massive frame rust crack, I need your help!

With Toyota having full knowledge of the long history of frame rot problems, I would have at the very least appreciated a heads up after or before buying it. Even if Toyota had a paragraph in the owner's manual, right after how to maintain the exterior, to pay special attention to frame rot and if possible apply an undercoating like Fluid Film if you live in an area the uses road salt. One paragraph could save both of us a lot of headaches, because all of this frame rot, if caught early enough will keep it from failing prematurely and is mere pennies on the $10,000.

 

Pretty sure there is something in the owner's manual about chasis care and maintence.

 

I don't know if you are familiar with the long history of Toyota making frames that fail prematurely, but if you're not, following their instructions in the owners is not enough to fix their poorly manufactured frames, especially if you are in an area that uses road salt. Knowing about their history and not disclosing it to consumers who pay upwards of $30,000 is wrong. I would have at the very least appreciated a heads up after or before buying it. Even if Toyota had a paragraph in the owner's manual, right after how to maintain the exterior, to pay special attention to frame rot and if possible apply an undercoating like Fluid Film if you live in an area the uses road salt. One paragraph could save both of us a lot of headaches, because all of this frame rot, if caught early enough will keep it from failing prematurely and is mere pennies on the $10,000.

 

Toyota's first two generations of 4wd truck from 1979 to 1988 were notorious about rust cancer on the bed sides. Anyone who has owned one knows that's a very common issue. The Cruisers weren't any better back in 1960s through the 1980s, either. But they had very thick sheet metal.

The 1989-1995 was better in that the bed rusted at the same rate as the cab at least. But in none of them was there a particular issue with the frames (they did rust and fail, just it wasn't a 5-year old systemic issue) and they didn't AFAIK rust any faster than the rest of the truck. My made-in-Japan 1991's frame was still solid at 24 years and even had marks on it from the factory. The body wasn't great but it wasn't rusted through yet either, the paint (stock white enamel) was getting chalky and old. My point here is the body and frame were corroding at about the same rate exposed to the same elements its whole life being a Colorado truck and I was the second owner.

So my question to you would be if that is what you see up in Ontario? The body and frame rusting at the same rate or does it seem like the body was holding up better or worse than the frame?

My issue with the Tacoma frame rot issue is mainly that the frames seem to be going noticeably faster than the bodies. Whether this is insufficient paint, thin metal, I dunno, but that's not my experience with previous Toyota trucks where they seemed more interested in building a sound truck that would last.

 

Man, now that's some serious rust. As a Tacoma veteran with two buy backs, one frame replacement, and one still under warranty, I am hoping for the best for you op.

 

Nothing lasts forever unfortunately. Whenever a vehicle is over 10 years old it's probably beyond its design obsolescence and living on borrowed time. Sure you might be able to nurse a few more years out of it, but it's glory days are over. That's how I view vehicle longevity in Ontario Canada anyway.

 

Frame rust has always been a Toyota truck issue since they first made them in 1979.

 

Sorry to see that frame OP, I feel for ya man. My gut started hurting when I saw the pic.... can't imagine who $hitty you feel.

 

Sub for the outcome as well. When I bought mine I heavily inspected the frame and made sure the previous owner had it coated before I decided to buy. The last thing I wanted to hear was that I was SOL because of a technicality.

 

Update: I just got a call from the case manager who informed me that it needed to be coated by last December for the warranty to be extended and she told me that it hasn't been according to their records and Toyota's official response is that they will not cover it under warranty. Next up...The dealer.

 

SUCKS !!!!!!!

 

That was the deadline for second gen's not first gen's. First gen's deadline was in 2012.

 

Rusted out Tacoma $10,000

Legal fees to fight dealer that sold you the Tacoma $20,000

Trying to regulate a public forum for helpful comments only; Priceless

 

Could be worse it very well could be a $100,000.00 vehicle with a very poor frame stretch that almost failed in use I fixed a few years back

 

The deadline for the 2nd generation is March 31, 2016 in the USA and December of this year in Canada, but the date they gave doesn't seem right for a 1st generation, I thought it was 2011 but I may be wrong. I would call a different person in customer care, just to be sure they have your vehicle VIN correct.

 

If it's a Carfax dealer and the rust wasn't disclosed, you should be able to get a buy back from them for these kinds of problems...

 

The warrantee for 1st gens is 15 years.

 

This. I did this prior to purchasing my truck as well. Damn man, I cant believe that thing is still in one piece.

STOP DRIVING THIS TRUCK and take legal action

 

Carfax is a joke, the autobody shop or dealer is not obligated to report anything to carfax, if they do it could be very vague info. you just take carfax info with grain of salt. Your best bet is try the dealer you purchased the truck from.