To all with frame rot and rust through

T4Rscott

T4Rscott

New member
Hi all,

I recently called NHTSA and filed a complaint about the frame rot on my 99 T4R. I am posting this hoping that we can all take the time and call them. I talked to a nice lady named Jackie who stated that if there is a trend in their investigation, they could force Toyota to do something about it.

So let's call them and make them aware that we as Toyota owners, believe there is an issue here.

NHTSA number is 1-888-327-4236

Scott
 
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I is confused? You have a 12 year old vehicle, that lives in a northern (snowy) state.. and you are upset about rust???


Am I missing something?
 
I called, just because i would love 150% back haha. I would stay Toyota loyal and buy a newer 4runner! I promise!
 
DC runner said:
I is confused? You have a 12 year old vehicle, that lives in a northern (snowy) state.. and you are upset about rust???


Am I missing something?
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It's all about the whole toyota quality thing. I believe that the frame should be a lifetime part more so than a fuel filter.
 
This is like the 5th time someone has come in here and told us to file complaints with NHTSA.

DC has it right. It's not called the rust belt because of the beautiful brownish-red leaves we get every fall...

And seriously, it's 12 years old. Now don't get me wrong, I had to replace my whole rear axle assembly because of rust, I think it is BS that it rusts as much as it does, but recall worthy? Sorry no. I can't get there. The taco frames yes, these, no. I blame the salt on the road more than Toyota.
 
My current 4Runner is the only vehicle that I had trouble finding locally, so I expanded my search nationally. I stayed clear away from areas known for rust just from seeing examples of them in person. I'm curious as to how other 9-15 year old vehicles stand up out there. Are they better? Worse? The same?
 
I don't think that you can complain about a 1996-2002 vehicle, living in the rust belt, getting rusty. I really dont believe this is a "quality issue." Us owners have to take some responsibility upon ourselves. If the owner of the vehicle living in the "rust belt" was aware that corrosion enhancing materials/chemicals were used on the roads, then measures should have been taken to prevent rust from day 1. You could Fluid Film once a year and never have had an issue.

We can't just complain in order to get Toyota to buck up for all of us to get new frames, as nice as that would be. Every frame on the planet WILL rust eventually when exposed to certain variables in the environment. If its made of metal, it has the potential to corrode. I am sure there are people on the Camry, Corolla, Tercel, and Rav forums who also have rusted frames. If every 10+ year old Toyota on the road was given a new frame due to rust issues, Toyota would not exist today. They simply cannot afford to do so, and should not be expected to.

I live in Canada, we salt our roads in the winter excessively, and I take the proper precautions to try and keep my 4Runner as rust-free as possible.

Rant/
 
So... Instead of trying to get them to force Toyota into doing something about your frame rot why not try getting your states to use red gravel or some other non corrosive alternative? To me that seems more like a battle that could be won.
 
White 4x4runner said:
So... Instead of trying to get them to force Toyota into doing something about your frame rot why not try getting your states to use red gravel or some other non corrosive alternative? To me that seems more like a battle that could be won.
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Ditto. I can't understand why they use salt here. And on top of that, why they use so stinking much salt. I have been driving along thinking I was driving on a snowy road only to realize that there was no snow, just a crapload of salt.

Is there a Kennedy that owns a salt company or something?
 
Nelsonmd said:
Ditto. I can't understand why they use salt here. And on top of that, why they use so stinking much salt. I have been driving along thinking I was driving on a snowy road only to realize that there was no snow, just a crapload of salt.

Is there a Kennedy that owns a salt company or something?
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...and what about the guy (me) who has rust on a vehicle that has never been in the rust belt? Everywhere this vehicle has been are all places that do NOT use salt on the road.

I owned a 1995 Ford F250 that spent the VAST majority of its life in the rust belt. To this day it has much less rust than my 4Runner.

Is this a big deal? Naah. I can do preventive maintenance. I guess my point is that it's not just those living in the rust belt who have problems with rust.
 
Kung said:
...and what about the guy (me) who has rust on a vehicle that has never been in the rust belt? Everywhere this vehicle has been are all places that do NOT use salt on the road.

I owned a 1995 Ford F250 that spent the VAST majority of its life in the rust belt. To this day it has much less rust than my 4Runner.

Is this a big deal? Naah. I can do preventive maintenance. I guess my point is that it's not just those living in the rust belt who have problems with rust.
Click to expand...

If it really has never been in the rust belt, then I bet there is something you are missing contributing to rust, because for sure the predominant experience is that even places that use salt substitutes like MagCl (CO) don't have rust problems. You've got something else going on...
 
I have a 01 Aurora and a 01 4Runner and the Runner has much more rust than the Olds. Don't get me wrong i love my runner but I have to admit, Toyota could use a better quality steel as they have alot of rust problems here in the North East. it looks like I will have to replace the rear differential housing at some point too...it has been welded once already. Ford trucks seem to be very rust prone as well.
 
**** rusts. It does. All the time. In a free market system, where you have the power of vote with your wallet; you have a duty to be responsible for that.

Every time I go overseas and I notice now superior quality control is in Western Countries, I thank god for market forces. ****ty products don't get bought and as a result the companies either die or shape up. A company doesn't OWE you anything, other than trying to make a profit. That profit motive, is in turn, responsible for EVERYTHING. They give us warranty's to sweeten the deal, they give us enhanced features every year to make us want to buy THEIR product, over the other guys.

Lets talk about freedom. Freedom in a market system to control what you purchase.
MY 2005 4runner, that lived in PA for its entire life is almost SPOTLESS under the carriage. Wanna know why? The previous owner was a smart guy, an engineer. He sprayed salt off, cleaned the frame. Protected HIS purchase.

I, using my god given right to PICK with my wallet, took this as a STRONG selling point and paid for the privilege to own a vehicle that was so cared for.
I, used my power of the purse, in my own discretion.


These are 12 year old vehicles. Get over it. **** rusts, and it wouldn't have rusted a 10th that bad if some pretty simple maintenance precautions were taken.
If you don't like it, if the quality of Toyota is not up to your standards. Well, then use the only power that will fix it; your choice to purchase!

Don't think a free hand out and more government involvement will make it better, it won't. Toyota will react in it's own self interest, to make money! If they see people moving away from Toyota, they will react.

I have looked around. Honestly, this isn't a Tacoma plant quality control issue. My cousin has a 3rd gen 4runner and it is spotless underneath. Metal will rust. If it is such a fear for you... then you can do thinks about it.
 
I've owned 2 3rd Gen 4Runners, my '99 and my current '97. Both were PA vehicles their entire lives, neither has a spot of rust underneath it and they're both 200K mile vehicles. We get nasty winters here, they salt the sh*t out of our roads. But both vehicles are rust free because they're taken care of.

OP, sorry to hear about your experience, that sucks. I know there are other people out there with similar issues. If you feel that warrants a complaint to the NHTSA, by all means go for it. Same to anyone that feels they're warranted. It is certainly your right to do so. But, please also consider:

1.) The age of your vehicle
2.) The conditions it's lived in
3.) The preventative steps (or lack there of) that were taken to care for your vehicle

After that, is your expectation realistic? Not bashing anyone, some of you may have gotten duped by the previous owner, some of you live in areas that aren't condusive to the longevity of your frames and some of you probably have a legitimate gripe.
 
I'm gonna have to agree with the rest! It's a 12 old truck! I have 96 that lived in Michigan for the first 4 years then in Ky the rest! Both states use way to much salt! I can crawl under mine right and find no rust! But I decide to pull the flares and running boards off! Got all the way to the last one and found rust! So should I call and complain no! The runner has 300k on it! I'm gonna repair it and hope it last a couple more years! The reason mine has no rust is it gets cleaned after every winter underneath!

So stop your dang crying and lick your wounds and count it as a loss! Like every one has stated it's a 12yr old truck
 
theizzardking said:
This thread angers me........

Fix it and do preventive maintenance for a known problem in your area ......
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Which is why I'm curious as to the condition of other vehicles of similar age. If the 4Runner is one of the ONLY vehicles rusting, then yes, I would say the manufacturer has an issue. If the vast majority are, then no, you have to take what you can get with an area.

Every time I've gone to the Caribbean I'm amazed at the damage salt can do to metal. I once had a rental car that was less than two years old and it looked like it was just about to disintegrate on me.

Kung said:
...and what about the guy (me) who has rust on a vehicle that has never been in the rust belt? Everywhere this vehicle has been are all places that do NOT use salt on the road.

I owned a 1995 Ford F250 that spent the VAST majority of its life in the rust belt. To this day it has much less rust than my 4Runner.

Is this a big deal? Naah. I can do preventive maintenance. I guess my point is that it's not just those living in the rust belt who have problems with rust.
Click to expand...

In my search I didn't eliminate just the "rust belt" but most of the mid-west too. Seemed like places that had heavy duty winter snow would equal undercarriages with lots of rust. Colorado for whatever reason was an exception.
 
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