Feds look at frame rust

[Big_Cuss]

80000 miles, 3 new AC Blower fans (400 parts and labor), 3 Driver Door Actuators (800$ parts and labor each), soon to be 3 on passenger side, issue with passenger seat chiming like someone isn't wearing belt (dealer wants over 1000$), navigation/Bluetooth/headunit never worked correctly (2500), new window motor in 3 windows (400 each). Driver side front sounds like im torturing a cat when using it, neither rear charger work. replaced wiper motor too. Various weather stripping has gotten sticky/tacky, cracked, rear 4 runner plaque cracked (300)
I bought the 4runner to be able to go through some areas where ground clearance is an issue, nothing special, no luxury features, just a purpose built truck. However at 5000miles, I did have these issues, and the dealer ignored them with BS excuses of no CEL=No fix, so all of this is on my dime. I have nexer had to replace so many parts or have so many gremlins constantly in a vehicle with so few features. I am in FL so AC is a must, Locking my doors is a must. Frame rust I don't care about really, but it is a shame considering I still have an S10 with 400k with less rust and have only had to replace the 3rd door handle and radiator) Aside from taking it to the dealer to find out whats wrong, Im replacing the parts with OEM. My MINI while running inconsistent didn't give me this kind of problem. If it were lux features, sure, but necessary funtions of the vehicle shouldn't have this kind of failure. I baby this thing compared to many on here. I like RWD and ground clearance and wanted internal storage vs a conventional truck bed.
Im happy for everyone who has a reliable runner, but mine is not. Being paid off and 80k on the ODO, its time to say get rid of it before something else comes along.

Gotta call total BS on this. Either you're a weirdo making up stuff, or you bought a slightly used but totally flood-damaged vehicle... or some previous owner or dealer used the truck in salt water or something similar.

I'd love to see some proof of all of the above maintenance. No way in Hell do I believe you that the dealer wouldn't cover any of it. 2015? Your warranty should have covered you until a year or two ago at worst, and if it had all those probs, I'd love to know why you didn't get the extended warranty.

I smell BS.

 

[geurillawarfare]

Japanese cars always did rust bad. VW was the first brand to galvanize both sides of the sheet metal on all panels even the roof. Keeping vehicles 10 years and expecting anything other than a old vehicle that's due to be replaced is crazy.

This thread isn't about the vehicle being worn out because you didn't take care of it for 10 years. It's about hazardous and inexcuseable frame rust. I have 40 year old Ford/GM in the family that have been driven in the midwest their entire life and though some have a few minor frame repairs where the trailer hitch bolts on (probably some galvanic effect here) the frames are largely intact, still very strong in the critical areas and not a hazard. Obviously the other parts of the vehicles are worn out and many have been replaced 10 times over and this is certainly to be expected even after 10 years for many parts. In all cases, these other vehicles are always repairable, no matter how bad the failure.

Toyota's frame rust issue renders the vehicle unsafe and unrepairable at a very low mileage (mine rotted through before 100k/8 years with very regular car washes). It is a serious design flaw in materials selection/treatment and they need to learn from this mistake.

 

[RPS99SHO]

Gotta call total BS on this. Either you're a weirdo making up stuff, or you bought a slightly used but totally flood-damaged vehicle... or some previous owner or dealer used the truck in salt water or something similar.

I'd love to see some proof of all of the above maintenance. No way in Hell do I believe you that the dealer wouldn't cover any of it. 2015? Your warranty should have covered you until a year or two ago at worst, and if it had all those probs, I'd love to know why you didn't get the extended warranty.

I smell BS.

Absolutely 100% a flood vehicle.

 

[Orc]

They are using different stuff on the roads now, many new chemicals that simple rock salt wont do much when compared to.

We have plenty of farm machinery from the 1940s and up and I see plenty of grain trucks that look new but they are driven on side roads and not daily. Many trucks including two of ours had no rust there years ago suddenly developed it together and being different brands it's odd.

This thread isn't about the vehicle being worn out because you didn't take care of it for 10 years. It's about hazardous and inexcuseable frame rust. I have 40 year old Ford/GM in the family that have been driven in the midwest their entire life and though some have a few minor frame repairs where the trailer hitch bolts on (probably some galvanic effect here) the frames are largely intact, still very strong in the critical areas and not a hazard. Obviously the other parts of the vehicles are worn out and many have been replaced 10 times over and this is certainly to be expected even after 10 years for many parts. In all cases, these other vehicles are always repairable, no matter how bad the failure.

Toyota's frame rust issue renders the vehicle unsafe and unrepairable at a very low mileage (mine rotted through before 100k/8 years with very regular car washes). It is a serious design flaw in materials selection/treatment and they need to learn from this mistake.

 

[pDubs]

You sound like the most unlucky 4runner owner I've ever heard of. I'm at 80k miles and don't have any of those problems, except for the Bluetooth. That can be glitchy, but I don't use it much so I don't notice.

I had glitchy bluetooth as well and did an update, fixed everything. Super simple to do, took like 10 minutes. Just need a usb stick.

Toyota Downloads

 

[lukeskywalker]

Absolutely 100% a flood vehicle.

I conquer. Totally hogwash.

 

[nglayton]

80000 miles, 3 new AC Blower fans (400 parts and labor), 3 Driver Door Actuators (800$ parts and labor each), soon to be 3 on passenger side, issue with passenger seat chiming like someone isn't wearing belt (dealer wants over 1000$), navigation/Bluetooth/headunit never worked correctly (2500), new window motor in 3 windows (400 each). Driver side front sounds like im torturing a cat when using it, neither rear charger work. replaced wiper motor too. Various weather stripping has gotten sticky/tacky, cracked, rear 4 runner plaque cracked (300)
I bought the 4runner to be able to go through some areas where ground clearance is an issue, nothing special, no luxury features, just a purpose built truck. However at 5000miles, I did have these issues, and the dealer ignored them with BS excuses of no CEL=No fix, so all of this is on my dime. I have nexer had to replace so many parts or have so many gremlins constantly in a vehicle with so few features. I am in FL so AC is a must, Locking my doors is a must. Frame rust I don't care about really, but it is a shame considering I still have an S10 with 400k with less rust and have only had to replace the 3rd door handle and radiator) Aside from taking it to the dealer to find out whats wrong, Im replacing the parts with OEM. My MINI while running inconsistent didn't give me this kind of problem. If it were lux features, sure, but necessary funtions of the vehicle shouldn't have this kind of failure. I baby this thing compared to many on here. I like RWD and ground clearance and wanted internal storage vs a conventional truck bed.
Im happy for everyone who has a reliable runner, but mine is not. Being paid off and 80k on the ODO, its time to say get rid of it before something else comes along.

Yikes!

I'm at 103k on my 5th Gen
181+K on my 3rd Gen
223+K on my 1st Gen before I sold it

I haven't had 'ANY' of those problems on either one of the three of them.........

Besides routine maint on wear items, like batteries, alternators, timing belts, plugs, wires and water pumps, etc. the most expensive fix is a rear window regulator on the 1st Gen and 3rd Gen.

NO frame rust either.

Nothing lasts for ever, but the T4R is pretty close.....

 

[dedonderosa]

Fluid film by far has always kept all my vehicles rust free, and will continue to use it

 

[wsgoat]

I conquer. Totally hogwash.

concur

 

[jhguth]

the door actuator part is believable if he keeps replacing it with the same OEM part with the same bad motors instead of spending $6 on a replacement motor

 

[MossJenks]

80000 miles, 3 new AC Blower fans (400 parts and labor), 3 Driver Door Actuators (800$ parts and labor each), soon to be 3 on passenger side, issue with passenger seat chiming like someone isn't wearing belt (dealer wants over 1000$), navigation/Bluetooth/headunit never worked correctly (2500), new window motor in 3 windows (400 each). Driver side front sounds like im torturing a cat when using it, neither rear charger work. replaced wiper motor too. Various weather stripping has gotten sticky/tacky, cracked, rear 4 runner plaque cracked (300)
I bought the 4runner to be able to go through some areas where ground clearance is an issue, nothing special, no luxury features, just a purpose built truck. However at 5000miles, I did have these issues, and the dealer ignored them with BS excuses of no CEL=No fix, so all of this is on my dime. I have nexer had to replace so many parts or have so many gremlins constantly in a vehicle with so few features. I am in FL so AC is a must, Locking my doors is a must. Frame rust I don't care about really, but it is a shame considering I still have an S10 with 400k with less rust and have only had to replace the 3rd door handle and radiator) Aside from taking it to the dealer to find out whats wrong, Im replacing the parts with OEM. My MINI while running inconsistent didn't give me this kind of problem. If it were lux features, sure, but necessary funtions of the vehicle shouldn't have this kind of failure. I baby this thing compared to many on here. I like RWD and ground clearance and wanted internal storage vs a conventional truck bed.
Im happy for everyone who has a reliable runner, but mine is not. Being paid off and 80k on the ODO, its time to say get rid of it before something else comes along.

This is interesting to me. A 4Runner with more problems than a randomly-selected pool of 5000 4Runners would likely have, a dealership that doesn't do warranty work and a customer who just keeps paying said dealer without taking it to someone else for another opinion.....hmmm...interesting.

 

[MossJenks]

Japanese cars always did rust bad. VW was the first brand to galvanize both sides of the sheet metal on all panels even the roof. Keeping vehicles 10 years and expecting anything other than a old vehicle that's due to be replaced is crazy.

You're right. My '92 is starting to get pretty rusty.

 

[GreenPM]

I had glitchy bluetooth as well and did an update, fixed everything. Super simple to do, took like 10 minutes. Just need a usb stick.

Toyota Downloads

I checked, but it said no current updates.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Installed lower links today and the panhard correction kit and noticed random spots of rust on the panhard area and on the sides of where the links connect to the frame. I live in the pnw and we don’t salt so it’s weird to see rust spots.

 

[Max4R808]

I have the same on my 2015. Same spot. Not enough reason for me to want to sell it though.

Can you share pics of your rust? I'd recommend checking out the front bumper support frame pieces too... Mine have totally rusted out due to the water absorbing foam pieces.... Well that and it rains a lot here.

I submitted a complaint to NHSTA for frontal impact safety concerns.

 

[LandCruiser]

Can you share pics of your rust? I'd recommend checking out the front bumper support frame pieces too... Mine have totally rusted out due to the water absorbing foam pieces.... Well that and it rains a lot here.

I submitted a complaint to NHSTA for frontal impact safety concerns.

It's the constant salt... everywhere. I've seen 2-3 year old cars in HI that look like 20 year old shitboxes from NY.

 

[Bikeric]

Here is an example of what a 1997 frame looks like after 306,000 miles on Oklahoma roads. Please consider making your next online 4Runner purchase from the South. I need my Blue Book value to go up :eyebrows:

 

[Max4R808]

It's the constant salt... everywhere. I've seen 2-3 year old cars in HI that look like 20 year old shitboxes from NY.

Yeah I see your point. However, everywhere else on my frame is near perfect I launch trailered boats about once a month at most and rinse the undercarriage after each time.

I recently installed a TRD front valence and that caused me to discover this excessive amount of rust.

 

[Jetboy]

Can you share pics of your rust? I'd recommend checking out the front bumper support frame pieces too... Mine have totally rusted out due to the water absorbing foam pieces.... Well that and it rains a lot here.

I submitted a complaint to NHSTA for frontal impact safety concerns.

Did you buy new? It has a lot of hallmarks of a crash that was rebuilt with aftermarket parts. You can see how bad the rust is on the parts that might have been replaced compared to the ones right next to them.

It does look really bad. Not sure if I'd go as a total loss yet, but you're getting close in my book.

 

[Max4R808]

Did you buy new? It has a lot of hallmarks of a crash that was rebuilt with aftermarket parts. You can see how bad the rust is on the parts that might have been replaced compared to the ones right next to them.

It does look really bad. Not sure if I'd go as a total loss yet, but you're getting close in my book.

No, its a 2014 I bought about a month ago... Didn't notice the rust until putting on the front valence. Have you taken a look at your 4runner lately?

I highly doubt the parts were replaced. The bumper support that looks mostly intact is pretty bad as well, I pushed a screw driver through it easily.

The bumper supports have the same foam covering the holes that would allow them to breath/drain.