Possible future frame service campaign

[Taylor20]

I have received some info that may be useful to you 4th gen'rs. Toyota is currently asking for product reports on frame condition for the 4th gen. If you have a hole, you may want to visit a dealer and have them inspect the frames.

Just a little FYI to you from a little birdie that flew by :hiding::spy::bolt:

 

[BlueHenT4R]

They're coming out with a campaign on a platform that is six to thirteen years old?

I thought the consensus was that our frames were pretty darn robust?

 

[TechWrench]

They're coming out with a campaign on a platform that is six to thirteen years old?

I thought the consensus was that our frames were pretty darn robust?

You can't prove that by my frames. I have two '03's, an SR5 with 125k which I bought new, and a Limited with 265k which I am the 2nd owner. The SR5 has serious frame damage in the front. The aux crossmember, under the radiator, has just about dissolved. I checked with my dealer last year, and was told it is out of warranty and no frame recalls on the horizon. I purchased a new crossmember, but am having trouble finding a welder that will cut the old one out and weld the new one in place. There is enough rust damage to the main beams where the crossmember attaches, that the shops I have spoken to are not willing to try it. I have one more weld shop to try. The only other suggestion I have been given is to find a used front half of a frame and have the two front pieces of the rails transplanted to my frame. I know I live in the Northeast, and have to deal with road salt in the winters. I did have the entire underbody rust proofed/coated when it was new, and apparently that was a waste of money. I try to hose down the underside as much as I can during the winters, but this frame rust is not acceptable. My wife has an '02 BMW X5 with 148k and it has no where near the amount of rust damage to the underside that either Toyota has.

I have lived in the Northeast for over 35 years, and owned a lot of different vehicles both 'foreign' and domestic, and none of them have had the frame rust issues I see with these Toyotas. It's simple, these frames were not designed properly for the northern climates.

 

[BlueHenT4R]

Well in that case I hope they do have a campaign to get you fixed up. I wasn't aware of the issue and I had read people speaking highly of the frame on here.

I'm pretty fortunate that my untreated 10 year old frame is pretty much rust free. We get less snow than you do in NY, but a winter doesn't go by where we don't have salt brine laid down for at least a few weeks. I run mine through an automatic car wash that has an underbody wash "winter wash special" every few days when the roads are still salty.

 

[strathcona]

I'd like to believe you're right being from a corrosive area and washing my vehicle regularly.

Forgive me if I'm skeptical when the drive shaft thunk, and caliper issues were not addressed. The dashboard id just being taken case of now over 10 years from the start.

Don't get me wrong, I love my T4R, However, I would appreciate problems being addressed in a more timely manner.

 

[M1911]

They're coming out with a campaign on a platform that is six to thirteen years old?

I thought the consensus was that our frames were pretty darn robust?

The anti-rust coating on the frame is anything but robust. My frame rusted to oblivion and Toyota replaced it. My cost was $1000 for the frame and about $1000 for worn suspension components. Toyota picked up the rest.

 

[inscarguy]

I was at my local dealer a few months ago for work related stuff. they do about 64 frames a week on tundras and tacomas. some sequoias still come in from time to time. they specifically built a booth in the service dept for frames that are not rotted. they will sand, treat and redo the frames that have surface rust on them.

from what I was told by the shop forman and mgr is once the current work is done on the suv's and pickups the 4runners most likely will be next. they have had issues with the frames and we could see a recall or contact from Toyota within the next year. also Toyota will replace any part that will not come off the old frame easily, at no charge.

 

[M1911]

also Toyota will replace any part that will not come off the old frame easily, at no charge.

Not quite. The frame comes with a kit of parts -- brake lines, etc. Those are replaced for free.

But if you have rusted suspension parts that they can't free from the frame, you end up paying for that. Expect to be out $1000 or more, even if Toyota is paying for the "entire" frame replacement. That said, I still think it is a good deal.

 

[fourwd1]

They're coming out with a campaign on a platform that is six to thirteen years old?

I thought the consensus was that our frames were pretty darn robust?

ROFLMAO

Really ?? M

Toyota = FRAME RUST since the 70's

 

[Velonici]

Not quite. The frame comes with a kit of parts -- brake lines, etc. Those are replaced for free.

But if you have rusted suspension parts that they can't free from the frame, you end up paying for that. Expect to be out $1000 or more, even if Toyota is paying for the "entire" frame replacement. That said, I still think it is a good deal.

That would be so nice. Im scared to work on to much under the truck because everything is rusted. I dont have any holes but the surface rust is bad all over.

 

[M1911]

That would be so nice. Im scared to work on to much under the truck because everything is rusted. I dont have any holes but the surface rust is bad all over.

You know the cross-member under the transmission -- it is a box section? Mine was a u-section -- the bottom plate was completely gone.

 

[inscarguy]

Not quite. The frame comes with a kit of parts -- brake lines, etc. Those are replaced for free.

But if you have rusted suspension parts that they can't free from the frame, you end up paying for that. Expect to be out $1000 or more, even if Toyota is paying for the "entire" frame replacement. That said, I still think it is a good deal.

correct it does come with the lines etc. but according to the techs and the mgr. Toyota is picking up the tab on anything else like control arms, bushings etc. that are frozen due to the "inconvenience" to the customer. if the parts are worn and need replacing that is a different story.

 

[strathcona]

is there a TSB or letter that you guys could share because there is nothing up here in Canada so far.

In fact I never received notification about the dash board issue and am not sure if any other Canadians did either.

Dealers up here like to say that U.S. and Cdn vehicles are different, despite the fact that they are produced in the same plants. Plus your laws are stricter than ours WRT consumer protection.

 

[M1911]

correct it does come with the lines etc. but according to the techs and the mgr. Toyota is picking up the tab on anything else like control arms, bushings etc. that are frozen due to the "inconvenience" to the customer. if the parts are worn and need replacing that is a different story.

That has certainly not been Toyota's practice on their previous frame recalls.

 

[M1911]

is there a TSB or letter that you guys could share because there is nothing up here in Canada so far.

There is nothing so far. Toyota has been replacing a few 4th Gen 4Runner frames on a case by case basis, but they've probably been denying warranty coverage on more than they have replaced.

 

[eviele]

I had a 1980's toyota pickup that rusted everywhere - the bed, the frame, every emblem fell through the body, the torsion bar broke because it rusted through. The engine and transmission were sweet so it was tough to have to give up that truck.

My wife's 2001 RAV4 looks immaculate underneath and she does nothing to this car. The only trouble we had with rust was the engine cradle which rusted through (we found a used replacement) and some of the suspension components are frozen. It's amazing how clean it looks under there and she does nothing to take care of it.

My 2004 Tacoma was riddled with surface rust underneath, but the dealer cleaned it and undercoated it instead of replacing the frame. It looked pretty rough under there. Lots and lots of rust. So I traded it in for my 4runner.

My 2006 4th gen is also nearly immaculate as the previous owner garaged it. I've tried to maintain it by using Fluid Film before winter and washing the car as much as I can after a storm. Already though, despite my best efforts I can see a little rust poking through here and there.

I guess I take away a few things from my experience with Toyotas and New England salt and weather:
1. The cars are better than they were in terms of corrosion protection, but they still have a ways to go.
2. The ability to have a frame last with little care is possible as evidenced by my wife's RAV4.
3. I don't mind putting in effort to maintain my things, but it's frustrating that one car from the manufacturer - the oldest car mind you - is doing great in terms of corrosion and my 4Runner needs more attention. If I don't keep up with the Fluid Film regimen it feels like this 4runner will quickly start to rot away like my two Toyota pickups before.

 

[Ed_C]

Not quite. The frame comes with a kit of parts -- brake lines, etc. Those are replaced for free.

But if you have rusted suspension parts that they can't free from the frame, you end up paying for that. Expect to be out $1000 or more, even if Toyota is paying for the "entire" frame replacement. That said, I still think it is a good deal.

correct it does come with the lines etc. but according to the techs and the mgr. Toyota is picking up the tab on anything else like control arms, bushings etc. that are frozen due to the "inconvenience" to the customer. if the parts are worn and need replacing that is a different story.

Toyota replaced my 2000 Tundra's frame last month,the main cause for me to finally bring it in was a brake line or prop valve rotting out causing a major leak,all the lines etc. were part of the recall. Lower control arms were replaced without additional cost. They also replaced the spare tire carrier,but I believe that was part of a previous recall. I don't have the work order in front of me but they ended up eating about $6k in parts and labor.

They did try to sell me front swaybar end links (but free labor since they'll have it apart during the frame swap), rear shocks + labor, parking brake cables + labor, and un-seize the parking brake bell cranks (no parts,just labor). Only additional work I OK'd were the cables,bought aftemarket ones for more than half the price of OEM. The tech kinda had no choice but to un-seize the parking brake bell cranks to do the cables so they had to eat that too LOL. They were already done with the frame swap and body reinstallation when I tried supplying my own sway bar end links so labor was no longer free, I declined.

 

[iBison]

Toyota replaced my 2000 Tundra's frame last month,the main cause for me to finally bring it in was a brake line or prop valve rotting out causing a major leak,all the lines etc. were part of the recall. Lower control arms were replaced without additional cost. They also replaced the spare tire carrier,but I believe that was part of a previous recall. I don't have the work order in front of me but they ended up eating about $6k in parts and labor.

They did try to sell me front swaybar end links (but free labor since they'll have it apart during the frame swap), rear shocks + labor, parking brake cables + labor, and un-seize the parking brake bell cranks (no parts,just labor). Only additional work I OK'd were the cables,bought aftemarket ones for more than half the price of OEM. The tech kinda had no choice but to un-seize the parking brake bell cranks to do the cables so they had to eat that too LOL. They were already done with the frame swap and body reinstallation when I tried supplying my own sway bar end links so labor was no longer free, I declined.

A buddy of mine had his 05 Taco frame replaced. They said anything that had to come apart to replace the frame like shocks etc would cost him parts only. He needed a new steering rack, or so they told him.

 

[KyleD]

Jumping in on this bandwagon.

2004 SR5 V8, spent most of it's life in Quebec, then the past 4 years or so in Western Canada.


I can tell you that virtually every component underneath had some serious surface rust. Literally everything has been a pain to come off, and requires a sparkle wrench too often. While I am satisfied with my second hand purchase of the vehicle, I am beginning to consider selling it and purchasing a newer one to hopefully avoid future rust problems.

I think tomorrow I will be doing a thorough frame inspection, including the notorious "between the gas tank" area.

 

[JustRon]

I recently bought a 4R that the previous owner had undercoating sprayed, so the frame rot is not visible. But, my control arm ripped out of the frame (at 5 mph) and a mechanic said it was due to frame rot.
Problem is, I can't drive it anywhere.
I could get it towed to a dealership, but I'm worried they would say the undercoating excludes me from any help from Toyota.

(I started a thread about it here.)