[itsmeagain5789]

i dont have an older tacoma, but this is reason that i bought another toyota. they replaced my steering column on my old 4runner after an 11 year recall. i guess they keep us happy, most of the time.

 

[Shakerhood]

You can't exactly just replace parts of the frame though. The frame is one continuous piece. They don't make "patch panels" for frames.

I work at a dealer in the parts department. We just got documentation 2 days ago discussing this issue. It was VERY vague though. It basically stated that they'll be "initiating a Customer Support Program (CSP) to enhance the warranty coverage for Frame Rust Perforation on certain 1995 through 2000 Model Year Tacoma Vehicles."

Basically they just told us that they'd be extending the warranty coverage for a period of 15 years with no mileage limitation from the vehicle's in-service date. It doesn't state specifics on what type of repairs, replacements, or buybacks whatsoever. It just tells us that more info will be available in mid-March.

EDIT: That second link that was posted above DID say that they would repair or repurchase the vehicle and the if the "repurchase" option was chosen, the vehicle would be declared in "excellent" condition, regardless of the actual condition of the vehicle. Hmm, interesting. I wonder why they haven't conveyed that information to the dealers yet???

I still wonder about the $$$ side of it as the Excellent Condition might be in Trade In Value and not Retail or Open Market Value.

 

[MooseBit]

Good on toyota for manning up and doing this, but they are going to get HAMMERED in the northeast with trucks coming in. "A few rare cases" B.S., there is so many late 90's tacos rusting into the ground. The body looks beautiful, but the frames are swiss cheese. Had a friend loose 3k on a 99 limited, sunroof, rear locker, v6, manual, dream truck, because it litterally folded in the back. All that held the ass end on was the bed. Welded it up and sold it to a canadian at a big loss. My bosses brother bought a 97 ex-cab, was all proud of it and brought it by a party after he brought it home. It looked pretty good in the dark, but I told him to check the frame in the daylight. 1' long hole in the side of the frame, he brought it back for a full refund the next day.

Every one of the northeast tacos is a rustbucket. My 2001 doesn't have any paint left on the frame from front to rear, and the c frame in the back is flaking pretty bad. My bud's 98 nearly swallowed my jack when we did the rear springs. He'll be pleased to hear this, we were going to reinforce it all this spring.

It's downright despicable to have a 10 year old truck FRAME folding up like a wet paper bag. It used to be the bodies would collapse around the frames on trucks, not the frame fall out from under the truck.

 

[fear]

They better have some big checkbooks in New England, but it sounds to me like the Toyota lawyers and the Toyota beancounters figured it's easy money in the long run. Even if they paid 10k for every single rotted frame it's still cheaper than the resulting publicity from a frame failure with casualties.

Not many people are going to find out about this anyway overall since it's not a official "recall". So even if a bunch of people were killed a year from now Toyota could at least show they made some effort to correct the problem.

You gotta figure most people never even look under their truck at all... We represent maybe 2.... 3% of the market?

 

[T_Dunn]

Lets not even talk about how much rust fell off my frame when I put on my trailer hitch, I chipped a god damn tooth by getting hit in the face with a big chunk ahaha. In my frame next to the rear tire i can see big chunks of paint and metal and I can touch them through the square hole but there is no real way to get them out.

 

[mt_goat]

Toyota had great frames until Dana started making them.

 

[guitarman4325]

wow. i didnt realize there were that many rust problems on tacos. i live in nc and i have a little rust. i might have to take it in and get that fixed.

 

[rader]

This restores a little of my faith in Toyota. If they would add bent frames that would be nice!!!! My Tacos went two for two on bending.

They may have to eat a lot of FJ cruisers over the body mount or apron issues before that is over too.

 

[jester_motorsports]

I still wonder about the $$$ side of it as the Excellent Condition might be in Trade In Value and not Retail or Open Market Value.

See, that's the main question right there. If they give you "excellent condition" but on a "trade-in" value, it's not NEARLY as much as "retail" value. I did excellent condition on trade-in value of my 99 yesterday. It's a 99, x-cab, TRD, auto with 130,000 miles on it. It doesn't have leather or a sunroof but other than that, it's pretty much got the rest. Value was $6450. There's no way I'd take that for my truck. Luckily it's a non-issue with me. I'll check it out more thoroughly the next time I'm underneath it.

Basically though, it's not a for-sure thing that they'll just buy up every truck. They DO have the option to attempt to repair it, although that's a pretty expensive option.

 

[Kyota]

It doesnt sound like the frame was the problem. Just the sealant.

 

[Kyota]

How'd you manage to bend the frames?

What are the FJ apron issues?

 

[Shakerhood]

See, that's the main question right there. If they give you "excellent condition" but on a "trade-in" value, it's not NEARLY as much as "retail" value. I did excellent condition on trade-in value of my 99 yesterday. It's a 99, x-cab, TRD, auto with 130,000 miles on it. It doesn't have leather or a sunroof but other than that, it's pretty much got the rest. Value was $6450. There's no way I'd take that for my truck. Luckily it's a non-issue with me. I'll check it out more thoroughly the next time I'm underneath it.

Basically though, it's not a for-sure thing that they'll just buy up every truck. They DO have the option to attempt to repair it, although that's a pretty expensive option.

I really have a feeling that they are going to use "Trade In Value" when they figure it up. They are not stupid, they dont have to issue a Recall, they make themselves look like the good guy, and you know damn well they will try to sell you another vehicle. They are not losing anything by doing this!

 

[mt_goat]

I really have a feeling that they are going to use "Trade In Value" when they figure it up. They are not stupid, they dont have to issue a Recall, they make themselves look like the good guy, and you know damn well they will try to sell you another vehicle. They are not losing anything by doing this!

Yeah, in fact I wouldn't be suprised if Dana Corp wasn't being forced to pay for this, since they made the frames.

 

[Shakerhood]

It wouldnt shock me if that were the case, although they could end up getting into a pissing match.

 

[rader]

How'd you manage to bend the frames?

What are the FJ apron issues?

I bent one towing the other one bent in off road use. I know I am not alone with the weak bending frame issue.!! They were not rusted and still had low miles.
The aprons on FJC's are bulging and cracking randomly some do some don't Look on FJ Cruiser Forum or on the FJ section of this forum for body rips and tears. The apron on 4Runner Lexus and 05 up Taco are similar designs but are not cracking it may be a body mount problem. Toyota is still trying to figure it out. Anyone thinking of buying an FJC might want to wait until a fix is developed.

 

[fisher112]

I have the official Toyota docs on this, but the files are too big to attached. Give me your email address and I'll send them out to you.

 

[sjvicker]

sjvicker@mtu.edu assuming those are the toyota docs on the tacoma frames not the fj's. Thanks.

 

[fisher112]

Sent. Please post if you have large file permissions.

 

[ShowStop]

I have the official Toyota docs on this, but the files are too big to attached. Give me your email address and I'll send them out to you.

PDFs now posted:

Dealer Communication Letter (From Toyota Corp to all Dealers)
http://www.showstop.org/images/truck/rust_warranty/dealer-communication.pdf

Warranty Policy Bulletin #POL08-03 (Details about what is covered and VIN ranges)
http://www.showstop.org/images/truck/rust_warranty/warranty-policy.pdf

Vehicle Inspection Procedure
http://www.showstop.org/images/truck/rust_warranty/vehicle-inspection.pdf

 

[jtaco1]

Mines going in tomorrow, may get a new Tundra as a loaner too