Frame replacement on 2000-2004 Tacomas

I was curious about the frame recall so I contacted my local dealership and was immediately rejected. I then called Toyota directly and within 24 hours I had an appointment at that same dealership to get my frame inspected on my '02. My frame has superficial rust that I was never concerned about, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to get it inspected anyway. It passed the frame inspection as expected.

If any of you are concerned about your frames, I hope this helps you get your problem resolved. Toyota's customer service was top notch and that was definitely the way to go rather than dealing with the dealership directly.

 

did that happen recently?

I contacted Toyota and the case manager said there is nothing she can do for me as the recall (safety campaign as they call it) as expired as of 03/31/2012. And she even told me that I should bring the truck to a dealer for inspection at my own cost.

 

I was also given a case manager by Toyota and basically told the same thing. This just happened in June of 2013. I think Toyota tried to keep the lid on this recall so as not to loose millions on replacement of their junk frames. Their recall may have expired but my rotting frame has not. I was not contacted like so many other Tacoma owners. Even when I took my Truck in to the dealership to be serviced not a word was said to me about the recall or the rust on my frame. It took a third party mechanic to alert me to the problem. So much for Toyotas top notch customer service, and quality. I live in York Pennsylvania and thats where I purchased my 2004 Tacoma new off the lot.
I think our only hope at this point is a class-action-suit aganist Toyota to force them to stand behing their products and do the right thing.
Toyota has a history making trucks with poor quality metal. I also have a 1988 Toyota 4x4 that I purcahsed new in 88 and the bed has all but rotted off. I getting tired being taken advantage of by Toyota.

 

This happened very recently, less than a month ago

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 3 post and going to Class action the world....

Owned Yotas since '81 and no less than 8 of them have done over 100k nearly maintainence FREE...My sons 4-Runner did "puke" a 2nd set of head gaskets and Toyota ONLY sprung for parts on a 2nd owner vehicle with 143k on the clock ..my '85 Hilux lost its bed to rust also BUT survived teaching my 3 younger brothers how to "Woods drive" ....

Show me ANY other vehicle maker that does what Toyota does for Campaigns...NOT RE-Calls and it will be a DAM short list..

Am I pi$$ed ...hell no, Whiners like you show up every 6-9 months trying to BASH YOTA..... Swing batter, swing...free country BUT DO NOT come to a YOTA forum and not expect HEAT when your PLAN HAS HOLES IN IT...

 

Sounds like you work for Toyota. If not, you should. Or else, as an educated consumer you would expect more value and quality for your hard earned money.

All I am saying is that when you make the claims that Toyota does about producing a better product than the other auto companies, you have got to be able to back it up. This is not the case when a velicle's frame is literally crumbling (not an exaggeration) out from under the truck. The Tacoma 4x4 TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Off Road Package at $30,000.00 is a real joke. Consumers are catching on to that fact. I used to see lots of Tacomas of my model year driving around, and I travel quite a bit. Now I'd be hard pressed to find one or two. They are all being junked, traded, or were bought back by Toyota and shipped and sold in Africa. That's a good way to get rid of the problem.

So much for Toyota quality and value. Don't talk the talk, if you can't walk the walk.

 

Sorry you're in the situation that you are. I would spend less time doing ^^^^ and more time writing and calling Toyota corporate.

If you're butt hurt about stuff, feel free to vent. But the last post smelled like BS and you're beginning to talk out of your ass.

If you want to rail on Toyota and spew things about lawsuits, consumer trends, and shady business practices then go start a blog.

Anyway, you're bitching to the wrong crowd. Good luck.

 

Again, spewing FACTS not in EVIDENCE...PLEASE READ through the pages of this forum and see how MANY 1st Gen Toyotas are STILL Around...

Work for Toyota, NO...they work for ME, the Consumer who has OWNED them since 1981...DID YOU NOT READ my statements above...

Some may "say drinking their Kool-aide" BUT I prove it with expenses and ROI for my $$$$$...16 Toyotas and one Lexus in 32 years of ownership so my FACTS can be backed up, yours ????

You and everyone else have a GOOD WEEKEND.....Class 6 roads with the Taco saturday and Boston sunday with the Lexus........And they both will bring me home no problem...

 

No need to piss match. You can't compare different trucks from the same manufacturer, because they're not all perfect or identical.

If you hate Toyota so much, write a letter. Every week if you want. They will either make an exception and fix your truck or they will refuse until you go crazy. Then put your money where your mouth is and either have it fixed yourself or scrap your truck. Buy a new car and then tell everyone you meet why Toyota sucks and how much you love XXXXX.

We don't want to hear the same spilled milk story in every post you make, and we're not going to clean it up for you.

 

No pi$$ match from me..

.My '02 is 1st gen just like his...Mine has been re-framed,new ball joints and one of the 1st to get new spare tire assembly..

Why, because Toyota sent letters out and my DEALER kept me updated ( I am lucky and work with 2 of them ).....the dealership where it was purchased dragged their feet while my "local dealer" wanted my business back and made the whole experience easy on me...

IF he is original owner then going back to purchasing dealership and chasing his VIN through them to TOYOTA and the VIN's used by TOYOTA in the frame campaign would be MORE THAN ENOUGH to start a claim...just my 2 cents..

 

Agreed. There are many ways he can go to try and fix the issue he is so bitter about. None of them are complaining incessantly on Internet forums for Toyota fans.

 

Honestly, if someone buys a taco without knowing about the frame rust, they've been living under a rock. To the OP, this past May Toyota reframed my 02 PreRunner...cost me nothing including the rental. I'd say that's standing by your product. Why you didn't know about this frame replacement seems farfetched. Toyota sent letters to all owners regarding the campaign. I bought my truck a year ago and the first thing I did was make sure the frame had been inspected within the required time frame.

 

I'm not sure why I was not contacted by Toyota about the recall. What I do know is that around the time of the recall the dealership changed hands, it was purchased by someone else and renamed. I'm thinking that might be the reason. I have explained this both to my Toyota case manager as well as the dealership with no sympathy from either. I guess I am just out of luck.

Thanks to all who have given constructive input on this matter.

 

NHTSA will eventually step in and make them pay for their mistake, if they want to produce road legal cars in the U.S. All it will take is someones frame breaking in half and causing a wreck and boom a case file will be opened. Time is all it will take.

 

Last year when the deadline for inspections was almost up I contacted toyota to see if my truck had been inspected. It had, I was given the dealer that did it. The dealer sent me copies of the work order for inspection and the coating that went on it. It's showing rust on the frame again, I live in New England so this isn't surprising to me. I called this week and scheduled an inspection for Monday. It sucks for guys who bought right around this whole issue but I don't see how toyota has been negligent. I know plenty of guys who got new trucks and new frames out of it.

 

DUDE, go back under your TROLL bridge...This is OLD NEWS... WOW....

 

I have a 2003 that's getting a new frame now. I did the recall back when they had a recall inspection on the frame and at that time they painted my frame and told me it was okay. The last few years it has rusted thru from the inside so it takes some time. Most holes I've seen are around the front spring mount on the rear. My neighbor got the buy back on a 2000 back in the summer. His frame mount actually broke loose. Got a friend with one he bought used and he can't get help because the previous owner didn't take it back for the recall inspection/coating,,,or so he was told. My dealer has experience on the frame replacement so we'll see how mine goes. I can't imagine another company replacing a frame on a ten year old truck with 125k miles,,,and pay for rental on a 2012 truck until I get it back. I'll always buy Toyota. Nuff said!!

 

Exactly. Brought my truck in Monday. It failed as expected. If you have had access to the Internet and a toyota truck I find it hard to believe you never googled it. Rusted frames comes up really quick. This site reminded me to check in with the dealer when the window was closing on inspections.

 

Not sure if anybody knows the answer to this here....

I recently purchased a 2003 Tacoma which I found out has had the frame checked out by a dealer previously. They put the coating on it but did not replace it.

If I have rust that comes back is there anything covered again or after they put the coating on is that the end of it?

 

Yes, this! Exact same situation! Also, if I'm not sure if they'll replace it or not, how much does another inspection cost?

Also, how long does the frame swap take? I'm heading to college in 20 days...