Toyota 4runner frame rust being looked at by feds

[wtmtnrunner]

replace or not

I had my 2003 Tacoma frame replaced because of rust through, all new brake lines, new lower control arms, new fuel lines, etc. My friend had the same year truck and they just undercoated it until a few years later and then they replaced his frame...

 

[Sporin]

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.

Yes, northern road salt from winters mostly. Toyota frames have a long history of getting eaten up by the stuff, particularly the Dana-sourced frames...

https://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/14/toyota-3-billion-settlement-rusty-truck-frames/

(from Nov 14th 2016 ) According to Reuters, Toyota has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit involving owners of various Toyota trucks with severe frame rust. The settlement is for $3.4 billion and will pay for inspecting and replacing frames on affected trucks. It also allows Toyota to avoid admitting any wrongdoing. In total, this settlement could include 1.5 million 2005-2010 Toyota Tacomas, 2005-2008 Sequoias, and 2007-2008 Tundras. Reuters reports that vehicles are eligible up to 12 years to the day that they were sold. The Wall Street Journal reports that Toyota will reach out to owners via mail, notices to publications, and internet methods.

This is far from the first time Toyota has dealt with troublesome rust on its pickup trucks. The company fixed many frames and even expanded its rust perforation warranty on 1995-2000 Toyota Tacomas. That warranty covered over 800,000 trucks. Toyota also had to issue a recall for 2001-2003 Tundras for frame rust. That latter recall also led to a payout of $25 million to Toyota from Dana, the company that supplied the frames. Two years ago, Tacomas from 2005-2011 were also recalled for leaf springs that could rust and break.

 

[JAXJeremy]

you guys think Toyotas have problems...early to mid 90's Fords and Chevys have had these same problems for years..having said that, it is disappointing to see especially with the quality you expect from Toyota..

 

[hinmo24t]

you guys think Toyotas have problems...early to mid 90's Fords and Chevys have had these same problems for years..having said that, it is disappointing to see especially with the quality you expect from Toyota..

good points. goes along w my thinking from this thread about how much worse itd be for a mechanic where i live!

 

[Bluesky 07]

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.

That’s my take, yes. What you described is what my truck had when I bought it in 2014 and your proposed remedy was exact what I did.

 

[Hockeyjock]

That’s my take, yes. What you described is what my truck had when I bought it in 2014 and your proposed remedy was exact what I did.

So you took it in after you had cleaned up and painted your frame and they still gave you a frame?

 

[Ghostrider]

I may be wrong on remembering this but I think the Tacoma issue was with internal rust protection - their manufacturer botched the process so a lot of Tacoma's may have looked fine on the exterior frame and still were rusting inside. Also IIRC Toyota forced the manufacturer to pay for all of it so they didn;t lose anything by replacing frames

 

[Hepar]

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.

Yes. I would say there is almost zero chance given your rig is over 20 years old. Not to mention while they include 2002 in the years included, it's pretty much specific to the 4th gen.

 

[KMG1981]

So.....

2002-2006 4Runners

• Frozen Brake Calipers
• Faulty Head Gaskets
• Rusty Frames

I've dealt with the head gasket issue and the brake calipers. I live in the Northeast and have rust on my frame.

Honestly, if this repair sets Toyota back $15,000 I'd rather just get that as a trade-in for a new 4Runner.

 

[Sporin]

Honestly, if this repair sets Toyota back $15,000 I'd rather just get that as a trade-in for a new 4Runner.

Yup, at my mileage (188k) I'd take a healthy buy-out over a new frame as well. I knew a few guys who made out like bandits on the Tacoma recall and buy-backs.

 

[fourwd1]

Merging duplicate threads.

 

[Torchsport]

Subscribed

 

[vonguido]

sub'd like mentioned before, fill out the complaint on the NHSTA website..talk here is well and good but doesn't get the job done.

 

[AuSeeker]

Merging duplicate threads.

Souldn't this topic be moved back to the 4th GEN section so 4th Gens owners can more easily keep up with the progress of the federal action since it pertains to 4th Gens only??

 

[Mark_BC]

I saw a youtube video and apparently the Tacoma frame the guy was fixing by himself (maybe it was later covered under warranty...) would fill up with water on the rear arches and not drain out, there were no drain holes. It would then rust through pretty quick. My 3rd gen 4runner has drain holes to prevent this but there is one area by the rear LCA bracket that does collect crap and tend to rust through so I drilled an additional hole there.

 

[Elan750]

well my dreams of getting a new frame are not looking good. The last frame recall for the tacoma, sequioa, tundra were limited to:

Vehicles are covered up to 12 years from the day of sale.


So if this settlement actually happened, it would be sometime next year, and assuming they had the same limitations, would make it 07'+ models, depending on the sale date.

:cry2:

 

[L8Shift]

Souldn't this topic be moved back to the 4th GEN section so 4th Gens owners can more easily keep up with the progress of the federal action since it pertains to 4th Gens only??

I was thinking maybe a link in the sticky section....

:yo:

 

[BRUIN8124]

I just found out I need $1750 worth of work on mine. I also need tires before winter. If this frame buyout happens, I would hod on to it for sure. At this point, I am considering trading it in. I have 205K on an 03 with a rusty frame. I cant imagine the trade in will be that great.

I am sure nothing happen any time soon if it does though with Toyota.

Now I am not sure what to do...

 

[Sporin]

well my dreams of getting a new frame are not looking good. The last frame recall for the tacoma, sequioa, tundra were limited to:



Vehicles are covered up to 12 years from the day of sale.





So if this settlement actually happened, it would be sometime next year, and assuming they had the same limitations, would make it 07'+ models, depending on the sale date.



:cry2:

The article has a specific Model Year range, not an age.

NHTSA says it will either grant or deny the petition to investigate once it checks complaints and field reports about rusted frames in more than 520,000 model year 2002-2006 Toyota 4Runners.

 

[Elan750]

The article has a specific Model Year range, not an age.

Yes but the year range is from the petition, which is written by just some guy that wants his truck fixed. Then the NHSA will review and see if its realistic. Its likely not, since its out of the legal statute of limitations.

Same reason all the other recalls started with 2005- thats not a new model year where the problem started, its the years within statute of limitations.

Lets just hope im wrong ray2: