What actually CAUSED the famous, Toyota frame rust problem???

In the midst of the frame replacement on my 02 Taco.
Nothing but praise for the dealer, service advisor, and the tech actually busting knuckles.
In for the spare tire recall and had them check the frame....again.
Tech used a 3 lb hammer and a prybar an sent the bar thru both sides of the frame.
Frame time...
The dealer let me purchase a fuel pump, front and rear bumpers,grille, valance panel, headlight buckets, exhaust system,side marker lites, shocks, etc, all aftermarket, and will install all this FREE. along with a 2015 corolla for the week it takes. FREE..
I have nothing but praise for Toyota to hook me up, make my truck whole, install all
MY parts, give me a nice car for the duration, and not a squeak out of the dealer.
And.... I never bought a thing from this dealer.... all private sales.
They did the same for my 4runner....god I loved that truck... when the engine went bad at 70k miles. New motor, no charge.
Get that from the American big three....I double dog dare ya

 

There has to be a reach around involved in this story somewhere! Makes me want to go park my truck in the ocean for about a week, then track down your dealership! Dammit, why does my frame have to be ok!!!
That's truly f'n cool bro!

 

Dirk,

Did Toyota offer any warranty or "guarantee" for the lifespan of the replacement frame? I'm looking to purchase an '01 that has a replaced frame and I'm trying to find out if there is any warranty for the new frame.

 

My 2015 Taco has an open c channel frame in the middle back vs the box frame of my 4Runner. Now, some might say it's cheaper but I think it's more rust resistant. Why ? Welds ! Rust starts at the welds and there are many more in a box frame. Second. Drainage. C channels should drain better. Lastly, the C channel on the Tacoma has double thickness...it's a frame within a fram. Lastly, the frame gives you better access to spray oil or paint grease in rusting areas. How many of you do absolutly nothing when you crawl under and se rust areas starting ? All you have to do is take a foam brush and paint wheel bearing grease over areas where rust appears to be starting. Do it once a year before winter.

 

Unchained,

Nice setc of VH references...

 

Well it came out today that Toyota was using sub par steel for years. They will be going to court because the steel did not meet the highway safety standards. I read all of these post's in this thread and I can tell you in Ohio you will be hard pressed to find a Tacoma that is earlier than a 2000. They were all crushed in the recall. There are plenty of rangers but not many S-10s and as far as F series there are plenty of 80's trucks still on the road including my Dad's 88 F350. The frame has some surface rust but not the frame rot that Toyota's have. I have had about 15 Toyota trucks over the years starting with a brand new 1986 4x4 that cost me $9,000 off the show room floor and I can tell you that the only one that did not rust to pieces is the 1998 T-100. Here is the link to the story
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...suit-over-vehicle-metal-quality-idUSKCN1GI2OI

 

Did you have a link to that info?

 

Lmfao!

You've never seen a 10 or 15 year old Ford Dodge or Chevy on the road? Really?

If what you said is true... why would Toyota have owned up to a problem, that you claim never existed, and spend millions on a recall?

 

What he’s talking about is a class action lawsuit that has been launched today claiming Toyota knew there was a frame problem and did nothing about it. It covers all the vehicle frames Toyota had made using the steel from Kobe Steel.

The plaintiffs are asking for their money back because they could of been killed. The suit covers several vehicles but I haven’t heard if the Tacoma is one of them.

 

The article I read did not include the Tacoma

 

Makes sense, with the Tacoma frames from most of that time period being made in the states you wouldn’t think it would make sense if the Tacoma was included.

 

Exactly. It's the Japanese steel that is in question

 

It's a well known fact that every ford spontaneously ceases to exist the moment it turns 10 years old. It's a true wonder of the universe not even hawking has a theory as go why it happens. I just know you don't want to be doing 90 on the interstate in an f150 that hits it's birthday

 

not in CANADA

 

I've been driving Toyota trucks since '85. They older ones were ALL very prone to rust on the rear half of the frame. I have had 85 Landcruiser, 87 4Runner, 96 Tacoma of the older trucks. All of them had ruined tire lifts and significant rear frame rusting. I learned how to take care of the trucks to prevent rusting as bad after working on all of the above. I have not seen the problem on our newer Toyotas 07 FJC, 14 Landcruiser, 11 Tacoma. They all have thicker frames than my old Toyotas and better coatings I assume. I recently got a 03 tacoma and 75% of the frame looked great. Remove the bed and spare tire and just like all my other older Toyota models it needed grinding to remove rust and coating of the rear sections. Around here everybody says the only things that kill the older gen Toyota trucks are rust and wrecks. It is what it is but worth it for the outstanding mechanical reliability.

 

I still have to take mine in to see. I'm the second owner, it looks like my frame was undercoated, so I'm not sure what the diagnosis is gonna be. I'm not going to say no to a new frame though.

Would be awesome if they let us rust proof it before they install it.

 

This was my understanding exactly. This, coupled with perhaps salty roads and lack of maintenance, may have claimed many our 1st Gen brethren.

I looked for a So Cal truck, found and purchased an AZ truck and had it trailered to Houston. minty.