Rusty Tacoma Frames, and Toyota's Solution

[mustang67408]

It is true, just not OFFICIAL YET. It is coming, but the dealers have not received any paper work. I have this from a good inside authority.

Regional Offices, Toyota Dealers e-mail – January 5, 2009

Warranty News Alert!
Please ensure this electronic newsletter is printed and distributed to other
appropriate personnel such as:
• Warranty Administrator(s)
• Parts Manager(s)
• Assistant Parts Manager(s)
• Service Manager(s)
• Assistant Service Manager(s)
• Technician(s)
Toyota Warranty Policy Bulletin #POL08-04 - 2001-2004MY Tacoma Frame Rust
Corrosion Perforation

However, please be advised that the attachment feature has not yet been activated. We
apologize for the inconvenience and are working to activate the attachment feature as quickly
as possible.

[trailrunners]

I've got a 1999 Toyota Tacoma that has the VIN numbers qualifying it for this program. I'm getting it checked on Thursday.

I've never noticed excessive rust on the frame before. My Toyota spent the first few years of its life in California where rust wasn't an issue. The past 4 years it has been in Minnesota where we use a lot of road salt. I looked closer at my frame this morning and most of the frame looks really good. But, I did notice some areas of more excessive rust near the springs. There was one area where the first layer of the frame had rusted out and it was sort of flaky. Probably about the size of a dollar bill. It still looked pretty solid though. Have people had frames that looked good over 95% of the frame but had a small area of excessive rust? If so, have you been able to qualify for the buy back?

Here's my dilemma. I just put the truck up for sale on Saturday. I found out about the extended corrosion warranty yesterday and did a bunch of research on it last night. I've had several people call about it and now I don't know what to tell them. I have a guy looking at it tonight and I made the appointment to have the corrosion checked Thursday. I love the truck and I'm only selling it because I need a bigger truck for my small business. I'm looking at getting a Tundra.

So, do I tell the guy about the excessive corrosion and warranty program? I'm sort of thinking that my truck won't fail since it spent the first few years in California. I'm also thinking that a couple of more years in MN and it probably will fail. So, do I tell the guy that in a couple of years he should get the truck checked and most likely he'll get more than he paid for it if he bought it from me? Would he still qualify for the program if I sold it to him after this extended warranty was announced? If it passes the test, I assume the truck is safe and I don't have to feel bad if I sell it to someone even if I don't tell them about the warranty?

I guess ideally, I would like to see my truck fail so I can get the 150% over KBB buyback. That would certainly help me buy my Tundra. I would hate to see my truck scrapped though.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[begonias]

Careful about buying a Tundra ...........I have a 2000 and it was just declared unsafe to drive because the frame is rusted and rotting. See my thread on 'Tundra frame rust recall' on page 6.

Toyota is washing their hands on this . Toyota customer head quaters complaint department had the nerve to ask, " asked me why I thought it rusted "?

[tacomagris]

Originally Posted by daleyplanit

This complaint is in regards to a defective frame on my 2001 Toyota Tacoma pick-up that was purchased used in February of 2007 with 102,000 miles. A NYS inspection was performed upon purchase. The truck now has 130k. September 6th, 2008, while installing new struts at a local tire and brake shop, the tech noticed serious frame rot on the back passenger side of my truck. The shop manager informed me of a voluntary Toyota buy-back for 1999-2000 models, Warranty Policy Bulletin POL08-03, dated 3/7/08. I contacted Toyota and had the truck immediately inspected by Lia Toyota Service of Colonie NY. I was informed the frame was seriously rotted, and the truck no longer safe to drive.

I was told the following to rectify the situation:
1. 2001 models are not "usually covered" in the buy-back
2. If covered, I would not get a loaner car
3. If covered, I would not receive the 150% value as is standard for 1995-2000 models. I don't know if Toyota will pay me 100% of the value of my truck for March of 2008 or August of 2008. The blue book value of my truck has dropped SIGNIFICANTLY since the recall was issued.
4. The dealership could not 'go to bat for me' to assist me with dealing with Toyota for a buy-back request;
5. I had to call 1-800-Go-Toyota for more information

This is a SLAP IN THE FACE. Why should the 2001 models be excluded from the extended warrantee and buy-back coverage afforded by the 1995-2000 models? My truck is NEWER - yet it has THE SAME FRAME ROT. The fact that the dealer refused to assist me with this process is additionally infuriating. I called 1-800-GO-Toyota as suggested on September 6th. After 4 days of telling me "We will assign you a case manager," Toyota finally did so on September 11. I now have a case number, and a human being with which to work with (albeit there was been little progress and likely little will be made for at least 30 days.

When I called I was told my case had been sent to Toyota's regional office - where a local tech would contact me to examine my truck either in person or via photos. Mr. Lopez told me that the process would take no less than 30 days.

I reminded Toyota that unlike those customers with 1995-2000 model year owners, the dealership was not working on my behalf. I asked for my case to be expedited and explained that I was not able to get a complimentary loaner car as 1995-2000 model year owners were provided with.My case manager apologized again "There is nothing we can do" he told me.

I am outraged - Not only did Toyota not inform me of my potential frame problem in March (here I was driving around on in a highly unsafe vehicle), they've acknowledged the problem in only a portion of the vehicles - 2001 and later model year owners have been left out in the cold. I no longer an able to drive my vehicle, I must pay for a rental car on my own, and I am not going to be fully reimbursed for the loss of my truck due to a manufacturer's defect that has already been acknowledged.

What will happen to drivers when the frames of 2001 and newer Toyota Tacomas star to fail? A broken frame could result in a serious accident as the frame is the most integral component holding the vehicle together. 2001 and later year Toyota Tacoma owners were never sent notice of the manufacturer’s defect causing frame failures – therefore most of these owners are driving around with potentially dangerous vehicles. If an owner of a 2001 or newer Tacoma were to sell a truck with a rusted frame, then the frame failed, would the previous owner be liable for not informing the new owner of the defect?

Defective frames are not exclusive to the 1995-2000 model year Tacomas - so why is Toyota excluding newer models? This is dangerous, perhaps even criminally negligent. Toyota should be recalling Tacoma trucks manufactured after 2000 that are experiencing massive frame rust - without doing so the company is endangering the lives of Tacoma owners. I would like Toyota to be more accountable and issue a complete recall (not just a buy-back) for these dangerous trucks. I would also like all owners of Toyota Tacomas (series 1995-2004) to be dealt with in the same manner.

I contacted my local paper, the National Highway Safety and Transportation Administration, the New York Attornery General's Office, the NYS Consumer Proection Board, and have begin writing to sellers of 1995-2004 Tacoma's listed on Craiglist. Next Up - letters to ebay, AutoTrader, Cars.com, and my insrance company!!!

If you would like more info - or to reach more people that are having this problem, check out Toyota Tacoma Frame Defects | Facebook

I'll be documenting every step of of the way, helping people along to get what we deserve!!!!

I have a Tacoma 01. while replacing the brakes last week at my mechanic shop I noticed a hole in my Toyota frame. I knew it was in bad shape from taken a look under the truck before but what I saw last week was scary, I felt my truck was unsafe to drive so I called Toyota and they told me to take it to a Toyota dealer, I called the dealer they gave an appointment the same day. After the inspection my service assistant told me that my truck's frame fail and they have to replace it, thank god they gave me a loaner car and will keep my truck for two weeks to complete the job.
So far my dealer Prime Toyota in the Boston area have been helpful but I don't like the fact that I didn't receive a notification from Toyota or that 2001 and up are getting different treatment than older truck when we are having the same factory problem. Thank for putting up a fight for all the 2001 Tacoma owners.

[renoir911]

Good day Folks.
I'm in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Today, April 20 / 09, my Toyota dealer told me to bring my 2003 2x4 4 cyl. Tacoma in to have the work done to protect the frame. They say it is an extensive job and need the truck for couple of days. They will do all the work at no cost to me. Just sharing this with you folks.
Have a great day.

R. May

[leadoff2]

Just got my letter in the mail yesterday concerning 2001-04 Tacomas. I'm not sure how it applies to me though. I bought my '02 Tacoma used in Florida in Sept. '07 with 54,000 miles. I did the Carfax research on it and it was a leased vehicle. It's still registered in Florida. Do I just take it in to my local dealer and have it checked?

[Tennesseestorm]

Originally Posted by mainhunter

I wish they would take a look at other models, I have a 2000 tundra and there is more rust on the frame than should be. I rinse it all the time in the winter and it is still getting bad. I called toyota today and they said....its just the tacos......

por-15 or rust bullet?

I had a 2000 Tundra 4wd as well and it had some light splotches of surface rust here and there where paint had chipped as well and it had always been in the south and never in salt/snow. We had a couple of snows the winter I had it, but I never drove it in the salt. I am not sure if other Tundra owners have seen this or not, but hopefully they dont get like some of the Tacomas had got. Around here, even those were surface rust at the worst.

Unfortunately, Tacomas are almost non-existant around here. I have kinda been in the market for a 1995-98 Tacoma SR5 4wd extended cab with automatic and they are either almost impossible to find or priced out of this universe. Our local Toyota dealership had alot of these on their lot that had came from up north, with mostly only some surface rust on the frame and they would not sell them. They had about 50 of these on the back lot. One was a white 97' SR5 4wd, loaded, automatic with LIGHT surface rust on the frame and they would not sell it to me. He said it was going to be crushed like pancake.

Oh well. I guess I will try to find a 89-95 4wd automatic truck, but these are way overpriced too as are the T100s (if you can find one).

There is a old man down the road with a 1999 Tacoma SR5 4wd ext cab that I have known for years that I may think of asking to sell to me when he decides to sell it. His neighbor had a 1995 Tacoma 4wd, but now has has a Silverado.. maybe he traded it in.