Very bad news ... frame fail out of the blue :(

OK, I know there's a ton of stuff on here and I will get caught up ... that said ... this sucks and I need any insights I can get.

Heard the fan hitting the shroud last night. On inspection today I find that the frame under the left motor mount is rusted through and collapsing.

I bought this 06 DCLB from a VT dealer last March. I emphasized my concern about the frame at the time and they said it passed all inspections. Fast forward 10 months and I'm sitting on a very bad frame.

Please chime in any way you can and/or point to references.

 

take it back to dealer where you bought it, if it is a toyota dealer. i would be nice and tell them the problem. it sounds like a new frame is in order. my 02 was replaced, i bought it used, good luck.

 

You should be covered either way. If they did a frame inspection, and it passed, they should have applied the CRC coating, and given you (I believe) a five year warranty on the frame. If it didn't pass you would have had a new frame. Contact your local dealer, and see what they have to say. I don't know if the dealers in NM are used to the frame issue. If not contact Toyota corporate. The current recall is valid until March of this year.

 

Did you buy it from a Toyota Dealership in VT? If you did, they should have advised you of the frame recall and offered the replacement solution.

You should bring straight to a Toyota dealership. They will give you a loaner vehicle while they order and replace your entire frame.

My '05 DCSB OR frame was replaced in this past December. Feels like a new truck!

 

Thank you for the quick replies ... so much information to absorb right now.
I did buy it from a Toyota dealership in VT.

Just digging into my records ...
They did a 160-point inspection and coated the frame in 6/2014.
Had an issue where that dealer did not check the rear bumper attachment (missed during their 160 point inspect ... wtfo) and it almost came off under tow. During that exchange, I had readdressed my concerns about the frame ... rep said they coated it in 6/14 and it had a "10 year rust through guarantee".

Unless I'm missing something, I go straight to the dealer on Monday AM and go from there.

Really appreciate the quick replies and any thoughts along the way.

 

I guess my biggest concern is any ways that any dealer in VT or NM will try to wiggle out of this. Just seems like a huge issue so I'm anticipating pushback ... without knowing the small print on any of this.

 

just saw your pic, yes you need a loaner and a new frame, good luck.

 

Safe to drive? I'm wondering if driving it may cause additional damage in its current condition (fan hitting) or if that mount lets go all together... And, if so, would they tell you that that part of the repair is on you... I don't know, just throwing that out.

 

Yeah I'm not so sure you would even want to drive it to the dealer, a trip on a flatbed looks to be in order, the dealer should provide you with a loaner while they replace the frame.

 

You will be good....no worries.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/05-motor-mounts-failed-failing.21849/

 

This brings to light an entirely different problem for many of those that were offered and that accepted the CRC solution to their already rusted frame.
Are their frames going to continue to rust underneath the coating, to catastrophic failure like yours? My guess? Yes.

 

Also my guess. To do it correctly the frame needs to be completely stripped to bare metal or intact coating and completely recoated with a quality product like POR 15. That's too expensive so they simply apply a band aid and hope for the best.

 

Definitely a poor band aid approach.

I have the sway bar off and have been lubing the upper control arm attach points as I was getting ready to replace the UCAs ... does having that off give them fodder to deny me a replacement?

 

This stuff just boils down to greed. If it can be pushed farther down the road they're going to do it. Hoping either you're going to sell it, total it, or the time to get it fix has expired. When you ask them about that 160 point inspection and protective coating. It's all B.S. to impress you and they'll be some excuse about what happen, like it's all your fault.

 

Dealer service in VT is saying they don't see any recall or warranty coverage. They say they'll look more but nothing likely.

W T F

 

I assume they have so many, they have amnesia! The deadline is March, you need to have it towed in. Take pictures of the damage, get something in writing and contact Toyota District Office. For more info or answers to questions, call Toyota Customer Service at 888-270-9371, and reference Campaign # SC-E0D, entitled: Campaign - Vehicle Frame Corrosion. http://www.thecarconnection.com/new...tacoma-could-have-frame-rust-may-get-free-fix

 

This entire thread had me questioning the coating on my frame...so I called Toyota and asked what the coverage situation was if my frame bailed after a few years (having had the crc). The service guy said Toyota will come good for it as it was their fix...he also said that my frame was great and they are replacing anything that look remotely questionable. Having said that...I am from the land of salt and my "great" frame will look like total shit to many of you down south.

 

Well this VT vehicle would not have impressed many with the surface corrosion on the frame. I brought it up repeatedly at the time of purchase and the time the bumper was found partially unsecured. I would not have bought it if I felt any doubt about the coverage for penetrating corrosion. Period.

I actually had a gallon of POR15 on its way right now to be proactive on corrosion management. And was hoping the high desert air would help my cause.

...

All instances of me asking ... the dealer salesman assured me that the frame was inspected, treated, and guaranteed. Today he spent twenty minutes telling me that service management had changed the 10-year guarantee offering ... coincidentally exactly during the time I was buying my truck.

Heritage Toyota in Burlington VT. Any comparison stories welcome.

It's now at Amigo Toyota in Gallup NM where I have to rely on the subjective call of the bodyshop ... who I guess calls it in to Toyota corporate for another in person check. That is: If ... they feel the frame is corroded enough and the failure is due to frame corrosion.

 

billybob50 - thank you!
Not sure what you meant by get something in writing. Looking forward to talking to Toyota at that number tomorrow when they are back in the office!

Here's the good bad and ugly. I thought it just looked bad and could be treated by me slowly and methodically. Apparently not ...



and of course ... the critical area: