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2005+ Tacoma with RUSTY FRAME
RustyTaco2005
Member Posts: 3
We’ve all heard that Toyota has a serious problem with rust on the frames of its 1995- 2000 and 2001-2004 Tacoma trucks that lead to premature perforation of the frame. The 2005’s have the same problem. Toyota has not fixed the rusty frame problem. Even more disturbing is that Toyota Canada is refusing to do anything for the 2005s unless perforation occurs during the five-warranty period.
My husband and I bought a 2005 Tacoma based on Toyota’s reputation for durability, longevity, reliability and high resale value. The resale value of our truck is plummeting by the day as its frame corrodes. I expected a certain amount of rust given our Canadian winters, but the rust on this frame is excessive. Even the service manager at the dealership was shocked by it. In February of 2008 (just before the 3 year rust warranty expired), the dealership striped the frame down, re-painted and rust-proofed it. Two weeks later, the rust was back and it has continued. In fact, it’s thriving! The service manager at the dealership has recently checked the frame and said that there is no perforation now, but if we don’t do something soon that certainly will be the case, maybe not this year or the next but soon. The truck is not even 4 years old yet and has less than 49,000km on it !!!!!! . Given that time frame, holes would start just after the warranty expires. W will end up owning a 6 year-old rust bucket that is unsafe for the road.
We bought this truck in good faith that it was well built and would last at least 10 years, but that definitely won’t be the case. We also foolishly thought that Toyota Canada would stand behind its products. We’re worried that it will soon be unsafe – our children ride in this vehicle everyday. If we wait until holes are found in the frame for Toyota to do something, then we will be putting our children and our own lives at risk riding in a vehicle whose structural integrity is questionable. Ironically, we bought this truck because we thought it would be safest for our children. If there is anything that anyone reading this can do to help us, we would greatly appreciate it. If anyone else has this problem, please complain to Toyota. We can’t afford to replace the truck and we won’t sell this problem to another person. We just want Toyota Canada to do the right thing and buy it back. If anyone else has this problem, please complain to Toyota. The more people who complain, the less they can ignore us.
My husband and I bought a 2005 Tacoma based on Toyota’s reputation for durability, longevity, reliability and high resale value. The resale value of our truck is plummeting by the day as its frame corrodes. I expected a certain amount of rust given our Canadian winters, but the rust on this frame is excessive. Even the service manager at the dealership was shocked by it. In February of 2008 (just before the 3 year rust warranty expired), the dealership striped the frame down, re-painted and rust-proofed it. Two weeks later, the rust was back and it has continued. In fact, it’s thriving! The service manager at the dealership has recently checked the frame and said that there is no perforation now, but if we don’t do something soon that certainly will be the case, maybe not this year or the next but soon. The truck is not even 4 years old yet and has less than 49,000km on it !!!!!! . Given that time frame, holes would start just after the warranty expires. W will end up owning a 6 year-old rust bucket that is unsafe for the road.
We bought this truck in good faith that it was well built and would last at least 10 years, but that definitely won’t be the case. We also foolishly thought that Toyota Canada would stand behind its products. We’re worried that it will soon be unsafe – our children ride in this vehicle everyday. If we wait until holes are found in the frame for Toyota to do something, then we will be putting our children and our own lives at risk riding in a vehicle whose structural integrity is questionable. Ironically, we bought this truck because we thought it would be safest for our children. If there is anything that anyone reading this can do to help us, we would greatly appreciate it. If anyone else has this problem, please complain to Toyota. We can’t afford to replace the truck and we won’t sell this problem to another person. We just want Toyota Canada to do the right thing and buy it back. If anyone else has this problem, please complain to Toyota. The more people who complain, the less they can ignore us.
5
Comments
I've read the the problem was with the Dana frames not receiving enough rust-proofing for trucks that are in areas that use salt on the roads. I don't know if my 2005 has a Dana frame or not, but it sure has a problem with rust. The frame has been scraped down twice - the first time it was repainted and rust-proofed but the rust came back two weeks later. The last time it was scraped down and a new chemical treatment was put on it. I'm not sure if this is going to work or not. I've got my fingers crossed.
If having this issue too, please call Toyota and complain. I also filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and with my state attorney general's office. Nothing will get accomplished if we all don't complain!
1) Drifts right - don't notice this
2) vibration in drive line - don't notice this
3) front brake squeal - don't hear this
4) rough idle - seems smooth to me
5) transmission or transfer case leak - don't see a one drop of fluid
6) muffler weak - sounds just fine, quiet
7) wires corroded on 4 wheel drive switch - said he don't how my 4 wheel drive is working cause the wires are corroded totally off
8) A.C. low on charge - works great for me
So what's up with them? Are any of these detrimental requiring immediate servicing?
93-01-04-10 Forerunners and I am thinking of buying a FORD.TIME TO SHORT THE STOCK???????
I've even read where guys can't wait for Toyota to buy their junk truck so they can buy
ANOTHER ONE. For Gods sake wake up and realize Toyota has been lying to its customers for years. Try buying an American truck !
I am now driving a 2006 Tacoma that hasn't cost me a penny other than routine maintenance, so I'm pretty much wide awake about who is lying to who!
First off, the Toyota frame problem was a result of their AMERICAN frame supplier... DANA.
Second, Toyota trucks (Tacoma and Tundra) are made in.... you got it... AMERICA. Specifically, they are mostly made in San Antonio TX.
Third, the various OTHER problems with Toyota trucks also point at AMERICAN supplier problems, like the LUK CLUTCH FAILURES (affecting R155 and RA60 manual transmissions) -- those POS clutches are manufactured by an AMERICAN company, in their MEXICAN factory. When replaced by the high quality AISIN clutch (manufactured in Japan), they last virtually FOREVER.
The RA60 transmission is plagued with problems. Made in ALABAMA. Not the R155 though, its made in Japan. Similar with the engines.... the 4.0 is made in ALABAMA, and makes weird noises and is susceptible to low oil pressure and premature wear as a result (some catastrophic failures). The 2.7 is indestructible -- MADE IN JAPAN.
Time and again, all the problems that Toyota has been having with product quality are... AMERICAN problems. The stuff that comes from Japan is BULLETPROOF.
Thanks, but I'll steer as far away from AMERICAN GARBAGE as I possibly can. You can go enjoy your dodge or whatever other piece of trash you own, enjoy its 3 year life span.
I never received a recall noticed and they said I was out of luck. Then I was told I didn’t receive a noticed because my truck had been previously under-coated!!! To me that seems more of a reason....that they should take care of it, as everything was done to try to protect it! Now I read other forums that say they could not get theirs repaired because they didn’t under-coat it! Which one is it? Then, I read another forum that says that... now they have extended the recall to 12/31/12......However, none of the dealers are aware of this. Does anyone know what can be done? I can not afford a vehicle payment and need my truck for work!
Rust City
A post in the tundrasolutions.com forums gave the following info:
Not to rehash an old thread but I have an 05 DC Tacoma and have had a rust problem since about 07-08. I have call Toyota twice and this time actually got some valuable information. In order for Toyota to actually look into a problem they have to notice a trend of calls with complaints. they review the nature of the complaint and what vehicle it was noted on. Please if you have a 2005 or newer Tacoma with a rust problem please call and complain...you don't have to be an *ss just let them know the problem you are having. If they have a lot of calls they will look into it and hopefully do something like they did with the 2000-04 models.
Please call and tell them about it:
Customer Experience Center
If you'd like to discuss your experience or share your comments, Toyota's Customer Experience Center representatives are happy to assist you. Phone: 800-331-4331Fax: 310-468-7814
Mon - Fri, 5:00 am - 6:00 pm PST
Sat, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm PST Or send correspondence to:
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
19001 South Western Ave.
Dept. WC11
Torrance, CA 90501
We need to show them how widespread this problem is.
GM - 2
Isuzu - 5
Honda - 9
Kia - 1
Subaru - 1
Ford - 9
Nissan - 10
Toyota - 63
Fully over 60% of the complaints were for Toyota products. Over 3 million Tacomas and Tundras were sold in the last 12 Years. Toyota has been dealing with this problem by buying back and destroying / or re-framing these trucks to the tune of approx $13,000 per vehicle.
3 million times $13,000 equals $39 billion. Current Toyota yearly profit is approx $5 billion, so that their liability for these defective frames is equal to about 8 years of profit. I predict their policy of taking responsibility for these rusty trucks will end within a year or two. If I owned their stock I would sell it soon.
Park it outside in the Oregon rain, too. Only problem that I have had was when a squirrel ate through the "new and improved" non-plastic wire harness under the hood.
Toyota was delivered bad frames from Dana. Toyota knew it., and hid it. There was no recall. Toyota quietly called it a "Frame Program". If you bought your truck brand new Toyota would have sent a small card in the mail asking you to go to a dealer and get your frame inspected, but if you were a second party with no warranty information most likely you would never find out.
I have a 2001 Tacoma 4X4 Looks like the day it was built, inside and out, purrs like a kitten.......But guess what????? You can't drive it!
The first I heard of the frame program was in late 2011...I contacted a dealer....got the truck inspected...its frame failed. They told me that they (LIA TOYOTA , WILBRAHAM,MA) would order a frame and would call me in 2-3 weeks to complete the job of re-framing..
I had custom bumpers (front & rear) Brush guards...traction bars... the truck had a $850 airbrushed frame! I was asked by LIA TOYOTA to purchase new U-bolts (liftkit) as they torch a lot of bolts. I did. $40.00 and removed all custom equipment (6 hours)
2 weeks go by and LIA TOYOTA calls me to bring truck back in for a rep to Re-Inspect. Told to come in at noon. Waited 2 hours for rep to show up. Left without explanation but was told that they would get back to me. 3 weeks now my truck is in pieces.
6 weeks go by and I get a call from Kevin Spillane of Toyota Customer Care. After 15 minutes of company prepared robot talk I was told that Toyota would not be doing the Re-frame and they were sorry I invested my time and money.
Toyota lied to me. Wasted my time. Had me spend money. Encouraged me to remove bumpers/brushguards etc. to assist them. And then left me with a truck I can not drive.
Toyota has left many (hundreds) of customers with useless junk because they built a faulty product. Yes some owners were taken care of. But let me tell you...for every good ending...you will hear ten bad .
Toyota has not stood behind their product. I have always owned a Toyota truck, But this will be the last. Being number one in sales does not mean a thing. Its what happens after the sale. :sick:
"Yes some owners were taken care of. But let me tell you...for every good ending...you will hear ten bad .
Toyota has not stood behind their product"
The above two statements are actually just the opposite. I belive Toyota did make a big and costly mistake with the bad frames but they stuck behind their product and it cost them dearly. I would also be willing to bet with all of the reframes and buybacks at 150% of book value you will find ten happy endings to this frame problem compared to one bad ending like you had.
I contacted the dealer who said there was a recall, But the dealerships were told by toyota not to contact the customers unless they came in for other maintenance issues. According to the dealerships service mgr. Toyota was expecting 20 to 32 % of affected vehicles to actually cash in on the program prior to the deadline. If they saw a spike in a particular dealership and suspected the dealership was promoting the program and contacting the customers themselves Toyota would be less inclined to do the buyouts and make it harder for the dealerships to get frame replacements approved.
The way Toyota achieved keeping it's response low was as follows:
1. Don't call it a recall, change the name and it won't be attractive to the media and easy to find on the net, Hence: (Frame Program)
2. Keep dealerships from contacting customers.
3. Fashion the notices to appear to be junk mail at first glance, The font, layout, colors, and size of envelope are fashioned after the largest aftermarket extended warranty company in the US.
4. Make minimal attempt to contact original owners and none to contact secondary owners.
When I contacted toyota on the 15th of April they told me I was eligible for the program. I was issued a case mgt. number. I was contacted 2 days later by a lady who informed me I had missed the deadline of 12/31/11. I protested to a have it kicked up the ladder and was re contacted a few days later by a woman who described herself only as Laura. She told me I was "wasting my time" and it "Not going to happen" regarding my need for a new frame.
Toyota orchestrated a smooth program to limit its losses from this Frame debacle. They try to play themselves off as being pro-active when in reality they are trying relieve themselves from the cost their own liability.
I personally will not drive or sell my 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The fame is rust to the point that you can put your hand through it at the area above where the leaf springs attach to the frame.
But someone will, and when they unload one of these deathtraps on some unsuspecting owner its just a matter of time before people get killed.
If anyone knows of a class action lawsuit that includes Ohio regarding this matter, please post a link or a phone number.
But they may be fooling themselves if they believe that by applying a deadline to their recall they can save money and still insulate themselves from future litigation.
Lets say a frame snaps on a Tacoma at 65 MPH on a busy Highway, falls to the tires and causes a horrific accident that kills some people. Do you really think Toyota will be held harmless due to the fact that the owner missed the deadline for frame replacement? Especially if he tried and was denied.
The very fact that they have admitted the problem exists, obligates them to repair or replace each and EVERY vehicle. You cannot place a deadline on public safety.
I am in the process of the frame replacement right now and just went in to have it checked last week. The process is completely painless and they are anxious to help.
Rather than throw away thousands of dollars because of a misinformed dealer, possibly contact Mark, the service manager at my dealership (815) 748-7300. Since they provide a loaner at their cost, it might be worth the drive to illinois for an $11,000 + free replacement.
The spraying was an effort to protect frames that had not developed problems yet. While ineffective, it seems to have been more of a "stop gap" type effort rather than a final solution.
I am not aware of any deadline on the frame recall and, if there is, it has yet to be reached.
Lets say for the sake of argument that 500,000 or roughly 16% of them ended up in eligible states. and lets say that your numbers are correct and they spent 100 million dollars. That would come to $200.00 per vehicle.
But I think we can agree that $200.00 will not even cover the price of the frame treatment for those vehicles. So that means the response was not adequate to remove MUCH of the problem from the road.
Its actually hard to work with hearsay numbers so I'll do some digging and get the actual numbers and post them. But if 100 Million is all they have paid then they have DEFINITELY dodged the bullet. One good lawsuit could cost them half of that, and it will.
I posted a number in the referenced message if anyone is having issue \s with their dealer.
Thanks!
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host
Toyota admits that 812,000 vehicles where affected and eligible for the program. If the $100,000,000 dollar number you threw out is correct then they have paid an average of $123.15, per eligible vehicle. (actually lower than I estimated).
Of course that number is incorrect. They paid much more per vehicle. So they couldn't have taken care of many of them at all with only 100 million dollars.
That means there are a lot of people out there who own these trucks and have either not been notified or have been denied repairs.
You may have been one of the lucky ones, good for you. but if you had not had yours repaired but instead denied You may feel differently.