I wonder why Toyota or any other manufacturer doesn't have a recommended service interval for their frames. Every oil change they should be inspected by the dealer and a coat of fluid film applied as necessary. Its a serviceable item like any other part of the vehicle.

i wonder why they don't just galvanize the frame and paint. if toyota did this, a lot will buy that model for sure.

I would wager that there is no issues in the sales of these... as history has shown lol. Neither new from dealer, nor almost 20 years used for private sales.

Would it be nice to have improvements on the rust issue.. but I doubt it would drive the sales up any.

Well it was just after I left. I'd noticed a lifted FJ sitting out back everytime I went to get some parts and was misinformed it was a frame recall from a tech. Talked to the service manager recently and was told due to the customer's service and sales and history Toyota helped him out with the frame. He didn't get anymore details than that.

I just had a 20 minute interview with them today and it seems very promising. And even if it doesn’t go anywhere what’s 20 mins of my time and a few pictures of the rust sent to them for a possibility to have the frame replaced? It’s worth a shot.

Agree it's worth it as long as they don't try to gig you for any money. Sometimes companies settle just to avoid litigation but given how many 4Runners could be affected and the scope of the necessary repairs, it's a long shot. This isn't replacing an airbag or something like that, this is a multi-day job that has to cost them thousands in time and materials. In fact, they might be better off to pay the book value of the vehicles in lieu of repairs then get back what they could in scrapping the trucks.

That doesn't make any sense. The newest 4th gens are 13 years old. It's not reasonable to ask for a frame to last that long without rusting somewhat. Case dismissed.

Far better to burn your calories on having your frame descaled and blasted, then coated. As per the other thread, different people prefer different types of undercoating, but they're all wayyyyyyy better than nothing. It does cost a lot to have this work done correctly, but that's life.

I would agree except for some of the extreme pics I've seen and stories about Toyota frames, for example the image of an '05 4R at the top of this article. That's more than "rusting somewhat."

You're not wrong; but there is plenty of horror stories of other brands and vehicles with similar issues.

You also have to take into account where the vehicle is located and how the owner is taking care of their vehicle. I do agree with a post above that Toyota and other brands should point out that if you live in a Coastal Area or an Area where Corrosive Salts are used for Winter that you need to add the additional maintenance item of cleaning and possibly protecting your frame. I imagine there's a legal reason for why they don't do this (i.e. this would amount to admitting that frames rust which would open them up to lawsuits, or some such thing, so simply not telling people is better from a liability standpoint?)

That salt will devour anything once it gets a foothold, combine that with cold winters with salt, and humid summers with coastal salt spray, and owner neglect and I'd be shocked if the frame didn't have corrosion.

As I pointed out above, the NSHTA and Toyota appears to have settled with a 12~15yr range after DOFU (Date of First Use) for the Tacomas and Tundras, so they've basically indirectly agreed that a frame should last at least 12yrs. Anything beyond that is a bonus if it lasts that long, but is not considered abnormal, at least from the NSHTA and Toyota's perspective based on the evidence at hand.

Id say around here - the body of other makes seem to rust worse after 10-15 years, but the frames of the toyota trucks are pretty bad- IE theres very few pick ups / SUVs that arent rusting around the bumpers, fenders, sides.

Here in NY, its hard to say that yes, this car manufacturer is reliably less likely to rust after 10-20 years than all the other ones.

I have a 2005 4Runner at 300k, the rust has finally caught up to it. My mechanic said that it's beyond repair and wouldn't pass inspection. I live in the Northeast....sad. I have to start making plans to get another daily driver.

i have a 2005 with 155000 miles. my frame could have been beyond repair if i did not remove all the rust and repainted it around 3 years ago. i have new problems though which is the exhaust leak.

Sorry to hear that. I'm in MD too about undertake a manual rust removal and conversion then paint and rust prevention paint on top of that.

Any photos of the worst spots on yours?

Maryland? that is not the northeast, if accurate.

Although I had a small hope inside of me that maybe Toyota would be forced to compensate somehow everyone with rust issues on their 4Runner, the case is closed.

Now to figure out what I should do with my 4Runner that has less than 100k miles on it and a rusted frame. Can't sell it outright without telling someone it isn't safe, and it isn't worth much of anything with anyone knowing it is safe.

Wonder if I could get lucky attempting to trade it in somewhere and if they wouldn't look under it? Back when I was first told by the service tech at a Toyota dealer that it had rust holes in the frame (I think about 5 years ago) I was walking around the lot at used cars and then when talking to the used car manager he asked if I had something to trade in. I said sure, my 4Runner. Didn't tell him what the service tech told me. He drove it around their lot a bit, came in and gave me a quote of 5k for my trade in, I never saw him look under it as I was watching him the whole time. At that time I really wasn't sure what to do, and honestly didn't want another Toyota from their lot so I left. Probably should have traded it in then.

Toyota 4Runner Frame Rust Lawsuit Dismissed | CarComplaints.com