Gen 5 Frame Rust

[sport2004]

I'm switching out my beloved 2004 Sport for a Gen 5, year TBD. This may too general of a question, but have Gen 5 models been at all similar to the earlier models as far as frame rust?

Hit or miss, depending on year? Educated guess? Thanks a bunch...

 

[Humble Leader]

generally I'd say they are not bad. I have no science based evidence other than not seeing too many posts in the 5th gen section about frame rust. you see one pop up every now and then that is bad, but it's not the norm

I have a 2012, 175k miles about and it's been in Canada it's whole life. road salt and all. frame has surface rust but nothing of concern. never been undercoated. I have a 2010 rx 350 that has nothing but surface rust on the frame. never been undercoated. if you're looking at a used 4runner and the frame looks ok then I wouldn't worry about it. I find most of the rusty vehicles in canada come from quebec where heavy salt is used

 

[sport2004]

generally I'd say they are not bad. I have no science based evidence other than not seeing too many posts in the 5th gen section about frame rust. you see one pop up every now and then that is bad, but it's not the norm

I have a 2012, 175k miles about and it's been in Canada it's whole life. road salt and all. frame has surface rust but nothing of concern. never been undercoated. I have a 2010 rx 350 that has nothing but surface rust on the frame. never been undercoated. if you're looking at a used 4runner and the frame looks ok then I wouldn't worry about it. I find most of the rusty vehicles in canada come from quebec where heavy salt is used

Funny you should mention that, it's where my current 04 came from. The dealer recently said it's dangerously rusted, my local guy said he's seen worse.

 

[T4R2014]

If you don't undercoat your vehicle with some sort of oil based undercoat and perform routine winter undercarriage washes, it will eventually rust. 4Runners can usually survive about 20 years of neglecting that.

 

[Chalupa Captain]

In a 4runner social media group I follow people are constantly posting about rust and rust protection. Some of the vehicles are just shocking to see if they are from anywhere with winter weather.

I don't know if it is better or worse on Toyota's but man o man that rust can be bad if they salt the roads.

 

[Humble Leader]

Funny you should mention that, it's where my current 04 came from. The dealer recently said it's dangerously rusted, my local guy said he's seen worse.

it's low cost insurance to undercoat and a lot of people do. they also road salt fairly heavily where I live but not as bad as quebec

what I do though is fluid film inside the doors and liftgate through the weepholes and also on the outside bottom of door edges. I pull up the door sill trims and fluid film there too. common areas of rust on 4runners. fluid film doesnt dry or evaporate. the bottoms of my doors look like a dirty mess. the fluid film will attract dust which actually helps form another protective layer. no rust on the bottoms of my doors, inside or outside of my liftgate or on my door sills. it is a great product