Anyone think the frame recall is going to go through?

[anonymousgromers]

Been reading on NHTSA website it says there's a open investigation in the frame complaints for 2002-2006 4runners and by looking at how they conclude their investigations it looks like we have a strong chance of it going through (hopefully) as they see if there are similar issues on other vehicles which there were (around the same year models sequoia tundra and Tacoma) and the fact that we are pretty close to passing them in terms of complaints on the frame. If they got a recall on their frames with less complaints then we are filing then I see no reason why we wont get the recall as well.

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[ScooterMD]

Been reading on NHTSA website it says there's a open investigation in the frame complaints for 2002-2006 4runners and by looking at how they conclude their investigations it looks like we have a strong chance of it going through (hopefully) as they see if there are similar issues on other vehicles which there were (around the same year models sequoia tundra and Tacoma) and the fact that we are pretty close to passing them in terms of complaints on the frame. If they got a recall on their frames with less complaints then we are filing then I see no reason why we wont get the recall as well.

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I haven't heard about this, but would love to learn more. I have am 02 Tacoma that was covered under the frame extended recall - it wasn't really a warranty - and my experience (which was very unusual since I lived in Arizona at the time I had the frame replaced but the truck had spent 10 years in the NE) was very positive. I was only the 2nd frame that dealership had replaced. I basically had a rusted out shit frame with gaping holes in it, which together made the truck dump-worthy, which turned into a like-new fantastic truck with a shiny new frame. Would looooove to do this with my 4Runner as well.

You mention 2002-2006...why only those but not later years?

 

[LawmanIdaho208]

Unfortunately no

 

[Burt]

Nope.... The root cause is the crap on the road surface.

 

[anonymousgromers]

I haven't heard about this, but would love to learn more. I have am 02 Tacoma that was covered under the frame extended recall - it wasn't really a warranty - and my experience (which was very unusual since I lived in Arizona at the time I had the frame replaced but the truck had spent 10 years in the NE) was very positive. I was only the 2nd frame that dealership had replaced. I basically had a rusted out shit frame with gaping holes in it, which together made the truck dump-worthy, which turned into a like-new fantastic truck with a shiny new frame. Would looooove to do this with my 4Runner as well.

You mention 2002-2006...why only those but not later years?

Yeah it must have been great to get a new frame and it only says 2002-2006 4runners on the website but they might do all of the 4th gens (hopefully)

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[4RunnerIdiot]

Nope.... The root cause is the crap on the road surface.

There can be multiple root causes. When designing a vehicle, it is reasonable to design it to be able to handle the conditions of the road. That includes salt. I think it's reasonable to say that the rust issues that pretty much all these Toyotas have is an indicator that not enough was done.

Toyota already taken responsibility for the rust issues on Tacomas, Tundras, and Sequoias, but 4Runners were not included despite being virtually identical.

I don't think anything will come of it, but it wouldn't completely surprise me if it did.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

There can be multiple root causes. When designing a vehicle, it is reasonable to design it to be able to handle the conditions of the road. That includes salt. I think it's reasonable to say that the rust issues that pretty much all these Toyotas have is an indicator that not enough was done.

Toyota already taken responsibility for the rust issues on Tacomas, Tundras, and Sequoias, but 4Runners were not included despite being virtually identical.

I don't think anything will come of it, but it wouldn't completely surprise me if it did.

There is a difference between the frames. While the general design is the same, the recalled ones were made by Dana and were not undercoated properly. This caused them to rot out extremely prematurely, within a few years in many cases.

That being said, I do personally believe there is at least one major design flaw with the 4Runner frames, and it's the same flaw the Jeep TJ has; no drainage. A fully boxed frame will inevitably get crap inside; no design can avoid that, even if it has no extra holes, stuff finds its way in. Therefore, it needs a way out! The bottom of the frame rail has pretty much nothing in the way of drainage holes. I believe a few 2" or so diameter drainage holes (obviously would have to be determined by an engineer) placed correctly would have made a big difference. Not every fully boxed frame rots out, but ones that don't drain sure are likely to. Many of these 4Runners with issues are only 10 years old, and none more than 15 (unless you count the 3rd gens with the same problem, but it's unfortunately too many years too late now), which is a pretty short lifespan for an 1/8" frame in my opinion.

 

[anonymousgromers]

There is a difference between the frames. While the general design is the same, the recalled ones were made by Dana and were not undercoated properly. This caused them to rot out extremely prematurely, within a few years in many cases.

That being said, I do personally believe there is at least one major design flaw with the 4Runner frames, and it's the same flaw the Jeep TJ has; no drainage. A fully boxed frame will inevitably get crap inside; no design can avoid that, even if it has no extra holes, stuff finds its way in. Therefore, it needs a way out! The bottom of the frame rail has pretty much nothing in the way of drainage holes. I believe a few 2" or so diameter drainage holes (obviously would have to be determined by an engineer) placed correctly would have made a big difference. Not every fully boxed frame rots out, but ones that don't drain sure are likely to. Many of these 4Runners with issues are only 10 years old, and none more than 15 (unless you count the 3rd gens with the same problem, but it's unfortunately too many years too late now), which is a pretty short lifespan for an 1/8" frame in my opinion.

Very true but the thing that pisses me off the most is that the frame is almost completely rotted out on my 04 but the body interior and engine are in mint condition but because of the frame the rest of the truck is at risk of being junk as well.

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[T4R2014]

Been reading on NHTSA website it says there's a open investigation in the frame complaints for 2002-2006 4runners and by looking at how they conclude their investigations it looks like we have a strong chance of it going through (hopefully) as they see if there are similar issues on other vehicles which there were (around the same year models sequoia tundra and Tacoma) and the fact that we are pretty close to passing them in terms of complaints on the frame. If they got a recall on their frames with less complaints then we are filing then I see no reason why we wont get the recall as well.

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Provide the link from the NHTSA that points to an investigation. Anything else is just fake news.

 

[MattAK]

Provide the link from the NHTSA that points to an investigation. Anything else is just fake news.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/TOYOTA/4RUNNER/4%2520DR/RWD%252FAWD#investigations

 

[T4R2014]

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/TOYOTA/4RUNNER/4%2520DR/RWD%252FAWD#investigations

Thanks.

Just had a read.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2018/INBC-DP18002-73038.pdf

"Our vehicle has only 76, 117 miles and, other than the corroded
undercarriage, is in perfect condition (mechanical, interior and exterior)"

Haha, perfect except for the undercarriage you forgot to wash. Matter of fact, this looks like every other rotted truck I've seen that spent life near the ocean launching a boat. Notice how a northeast vehicle tends to rust in specific problem areas, while this thing is rotted consistently all over. I bet this guy lives by the ocean judging by the background of the pics. I'm sure he won't disclose what he was using this thing for.

 

[flipflopnfly]

There is a difference between the frames. While the general design is the same, the recalled ones were made by Dana and were not undercoated properly. This caused them to rot out extremely prematurely, within a few years in many cases.

That being said, I do personally believe there is at least one major design flaw with the 4Runner frames, and it's the same flaw the Jeep TJ has; no drainage. A fully boxed frame will inevitably get crap inside; no design can avoid that, even if it has no extra holes, stuff finds its way in. Therefore, it needs a way out! The bottom of the frame rail has pretty much nothing in the way of drainage holes. I believe a few 2" or so diameter drainage holes (obviously would have to be determined by an engineer) placed correctly would have made a big difference. Not every fully boxed frame rots out, but ones that don't drain sure are likely to. Many of these 4Runners with issues are only 10 years old, and none more than 15 (unless you count the 3rd gens with the same problem, but it's unfortunately too many years too late now), which is a pretty short lifespan for an 1/8" frame in my opinion.

Good point. Yeah, my 2008 was very difficult to flush the frame clean. It was absolutely PACKED with Colorado silt. There is only tiny drain holes on the underside, I had to stuff my garden hose with a spray nozzle into the side openings and flush the silt out of the rear. Required hours, I left the spray nozzle in each side and had a couple beers before the water came out clean.

The front of the frame was more difficult to flush clean, no front exit, silt/water had to exit from the sides.

 

[MattAK]

Thanks.

Just had a read.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2018/INBC-DP18002-73038.pdf

"Our vehicle has only 76, 117 miles and, other than the corroded
undercarriage, is in perfect condition (mechanical, interior and exterior)"

Haha, perfect except for the undercarriage you forgot to wash. Matter of fact, this looks like every other rotted truck I've seen that spent life near the ocean launching a boat. Notice how a northeast vehicle tends to rust in specific problem areas, while this thing is rotted consistently all over. I bet this guy lives by the ocean judging by the background of the pics. I'm sure he won't disclose what he was using this thing for.

I was bored at work, figured I'd see if I could find it.

One of the reasons I bought my '08 a couple of months ago even though it has 198,000 miles is the frame looks almost new. Lived it's whole life in Utah and the rustiest part on it is some minor rust on the trailer hitch.

Edit: Read that .pdf. Did he leave it parked in a field for 11 months out of the year or something?

 

[T4R2014]

I was bored at work, figured I'd see if I could find it.

One of the reasons I bought my '08 a couple of months ago even though it has 198,000 miles is the frame looks almost new. Lived it's whole life in Utah and the rustiest part on it is some minor rust on the trailer hitch.

Edit: Read that .pdf. Did he leave it parked in a field for 11 months out of the year or something?

Yeah, this case looks like BS. Doesn’t look like a northern vehicle rust to me. Looks more like it’s from the gulf or Carolinas. He’s just trying to leverage the common northern vehicle rot issue into his advantage to get some money or a new frame.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Just the frame getting rusty is one thing...

The entire underside, sway bars, skid plates, tow hitch, lower links, rear diff, shocks, tie rods getting rust on them as well only means that the whole vehicle was neglected.

 

[mwebster22]

Good point. Yeah, my 2008 was very difficult to flush the frame clean. It was absolutely PACKED with Colorado silt. There is only tiny drain holes on the underside, I had to stuff my garden hose with a spray nozzle into the side openings and flush the silt out of the rear. Required hours, I left the spray nozzle in each side and had a couple beers before the water came out clean.

The front of the frame was more difficult to flush clean, no front exit, silt/water had to exit from the sides.

Do they use salt in Colorado, Denver specifically? My daughter is going to move there after graduation with a pristine, Houston all its life, 2006 4Runner sport. We both hope/plan for this to be her daily driver for another 10 years. Wondering if we should be concerned or take some preventive action...

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Do they use salt in Colorado, Denver specifically? My daughter is going to move there after graduation with a pristine, Houston all its life, 2006 4Runner sport. We both hope/plan for this to be her daily driver for another 10 years. Wondering if we should be concerned or take some preventive action...

Even if they don't use salt, it'll rust, just not necessarily as fast. And if sometime during that time period they (God forbid) start using brine...good luck. You'd probably be best off taking preventative measures anyways, I have heard tons of really great things about Fluid Film.

 

[mwebster22]

Even if they don't use salt, it'll rust, just not necessarily as fast. And if sometime during that time period they (God forbid) start using brine...good luck. You'd probably be best off taking preventative measures anyways, I have heard tons of really great things about Fluid Film.

Is this a DIY product? Doesn't seem like it would be a lot of fun crawling underneath and spraying this stuff all over, including on me and the garage floor. And how would it get into the frame if it doesn't have access points to spray into?

 

[flipflopnfly]

Do they use salt in Colorado, Denver specifically? My daughter is going to move there after graduation with a pristine, Houston all its life, 2006 4Runner sport. We both hope/plan for this to be her daily driver for another 10 years. Wondering if we should be concerned or take some preventive action...

Salt and Magnesium Chloride and gravel. Don't worry, vehicles don't rust in Denver or Colorado as a whole. Car washes are rarely closed for more than a week due to below freezing weather so one is able to spray off accumulated grime, put the wand on the underside, wheelwells, blast the skid plate.

The 2008 was a CO vehicle all its life when I bought it and even though the frame was packed with Western Slope silt, it wasn't rusted at all. The thing is the air is perpetually dry here year round, it's a semi-arid climate. Dry climate means even with accumulated dirt it doesn't STAY damp.

The gravel blasts the paint pretty good, like on the rear axle. Just keep it clean.

 

[flipflopnfly]

Even if they don't use salt, it'll rust, just not necessarily as fast. And if sometime during that time period they (God forbid) start using brine...good luck. You'd probably be best off taking preventative measures anyways, I have heard tons of really great things about Fluid Film.

Really only thorough washing is needed in CO. There will be surface rust where paint is gone on the frame and undercarriage, but not the godawful things I've seen from east of the Missouri River. The air is just too dry here, it sucks the moisture out of accumulated dirt like I found in the 2008's frame when I bought it.

Salt itself is minimally corrosive unless it is WET. A dry environment like CO, vehicles are constantly DRY, unlike a humid environment.

Anyway, I still haven't figured out how the 2008's frame got packed like it was. It literally was packed with silt to the side holes on the frame. That's how I discovered it, ripping the XREAS off to put a BOSS suspension on it. Frame wasn't rusted though.