Advice needed (regarding failed '06 frame)

So my DCLB frame failed and I now have a choice to make ...

• Toyota corporate has agreed to replace the frame
• Gallup dealership will not do the replacement but can send the truck to Farmington NM dealership who can do the job
• Vermont dealership (where I bought it) is willing to cover frame replacement costs

OR​

• Vermont dealership will buy the vehicle back from me (number as yet unspecified) and auction it at their loss

Concerns ...

• I have tires/wheels, OME suspension, new radio, and cargo rack on existing truck
• I have bumpers and sliders fabbed and paid for for a DCLB, but not installed
• Existing truck has potential transmission issues, but is highway driveable with care
• Frame replacement deadline may be approaching (anyone have info on that?)
• Not sure how soon a frame replacement can actually be done
• Not sure if the VT dealership will fight any frame replacement costs midway thru
• Not sure about getting another DCLB TRD Sport (like what I thought I was getting) in my price range

Anyone have advice?


For reference:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/very-bad-news-frame-fail-out-of-the-blue.410852/

 

I think I'd strip the parts I could from the Lemon, and part ways. Then sell off the things you were able to recover to offset some of the investment.

"Sliders, Bumpers, Cargo Rack".... Suspension, Wheels and tires might be harder unless you've got the stock wheels/tires laying around.
I'd also make sure the Vermont Dealership pays your rental fees for the duration of this Fiasco, and I'd seriously consider a call to some legal advice to ensure you're not leaving something on the table I haven't thought of.

 

Call a lawyer. After reading your other thread it seems to me that legal support may be your best option. It seems you added a lot Fuji the truck on 'good faith' based on what the original dealer told you and now, it seems, no one is following thru. In my own opinion I feel that anything related to the frame issue should be replaced free of charge.
Maybe they can pay back what you paid plus cost of the upgrades. Unlikely.
Talk to a lawyer.

 

Yup OP, unfortunately Lawyer is probably your best bet if you want to get your money back 100%.
Now if you still want to keep a truck, I would replace frame, you are in NM where is nice and drier than VT so after you replace frame truck will probably run for years (unless they F... up something during replacement)

 

Firstly, because you have initiated this claim before the deadline, you are OK. They aren't going to reneg now.
I doubt anyone can give you a definitive date as when the work will be done and that is no-ones fault.

** Most Importantly **
I don't think you need a lawyer, your options are clear. You are bright enough to make a decision without legal counsel and I think you are being offered everything you have coming and maybe a little more. I think it is pretty good of VT to offer a buy back.

1. Toyota is standing by you. No problem there.

2. I don't blame the Gallup dealer for not wanting to do the work, it's a BIG job. That and the fact of knowing the history of this adventure, probably doesn't want to get caught in the middle and left holding the bag. Can't blame them there. Kudos to them for saying so up front and recommending another dealer. I for one would be happy they were upfront about it, instead of them saying "Sure, we'll give it a whirl"...... (they might be a good dealer to work with for your new truck !)

3. VT dealer is OK with it all, they will pay and if that is not satisfactory to you they will take the truck back. No problem.

What's a lawyer going to argue ? All they will do is frustrate the process and drag this thing out for another year or so while sucking the money off the top. A judge won't force Toyota to pay your legal fees, as you were given options from the start and I believe one of those options will be exercised in the end.

As far as your add-ons, remove the rack and radio if you want. The bumper and sliders are a non-issue. You might wind up eating the suspension. If I were buying it back I'd want it back just like I gave it to you, tires, wheels and all, but I doubt anyone at the VT dealership would notice, remember or care really unless you were trying to unload junk on them, but I'll bet you will be giving it back to them with improvements. (unless of course they are following this thread)

Honestly OP, I'd cut my losses given the transmission problems, real or perceived.
How in love are you with this truck ? I would recommend just returning the truck to VT with no hard feelings toward them and find another truck with the experience you have learned. Or.... you could still have the frame replaced !

 

I think the $$ the VT dealer offers for the buy-back is a big part of it. Let's say the frame is already replaced and you decide to sell the truck as it sits - what do you realistically think you can get for it? I'd compare that number to their buy-back offer before you decide and see what each of the options really cost you.

If the VT dealer will buy it back for what you paid for it, then I would ditch it. If they offer a few $1000s less and you factor in the couple of $1000s you've spent on suspension, wheels+tires, and anything else you can't recover, then I'd consider letting the NM dealer replace the frame.

It all comes down to dollars and how much of a loss you're willing to absorb to make this problem go away, unfortunately. Best of luck with your decision.

 

Trans problem could be expensive depending on what it is. But knowing a few now who have had frames replaced they say the truck drives like new afterwards too. I had trans issues on my last 05 where I was getting line pressure codes. Turns out the plug that goes into the trans corroded so badly a few of the pins rotted away. A new trans harness (inside the trans) and a few pins from a donor harness and it was all good. Not terribly expensive either. One of the few things I wasn't able to figure out on my own and I think it ran me around $400. If it was a minor issue with the trans like that I would do a frame swap. Or possibly get a low mileage trans and swap it during the job. Super-easy when it's on the floor and not under the truck. Also look at this way. If it wasn't a Toyota you would get NOTHING. I'm still amazed how they are standing by these trucks. I have a friend who tows for copart and he's constantly towing other make similar year trucks to the junkyard with rotted frames. Mostly GM's.

 

Good thoughts, thank you.

The frame coating program failed in this case. Hard. Confirmed by Corp in person. Whether that falls on Corp or dealer is TBD. But offering a new frame with ZERO real help to get it put in is seriously stupid. Meanwhile I get customer satisfaction surveys from Corp every day. WTF.