Rusty Tacoma Frames, and Toyota's Solution

[AJM]

Originally Posted by georgie

mustang 67408
What is the qualifying VIN number? (any Taco's manufactured after this VIN?)
Just curious. I don't think my frame would qualify (light surface rust in any areas I can see) but you never know.
Thank's

Perhaps PM him your VIN and maybe he'll assist you like he did for me. I'm pretty sure giving out specifics like VIN or date ranges might be frowned upon by Toyota but I'm sure he's willing to tell you if your VIN qualifies if you ask him.

Mine did qualify... although now the question is whether or not the rust is extensive enough to qualify. I hope to get a preliminary, non-official opinion from mustang once I get under my Taco and take some pics.

[mustang67408]

Originally Posted by georgie

mustang 67408
What is the qualifying VIN number? (any Taco's manufactured after this VIN?)
Just curious. I don't think my frame would qualify (light surface rust in any areas I can see) but you never know.
Thank's

PM me your VIN. I keep them in the strictest confidence and destroy them after I am done. (Everyone at TS's privacy is very sacred to me).
There are different VIN ranges for differnet years, it is a very long list.
Light surface rust is PROBABLY not going to qualify.
A visial inspection is done first, then the hammer test if it is deemed necessary.Everything I say and do here at TS is UNOFFICIAL and my opinion. Your dealership will make all the decisions.

[AJM]

mustang67408, I sent you PM. Thanks.

[sl0annuggets]

finally got my money and bought my 4runner today.....

my agent was kind of a loaf and i had to yell at him a few times to get things done

[mpwolf]

Originally Posted by sl0annuggets

finally got my money and bought my 4runner today.....

my agent was kind of a loaf and i had to yell at him a few times to get things done

I'm a little surprised at that. I got great cooperation at my dealer, except for the first guy I spoke w/ when I arrived at the service door. Everybody else has been really great- Course with the money coming directly from Toyota, the dealer has nothing to loose, and a sale to gain.

I got my letter last friday, and frankly, I'm a little embarrassed by the offer, so I'm not going to post what I've been offered until I have cashed the cheque. Let's just say the value must be extremly affected by geography.

[AJM]

Originally Posted by mpwolf

I'm a little surprised at that. I got great cooperation at my dealer, except for the first guy I spoke w/ when I arrived at the service door. Everybody else has been really great- Course with the money coming directly from Toyota, the dealer has nothing to loose, and a sale to gain.

I got my letter last friday, and frankly, I'm a little embarrassed by the offer, so I'm not going to post what I've been offered until I have cashed the cheque. Let's just say the value must be extremly affected by geography.

Please cash that check soon and let us know... I'm definitely interested to hear how well it turned out for you.

Thanks.

[mpwolf]

I'm still waiting to hear when I can pick up the cheque. Yesterday, the guy at the call center said he hadn't seen any cheques get written yet, which really surprised me. Seems to me that once an offer has been accepted, writting the cheque should be pretty much right away.

As for retail value, the same Tundras I'm seeing for $20K in New England are going for $30K up here in Eastern Canada. The Tacoma spread is about the same for later models. Not sure about the 1st. Gen. Tacomas. I can say the letter I recieved says they are paying "1.5x Canadian Black Book suggested retail value for the vehicle in your region, (assessed as a vehicle in excellent condition).

[mpwolf]

Just got am email from the service manager. He's saying it might take up to 30 days to get my money. I don't like it, but at least I've got my Tundra in the yard, and the loaner Yaris for running around.

[Gnascher]

I just got my Taco qualified today. Driving an Chevy Malibu from Enterprise (yuk, bummer).

Anyway, I took mine to Acton Toyota. They put it up on the lift and poked around for a minute or two and told me I qualified! They didn't even have to break out a hammer ... he just used something that looked like an ice pick. I was in and out in under an hour.

Based upon what I see for my truck at the KBB site, I should get about 9K for my Taco.

It's a '97 4x4, 2.7L base model with A/C and just over 170K miles on it. Punching honest answers into the KBB site, it comes back at $6025 for Suggested retail, excellent condition.

I was told I'd hear from a rep in a couple of days, and that a check should be in my hands in 20-25 days. We'll see how it goes.

[4RUNNER98]

This good deal doesn't seem to be working for my father-in-law. Last November, he purchased a very clean '99 Tacoma base extracab 2wd with SR5, Automatic and A/C and 97k miles to replace his clapped out Ford. Truck looks immaculate other than minor surface rust at rear fenders and it runs great. He took it in anyway and was surprised that it failed but happy that the problem would be solved. The dealer projected his check would be about $12k and immediately tried to sell him a high mileage '03 Tacoma 2wd base model for, guess what?, $12k. Anyway, he took his rental home and played phone tag w/ Toyota cust service. They finally sent him a letter indicating that since they couldn't reach him by phone to negotiate they would offer him $7050 via this letter. Of course, he was pretty jazzed about getting $12 grand especially since the dealer said they had a great track record for predicting the settlement amounts. Needless to say, he's ticked off now and is further frustrated because he can't get anyone at Toyota to pick up the phone or return his messages. I checked KBB and came up with approx $7500 excellent value BEFORE the 150% calculation and agree that he's not getting a fair shake. Is his experience common? Does he have any recourse? He's an old dude and he just doesn't have the patience for this stuff. Thanks.

[wvrktguy]

I have two questions regarding the buyback that I couldn't find clear answers to on any of the other threads.

1) What happens if the title does not list the actual mileage or is market "not actual mileage"?
2) Do you still qualify if the Tacoma was purchased after the announcement?

Thanks for any and all help!

[FJ45Cruiser]

My dealer told me what I should expect and he was dead on exact based on 1.5 the KBB. Now I am just waiting for the transfer agent to come by and take my truck and give me my check.

[wvrktguy]

Well I spoke to Toyota customer service today and it appears that neither of these items pose a problem. The buyback is actually a result of a warranty extension so ALL owners qualify regardless of when it was purchased. This is consistent with what I was seeing in the announcements sent out to the dealers. In regards to the mileage, the person I talked to said that it may impact the $$ you get from the vehicle but doesn't disqualify it. Hopes this helps others as well.

[juiceman8]

i live in upstate ny and took my tacoma in for an inspection..... when i got to the dealer i was told by the kid taking the keys that out of the 30-35 frames they looked at, only 3 or 4 had passed, needless to say, mine was the 5th.

i was told it is "solid as a rock under there..."

i bought it used about 6 years ago (its a '99) and i'm not sure if its from my area or not, but i did looked at the frame myself before i took it in and i would have been surprised if they failed it, it does look pretty good...

anyway, just thought i would share my experience.

[shadyskins]

Another of the 1000's of reasons to buy a Toyota

Toyota Offers to Buy Back Rusty Tacomas - Wheels - Autos - New York Times Blog