Toyota 4runner frame rust being looked at by feds

[Terminator03]

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!

Exactly! I love this vehicle and have no plans to take on payments for a new one, so this would be awesome if it actually happens. I have sandblasted, primed, and painted 3/4 of the frame so far, with plans to do the front section, and a couple of spots on the inner fenders in the engine bay, but I know that it’s only prolonging the inevitable since the rust is likely coming from inside. I do plan to spray the Eastwood coating or similar inside, but once again, the rust is still there, so anything done is just delaying it a bit.:nono: Hopefully if this comes to pass, they are willing to reinstall suspension mods that you already have...

 

[Sporin]

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...

When I was shopping for mine I looked at a ton of 4th gens and that was a very common area of major rust. I started grabbing those eyelets and giving them a good shake on every truck I looked at an more than once that piece moved substantially because it was so weak.

:toilet:

 

[hinmo24t]

When I was shopping for mine I looked at a ton of 4th gens and that was a very common area of major rust. I started grabbing those eyelets and giving them a good shake on every truck I looked at an more than once that piece moved substantially because it was so weak.

:toilet:

seems to be a weak point. i looked at 4 vehicles before buying mine. most of them were
completely rusted underneath. luckily mine is in great shape on the frame and chassis but that front right corner eyelet is gone and rusty in that spot. some mediocre rust on the visible radiator support but not as bad as ive seen on others. living in MA and being a surfer/snowboarder i knew i wanted to find one that was pretty clean or else my lifestyle and location werent going to work for it long term. glad i waited to find a clean one despite having just one recovery point in the front lol. ill be rinsing my car after beach days and in winter as well as spot cleaning and rust painting as best i can.

 

[43242code1]

Just throwing in a relevant recent experience-
Took my 2005 4runner to the dealership for all new fluids and a multi point inspection. Service Manager specifically asked if I drive on the beach. Truthfully, 99% of my miles are city/highway Central to Southern California. I've owned it since 2008.
Will be interesting to see this unfold.

 

[Hockeyjock]

I have some light surface rust on my frame and it has been a California car owned by my family brand new. I was planning on applying some rust reformer and paint the frame over the next few weeks to help prevent rust. But now I’m wondering if I should leave it in case this ends up going through.

 

[smyles1632]

This is what a big local Toyota dealer was selling as "one owner, beautiful like-new condition". I've asked to put it on a lift, and...

 

[Straus7]

I actually bought a frame rust 01 Tacoma when I worked at Toyota and did the frame replacement. It was an awesome deal. Toyota replaced the frame, lower control arms, leaf springs, brake lines as well as all of the hardware. I ended up doing the timing belt, water pump, and accessory belts while the truck was apart. Ended up with a $5,000 Tacoma that felt brand new. Not to mention the Tacoma replacements paid flat rate techs 60 hours.

 

[samc5mith]

In for updates.

 

[Sporin]

This is what a big local Toyota dealer was selling as "one owner, beautiful like-new condition". I've asked to put it on a lift, and...

This is really my only issue with my otherwise beloved Toyota 4x4's... used ones are priced sky high, they look great on the outside, the interiors hold up well, and run forever, but most of the ones I've seen have some level of rust issue underneath, from "merely worrisome" to "OMG NO!"

 

[Samm25]

Are most of those issues with trucks up north? Mine has been a Texas truck it’s entire life and for an ‘05 my frame is in mint condition. The rust I’ve got is from the exhaust pipes coming off the manifold.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I couldn't imagine the process for how a frame replacement is even accomplished. Found this article featuring a short time-lapse video showing a dealer doing the replacement on a Tacoma. Wow.

 

[hinmo24t]

Are most of those issues with trucks up north? Mine has been a Texas truck it’s entire life and for an ‘05 my frame is in mint condition. The rust I’ve got is from the exhaust pipes coming off the manifold.

yeah - lots of salt in the northeast. have to be patient with scooping up a used one around here. took me 4 to find one without much rust on undercarriage.

 

[tv4184]

yeah - lots of salt in the northeast. have to be patient with scooping up a used one around here. took me 4 to find one without much rust on undercarriage.

Mine is from north east and it has some rust in a few areas that need to be dealt with. It won't get worse since I'm in Texas but if it weren't so cheap when I bought it, I would have just passed on it. Sometimes I think I should have.

My 3rd gen from colorado is like in pristine condition but mainly because they don't use salt up there.

 

[Bluesky 07]

I have some light surface rust on my frame and it has been a California car owned by my family brand new. I was planning on applying some rust reformer and paint the frame over the next few weeks to help prevent rust. But now I’m wondering if I should leave it in case this ends up going through.

That's a lot of info in this thread and here.

Even if 4Runners are added, it's unlikely anything will be done for light surface rust. As you'll see in the thread pics, we're talking about people whose trucks are falling apart due to premature rust.

 

[hinmo24t]

Mine is from north east and it has some rust in a few areas that need to be dealt with. It won't get worse since I'm in Texas but if it weren't so cheap when I bought it, I would have just passed on it. Sometimes I think I should have.

My 3rd gen from colorado is like in pristine condition but mainly because they don't use salt up there.

mine is in fantastic shape because the undercarriage was a determining factor in me purchasing one. as mentioned my one bad area is the front right crossmember area. the corner of it is missing/missing the tie down recovery loop in fact. she just passed inspection and i sanded and applied rust paint in a couple areas besides the bad corner. i am thankful i didnt buy a driftwood one with really rusty engine area and front of frame or another deceiving shadow mica one with the entire underside rusty. so happy to find one with lower mileage (we think stored for a few years, 2004 w 130k and no rust) and white color doesnt hurt either.

here she is before mods. i have only had her for a week.

 

[tv4184]

mine is in fantastic shape because the undercarriage was a determining factor in me purchasing one. as mentioned my one bad area is the front right crossmember area. the corner of it is missing/missing the tie down recovery loop in fact. she just passed inspection and i sanded and applied rust paint in a couple areas besides the bad corner. i am thankful i didnt buy a driftwood one with really rusty engine area and front of frame or another deceiving shadow mica one with the entire underside rusty. so happy to find one with lower mileage (we think stored for a few years, 2004 w 130k and no rust) and white color doesnt hurt either.

here she is before mods. i have only had her for a week.

I should have had someone look for me but 6k for a v8 4wd...couldn’t pass up that deal. At the time, I didn’t know if I would have wanted a 4th gen vs 5th gen. The drive home left me with no regrets.

 

[hinmo24t]

^sweet Rs4 or S4 btw.

 

[Spktyr]

That's a lot of info in this thread and here.

Even if 4Runners are added, it's unlikely anything will be done for light surface rust. As you'll see in the thread pics, we're talking about people whose trucks are falling apart due to premature rust.

Exactly, it's for problems like those that were addressed on the Tacomas and Tundras where the rust was so severe this happened:

 

[Hockeyjock]

That's a lot of info in this thread and here.

Even if 4Runners are added, it's unlikely anything will be done for light surface rust. As you'll see in the thread pics, we're talking about people whose trucks are falling apart due to premature rust.

So you are saying I should go through with cleaning up my frame as I will likely not be a candidate to get a new frame.

 

[L8Shift]

The Tacoma framed I had replaced under the recall, was never in the elements. The frame looked new, except for the rust hole by the drivers side cat. The rest of the FRAME was like brand new. The dealer sent the pics to Toyota and the replacement got approved.
From scouting out the dealership junk pile, I have NOT seen a recalled Tacoma frame as bad as the T4R rust pics posted on this forum.

I lurk behind the dealership lots, when I get a chance. :nerd: