2009 Tacoma SR5 TRD Frame RUST!

Hello.
I'm new to the forum. I recently purchased a 2009 Tacoma 4 Door SR5 TRD 6 months ago (Nov 2016). I noticed rust stains on my garage floor the other day and found rust spots on my frame, especially front passenger side. See photos.

I then read about the frame rust issues on 2005 - 2010 Tacomas. My question is how concerned should I be? How much rust is too much? Does Toyota take care of their Tacoma owners on this issue?

I've attached some pictures. I'd appreciate any feedback on how bad or concerning my frame appears to be. I'm just unsure if this is normal or not. Thanks!

 

At first, I thought it didn't look to bad. Until I got to the last picture. Where does the crack start and what part of the frame is it?

 

You need to read this Toyota Frame Settlement thread, and the two or three other "frame rust" threads. You are fortunate that you purchased it before 12/2/2016 as that makes you a class member under the settlement agreement.

Unfortunately what you show is normal in the rust belt states, here is what an '09 that's been in Florida its whole life looks like:

 

Do what you need to do to be part of the class action suit (which may be nothing, im not sure). The last two pictures look bad. These Tacoma's once they start rusting on the frame it's all downhill.

 

The OP is part of the class (assuming he's in the US) just by virtue of having bought an '05 to '10 Tacoma prior to 12/2/2016--nothing else is required.

OP where are you located?

 

so the recall down there is for 2005 to 2010 eh? pretty sure the one up here is only 05-08, why the difference? also, how do u find out where the truck was manufactured?

 

Because it's like a different country, with like different lawyers and stuff..

 

Thanks for the feedback so far. Cliffyk Im located in Wisconsin on border near St Paul, MN. I bought my Tacoma at a Toyota dealership in Twin Cities.

As far as location and length of "crack," it runs along the side frame underneath front passenger door and running board. I've uploaded a couple more pics. Im not sure it's a crack but what looks like a seam (2 sheets/pieces of frame layered/coming together) with corrosion. The length is about 18 inches.

The Settlement appears to only replace frame perforation. In the event that it is a "crack" is Toyota historically good on replacing these frames?

 

Just seening these pics makes me want to go put more fluid film on my 2015!

 

The settlement agreement provides for a CRC coating remedy for "perforations" of < 10 mm and frame replacement for > 10 mm. In the end it will depend upon the dealer, not Toyota, but keep in mind manufacturers have a habit of backing up their dealers unless it's a real SHHTF situation. IMHO the corrosion you have documented it real close to frame replacement, however my opinion doesn't matter it is the opinion of the dealer to which you present for inspection that matters.

Here's the sort of good news though, with your 2009 you have until 2021 to have the frame inspected and coated/replaced depending in its condition. 'Twas me, and this is not a great scenario, I would wait until there is no doubt that you have a "replace" situation. If you take it in once final judgement is entered in June and it is found to be a CRC candidate then that is all you will get ad infinitum. I.e. you will be done as a class member and Toyota will have met its responsibilities under the settlement terms--if you wait 'til it's a "frame replacement" no brainer you'll get a new frame.

To be honest I would not have bought the truck with the underside looking like that, however I have been here in FL for 26 years and am no longer accustomed to seeing vehicles so badly rusted. This time of year the snowbirds bring them down and trade 'em in, the dealers give them a nice "on paper" trade-in allowance and then put them out to auction. They end up at sleazy "buy here pay here" lots...

 

I do live in the twin cities also. I took in my 2007 Tacoma TRD Off Road to Inver Grooves Toyota dealership during the first campaign last year. My frame was rusting but not bad enough for the replacement. They applied the CRC which is not effective at all. Within 6 months, the CRC starts to flake off and my frame turned back to the rusty look. Hopefully with this settlement, I get a whole new frame instead of a 2nd coat of CRC. Also we are allow to go to other Toyota dealership and get a 2nd opinion.

 

Sorry for your luck. Had you come to the forum prior to buying your truck then you would've known about the frame rust issues. Always look for rust on the frame of any used vehicle before purchase anyway! I'm sure it'll get a new frame at some point if you continue to take it to dealerships and complain about it.

 

I bought the truck back in 2012 and the frame looked fine. Over the years with the under carriage car wash, I notice the frame starts to fade and getting rust fluid on my garage floor. The CRC is only good when the frame is sanded down to the bare metal instead of over the rust.

 

Hi everyone, Im new to the forums and I am soon to be purchasing a Tacoma, I almost pulled the trigger the other day on an 06 access cab with 120k miles on it 4x4 v6 6 speed manual for $8500! however the car fax showed me that the frame was never replaced, and so I called Toyota customer service and a Toyota dealership near me and they told me id be SOL if I bought the truck and that I couldn't get the frame replaced because the offer was a limited offer which ended on March 31, of 2016. Please let me know if they are lying to me because they don't want to do it.

 

What do you live? If you live in the salt belt of the mid west that is always exposed to the salt during winter. it would be a bad decision. The best thing to do is to examine the frame.

 

Im in New Jersey, but I was thinking of buying the truck kind of hoping for the frame replacement.

 

I've seen this part about the 12 years past original purchase date for inspection and the truck I'm interested in is still within that 12 years. when I asked the people originally, they told me no, that the recall ended in 2016.

**EDIT https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/SB-10056580-5861.pdf?_ga=1.14378231.1383126366.1490719681 This also tells me that it ended in 2013. But why does everyone still say 12 years?

 

The recall did end in 2016. What you have referenced is my post regarding a pending class action lawsuit; expected to be finalised in June...

 

What is the difference though? Isn't the class action lawsuit about the frame rust?

 

Two different campaigns. The recall was initiated, in 2011 or 2012 IIRC, by Toyota because they acknowledged a problem, it ended last year.

The current class action lawsuit regarding frame rust issues was filed in June of 2015 by a fellow named Brian Warner, because it was felt Toyota had not done enough.. The class includes owners of certain model year Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia vehicles who owned their vehicles on or before December 2, 2016. A settlement agreement was filed on November 15, 2016, a final order is expected on June 26.