Frame Recall in Nova Scotia, Canada

I was in a similar situation as you with my truck needing a safety inspection, but it wouldn't pass due to the holes in the frame. So after taking the truck to Toyota for the frame inspection (and being approved for a new frame), I went to a shop and had the holes patched in order to pass safety inspection.

 

TacoNS appreacite the feedback, never thought of that scenario. Toyota didn’t seem to care I guess because they were putting a new frame on it anyways.

Thanks

 

Just called class action hotline and Toyota customer care line.... which ended up being the line I called last night and exact same person lol. Which again I was told loaner vehicles for bad frames are only given out for the time that the truck is in the work bay or 7 days whichever ends first. Told them about frame failing my inspection but no dice, only shot now is to see if dealer will help me out but I do believe my Tacoma will be sitting for a long time in the yard with an expired sticker waiting for it’s frame to be replaced. To bad but I guess I am out of luck

 

Not true I'm a yank who knows where O town is haha, but I did live there for 20 years

 

Welcome to Tacoma world! You are so going to get a frame, my 2010 just got one and it was noware near as bad as yours. They put new break lines and also did the lower control arms. The dealer had a list of "things that should be done" but I did all of them myself including spray the frame with fluid film saved myself a lot of money. Good luck keep the group posted!

 

This happening in Canada is new, I went and got my truck coated with the crc and they put the plugs on

 

Good afternoon,

Have pretty much exhausted all resources with regards to my truck sticker running out, will likley have to find wheels to drive for the time being. So at the end of November the truck will have to sit in my driveway until they give me a call saying frame is in, may look into taking it to a shop and seeing how much it would be to fix hole in frame and put new front bushings on. I am only going to do this after I get a letter or statement saying that frame has been approved. Toyota Canada said it could take as long as 2-3 months to get frame approval. The dealer I am taking it to claims I am at the bottom of the list with 6-9 trucks in front of mine waiting for a new frame. I am likely going to be lucky to have the truck back in operation by late spring/ start of summer. If anyone else has any insight if my statements are an accurate timeline please feel free to let me know. Also called the hotline for the courts action claims suit, which I was told that there was nothing they could do and they do not know why Toyota is giving people there number lol.

Thanks for reading

 

Not sure how it works with Toyota Canada, my truck went in for inspection and was approved for frame replacement immediately following the inspection. I was told 20 days to 2 months to get the parts and frame. I was called on Friday Nov 9th dropped the truck off the 12th and had it back Nov 15! I would confirm with the dealer that they are awaiting the parts not approval. If your approved like you stated I wouldn’t let anyone touch your truck! Wouldn’t want to jeopardize a free replacement. Good luck hopefully it comes together for you

 

Just wondering if anyone with any knowledge of the class action interpretations about the paragraph stating the loaner vehicle defined through the suit. I can see that they state that a loaner vehicle will be provided for the service time, absent exceptional circumstances. Due to my frame being the result of a failed inspection and the sticker being expired in a week leaving me with no vehicle to drive "legally" lol. What would constitute exceptional circumstances within the suits parameters/definition? Just a thought I had when they kept insisting that they "do not have to do anything" with regards to loaner vehicles and the class action definition. It seems like they are claiming there is absolutely nothing they can do because they need to abide by the ruling. I am just double checking to make sure this is actually them being honest and sticking to "the law" or smoke and mirrors attempt?

Thanks in advance for any advice greatly appreciated!!

 

My interpretation of the ruling is that they only have to provide you with a loaner when the truck is getting the frame replacement. Now that being said if the vehicle is deemed to be unsafe to be driven by the dealer and has to sit in their lot then they have to provide you with a loaner.
Case in point I used to work for a crappy tire and we brought in a 2004 Tacoma, put it on the lift and I had to tell the tech to put it down as you could see the frame starting to buckle it was rusted that bad. Owner had never heard of the frame recall so we called the local dealer and they had it flat bedded over. He had a loaner that day and the truck sat on the lot for 8 months.

 

Wow that is extreme lol. Yea I assumed that they would not go beyond what they had to do by what the courts said. My situation is likely unique and in a grey area, was just seeing what people had experienced and thought of if I had any moves left other than buy another vehicle for 3-4 months lol.

Thanks

 

Hey Gabbo2112 yea I wish I could get my inspection sticker renewed and that could solve my problem, but the place I took to get it inspected wont pass the truck due to there being a decent size hole in the frame. I am assuming other mechanics would tell me the same. I am not the first in line for a frame replacement, the guy at Toyota dealer told me last night he just received 6 frames and wont be ordering anymore until these frames are gone. So I asked for a rough estimate for my truck to be back in action and he said likely march, so 3-4 months without a vehicle. I wouldn't expect them to provide a loaner for the time it takes to get the parts but because my inspection can't pass due to frame issues I am outta luck for a vehicle according to them. Which I can understand because they only have to provide what the court says they have to, Just seeing if my unique circumstance would warrant some leniency lol. Anyways I think I know the unfortunate answer to my problem just seeing if anyone else in Canada has had similar experiences. Seems like most of the dealerships in the states are much more forgiving on providing a loaner from all the threads I have read on here just not much content from Canada.

Thanks again!

 

Update.... not much of one though lol.

Still awaiting dealer call for Toyota approval on my frame they said it should come in 2-3 days, been a week so should receive a call soon! Just gonna post some options I have been given by various generous people on this awesome sight:

1. Stay put do not touch frame in case is Toyota claims frame has been altered since original diagnosis (buy alternative vehicle till frame is done).
2. Get inspection sticker and drive truck till frame comes in ( Can't get it passed anywhere due to hole in frame).
3. Take it to shop and get necessary work done to get it to pass inspection and get a sticker to drive it legally until frame is replaced.
4. Keep truck as is and call dealer/corporate to see if there is anything they can do to help me out ( Have called both multiple times with basic answer sorry but we don't have to do anything outside of what courts say).

Just sending these out there for any comments... or not lol. Also if there are anymore alternatives I am all ears!! I think these are the most likely of options.

Thanks

 

Ok got a solution you might want to try, have seen all kinds of tricks people try to get their safety to pass from working at crappy tire.
Try to clean some of the rust and old undercoat with a wire brush. Cut a piece of sheet steel bigger then the hole. Get a quart of crappys undercoat in a can and a can of the spray tar. With a putty knife slap a good amount around the hole And let it sit for a bit to firm up, place the patch over the goop and press in place then spread the undercoat over the patch plus all over the sounding area. Finish off by spraying most of the area with the spray tar. Works better if you are in a heated area.
This way you are not welding and causing Toyota to say you modified the frame and with a little work this patch can be taken off to show the hole again. Seen lots of people do this on rocker panels, and the mechanic has to go with this as there is no hole showing. People tried it with duct tape also and this didn’t work. Also get what ever else was needing fixed for the safety and maybe go to another place for the inspection. Just my two cents.

 

Ok awesome I may try that and see if it flys, if not i am not really out anything other than a little time.

Thanks for for the advice!!

 

Got the call from Toyota frame has been approved!! Now the waiting game ensues lol. I also wanted to thank everyone again for all the helpful insight and how the process will unfold, it is greatly appreciated.

 

Great news!

I'm just reading this thread now, with particular interest since I got the letter also. Probably not much help to say this, but I think what you are working with is not the frame recall. There is also a completely separate class action lawsuit, and an offshoot of that is a frame warranty extension. I understand that the provisions under the warranty extension are not the same as those under the recall, and i would expect that the US class action differs from the Canadian one too as they are proceeding in different courts. All to say, there could be different entitlements for things like the loaner vehicles depending on USA or Canada, recall or warranty. I think I heard that the frame manufacturer, not Toyota, is on the hook to cover the expenses for work done under the class action suit. If that is true, I am sure that Toyota will be very happy to give you everything they can bill the frame manufacturer for, but not a thing more.

I hope this all works out for you, when you get to the other side you'll have a great truck! I'll be looking at my frame very carefully today to see if there are any holes... maybe I can benefit from your experience!

 

Hey Canoehead,

Yea I don't know how it differs from US to Canada, but there certainly are different parameters that the dealers/Toyota seem to be able to work with. The one difference I seem to see time after time is that US clients seemed to able to access to a loaner with ease compared to up north here lol. While the experience I am having is very far from that, so I must be classified in a different way. There is no chance I am getting a loaner I have accepted that, I now have to find a way to get my truck passed through inspection or I am out my truck and will likely have to purchase another alternative vehicle. It would be interesting to hear from more people in Canada that have gone through the process to see how much difference there is in different areas and dealers... just for curiosities sake

Thanks again!

 

So I have dodged a bullet, I was able to get my truck inspected and now do not have to go and find another vehicle to drive!! I am sure Toyota Canada will be happy that my phone calls will stop now lol.