Tacoma Buy Back - Will it affect 4Runners too?

boston_kevin

boston_kevin

New member
Toyota recently announced this buyback (first I have ever heard of this) and my local Toyota dealer was one of the first to start the process. I wonder, will this expand to the 4Runners of the same generation due to shared frame components?

You may be the owner of a 1995 through 2000 model year Toyota Tacoma that may be eligible for a unique buy-back program from Toyota due to corrosion perforation of the frame in some vehicles. Acton Toyota has established a TOLL-FREE 800 number and a Customer Relations Specialist to assist Tacoma owners affected by this customer support program. In the event that your vehicle is affected, you may be eligible to receive the following benefits from Toyota Motor Sales in the event of repurchase:

*Toyota will repurchase your Tacoma at 1.5 times the Kelley Blue Book
Suggested Retail Value (excellent condition)
* Toyota is offering each customer a complimentary loaner vehicle
while you are considering alternative transportation options
* Toyota is offering a $1,000 owner loyalty rebate for customers who
purchase a replacement Tacoma or Tundra
* Toyota is offering a $500 owner loyalty rebate for customers who
purchase a replacement of any other new Toyota (Scion excluded) or Toyota Certified Used Vehicle
* Any applicable rebates, purchase incentives, and special financing
offers in effect would be in addition to the special offers listed above


Tacoma owners should call our TOLL-FREE number, 800-229-6023, and speak with Mark Bentley (Fitchburg dealership) to schedule an inspection of their 1995 - 2000 MY Tacoma to determine if it qualifies for repurchase under this program. In the event that your vehicle has perforation of the frame due to rust corrosion, we will assist you with a Toyota repurchase. Under the terms of this customer support program, Toyota will also be offering a warranty extension for a period of 15 years with no mileage limitation from the vehicle's in-service date.

Here is a link from a Lexus site:
http://blog.lexus.com/2008/03/living-up-to-ou.html#more
 
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Rust perforation of the FRAME? Thats obscene. That means those vehicles are a structural deathtrap. I would hope we don't have any reports of 4runners with rusting that bad.
 
It should not. Tacomas and 4Runners have different frames, C-channel on Tacomas, fully boxed on the 4Runner.

Truth be told, all Tacoma frames lack rust proofing. My less than three year old Tacoma undercarriage is in worst shape than my 15 year old hoopty.
 
Uneek said:
It should not. Tacomas and 4Runners have different frames, C-channel on Tacomas, fully boxed on the 4Runner.

Truth be told, all Tacoma frames lack rust proofing. My less than three year old Tacoma undercarriage is in worst shape than my 15 year old hoopty.
Click to expand...

Although the frame construction is a bit different, i think that they are kissing cousins. The 4runner frame is the boxed version of the Tacoma's. I think that the overall design is the same. I would imagine that the Tacoma frame would have the same "goodies" as the 4runner's in terms of rustproofing and whatnots.

Remember though, this rust issue is on the older generation Tacoma...so, it doesn't apply to the current Tacoma nor the 4th gen 4runner.
 
No, I don't think this issue will effect 4Runners. The frames on 3rd gen runners seem very well protected and I have never seen one completely rusted out. I had a 97 Tacoma for about 5 years, I bought it new, and I was pretty anal about cleaning it. I would hose down and wash the frame almost every week or 2 when I washed the truck, and I do this in the winter as well. After 5 years my frame was covered in surface rust, anywhere I touched up just rusted again. I can't imagine what it would look like now. My 00 Runner I aslo had for 5 years never developed the kind of rust the Tacoma did, same care pretty much. I work at a dealership and they got a Tacoma in, I was shocked, the frame had rotted and broken in half near the back bumper, so the whole bumper was hanging. Many places where things mount on the frame were just gone and the bolts or connectors were also just hanging. I'll try to get a picture when I go in Sunday evening assuming its still there.
 
One other thing I forgot to mention... the 4Runner's frame probably hold up better to rust than the Tacoma's probably due to it needing to sail across the Pacific.
 
At least in 1999 and 2000, the Taco frame is boxed. I would guess that the root cause of the issue seems to be that there are lots of holes for water to get into the frame, but hardly any for it to get out. Lock some salty water in there for a long time, and it rusts out.

There are a couple pf pics here which are an extreme example:
http://www.toyotanation.com/photos/showgallery.php?cat=1122

I think Uneek hit it right on the head. The Taco is made in California, but the 4Runner has to make it across the ocean without damage. Anything making that voyage has to be painted, sealed, or undercoated somehow.
 
Tacos frame were/are never fully boxed, even the current gen. They are boxed only at the front...C-frame in the rear.
 
rust

I have 07 4R Sports and it already starts showing rust spots on the frame. Will have it checked by the dealer. My Honda CRV is 4 years old and frame has no rust spots.

Check your 4runners!
 
Surface rust on parts underneath the vehicle is very normal. The problem on the Taco is that it's actually rusting through the frame. It doesn't hurt to keep an eye on the rust, but it isn't realistic to expect rust-free undercarriage parts.
 
Question, I know that the tacoma is built in Cal or Mexico, but are the components and frame also from local suppliers or shipped over from japan and assembled here?

If the frame is local, then 4Runners should not be affected.
 
File a complaint here @ NHTSA and get a campaign started.
Apparently Toyota is not going to step up and fix the issues unless they have enough complaints and the government feels that there are enough incidents to pose as a safety concern.

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

Look on the Left hand column and click "File a Complaint"

My best recommendation to determine if your frame is actually rusting from the inside out is to probe inside the access holes (both sides) that are found along the frame rail and/or run a compressed air line inside to see if any big chunks of rust come flying out.
My frame looked totally fine until I further examined it. Major scaling on the inside. Outside looks perfect. Well, it seems that the inside rotted so bad that my inner frame rail on the passenger side near the rear track arm had almost rotted through. It is soft like a sponge, but yet the factory Toyota frame paint held it together. Poking it with my finger and it all crumbled
 
I took advantage of this recall back in 2009. I had a 1999 Tacoma, it had 100,000 miles on it. They gace me 150% of Kelly BB in excellent condition. I think I got like $13,000 for the 1999 in 2009. I also got $1000 off if I bought a new Toyota. I put a 2008 Tacoma in my garage, 5 speed manual, standard cab for $3500. It's a great deal. They also let you take anything off the vehicle you wanted because they are going to be crushed. It just has to be drivable into the dealer. Best regards, Doug
 
Toyota is now doing complete frame swaps. Frame swaps include all fuel and brake lines as well as any clips that attaches to the frame. My friend who works @ a Toyota dealership says the frames are stacked and come with a very extensive hardware kit. Buy backs proved to be too costly.
 
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