Toyota 4runner frame rust being looked at by feds

[mjotrainbrain]

I had this with my previous '03 Tacoma. I got the notice in the mail, my frame was fine...I'd been using rust preventative spray and staying on top of it every year.

My frame passed, but had to be sprayed with rubbery black undercoating in order to get the extended warranty. 2 years later, I had a rust hole through the frame but still within the extended warranty. Seemed like the new undercoating probably trapped water/salt and accelerated the rust.

Back to the dealer, they took pics and sent in a case, new frame approved. It took about 6 months before my new frame arrived, dropped off the truck and left in a free rental car. 4 days later I got the call, picked it up, and it drove like new for the rest of the time I had it. The steering was especially nice, I hadn't realized how loose and clunky it was over bumps until I got it back.

The frame kit came with new rear leaf springs, steel brake and fuel chassis lines, front lower control arms, and some other parts.

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal if Toyota is game. I wouldn't really be comfortable with them just spraying crap on it, because I would be convinced it would eventually rust out even worse because of it just like happened to you, and I'd just have to hope that when that inevitably happens Toyota will play nicely.

 

[toybox]

I complained to Toyota a couple of years ago about my frame rust. I hope something happens because i love the truck and otherwise it is in great shape. I've had it since new in 2003 and I can't find anything I'm willing to get rid of it for. Let's see if I can add my voice to this complaint.

 

[waypoint]

I wouldn't really be comfortable with them just spraying crap on it, because I would be convinced it would eventually rust out even worse because of it just like happened to you, and I'd just have to hope that when that inevitably happens Toyota will play nicely.

I wasn't comfy either, but the dealer and extended warranty offer documentation were both very clear: to get the warranty you had to get sprayed. I got a nice new frame and whatnot, so no complaint.

 

[eleven14]

I was at the dealer a few weeks ago and they had a stack of Tacoma frames sitting in the drop off area for replacements. So it's definitely still a thing.

Doesn't seem likely, but hopefully the 4runner will get coverage - some of these frames are dangerously rotten.

 

[Whammy]

Here's pictures of my frame. Sadly it appears my T4R is on it's way to being totaled because of a rear end collision.

 

[hinmo24t]

my truck is actually not very rusty at all, but one area that
is bad is the front cross section under the radiator. one corner of it, where
the tie down eyelet is, is missing and rusted on that corner. the eyelet section is gone...lol guess ill have to use the other side only if i need recovery from the front. too bad aside from that one spot my frame is looking good. they might approve
the replacement because of that one area though - if the toyota recalls even take place for these...

 

[wc11]

I believe the frames you mentioned were sourced from a US Supplier, as oppose to the 4Runner frame being sourced overseas... --> is my guess.

Made by sub contractor Dana Corp in Ohio.
They paid Toyota millions in penalties and I think the battle is ongoing.

 

[Bluesky 07]

It makes even less sense when you see 15-year old Toyota trucks with pristine paint but what should be the toughest and most well-protected part of the vehicle is falling off in rusty chunks.

I'm among the fortunate; my '07 spent its life in the Carolinas before we bought it and brought it to Georgia. I scraped a couple of spots underneath and painted them with Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer and it's been fine ever since.

 

[Whammy]

It makes even less sense when you see 15-year old Toyota trucks with pristine paint but what should be the toughest and most well-protected part of the vehicle is falling off in rusty chunks.

I'm among the fortunate; my '07 spent its life in the Carolinas before we bought it and brought it to Georgia. I scraped a couple of spots underneath and painted them with Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer and it's been fine ever since.

Lucky.

 

[Sporin]

I'd feel a lot more comfortable dumping money (really needs a whole new suspension plus lots of bushings and such) into my 2005 with 188k miles on it if I could get a real warranty on the frame. I've got lots of surface rust (life long New England road salt vehicle) and who knows what's lurking where I can't see.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

my truck is actually not very rusty at all, but one area that
is bad is the front cross section under the radiator. one corner of it, where
the tie down eyelet is, is missing and rusted on that corner. the eyelet section is gone...lol guess ill have to use the other side only if i need recovery from the front. too bad aside from that one spot my frame is looking good. they might approve
the replacement because of that one area though - if the toyota recalls even take place for these...

You really shouldn't use those for recovery even if they're rust free, it's not very solid. That being said, mine has similar rust there too. Makes me wonder what would happen if I dragged my skidplate over something substantial while offroad...

 

[Todapwr]

Subscribing...

 

[Bluesky 07]

Lucky.

From everything I've seen on this, it comes down to living in a place with little winter weather and consequently less exposure to corrosive materials used to treat highways. It shouldn't be that 4Runners rust away in winter climates but that appears to be the x-factor here.

 

[hinmo24t]

You really shouldn't use those for recovery even if they're rust free, it's not very solid. That being said, mine has similar rust there too. Makes me wonder what would happen if I dragged my skidplate over something substantial while offroad...

i hear you. toyota manuals do reference them as recovery points i believe though. they look pretty weak and previous owner looks to have used it and ripped one of them off (the eyelet areas on my truck are where worst rust is.) if i needed recovery from the other one it is at least there but id give it a flip of a coin on not breaking depending on how stuck i am. im surprised toyota didnt put a hook or stronger loop somewhere else up front for recovery...

 

[Bluesky 07]

i hear you. toyota manuals do reference them as recovery points i believe though. they look pretty weak and previous owner looks to have used it and ripped one of them off (the eyelet areas on my truck are where worst rust is.) if i needed recovery from the other one it is at least there but id give it a flip of a coin on not breaking depending on how stuck i am. im surprised toyota didnt put a hook or stronger loop somewhere else up front for recovery...

If those aren’t intended as recovery points, aren’t they the most over engineered tiedown rings in automotive history?

/threadjack

 

[Inv4drZm]

The entire weight of a vehicle sliding down a waterfall and into a rock at the bottom did this to my brother's FJ. I'd say they will work just fine for normal recovery situations.

Pretty strong obviously but it did crease it pretty good making it unusable.

 

[DZNUTS]

We cut off the worthless rad support and made 3/16” sleeves for the front of my frame rails. There wasn’t any steel left on the front of the frame wells to weld plates onto for reinforcement


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cloud]

Pretty sure they have salvaged steel from shipwrecks under the ocean that have looked better.

Let this thread be a warning for all those rust-free 4Runner owners out there. Spray on fluid film once a year. Keep her looking good.

I live in Seattle. We don't even get snow! I do go over all my paint chips after a Wheeling session and hit it with Rust-Oleum stops rust primer and enamel. Fluid film sounds great, but it never dries and I like to use a wire wheel on a grinder to remove surface rust and repaint.

I take my used oil after an oil change and rub the frame down with it. Always worked on farm trucks in the Midwest.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[nevada]

Here's pictures of my frame. Sadly it appears my T4R is on it's way to being totaled because of a rear end collision.

View attachment 309183
View attachment 309184
View attachment 309185

mine looks about like this. I wouldn't need for(nor want) the frame swapped, but some rust treatment and spray would be acceptable.

 

[lightemup67]

This is HUGE! I hope something comes of this. I was literally just thinking to myself, I'd keep this for 5 more years if she wasn't so rusty underneath. Everything else is perfect!