Some great news for third gen 4runner owners and frame rust!

[Yotacollector]

I have been fighting Toyota for years on the frame rot on my 2000 4runner. Lost a 97 due to extreme perforation on the driver side inside rail by the gas tank. Also my wife's sequoia's frame was just replaced and my tacoma was bought back from Toyota. I know the defect in these frames especially in the states that use salt on the roads. Repeated oil sprays, rust inhibitors, undercoating, por15 only slows the process down. They rust from the inside out..

Now the good news. Toyota is replacing frames on the 1996-2002 4runners starting in February of next year. Just had a lengthy talk with my local toyota dealers general manager and the frames are being manufactured as of last week. I imagine, like the sequoia, new control arms and brake and fuel lines will also be replaced. Too early to have full details but he did confirm this at his quarterly meeting with the regional reps..

Although this took a lot of time, I give full credit to Toyota for stepping up to the plate on this one.

 

[BFEATHER2008]

Awesome!!!!!

If this is true i can not wait because i know of a small hole in my frame right beside the gas tank. cant wait my frame will be replaced and everything else im sure too lol. cant wait.

 

[RedSled]

That is outstanding, Glad they stepped up.

 

[KSWAY]

They're gonna replace frames on all 96-02 4runners still on the road?

 

[RedSled]

They're gonna replace frames on all 96-02 4runners still on the road?

Probably have to be a rust bucket first, I do not think they will change out all.

 

[swampy_swimmer]

If not change, then at least clean and rustproof treat.... I hope.

 

[shootmymime]

Sick!!! I've got 2. But one is in great shape and the other is fair.

 

[RedSled]

Almost makes me want to go buy one that has the frame rusted out, But nice otherwise. Wonder how that works?

 

[chimpy]

op2:

 

[Yotacollector]

They're gonna replace frames on all 96-02 4runners still on the road?

More then likely only the rust belt states.

 

[Brilliant]

Replacing frames on 20 year old vehicles in the rust belt...

How do other vehicles fair? Are Ford Exploder frames lasting 20 years in the rust belt?

 

[Yotacollector]

Replacing frames on 20 year old vehicles in the rust belt...

How do other vehicles fair? Are Ford Exploder frames lasting 20 years in the rust belt?

No. Explorers are sitting in the junkyard due to engine, tranny or other failure. 90% of used Toyotas are still on the road..why?? Because they run forever. Toyota acknowledged a problem, realized people are still buying parts for 20yr old vehicles and are taking care of their customers. Look what happened with GM and their ignition switch which was a $0.51 part. A bad frame is a whole new ball game.

 

[MStudt]

Replacing frames on 20 year old vehicles in the rust belt...

How do other vehicles fair? Are Ford Exploder frames lasting 20 years in the rust belt?

I've got a 73 VW Bus from Fairbanks Alaska. Its frame is rust free and is almost 41 years old. They don't make them like they used to!

 

[T4R2014]

Replacing frames on 20 year old vehicles in the rust belt...

How do other vehicles fair? Are Ford Exploder frames lasting 20 years in the rust belt?

They get bad frame rust too. My friend's is covered in surface rust and I hear about the rear shackle mounts rusting through. The rockers in front of the rear wheel wells also collect a sh!tload of salt which leads to a giant gaping hole on the rocker. They all get that. I still see plenty around since they sold so well and because parts are everywhere.

I'd like to see proof from Toyota of this before I start believing some word of mouth claim. The managers at dealers rarely know anything. Most of them can't even remember what a 3rd Gen looks like.

 

[sesseryouli]

They don't make them like they used to!

 

[02SE]

I'd like to see proof from Toyota of this before I start believing some word of mouth claim.

This.

 

[Cree]

I have been fighting Toyota for years on the frame rot on my 2000 4runner. Lost a 97 due to extreme perforation on the driver side inside rail by the gas tank. Also my wife's sequoia's frame was just replaced and my tacoma was bought back from Toyota. I know the defect in these frames especially in the states that use salt on the roads. Repeated oil sprays, rust inhibitors, undercoating, por15 only slows the process down. They rust from the inside out..

Now the good news. Toyota is replacing frames on the 1996-2002 4runners starting in February of next year. Just had a lengthy talk with my local toyota dealers general manager and the frames are being manufactured as of last week. I imagine, like the sequoia, new control arms and brake and fuel lines will also be replaced. Too early to have full details but he did confirm this at his quarterly meeting with the regional reps..

Although this took a lot of time, I give full credit to Toyota for stepping up to the plate on this one.

I'm not saying you're lying, or that your local GM is either, but I won't be buying into this until I see something from Toyota in writing somewhere I can find it.

 

[JayRolla]

I feel the same way. If I dont see anything from toyota I wont believe it. I see this in the phone, pc, laptop. tablet industry all the time. Word of mouth is 90% of the time wrong.

 

[NHRunner]

If this is true, then I best put off getting my 18" long frame opening patched and welded.

Do we have any other way of confirming this?

This is a huge deal if this is true.

Craiglist will turn into ground zero for guys buying up rustbuckets for little money and selling them back to Toyota.
But more impressive is that (if my information is correct...) Toyota made our frames in Japan. That means Toyota will directly lose money for our frames, as opposed to when they sued Dana Corp to recoup there losses, given that Dana made the Tacoma frame.

 

[hearno]

This is a huge deal if this is true. Craiglist will turn into ground zero for guys buying up rustbuckets for little money and selling them back to Toyota.

That's the first place my mind went also. Once this is confirmed, I'd buy a few and try to flip them.