How does Toyota do it?

[BlacknTan]

Was at my dealer's service department this AM. I know the Service Writer for a long time .. He told me to check out the shop, they were replacing a Taco chassis under warranty. I'm new to Toyota, so I was pretty surprised by this, and actually never heard of another car maker doing this. Pretty impressive!

Walking around the yard .. I can't stand sitting in a waiting room, I saw two rusted out chassis' waiting to be hauled away. I know the one being done was an '07, the other I don't know.

It brought up a couple of thoughts ... One, Toyota must value it's name and reputation quite highly to go to such an extent for a customer, and two, wouldn't it be much cheaper, considering it is about an all week job for one tech, at $110+ per hour shop time, for Toyota to offer a new vehicle at 20% off or so??

I'm pretty surprised by all this ..

 

[hearno]

warranty labor rate isn't the same as the COD labor rate. it's not all week job to swap the frame. I'm sure Toyota is paying somewhere between 20-30 hours. So... 30 hours times maybe $80 is $2400 plus the cost of the frame which is another few thousand with needed parts. Nowhere near as bad as it would be if you wanted to pay the dealer to do it.

 

[BlacknTan]

warranty labor rate isn't the same as the COD labor rate. it's not all week job to swap the frame. I'm sure Toyota is paying somewhere between 20-30 hours. So... 30 hours times maybe $80 is $2400 plus the cost of the frame which is another few thousand with needed parts. Nowhere near as bad as it would be if you wanted to pay the dealer to do it.

Well, they had all new brake and fuel lines laid out for it, and while I was watching, the Tech was opening and loosening the tie rod adjuster so it would turn. Seems like lots of little things go along with it .. And, the new chassis came with new leaf springs.

Anyway, my '02 Chevrolet rusted out from under me, and GM was offering nothing for a repair.

 

[NoDak]

yeah but you need to read about the back story on those frame replacements. go over in the Tacoma world forums and you will hear of some horror stories just to even get Toyota to acknowledge a frame replacement.

and those frame replacements don't work if you bought that Tacoma in the sun belt and took it up north.

they will say those vin's are not included in the replacement program since they were bought in texas, florida, etc.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

I think those of us who have bought a 4Runner here in northern Nevada (7% relative humidy, 5 inches of precip each year, absolutely no rust) should get a $5000 rebate on our trucks because we will never get to take advantage of any rust issues!

 

[Chsbrgr]

[MENTION=118209]Ron4RNevada[/MENTION], No rain or humidity here either...You're picture above really captures the feeling of stopping along the trail, leaving your door open, and STILL snapping a pic of being out in it.:cowboy:

 

[BlackWorksInc]

If I remember right, Dana is footing the bill for the physical frames since it was their screw up?

 

[NJshadow93]

Was just at my local dealer the other day to get some parts and overheard the service writers saying they're having X amount of frames coming in that week. Didn't hear for what model or year, but pretty interesting stuff.

 

[Dre's runner]

I didn't realize the new gen tacomas had the same rust issues as the older ones?(pre 2005). Although I had a 2002 for 10 years 250,000 miles living on the beach even did a pool route for a while and not so much as the bumper had even a speck of rust. I guess that crap they put on the roads up north is a frame killer.

 

[Falonious]

Oh it's not only a frame killer...the crap eats anything metal. That's why my 2000 runner stays inside all winter. And the runoff is wonderful as well.
Never understood buying a new rig, of any make, for a ton of coin then destroying it by driving in winter here. Like flushing you're hard earned dollars down the toilet. Not that buying new makes much sense anyway but here....no way.
Always have well used vehicles for the winter for the wife and I. Both her 04 Civic and the runner stay rust free no matter what.

 

[GHARP57]

Yes Dana is fronting the bill since they skipped a step in the frame making process. On average it is ~$7400 in parts (that is sale price, gross profit is about 40% of that). It is also about ~40 hours of labor for the techs. I know I work the parts counter here at the Toyota Dealership. After too long Toyota may start buying the vehicles back but right now 2005-2009 tacomas hold their value so well it is worth it for Toyota the repair instead of buy them.