Mark_BC
Senior Member
I was just at the pic n pull today and the guy told me to go look underneath the 4th gen they got in. Completely rusted out. Must be from the rust belt.
Rust issue
- Thread starter Texas_4Runner
- Start date
I was just at the pic n pull today and the guy told me to go look underneath the 4th gen they got in. Completely rusted out. Must be from the rust belt.
theriddler
New member
Wow that amazes me. Does Toyota get their 4runner frames from Dana? The same Dana that provided all the frames for the rusty Tacomas? 4runners are made in Japan, wasn't sure if they got a Dana frame too or not.
I guess I'll be rustproofing our 06 4runner sport this fall, I just can't pay that much for a vehicle and not take care of it so it'll get a coat of fluid film inside the frame and anywhere else i can get it
I guess I'll be rustproofing our 06 4runner sport this fall, I just can't pay that much for a vehicle and not take care of it so it'll get a coat of fluid film inside the frame and anywhere else i can get it
2ndhandyotaman
Member
I believe that I misspoke when I said that DANA Corp made the 4runner frames, they made the Taco frames. The 'Runner frames were made in Japan. I was using the Jeep chassis as an example of frames that rot away in a similar way and somehow got my thoughts crossed up between Tacos and 'Runners.
tvpierce
New member
True the Taco frames are (or were... not sure what the current status is) made by Dana. But it's the same crappy disign under the 4Runner... Toyota just didn't take responsibility for the frames they built -- but were/are happy to throw their supplier (Dana) under the bus.
This started with trucks that were made in the mid '90s. 20 years later, Toyota still can't seem to get it right. Here's a link to a 2012 Taco on CL in my area:
https://maine.craigslist.org/ctd/d/toyota-tacoma-crew-cab-4x4/6643496916.html
(clipped from the ad, because it won't be listed forever) "This A 2012 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4.0L V6 4x4 With 134k (2) Owner Miles, New Frame Under Toyota Factory Recal, Automatic, Newer Body Style, White Exterior With Gray Cloth Interior, 4.0 Liter V6 Engine, Bluetooth, Steering Wheel Controls, Ice Cold Air Conditioning, CD Player, AM/FM Radio, Traction Control, ABS Brakes, Bedliner, Tow Package, Power Windows, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, USB/AUX Imput, Seating For 5 People, Back Up Camera, Very Nice Clean AWD Truck. Comes Certified New Hampshire Safety Inspected And A 20 Day Plates And Dealer Warranty!!!!"
Are you kidding me? A 6 year old truck has had it's frame replaced? And again, this isn't a surprise to Toyota... they've been dealing with it for 20 years. I've been a loyal Toyota customer for more than 25 years. Great cars, great engines, great drive trains. But I'm pretty sure my current 3rd Gen 4Runner will be my last Toyota truck.
Mark_BC
Senior Member
Yeah, something like that... I'll take photos when I go back.
Here’s a post from another forum that deals exclusively with the 1st gen Tacoma frame issue:
Toyota Extends Rust Coverage To 15 Years
And a paragraph or two of my perspective on the deal. I copied this from a thread right here several years ago. This is not an issue.
Here's the poop on the Tacoma/4runner difference.
I also had a 98 Tacoma TRD that I purchased in Bozeman, MT in 2007. The frame was rust free. I live in SE WI where road salt is over-applied in an effort to compensate for poor drivers. After being involved in a rear-end/billiard ball/front-end collision on I-43 downtown Milwaukee last winter, I had my frame inspected prior to repair. The truck failed, and I also was compensated at 150% book value by Toyota.
Apparently, the final assembly for 1st generation Tacoma trucks was done in Fremont, CA. The frames were manufactured in Mexico by a subsidiary of the Dana Corp. There were steps skipped in the production that covered the corrosion protection of the metal. Toyota won a huge lawsuit with Dana a couple of years back relating to this quality error. As generous as Toyota appears with the buyback campaigns that followed, the money came out of Dana Corp's pocket (not that it shouldn't; They screwed up.).
The 3rd gen 4runners were assembled in Japan, and the necessary rustproofing was applied to the frames. Rust can still compromise the frames over time on our T4Rs, but it does not progress nearly so fast as the same vintage Tacoma trucks. My Tacoma went from clean to rusted through in four years!
Toyota Extends Rust Coverage To 15 Years
And a paragraph or two of my perspective on the deal. I copied this from a thread right here several years ago. This is not an issue.
Here's the poop on the Tacoma/4runner difference.
I also had a 98 Tacoma TRD that I purchased in Bozeman, MT in 2007. The frame was rust free. I live in SE WI where road salt is over-applied in an effort to compensate for poor drivers. After being involved in a rear-end/billiard ball/front-end collision on I-43 downtown Milwaukee last winter, I had my frame inspected prior to repair. The truck failed, and I also was compensated at 150% book value by Toyota.
Apparently, the final assembly for 1st generation Tacoma trucks was done in Fremont, CA. The frames were manufactured in Mexico by a subsidiary of the Dana Corp. There were steps skipped in the production that covered the corrosion protection of the metal. Toyota won a huge lawsuit with Dana a couple of years back relating to this quality error. As generous as Toyota appears with the buyback campaigns that followed, the money came out of Dana Corp's pocket (not that it shouldn't; They screwed up.).
The 3rd gen 4runners were assembled in Japan, and the necessary rustproofing was applied to the frames. Rust can still compromise the frames over time on our T4Rs, but it does not progress nearly so fast as the same vintage Tacoma trucks. My Tacoma went from clean to rusted through in four years!
NWFL4Runner
Member
I might re-read it if I were you...
To the OP, you can buy the LCA bracket and a fabricator could rebuild that section, but I would be shocked if that was the only problem with that frame.
The bracket is like $50 (51503-35020)
theriddler
New member
Seriously Toyota, how much more money would it take to coat the frame inside and out FROM the factory with something that actually works? Powdercoat, Fluid Film, etc...I don't care. Geez, you've only had 30 years to fix this problem
T4R2014
Elite Member
It’s a boxed frame. It will hold debris and moisture. That’s the nature of it. They do coat it from the inside, but that only goes so far. Powdercoat is pretty crap tbh. Not any better than a good paint job. Not sure how regulations would be in the case of A factory installed waxy undercoat, but I can’t recall a manufacturer doing this. It’s up to the owner.
thegipper
New member
My step dad has an 06 Tundra and got the frame recall notice. His truck spent essentially its entire life in AZ so it doesn't have a spot of rust on it. He moved back to WI and took it in to have the frame looked at. They said it looked great and did not need to be replaced but what they did do is apply a frame coating to it to prevent any future rust.
I don't know what they used but its a semi hard black waxy like film. Seems to be holding up very well as it's been a couple years now.
It would be nice if they just put that stuff on from the factory or at least make it an option for those of us who live in the rust belt. At the same time, you can just do it yourself or have a shop do the same thing.... Not everyone lives in a rust prone area so doing it to all trucks may be a waste of money.
I don't know what they used but its a semi hard black waxy like film. Seems to be holding up very well as it's been a couple years now.
It would be nice if they just put that stuff on from the factory or at least make it an option for those of us who live in the rust belt. At the same time, you can just do it yourself or have a shop do the same thing.... Not everyone lives in a rust prone area so doing it to all trucks may be a waste of money.