Frame Rust 2001 -2004

I'm a new member here, but I wanted to add that about 2 years ago, Toyota bought back my first Tacoma. It was a '99 Xtra cab 4x4. Frame failed (my driver's rear suspension mount tore loose and was denting the bottom of the bed). They only offered to buy it back, but, I spent $8k on it and they bought it back for $12k. This was the Toyota dealership in South Lansing, MI. They were amazing, I didn't have to worry about a thing.

I am soon going to be the owner of a 2002 Tacoma, buying from NE and driving home to Michigan. I would like to get this frame inspected after I bring it home. I'm obviously going to inspect it myself, of course.

Is Toyota still offering frame replacements on the 2001-2004 Tacomas? Or, the undercoating, for that matter? Because, if this 2002 I'm picking up is starting to rust, or already rusted out, I REALLY don't want to get rid of it! I love these trucks, and I'm not willing to lose another one.

Remember, this is in Michigan, so I KNOW the dealerships know about all of these Toyota programs and warranties.

 

haha you would think the dealerships would know, but alot are clueless. As I PM'ed u, I would highly recommend talking to Dunning Toyota.

As far as your own inspection, this is generally what you are looking for as far as rust holes in the frame:

 

That's BS that they did that to you man after all the reports around the same time of other tacomas getting new frames at the same time! Plus, if you had an 00 model, you'd have until 2015 to get 150% of the value (if i understand it correctly.) They should have at least bought it back at 100% of the KBB....

Yeah, mail sucks. Nothing good ever comes in the mail unless you purchased it....

 

Everyone in a more recent thread than this is saying that December 31st 2011 was the deadline for all 01-04s, despite their construction date.

 

I've been hearing that as well. ALSO I was just informed that it has to have been frame SPRAYED, then INSPECTED YEARLY, to have the frame replacement continue in effect. Mine was never sprayed, but serviced several times throughout its life from the same dealership so I have a meeting set up with the District Service Manager to show that the dealership had every oppertunity to spray/inspect it when it was brought in but they never did which now voids the frame replacement. ...not giving up yet!

 

Do it yourself, wash with a high pressure hose, sand and scrape, rewash, let dry, paint with POR 15 or rust bullet, repaint rustolleum black, then spray with Amsoil MP/chainsaw lube, or equal. The MP wax and dries hard, won't drip, crack and is clear.

 

A generous member from the Rustbelt was nice enough to scan and post this as proof that the program is still being implemented.

 

Apparently the problem is that it rusts from the inside out. Other members attempts to treat the rust from the outside were futile.

 

2003 Tacoma frame was treated in 2009.....

Pictures from the dealship today(4/27/2012). New frame going in Monday morning.

The mechanic said they have replaced close to 400 frames. He also said that they had maybe 17 owners turned away this year do to the fact they NEVER had thier frame treated before the end of 2011. If it was treated/inspected prior to 2012 then the frame is covered and will be replaced by Toyota.

 

Mine was never treated. However, I was able to prove that the previous owner was told it did not have to be treated in order to keep the warranty so since I had it inspected in december '11 they were able to make an exception!

I'll post pix as soon as I get home. Looks like I got LCAs, brake lines, sway bar bushings, and front bumper bracket along with the frame.

*I think it helped that when I went it and presented the issue, I was also in the process of buying their showroom FR-S so I was a high-interest customer

 

I just got my 04 in early August after pressure washing my undercarriage at work my frame appeared to have that coating sprayed on but it looks to have been sprayed over rusty metal! I was planing on cleaning sanding and painting using por 15 but I don't know the underage looks shitty I have a 98 Tahoe with 220k that come from an area in Pa that can rust stainless (lol)that looks way better underneath then my taco! What should I do I have read so many post that conflict with one another.

What's amazing is I paid 15k for my truck it was a 1 owner it's so flawless it doesn't have not even a stone chip.

 

Either bring it into a dealership or go on here:

http://www.toyota.com/owners/web/pages/home

and if it has ever been sprayed it should come up under "Service History"

Either way you can have it inspected at any dealership and they can tell you if there are any perforations (the thing that qualifies it to get replaced). If it HAS been sprayed you should still be covered.

 

This is we're I was confused I thought they were till covering 01-04? It for sure had the black goop sprayed on it. They should be able to do it while I wait, right?

 

They are still covering 01-04 as long as the frame has been sprayed. Which from the sounds of it, yours has been sprayed so you should be good, but I would find out to be sure.

 

so to jump in on this..... i called my toyota dealer ship in oklahoma to ask about this rust proofing, mentioned the frame recalls on the earler models. they transfered me to an advisor. the advisor said that hes been doing this for 12 years and have never heard of any frame recalls on tacoma, no frame replacement, no buy backs... hahaha....

he told me to call toyota and talk to them. my home of record is pennsylvania, i plan on going back home when im done, i just want to see if i can jump on this train here, get it undercoated.... ive been tdy to kessler in mississippi the last few months all the sand down here and salt water, ive noticed more surface rust popping up.

anyway...

 

some dealerships are clueless (some partially due to not being in affected states) I talked to one local dealership and they were clueless, the next was aware but wouldn't do anything for me. Then Toyota of Grand Rapids not only knew about it, they inspected, handles everything, and get it all set. So do some dealership hopping til you find someone who knows what they are talking about.

 

So just to be completely clear on this...my truck (2002) has not been sprayed so I am SOL when it comes to any frame replacement, correct?

 

Made an appointment and stopped by one of my local dealers, the service people were very nice they pulled my trucks records and yes it was coated 2/2011. (Before me) they inspected it and the service manager is going to schedule a day when the rep will be there, he said they will start by cleaning it up with a snap-on crud thug and go from there if it has no soft sounding spots (his words not mine) or actual perforations show up they will re-coat the cleaned frame. If there any spots they are uncomrtable with I will get the frame replacement.

What makes me feel at ease is this dealer always has a pile of old frames at the back of there lot.

 

Unless you can find a really nice service manager, or prove that you (or someone in the trucks past) was never informed about the frame coating or like in my case was told it did not HAVE to be done.

 

Hm...I could try to email the PO to see if he ever received notice of it I guess. Kind of weird but I can give it a try. Or call Toyota Corporate and have them run the vin to see if it was ever inspected. The vin checker online has a few records with no details because it was done at a hokey garage in Nome, where no dealerships exist.

Honestly though, my frame has surface rust but doesn't appear to be anything bad. I can still see the black of the metal through the surface rust on most of the frame. It is worse around the spring hangers though.