Get your 4Runner frame inspected at a dealership

[frankramo777]

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/toyota-4runner-frame-rust.shtml

Upon dealer inspection, my 04 with 127k on it and in otherwise awesome shape has been deemed unsafe, and not fit for use under any condition without frame replacement.

Take your 4Runner in for a frame inspection at the local dealer, then submit the findings to the national highway traffic safety administration.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleCom

Also contact the law firm that sued Toyota to fix the rotten frames. we all know that the 4Runner rots the same way the Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia trucks are rotting.. Why the hell should we be left swinging in the wind and having to junk our trucks??

https://bholaw.com/contact.html

 

[CanuckinTX]

Hello Frank,

I just bought a 4runner in June with only 65K miles and it has no rust problems. What should those of us do who do not have rust yet?

Thanks Sam

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/toyota-4runner-frame-rust.shtml

Upon dealer inspection, my 04 with 127k on it and in otherwise awesome shape has been deemed unsafe, and not fit for use under any condition without frame replacement.

Take your 4Runner in for a frame inspection at the local dealer, then submit the findings to the national highway traffic safety administration.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleCom

Also contact the law firm that sued Toyota to fix the rotten frames. we all know that the 4Runner rots the same way the Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia trucks are rotting.. Why the hell should we be left swinging in the wind and having to junk our trucks??

https://bholaw.com/contact.html

 

[flsurf]

Hello Frank,

I just bought a 4runner in June with only 65K miles and it has no rust problems. What should those of us do who do not have rust yet?

Thanks Sam

Same. Also is it just for the 04-06 years?

 

[gookies]

Hello Frank,

I just bought a 4runner in June with only 65K miles and it has no rust problems. What should those of us do who do not have rust yet?

Thanks Sam

It's a problem in the rust belt, since you live in TX, I'm sure the frame will outlast the engine. If you wanted to do some preventative maintenance, just spray fluid film.

 

[wc11]

I live in the rust belt.
I'm convinced local government is trying to turn our lakes into saltwater bodies of water. They alternate between crystal salt and salt brine over the winter.

Having said that, Krown spray every fall and this is what my '06 looks like right now.

 

[Terminator03]

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/toyota-4runner-frame-rust.shtml

Upon dealer inspection, my 04 with 127k on it and in otherwise awesome shape has been deemed unsafe, and not fit for use under any condition without frame replacement.

Take your 4Runner in for a frame inspection at the local dealer, then submit the findings to the national highway traffic safety administration.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleCom

Also contact the law firm that sued Toyota to fix the rotten frames. we all know that the 4Runner rots the same way the Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia trucks are rotting.. Why the hell should we be left swinging in the wind and having to junk our trucks??

https://bholaw.com/contact.html

That’s all well and fine to say, but some of us have way too much invested in our trucks and can’t afford to have it “deemed unsafe” and taken off the road. I have a couple of spots I plan to cut out and weld in plates, but for the most part it’s still fine. I sandblasted, primed and painted it, and will be using Eastwood internal coating on the inside to try to keep it preserved as long as I can. I’d love to get a new frame under a class action, but can’t afford to have my truck taken off the road for what could be years while this gets settled.

 

[Gatafly]

That’s all well and fine to say, but some of us have way too much invested in our trucks and can’t afford to have it “deemed unsafe” and taken off the road. I have a couple of spots I plan to cut out and weld in plates, but for the most part it’s still fine. I sandblasted, primed and painted it, and will be using Eastwood internal coating on the inside to try to keep it preserved as long as I can. I’d love to get a new frame under a class action, but can’t afford to have my truck taken off the road for what could be years while this gets settled.

Agreed. I'm in te same position and by the time this would get figured out it may be too late.

 

[07V8]

Or you could just look underneath it yourself every now and then and wash it in the winter.....

 

[4RunnerIdiot]

Or you could just look underneath it yourself every now and then and wash it in the winter.....

That's kind of missing the point. The point of having the condition of the rust inspected by a certified tech is to add evidence to the case that 4Runners should have been included in the previous class action suit which the NHTSA is currently looking into. "My frame looks rusty" doesn't really say as much as "A certified Toyota tech has deemed my frame unsafe due to rust"

 

[07V8]

That's kind of missing the point. The point of having the condition of the rust inspected by a certified tech is to add evidence to the case that 4Runners should have been included in the previous class action suit which the NHTSA is currently looking into. "My frame looks rusty" doesn't really say as much as "A certified Toyota tech has deemed my frame unsafe due to rust"

Not really....

The impression that I got from the OP was that he was “surprised”.

I fully support having compromised frame damage documented; however, do your due diligence as a buyer or keep an eye on things as a long term owner.

Rusting to the point of requiring replacements does not happen over night or in betweeen oil changes.....

 

[Jdevtac]

Not really....

The impression that I got from the OP was that he was “surprised”.

I fully support having compromised frame damage documented; however, do your due diligence as a buyer or keep an eye on things as a long term owner.

Rusting to the point of requiring replacements does not happen over night or in betweeen oil changes.....

You are right. The best treatment for rust is diligent prevention.

But I’m sure there are some inherent trouble spots in the frames that like to rust regardless of treatment unless you go above and beyond. Sort of like Tacoma’s. They have a problem area right adjacent to the cats. There were a lot of people that claimed they had done due diligence but still ended up with a faulty spot in those areas regardless of krown or fluid film, etc. The other issue is they have sandwiched C-channel type frame so you need to make sure you get good application if rust preventer like fluid film, etc to protect between the layers otherwise they can delaminate.

Seems like for 4runners, even extending to 3rd gens, the rear LCA mount adjacent to the muffler is a problem spot that likes to collect water.

I just bought a 4th gen that has lived it’s entire life in Virginia and like a dumbass didn’t go over it fine tooth with a screwdriver and hammer before I bought it and that is the problem I am dealing with. Of course I plan to get it fixed and move on and treat it a lot better than apparently the last owner did, undercarriage wise.

I wouldn’t mind if there was a frame recall though lol. It’s like with Tacoma’s. Not everyone has the problem, but if the ones that do speak up they get new frames and the benefit then extends to the people down the road who may develop the same issue. It’s happening on 2nd gen Tacos right now.

 

[radlynx]

i have a rust problem too especially under the radiator crossbar. had to remove all the rust and painted it to avoid further rusting when i replaced the front shocks, spring, lca, balljoint. i've never brought it to toyota since new cause i was worried if they touch it, new problem would surface. so far, the only part i replaced is the battery, radiator and alternator and some maintenance items. i have the 4l v6, 2005. now, i have some leak for the front timing cover, i dont get a puddle just a sweaty area.

i might schedule to repair it next summer. thank goodness, i am passing the annual inspection.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[kingofthehill]

Does anyone have a rust problem on vehicles that spent majority of their life outside of the rustbelt?

 

[cloud]

Does anyone have a rust problem on vehicles that spent majority of their life outside of the rustbelt?

No, but that's not specific to Toyota.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[Gatafly]

Not really....

The impression that I got from the OP was that he was “surprised”.

I fully support having compromised frame damage documented; however, do your due diligence as a buyer or keep an eye on things as a long term owner.

Rusting to the point of requiring replacements does not happen over night or in betweeen oil changes.....

There are specific problem areas and they rust from the inside out. I have owned mine for 7 years. Kept it washed and never let salt sit on it too long. I did the underside with POR15 5 years ago and after that started using fluid film for a couple years. Went to do a little surface rust cleaning then rust converter and paint. Scraped a bit of rust in a known problem area and ended up with a large hole in the frame. I have taken care of my 4runner better than many and there is no stopping it. Not sure if the cost of repairs is going to be worth it or not. Waiting for quote then have to decide to fix or just drive until it becomes dangerous.

 

[frankramo777]

There are specific problem areas and they rust from the inside out. I have owned mine for 7 years. Kept it washed and never let salt sit on it too long. I did the underside with POR15 5 years ago and after that started using fluid film for a couple years. Went to do a little surface rust cleaning then rust converter and paint. Scraped a bit of rust in a known problem area and ended up with a large hole in the frame. I have taken care of my 4runner better than many and there is no stopping it. Not sure if the cost of repairs is going to be worth it or not. Waiting for quote then have to decide to fix or just drive until it becomes dangerous.

why not make an appointment w/ a dealer? they will inspect and document the frame damage. Point being, to help get us 4Runner owners the service afforded to the other Toyota truck model owners. Im fairly certain the legal dept at Toyota wants us to just go away. Toyota settled for 3.4 BILLION in funding to replace frames. With the bodies off you couldn't tell a 4Runner from a Tundra, from a Sequoia. The trucks are constructed in the same way, and are failing in the same way, why are we being excluded?? It annoys the crap out of me to know that because i drive a 4runner and not a Tundra, Sequoia or Taco, my truck is some how less important, and will be left to rot, it's total BS. They are in damage control mode, knowing that the 4Runners should be included in the frame replacement program..

 

[Bluesky 07]

There are specific problem areas and they rust from the inside out. I have owned mine for 7 years. Kept it washed and never let salt sit on it too long. I did the underside with POR15 5 years ago and after that started using fluid film for a couple years. Went to do a little surface rust cleaning then rust converter and paint. Scraped a bit of rust in a known problem area and ended up with a large hole in the frame. I have taken care of my 4runner better than many and there is no stopping it. Not sure if the cost of repairs is going to be worth it or not. Waiting for quote then have to decide to fix or just drive until it becomes dangerous.

Where exactly? My frame appears to be fine but maybe there are spots I should be checking more carefully?

 

[Gatafly]

Where exactly? My frame appears to be fine but maybe there are spots I should be checking more carefully?

Right in front of the bracket for the rear traction control bars.

 

[First 4Runner]

Hello Frank,

I just bought a 4runner in June with only 65K miles and it has no rust problems. What should those of us do who do not have rust yet?

Thanks Sam

Yup, no rust here either on my 2007, except add another 100K to your 65K. My underside is as clean as the body. :thumb:

But seriously, a 14 year old car in CT? Is the OP really expecting some sort of resolution? Is it still under some kind of rust warranty after so long that I'm not aware of?

 

[First 4Runner]

I live in the rust belt.
I'm convinced local government is trying to turn our lakes into saltwater bodies of water. They alternate between crystal salt and salt brine over the winter.

Having said that, Krown spray every fall and this is what my '06 looks like right now.

Awesome maintenance. :thumb:Yup, People who live in the rust belt must do more maintenance. I don't believe a car manufacturer is responsible. If it were a 5 year old vehicle, then yes. But a 14 year old car? No.