Frame rot got a passing grade.

Ok,
Longtime lurker. I used to hang out on Yotatech and TTORA when I wheeled, but I thought it would be better to try here.

I enjoyed my Toyota Tacoma and I sang its praises to anyone who asked, until I started getting recall letters. I wasn't very concerned until I moved my catalytic converter heat shield and found this:


I have owned 4 Toyota's spanning almost twenty years. I have been saving to purchase the new Tacoma next year after the first year bugs. No longer.

My frame somehow passed inspection even though you could see straight though it. (At a certain angle)
I called Toyota Corporate the day it happened. (Also due to airbag light still being on after the spiral cable replacement) after my inspection.

They said that I must return to the same dealer for re-inspection.

So, while I was waiting on hold with the rep I picked through the crust of surface rust flakes with my FINGERS,to allow a better viewing angle of the hole. The hole is visible in my first picture taken before the inspection.
This is what 3 mins of picking will do. The layers cracked like potato chips.


Went back to Modern Toyota and the inspector failed the frame and took pictures to get corporate approval. After showing him my "before"pictures taken before the first inspection he said, "I can't believe we missed this."

Now after a two-month phone tag with corporate call center folks, I am left with a rotten frame that they won't cover due to it "passing" inspection the first time.
They put it back on the dealer who won't cover their mistake.

I guess picking at it with my mighty finger strength destroyed their frame.

Not the rust that eating it like cancer.

I have timestamped photos disproving this, but the case rep didn't want to see it.


TLDR
Check your frame Tacomas have an Achilles heel.
Toyota corporate could care less about losing a twenty year customer.


(Edit: This is a 2006 or 2nd gen with 98000 miles)

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Didn't know the second gen had frame issues, don't think I've ever seen one in the shop. Always the first gens

 

Theres actually more and more showing up and there is a frame replacement program underway for 2005-2008

 

They had one on a lift being replaced when I went in the garage to show the tech the spot on the second inspection.

 

That sucks. Toyota bought back my buddies 95 in 06 or 07. My 2003 was in great shape and my buddies 04 was mint. I live in one of the salt capitals of the world, but I see way to many people who neglect their vehicles. I see people who never wash them. I always wash my truck multiple times throughout the winter. Spray my undercarriage and spray out the frames as much as I can. Kinda look at it like preventative maintenance. I'm not going to put faith in a manufacturer giving me a new frame down the road under an extended warranty coverage

 

Dang - I've got an 06. I just took mine in for the rust recall and it passed. I've been under and haven't seen anything suspicious like you've got. I'm in NC. Had the truck since April, and the previous owner was in SC/NC the whole life of the truck. Dealer told me most of the rust issues are up north where they deal with salt and snow more often. I was thinking of taking mine up to another dealership before the recall is over (March I believe) after the winter here (we got some snow this weekend) but if you are saying they will just fall back on my initial passing regardless of what another inspection may find then I won't waste my time.

Actually bought mine at a "Modern Toytota" (in Winston Salem) and I would never say anything good about them (i didn't take it there for the recall inspection). They were a bunch of dodos.

 

I had a similar problem and Toyota corporate told me to go to another dealership. Problem is when you get that pass on inspection they close your case. Just go to another dealership and start another case. I did that. I ended up waiting like 4-5 months for parts to come in and then about a month in a rental when my truck became unsafe to drive. I now have a new frame. Stay in the fight. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. My truck is a 2005 with 167,000 miles

 

Yep. Toyota quality sucks.

 

In the first call I made the day after the inspection, I asked the same thing.
I wanted to go somewhere else and the claim rep told me I had to stay with Modern Toyota, since they opened the case.

Worth a shot though. Thanks for the reply!

 

Tag. Hope someone here can help you out.

 

Ha, you found me. Thanks for the support and advice brother!

 

They scale the frames, they have to be able to penetrate a small area I believe for it to fail. If it holds up then it will pass. It could pass and then fail 3 weeks later. I've seen some pretty bad ones where I live. Hammer blows right through parts of the frame

Hope the 3rd gens won't have the problem

 

Did you send the after pics to corporate?

 

Modern toyota as in the one here in nc? Vann York isn't any better, my frame has holes in it and they said they dont participate in the frame recslls unless its a huge hole. Mt. Airy said theyd replace it if it had a perferation and i said awesome because mine has a few holes and the lady made sure to inform me that they wont replace it for having holes, just perforations.

I am taking mine to greenville toyota in nc, ive always liked their dealer Lthough its a 3 hr trip

 

The second inspection pics would mirror the after picture. So, they had it.

Even in the first shot, you can see the hole if you look in the top under some of the crust. It was a little bigger than my finger, hence me being able to be through it in no time.

 

All vann york cares about are new car sales, when i was shopping for a 2gen they kept insisting 2gen manuals dont exist and tried talking me into an iverpriced trd pro they had

 

The only reason they want you to stay with the first dealer is because they want the work. The dealership is paid very well by Toyota to replace a frame. They are hoping that the frame replacement is approved and they can get the job.

Save some grief and just go to another dealer.

 

I am sure the dealers have to get paid for the labor at what ever rate is decided .

Auto Manufactures are the cheapest when it comes to paying dealers to do warranty work.

Depending on the job the lowest paid tech or lot person gets put on the job

Not like each dealer can pay 2 people just to swap frames

As far as a profit doubtful

 

Toyota pays 40 hours to do a frame swap. Most techs can do it in half that time if they have a few under their belt. Dealers and techs like doing these jobs.

 

While I was getting my frame inspected the techs told me that the only frame they had to replace at their dealership was on a truck that passed its initial inspection.