I checked out my frame after reading this thread and was not happy with what I saw. A mechanic looked at it suggested that I sell it. It only has 26,000 miles and is not nearly as bad as some of pictures on here, but still was quite surprising. The vehicle has been near the ocean for its entire life, but only driven very rarely during the winter.
I just got off the phone with customer service and they told me they forwarded my case to the same department dealing with the Tacoma buybacks. They said they another rep will contact me within 24 hours. That sounds like good customer service and a good sign.
BTW, this is my first day on the boards and I have a 2003 Tundra TRD.
Just called Toyota and complained about the rust on my 2000 Tundra 4X4 and I now have a case number and am awaiting a call from a case manager. I will keep the forum updated as this unfolds.
After receiving a call from the Toyota rep I belive they are getting a lot of calls on the Tundra rust problem. He seemed to be quite aware of all the complaints, compared the situation to the Tacoma problems, mentioned the on going investegation, and a possible extended warranty pending the out come of the investegation. So keep the calls coming. That number again is 1-800- 331-4331. There is strength in numbers.
Hey guys, just wanted to post the rust pictures from my 2003 Tundra AC. The rust on frame isn't nearly as bad as it is on the control arms. The sway bar end links are visibly narrower towards the road as the rust as caused pieces of them to fall away. I am driving to Colorado this week and I don't like the way the front end looks. I think everything is safe, but would appreciate input. Thinking about taking it to the dealer.
Has anyone asked if Toyota will undercoat or otherwise repaint frame and undercarriage parts that aren't rusted out yetto prevent the problem before it's really bad? I was all set to buy a Tundra and stopped dead because I live a mile from the beach and saw a lot of rust on the Tundras in my neighborhood. Not the severity of the guys who live in snow areas, but way worse than any similar year trucks of other makes.
Sounds like Toyota is moving in the right direction, but they really should step in and try and prevent the patient from getting the disease in the first place. It would save them the cost of replacing parts or buying back whole vehicles. Not to mention for those of us who do our own oil changes, watching the underneath of our investment slowly corrode away is just plain ugly! Ford did it with the whole body paint job on their 1980's trucks. My friend's father-in-law got a brand new factory paint job on his F150, for free.
Hey guys, just wanted to post the rust pictures from my 2003 Tundra AC. The rust on frame isn't nearly as bad as it is on the control arms. The sway bar end links are visibly narrower towards the road as the rust as caused pieces of them to fall away. I am driving to Colorado this week and I don't like the way the front end looks. I think everything is safe, but would appreciate input. Thinking about taking it to the dealer.
Didn't you say you're close to the ocean, and not much driving on salted roads? Jeeze Toyota, that just looks unforgiveable! I looked at 2006 DC that was almost that bad. I would seriously consider a safety inspection before you go on a road trip. Some of the stuff looks safe, yet ugly, but other parts it's hard to tell. Some of the bolts look like the only way to get them off will be bolt cutters.
Didn't you say you're close to the ocean, and not much driving on salted roads? Jeeze Toyota, that just looks unforgiveable! I looked at 2006 DC that was almost that bad. I would seriously consider a safety inspection before you go on a road trip. Some of the stuff looks safe, yet ugly, but other parts it's hard to tell. Some of the bolts look like the only way to get them off will be bolt cutters.
Yeah, I am close to ocean. What conditions was the 2006 DC driven in to get that bad? Thanks for you input. I have been feeling that but kind of in denial. Such a bummer b/c it pretty much looks brand new and it only has 26,000 miles. Not stoked, I wanted to leave on Monday. Instead I will be banging on my dealers door to get a safety inspection.
Seeing someone else's 04 made me realize how bad mine really is. What do you think of the frame? I think it doesn't look that bad?
Yeah, I am close to ocean. What conditions was the 2006 DC driven in to get that bad? Thanks for you input. I have been feeling that but kind of in denial. Such a bummer b/c it pretty much looks brand new and it only has 26,000 miles. Not stoked, I wanted to leave on Monday. Instead I will be banging on my dealers door to get a safety inspection.
Seeing someone else's 04 made me realize how bad mine really is. What do you think of the frame? I think it doesn't look that bad?
Matt
Photos on the computer can be deceiving, so I probably shouldn't really say how "bad" yours looks vs another. But it does look worse than my 1986 F150 that was intermittently parked outside a mile from the Pacific Ocean, and way rustier than I would think a truck of your age should look. How far from the ocean are you, and do you park outside often?
The DC I looked at looked almost perfect at first glance. The body paint had the usual chips and scratches that Tundras seem to accumulate, but otherwise good. It was the first truck I looked at that I decided to crawl underneath, and it shocked me to see so much rust on a 3 year old truck that looked nice on top.
It was a "Toyota Certified" used truck, sold at City Toyota in Daly City California. I called the dealer back (I never spoke to a salesperson when I physically saw the truck) and asked him where the truck came from and he replied Pacifica, which is right on the ocean. It could have been parked outside a block form the beach for all I know, which is hard on any vehicle. I did notice the aluminum parts like the transmission were pretty "frosty" with oxidation, so I'm sure it lived outside close to the ocean. Thinking of your situation is difficult to compare since I haven't seen it in person. While the truck I crawled under at was nasty to look at, the dealer had passed it and was selling it with a warranty. Have you jacked up your truck at either end and yanked on the wheels?
Do you think Toyota has figured out why their trucks are so rusty? Is is the composition of their steel? I am just figuring out what I am going to do for a vehicle depending on what happens with my Tundra. 2009 Tacoma DC looks sweet but I don't want another rusty set of wheels.
Photos on the computer can be deceiving, so I probably shouldn't really say how "bad" yours looks vs another. But it does look worse than my 1986 F150 that was intermittently parked outside a mile from the Pacific Ocean, and way rustier than I would think a truck of your age should look. How far from the ocean are you, and do you park outside often?
The DC I looked at looked almost perfect at first glance. The body paint had the usual chips and scratches that Tundras seem to accumulate, but otherwise good. It was the first truck I looked at that I decided to crawl underneath, and it shocked me to see so much rust on a 3 year old truck that looked nice on top.
It was a "Toyota Certified" used truck, sold at City Toyota in Daly City California. I called the dealer back (I never spoke to a salesperson when I physically saw the truck) and asked him where the truck came from and he replied Pacifica, which is right on the ocean. It could have been parked outside a block form the beach for all I know, which is hard on any vehicle. I did notice the aluminum parts like the transmission were pretty "frosty" with oxidation, so I'm sure it lived outside close to the ocean. Thinking of your situation is difficult to compare since I haven't seen it in person. While the truck I crawled under at was nasty to look at, the dealer had passed it and was selling it with a warranty. Have you jacked up your truck at either end and yanked on the wheels?
Yeah, the truck has pretty much spent its whole life outside. I think the pictures give a fairly accurate portrayal of how it looks down there. I haven't tried yanking on the wheels. What might I encounter? Flexing? Wobble?
Yeah, the truck has pretty much spent its whole life outside. I think the pictures give a fairly accurate portrayal of how it looks down there. I haven't tried yanking on the wheels. What might I encounter? Flexing? Wobble?
I'm not a mechanic, but I would just try pulling and pushing to get a "feel" that things are still tight. If you can, have someone else help so you can look at questionable areas of the suspension to see if anything looks like it's moving where it shouldn't. Try pushing and pulling the truck sideways with the front bumper (while sitting on all four tires). Look for pivot bolts that look like they are close to breaking due to erosion. Check your brake hose brackets, sway bar bolts, etc. The cross member looked OK, but some of the smaller brackets and bolts don't have as much metal to "give" if there is a lot of heavy rust.
Do you think Toyota has figured out why their trucks are so rusty? Is is the composition of their steel? I am just figuring out what I am going to do for a vehicle depending on what happens with my Tundra. 2009 Tacoma DC looks sweet but I don't want another rusty set of wheels.
If you're buying a brand new truck, it's pretty damned easy to protect it with aftermarket undercoating and rustproofing from day 1 regardless of the brand. My truck has had those 2 items on it from day 1 and the underside looks brand new at 44K miles.....and I live in a HEAVY snow belt. Considering what guys spend on wheels, tires, stereo gear, lifts, fancy headlights, etc...it blows my mind that they won't spend a few hundred bucks (or much less if you DIY) to get their trucks protected from the elements....
If you're buying a brand new truck, it's pretty damned easy to protect it with aftermarket undercoating and rustproofing from day 1 regardless of the brand. My truck has had those 2 items on it from day 1 and the underside looks brand new at 44K miles.....and I live in a HEAVY snow belt. Considering what guys spend on wheels, tires, stereo gear, lifts, fancy headlights, etc...it blows my mind that they won't spend a few hundred bucks (or much less if you DIY) to get their trucks protected from the elements....
What undercoating and rustproofing did you use? Did you put it on yourself? I can imagine this would be pretty messy and hard to get around all the components. My truck came with the All Weather Guard Package which I thought meant undercoating. Does anyone know what AWG Package is? [EDIT: I know what this now. I don't think "All Weather Guard Package" is a good term for heated mirrors and some other stuff.] I would have done the aftermarket coating if I knew it was not sufficiently protected.
2005 AC tundra no work done underneath besides a rinsing every time i wash it.... (the way it should look)
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2005 Toyota Tundra Blue Steel Metallic (SR5® Access 4.7L i-Force V8 with VVT-i)
(K&N 77 Series Intake, ScanGauge II, Nokya Yellow Fogs (as DRL), Black Headlights, Tinted Side Markers, BSP Logos, Black Side Molding, Black Billet Grille, Red V8 Grill Logo, Custom Black "TRD Off Road" Graphics, Custom V8 side fender logos, 6000K HID Headlights (Halogen High Beam) Kenwood Deck, Infinity Speakers, Alpine 5-Channel Amp, 12" Infinity Sub(Custom Box)
(Future: Magnaflow 22" Single-Dual Exhaust, Electric Fan Conversion, Infinity Mono Amp For Extra Sub Power, Rims and Tires (17"))
Re: Tundra frame rust recall???
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