Tacoma 1st gen frame Rust Recall extended

Crawled under the truck today and found this




I have the extended 15 year warranty on my frame and booked a frame inspection later today. Not sure if this is enough for a new frame.

 

I bet it is. That spring attachment is serious -

 

This is all that happened to mine - heard some clunking and noticed shock was loose at top. Took it off at bottom and when it came down had some frame on it. Waiting on replacement frame now.
Good luck I hope you get it.

 

Wow I got lucky. Dealer let me drive away for now, but are pretty confident that Toyota will approve the new frame. My rear shocks are rusted away like that as well, looks like Ill be ordering parts soon. Dealer said they will put parts on that I bring in so thats a plus.

 

GREAT DAY,called Toyota AGAIN on Friday about the hole in my frame an my truck is due for inspection an I didn't think it pass and was given a completely different answer: she said after running my VIN it was in that 15Yr recall period an if my local dealership determined the frame was bad they would replace it.....So fast forward to today I took my lunch break at my local Toyota dealership an after a quick look through said they would get me a new frame, apparently some Toyotas that were coated,they're warrenties were extended an some weren't but mine is getting a new frame..They couldn't be sure how long it would take to get the frame, anywhere from a week to a month.. I couldn't be happier..Now I just have to figure what new parts I'm going to buy to have them put on,rear shocks for sure an I'm not sure what else..

 

Just curious they are replacing your frame on a 2001?? I thought that was too old and outside the 15 year thing? Could you expand on this?

 

Caught the deadline by a week back in Sept 2016.... picked it up last week with the new frame

 

Just contacted Toyota, I’m the original owner but the original dealership went bye bye years ago and I’ve moved states 3 times but all in the Northeast. Just failed inspection for the first time. Never it sprayed or any notice fro Toyota. This is a few days ago... just had to take off the rock shield for the gas tank a few months ago and replaced the rear shocks myself, never looked between the frame and tank.

 

The plot thickens... went through some paperwork and called the dealership that bought out the Toyo dealer I got it from new. Turns out the dealership I did take it to DID do the inspection... and nothing else. Have been told they should have coated it or replaced it at that time.
We will see what Corporate says...

 

I am sure you have copies of everything and document this well with who you talked with and employee #’s and such

If this turns into a legal case you will be well peppered

IMO for what it’s worth what’s one more frame for Toyota to do ? Especially if they made a mistake in documenting it

 

The parts Manager actually had heard back not from his original contact at Corporate but Toyo Engineer, looking for additional information. The parts Mgr also gave an agreement with me that if the action to conclusion steps were...

|- coat frame
———inspc.Frame——|
|-replace frame

Which on the directive from Toyo Corp varies by market areas, States can be bundled but not be adjoining as well.
I learned more than I knew the day before and I didn’t expect anything much on a Friday.

Crazy days and crazy nights...

 

So an 04 would still qualify at this time since it's still within the 15 year warranty right, it being 2018?

 

yes, but there are other limitations...the warranty only applies to trucks registered in certain "cold weather states" as specified by Toyota, and there was a deadline prior to 2012 to get your truck's frame inspected and coated by Toyota or else it won't qualify for the 15 year warranty.

If you meet those requirements (plus the 15 year timeframe) then you have a shot....best bet would be to call Toyota directly with your VIN handy and see what they say.

 

Ok I will definitely contact them. Do you have any info on which cold weather areas were affected in Canada?

 

ooh sorry didn't realize you were in Canada...the 15 year warranty I'm familiar with is only in the US. I do think that Canada had it's own version of it though, but I don't know the details on that.

 

All good! What I've seen on here is it might be eligible if it was inspected/coated within a certain time period? Either way ill get in touch with them and hopefully get some answers

 

Ok so here is the story haha..

I'm looking at buying a 2004 Tacoma SR5 Double Cab, 3.4 V6, Auto, 4x4

At first glance the frame had surface rust so I had it inspected at a Toyota dealership recently. They replied saying:

"Although there definitely was some rust on the frame - there were no perforations. We hammered away but nothing actually went through the frame. This frame may just be a good one that won't actually rust through."

They said if I do purchase it, to feel free to bring it in at any time to re-inspect the frame. They said in the future if it rusts to the point they can puncture it, they might be able to convince Toyota to replace the frame free of charge. Also said that it's hard to believe Toyota refusing the replace a rotten frame but that there's no guarantee that they would since the 04 model doesn't fall into the current replacement campaign. This service manager has helped a lot of Toyota owners get replacements for trucks that technically didn't qualify so I'm hopeful of getting a new frame if it came to that. But for any reason if I can't it would suck if the frame rusted through.

Is this worth the gamble? Too much of a risk? The guy was asking for $15000. I was thinking more around 12. I live in Vancouver, BC by the way.

Here are some pictures

 

I'd pass. Think of it this way, if it turns to Swiss cheese and the dealership "tries" and fails to obtain approval then you're stuck. Hard pass ESPECIALLY at 15k.

 

Really eh. This service manager @ this dealership said if they fail to get approval, they usually get the client/customer to call Toyota directly and that usually does the trick. He said they've replaced a few first gen frames in this way. And agreed, no way i would pay 15 for it in this condition. But for 12? It's super clean other wise, low km as well. Been searching for ever so maybe I have Toyota tunnel vision i dont know haha

 

I don't know... Like I said, for me - I'd pass. Then again I am in California so rust isn't an issue so I certainly wouldn't risk it.

My thought process here -

1. Sure Dealer/Service is going to say and do what they can since they make big money on that frame replacement (toyota has to be paying them for labor)
2. Toyota may just say you lose for whatever reason, then you are stuck.

Always something else down the road. We've all been there (taco tunnel vision). Ask yourself this - if you end up with a rusty frame that develops serious issues and toyota wont touch it, can you live with eating the cash you dropped?

How many miles are on it?