer said it didn't qualify after I drove it less than half a mile from my mechanic to the dealer.

 

Here is a picture of my truck taken at the dealer probably 20 minutes after the perforation was discovered; The perforation was small enough, and the rental car shortage was severe enough, that I was allowed to keep driving my truck for the nearly two months it took for the frame to come in...

My truck had like 138K miles on it at the time I took the picture, as you can see it is pretty much immaculate like yours, and you would never guess it qualified for a frame replacement!

 

@Joe in MD

This is the perforation (located on the left frame rail next to the catalytic converter) that qualified it for a new frame; Honestly, I think it could have been repaired, but Toyota was footing the bill...



Based on the description in your original post, it sounds like your frame is much worse off than mine and the truck might not be safe to drive; Could you post pictures of the trouble spot(s)?

Unfortunately, since your truck is a 2007, the period for replacing the frame at no cost to you expired somewhere between August 2018 and June 2019, depending on when the truck was manufactured and/or the date it was sold and issued a title for the first time.

Your truck only has 120K miles on it and is likely worth over $20K; I'm assuming it's paid off. With the prices of both new and used vehicles at the obscene levels they are presently at, I would buy a replacement frame and pay a qualified individual or shop to do the swap. I've heard that the cost of replacing the frame can cost anywhere from $10K to $17K for parts and labor depending on various factors, but with what some people spend to restore vehicles I would put that amount of money into an otherwise mint 2nd Gen before dropping $40K+ on a used 3rd Gen that I didn't know the history of. Just my 2 cents; I could not afford to undertake a full frame replacement out of pocket at this point in my life, but if you have the funds to do so that's what I would do. However, I would really like to see pictures of your truck's frame rust/damage...

 

Excellent thread. Wealth of information on this subject, but can someone who maybe has been through this clarify: As I related earlier: my truck (2014) had the inspection and treatment a few months back in 2021. Declared good. What if things take an obvious turn for the worse with rot before April of 2026? New frame on Toyota's dime? or dealer service dept says: "It was fine back in 2021 when you brought it in for the inspection (I agree it looks fine right now). This is 2026: >>Get Lost<<" ?? Is the frame really under warranty for two more years? i.e.: Can I take it in next March and have them look it over if there are sketchy spots on the frame? Someone mentioned here their 2020 is having problems. That's worrisome.

Thanks in advance.

 

Probably, but if one dealer is being a douchebag just go to another one. I think that things went in my favor because I've been bringing my truck to this dealer on and off for many years, and the service guy just seemed to really like me; I am still shocked that they actually found frame rot. My truck actually got the spray treatment in like November 2017 if I remember correctly, where they sprayed it with that rhino snot crap that didn't really do anything, and I thought they wouldn't find anything. My frame was showing a trouble spot on the driver's side but no actual perforation, and they found the rot that qualified me for a new frame on the passenger side.

 

On another note, you have to get the frame treatment if they don't find perforation the first time, in order to qualify for a frame replacement down the road; This is what happened to me. I was actually pondering throwing in the towel and getting in a newer truck, but this was literally like hitting the lottery; My truck gets a new lease on life, and I can continue saving up for a down payment on a house instead blowing my savings on a down payment for a new truck!

 

Having the treatment done to your frame qualified you for the 12 year ‘extended’ warranty to replace the frame if perforations are found later down the line, 12 years from the date the truck was ‘put in to service’. I doubt there’s a limit to how many times the dealership will inspect it but you might ask a service manager. I think the key thing is to HAVE IT checked out before the warranty end date. Your dealership will have that on file but you have to ask for it.

 

@Taco critter

On yet another note, I do not think that anything illegal or unethical took place, since Toyota saw the pictures and approved my truck for a new frame.

Without a doubt, that particular spot that ultimately got me a new frame was probably festering for over a year, unseen by me or my mechanic because it was hidden underneath the spray that was applied in November 2017.

When my truck passed the second to last inspection in August 2021, the service writer told me to bring the truck back a week before the expiration date and they'd see if they could find some perforation then. He winked as he said this...

As stated above, the hole was clearly caused by rot and was likely starting to fester at least a year before they actually found it. Honestly, my guess is that the hole started before COVID was even a thing, possibly as early the winter of 2018-2019.

The service writer took a liking to me, and also knew I was very attached to my truck, and he probably told the techs to look extra hard; That perforation was probably festering for a while, but I have a feeling that the tech doing the inspection might have helped it along.

Regardless of what transpired, Toyota gave it a clean bill of health and approved the replacement, so my conscience is clear!

 

Here’s what I got back from the dealership after having the treatment done on my 2013 (Mar 2014 put into service date) Regular Cab.