Originally Posted by brillo_76

You never see a ball joint recall either as there isnt an easy way to fix that besides replacing the ball joints on occasion.

Originally Posted by MStudt

Ball joints were covered under a recall from Toyota in 2005. They'll never be recalled again, but they were recalled at one point.

Mike

Originally Posted by brillo_76

Great to know. :-) However the recall was only for 2001 and 2002 model years. Yet the same setup and part styles was used from 1996 to 2002. However, that has nothing to do with the Frame nor its safety

My Point is They will never recall the Frames or anything else on the 3rd Gens at this point. People can dream all they want its not going to happen. I just fix my own rusted frames (My Hobby) as I know rust and corrosion due to the environment is under items not covered under any mfg warranties. This is just one of these threads that I find amusing.

Just like my exhaust rusted off it should be replaced for free. Or my cab mount rotted off its a mfg defect. My response would be. You live in the rust belt. Why didn't you wash and clean your underside of your vehicle and use some soft of rust inhibitor on your vehicle. So why do you expect a mfg to be responsible for your actions. ;-)

Originally Posted by MStudt

This issue isn't an isolated issue in the "rust belt". That's primarily the Great Lake's region, and extending further south into Virginia. Any Midwest/Plains state will also suffer the exact same results from roads being treated with salt, and brine. Also, the East Coast all the way to Florida also has frame rust issues. I grow up in the Midwest, and owned my 4runner there. I can tell you that the Midwest has the exact same issue as the rust belt.

People like free stuff. Who wouldn't like to get a free frame, muffler, or anything else. I sure as hell would, but I'm also not going to raise a stink about it. Instead I'll grab my grinder, scrap steel, and welder. Then fix the rust issues on my own. Plus, in a society full of self entitlement, what would you expect?

Mike

Originally Posted by Toyota72

Oopsie so how is the lawsuit going against Toyota? Any updates?

Originally Posted by mooch91

All,

I'm no stranger to Toyota trucks, but I just bought my first 4Runner, a 2002 with 192K miles on it.

I had an 87 pickup that I had to sell for parts a number of years back because the frame rusted severely (along with the bed), resulting in a broken spring mount on the passenger's side rear. I'm sure the frame was in bad shape all around, but that truck ran its course and it was easier to sell it than to try any sort of repair.

I bought a 98 Tacoma with 186K miles shortly after that. It had been owned by a Toyota mechanic who said he had checked the frame and there were no issues. Sadly, three years later, when I brought it in for the Toyota recall, they were able to break through the frame and they bought the truck back. I did double my money in three years on a truck with 220K miles, though - thanks Toyota!

So I've got this 2002 4Runner now and I'm nervous about frame rust. I crawled underneath and it doesn't look much different than my Taco did. A little surface rust on the frame welds and body mounts. I don't see anything of concern right now but my Tacoma never had me concerned either until Toyota bought it back...

Some questions:

Is there any truth to what I've heard that this the 4Runner has a completely different frame than the Tacoma that makes it less susceptible to the rust-out?

Is there any truth to what I've heard that 2001+ Tacomas (and presumably 4Runners) don't generally have the frame rust issues because of something done differently than earlier models?

When I brought my Taco in for the recall, I was told Toyota would apply a rustproofing to the frame if it were found to be sound. Has anyone had Toyota apply this rustproofing (or applied it themselves) to a 3rd gen 4Runner?

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by nbach218

FWIW the craigslist here in Minnesota is full of 4runners needing frame repairs. I think they are like the tacos. Especially on the frame weld spot next to the muffler.

Originally Posted by T4R2014

Nah. Everyone ends up looking like a fool.

Originally Posted by nbach218

FWIW the craigslist here in Minnesota is full of 4runners needing frame repairs. I think they are like the tacos. Especially on the frame weld spot next to the muffler.