Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
kcram - Pickups Host
however dude..
the FJ cruisers have a subframe issue..
look it up..
the front right inner stamped frame along the top of the fenders are literally cracking
in half and then the front bumper drops because of the split,,
it has been a prob for a few years.
check these out.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2007/04/2007-toyota-fj-cruiser---a-crack-in-t- he-armor.html
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/attachments/problems-dealer-service/14799d- 1187501670-engine-bay-body-rips-dsc03059w.jpg
i still havent heard back from tosuckya. I still have a bad feeling they are going to attempt to tell me they are going to "offer" to replace the frame.
I am going to try to call them today.
Re: Mr. Lyons post - I hope Toyota learns something from this fiasco. I spent nearly as much time looking for the perfect Tacoma as I did driving it. It lasted me one winter. It's really a shame how the company handled this - betting today's bottom line against future customer loyalty. When it does come time to buy a new car, a vehicle with a Toyota badge line won't be in my consideration.
the frame replacement is true.. they are going to do it.. However I suggest if you have an 01 or newer, to fight this decision. your truck will never be the same and it will not be worth a penny after its done.. You will have squeaks and rattles, you will most likely have intermittent electrical problems.. this is my professional opinion.
I am a master ASE cert tech. I can assure you NO tech in any dealership has experience doing a frame swap. NO tech is going to have an incentive to do any part of the job to perfection. Flat rate pay will be the reason for the failure to do the job correctly.
This is encouraging however, from this entry posted,
"2001 -2004 Toyota Tacoma Customer Support Program by BrianTMS"
"To develop this new program, engineers here in Los Angeles, working with Toyota engineers from Japan, created a more comprehensive and less intrusive disassemble and reassembly process with built-in quality. In doing so, they identified all of the major and ancillary parts needed to complete the repair. "
but I still believe it is NOT the right thing to do.
I managed to get them to NOT do my frame and they put me in for the buy back program on my 01. The toyota rep from Boston also claims they will contact me within the next few months with an offer that should be 1.5x KBB.
they cant charge you for a frame inspection..
get the money back..
call them, if they dont give it back, call ISG and get your case # and tell them
what happened.
I sent back the offer letter with a copy of title about a week ago. Haven't heard anything yet.
Id get in writing, some sort of new warranty. The truck is going to have problems as a result of the frame swap.
My son unloaded this turkey yesterday, but at a big loss - the dealer gave him $7000 toward a new F150 (joint Ford/Toyota dealer). He's done with Toyota!
toyota has to warranty the frame..
thats [non-permissible content removed]..
they will fail it and start the paper work.. only thing that is bad for you is toyota has decided to do a frame replacement on 2001 - 2004 instead of the buy back program.
but yes, they are doing a frame swap. Not a good idea however, I heard that the frame is not coming bare. It should be coming with suspension components and other new parts as well.. I guess thats better than an entire part to part swap out.
So far, the dealership has been very kind. They put me in an '08 Highlander with no questions asked and all they ask is that I put the gas in and carry insurance. They told me they would put me in a pickup as soon as a rental became available. So now I've got a case with Toyota and was told I should hear back in about 7 days. SO far so good.
I got to admit I'm a little gun shy about the frame replacement that Toyota seems to want to do. I don't like hearing ASE mechanics saying it's a horrible idea and I have my own reservations, but I seem to be picking up on the fact that there is no other option. I did ask the service manager and he said Toyota was giving the NEW frame a 15 year warranty. I am unsure at this point just what that warranty covers... I mean, I get the impression that it covers the frame only and doesn't take any abnormal wear and tear caused by a frame swap into consideration. The service manager even mentioned how they "come with new nuts and bolts and fasteners to replace all the rusty and corroded ones that will break and snap off in the removal process". That makes me feel a LOT better. (Insert sarcasm here).
I guess I have a hard time believing a couple dudes from small town Maine can pull off the same quality job that an army of robots did on the assembly line in Japan. Maybe I'm being paranoid.
I do have a couple questions I hope y'all might be able to help answer though.
Is the frame swap REALLY a bad idea?
If that's what Toyota is offering to do, is that my only option or should I fight it?
If my frame is swapped out, will I be able to sell it or trade it in in the future for a fair price?
I'm confused and bummed out and a little disillusioned by all that I've read here and hope between all of us that we can get some straight answers and a fair resolution. I love my truck, but I bought it for reliability and dependability and high resale value. If I don't have all of those things, why should I continue to drive them?
it will not be the same.. you can almost guarantee new squeaks and rattles along with intermittent electrical problems.. The odds of you getting a tech that has actually
done a job like this are slim to none. Im not saying it cant be done nor am i saying no one is capable, what im saying is, in the environment that they are going to do it in is going to lead to these problems. Techs get paid flat rate so its in thier best interest to get the job done right.. so for example, if toyota decided to pay 60 hours for this job and the tech can get it done in 40 hours he still gets paid the 60.
The frames will come with new fasteners and some suspension parts from what I understand. You can fight back and I would if I were you.. try to get into the buy back program. Who cares if they give a 15 year warranty on the frame if the swap out is going to cause other problems.
your options and mileage ?
what did you get for a check ?
just curious so I have something to come back with as I assume
they may try to low ball me I have a 2001 v6 4x4 auto SR5 136000.00 MI
I too would be interested in finding out how much the person who recieved the check got and what kind of truck they had.
If they do end up replacing my frame, I feel like it would be in my best interest to turn right around and sell the truck ASAP for as much as possible and deal with the losses. If I can assume I'll be plagued with electrical and other issues for the forseeable future, I'd rather just not deal with it.
maybe even trade it in..
It is really sad but thats what it seems toyota is more concerned with..thier money.
Im really mad about all of this cause I have been a toyota preacher for years and I loved my truck. My truck ran like new and it had 136K on it.. I had no reason to beleive it would not make it to 300K. I had no payments to make on my truck and I bought it new..
we just bought a new house and I cant afford a car payment ..
I said, I have not heard anything from toyota about a time frame for when the frames started getting manufactured properly again.
He didnt seem to have an answer.
Let me know when you get a call from ISG and how much they offer you because I have the same truck as you.. 2001 extend cab SR5 v6 auto
Is yours a v6 auto ?
I'm curious if they will put their money where there mouth is by taking my truck in trade on a decent used truck on their lot made by another brand after they perform their frame swap.
I just dont want to have to deal with anymore BS right now. I was looking foward to being done with that truck payment and certainly dont want to incur even more debt in horrible economic times.
Any light you could shed on this gray area would be most helpful.
the FJ cruisers have a subframe issue..
look it up..
the front right inner stamped frame along the top of the fenders are literally cracking
in half and then the front bumper drops because of the split,,
it has been a prob for a few years.
check these out.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2007/04/2007-toyota-fj-cruiser---a-crack-in-t- - he-armor.html
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/attachments/problems-dealer-service/14799d- - 1187501670-engine-bay-body-rips-dsc03059w.jpg
I am refusing the offer and have contacted the DOT and my Attorney General's office. They said I am the only one they have heard from and one is not enough to make a difference. The plan is unacceptable. If you want to make them change the offer to a more fair one...everyone should be contacting their Attorney General, The DOT and their local politicians.
We bought the toyota with trust in their integrity and now they are not standing by their vehicles with substandard frames. The vehicle will be worth less and we are taking the loss.
We need a class action suit and we need to not give up and take what they offer.
My dealer said they do not even have the frames..it will be a long process.
Did anyone recieve official paper work from Toyota stating their plan?
I've yet to hear back from Toyota and don't want a new frame. I filed an official complaint with NHTSB (or whatever it is). I will file with DOT as per your suggestion and look into the State Attourney General as well.
I love my truck, but I really LOVED it's reliability and high resale value. Now what do I have?
everyone has to step UP.
the DOT and AG need to hear it in numbers unfortunately..
As far as Im concerned a frame replacement is unacceptable
I want Toyota to do right by me and everyone else, but it's scary to think how many other Tacoma owners are out there who have no clue that they may be putting themselves, their families and others in harms way.
I informed a coworker with an 04 Tacoma that his truck might have frame problems as well and he was NOT happy.
I have looked around but got no answers.
as far as toyota was concerned, it only affected 95 - 00.
Now they are acknowledging 2001 - 2004 but whos to say it doesnt exist in 05, 06 or 07 ?
somewhere earlier in this thread I believe a toyota rep put in some "official" info about the buy back program but I dont think he has added any new info.
just curious, as to another direction to go.
I can not get beyond my case worker, asked for her boss, and she refused, I make the final decsion she informed us quite rudely.
We are the ones, she is getting paid at a desk, and is being rude, no sympathy or help from her at all.
any help appreciated!!!
I have asked for it a few times and never got it .
1st of all, they should have givin you the money back.. that is just poor.
there is a warranty and I believe it is suppose to be 15 years on the new frame,
but thats just on the frame. When your truck has other issues that will most likely be related to the frame swap (IE: rattles, noises, intermittent electrical conditions) that wont be covered.
as far as a number.. call the 800 number for toyota and then ask them for the # for ISG. after the paper work has been submitted for your truck, they will have a case for it.