Bought '04 Tacoma in Michigan -- too late for frame rust repair?

surface rust is fine. It will do nothing to the frame.

 

Took it in and they put it on a lift. 10 minutes later the service manager came in saying it needed a new frame and they will put one on order and give me a call when it is in. He said it would take from 2 to 4 weeks to receive it. So it looks like I am in... but I am still going to call back in a week or two to see if the frame order actually went through.

Thanks for all of the help. Much appreciated. Now I need to figure out if/what I should have them replace while the frame is off.

It is a 4x2 SR5 2.4l 5 speed. Very basic ride with 63k miles. I am guessing front shocks, but I don't know how much those cost.

 

Like 100 bucks.

 

Ugh, just got a call. A Toyota rep showed up at the dealership and spoke with the service manager. The rep said the frame replacement may not be covered since the car was not previously undercoated. They are going to try and push it through and let me know how it goes. I should know by today or tomorrow.

 

That blows! Hopefully something can be done!

 

Yeah, no kidding. I asked if me bringing the truck in for the rep so he could see the amount of rust would help anything. He said no, that the mechanic took measurements and has various things recorded. He said there was no question it needed a new frame, just if it would be covered. He said hopefully he will be calling with good news this afternoon. Fingers crossed.

 

Keep us updated. You are the first test case of this issue that I have heard of so I am curious to see how Toyota corporate handles it. The dealership should be for you getting a frame since they get paid from Toyota for the labor.

By the way, was your frame perforated or just lots of rust. Curious to know.

Good luck!

 

Talked to the dealership, still no word from the rep. If the dealership doesn't hear back by Monday they will reach out to the rep.

They mentioned perforations and said they took "measurements". When I check under the truck I don't see any perforations, so who knows.

 

Heard back from the rep Friday afternoon. They denied the frame replacement due to not have the undercoating done prior to the end date of the program. My plan now is to write a letter to corporate Toyota USA asking for the frame replacement. Bummer.

 

Sorry to hear that. Please keep us updated as I am curious to know how Toyota Corporate responds.

If I may give some advice:
1) Keep records of everything for later, including people you spoke with orally and all hard copies.
2) Point out that you are probably not the first and certainly will not be the last person who will experience buying a Tacoma from a previous owner who did not have the truck rust proofed.
3) This could become a safety hazard for you and others.
4) They are replacing the frames on trucks that were rustproofed and still rusted out. What is really the difference between replacing the frames that were already rustproofed and those that were not other then Toyota already spent money on something that failed to prevent the frame rusting out.
Good luck.

 

Agree with everything he wrote, plus.....

Did you purchase it 'as is' or could there possibly be some limited warranty that you could take it back to the selling dealership?

 

Toyota already went through great lengths to help out their customers.

Every other vehicle in existence rusts away in the salt belt and those manufacturers have never done anything about it.

 

Update -- I talked to the Toyota dealer service manager that inspected and performed warranty work on the truck prior to my purchase. I actually test drove the car from this Toyota dealership. Turns out they did note the frame damage in their computer system (The service manager said he would email me copies) and did notify the dealer that sold me the car. They did not notify me of this damage prior to their purchase, although I'm not sure if they are required to.

TawcoTime -- it was sold as-is but with a 2 day return period. I am beyond the 2 day return period now. I am checking to see if Michigan has some regulations or some such against selling vehicles with known frame damage.

 

If they know of something like that, I think they should've let you known for sure.

 

This goes even further that I thought. Turns out before I bought the car 2 separate Toyota dealers inspected the truck for various reasons and noted the frame rust, one even told the dealer that sold me the car about the rust. I have a big email typed up to the owners of the non-Toyota dealership asking for my money back. We'll see how it goes.

 

Good luck man! Hoping this turns out well for you! Sounds like the dealer tried to pull a fast one on you by not letting you know. I'd raise hell untill they refunded my money or something. Maybe threatened to call the BBB or some bull shit...

Good luck!

 

Good news, after sending a letter to the dealer owners and general manager they are driving down to my house to pick up the truck and drop off a check for the purchased amount. Bad news, now I won't have the truck. What is even worse news is I don't have the budget to buy another clean Tacoma with this low of miles, so I'm not sure what my next vehicle will be.

Thanks for all of the help and guidance.

 

Hold out for another taco man! I'm sure a 4x2 Reg cab might be possible. At least they made it right! I'd for sure want to see if they put it right back on the lot though!

 

Next one craw underneath and tale a peek!

 

twfsa.. thanks! Yeah, I will do a better job next time.