Tacoma frame rust warranty expired without notice

Hi Everybody!
Wish this was a more positive post however I am looking for feedback on a dilema with my Tacoma.
Let me start by saying that I have owned a Toyota truck since 1978 and have been evangilistic about the brand and now my Wife, Mom, Brother and two Sisters all own Toyotas.
I travel quite a bit for work and my 2001 Tacoma only has 67K on the odometer as of today. It was at the dealer for the 50K service in 2009 and three times since to fix a nagging A/C problem.Last month I noticed some rust developing along the top of the windshield so I called my dealer here in Minnesota who directed me to the dealer network collision center Luther Collision who handles all of their body work. They told me the entire roof needed to be cut off and it would cost roughly 4K to fix.
This is not the bad part! After some research I discovered the Service Campaign regarding the frame rust an my truck was a candidate. Not having received any notices by mail I called the dealer only to find out they had the wrong address for me. I then called Toyota and was assigned a case number / worker and when I asked her the address they had on file for me she provided the same incorrect address that the dealer had.
Turns out my frame is rusted to the point of being too dangerous to drive and the Service Campaign ended in December 2012. The Toyota case worker then said that she verified that they had somehow mailed the notices to the correct address and that the case was closed and I had no valid claim and was left with the defective frame.
At this point I called both the dealer and Toyota case worker back and they admitted having the wrong address on file for me while I recorded the conversation with an iPhone recording appplication.
So where do I go from here? I love the truck however did need a bigger engine to tow with and it is at the time interval I usually trade my trucks but now I think it is worth next to nothing.
Should I contact a lawyer?
Toyota should be ashamed for treating such a long term loyal customer with such disgrace.
Any feedback from the group or mediators would be very much appreciated!
Thanks,
Bill Bartolotto
See Also
Edmunds Answers: Tacoma Frame Rust Questions
Wish this was a more positive post however I am looking for feedback on a dilema with my Tacoma.
Let me start by saying that I have owned a Toyota truck since 1978 and have been evangilistic about the brand and now my Wife, Mom, Brother and two Sisters all own Toyotas.
I travel quite a bit for work and my 2001 Tacoma only has 67K on the odometer as of today. It was at the dealer for the 50K service in 2009 and three times since to fix a nagging A/C problem.Last month I noticed some rust developing along the top of the windshield so I called my dealer here in Minnesota who directed me to the dealer network collision center Luther Collision who handles all of their body work. They told me the entire roof needed to be cut off and it would cost roughly 4K to fix.
This is not the bad part! After some research I discovered the Service Campaign regarding the frame rust an my truck was a candidate. Not having received any notices by mail I called the dealer only to find out they had the wrong address for me. I then called Toyota and was assigned a case number / worker and when I asked her the address they had on file for me she provided the same incorrect address that the dealer had.
Turns out my frame is rusted to the point of being too dangerous to drive and the Service Campaign ended in December 2012. The Toyota case worker then said that she verified that they had somehow mailed the notices to the correct address and that the case was closed and I had no valid claim and was left with the defective frame.
At this point I called both the dealer and Toyota case worker back and they admitted having the wrong address on file for me while I recorded the conversation with an iPhone recording appplication.
So where do I go from here? I love the truck however did need a bigger engine to tow with and it is at the time interval I usually trade my trucks but now I think it is worth next to nothing.
Should I contact a lawyer?
Toyota should be ashamed for treating such a long term loyal customer with such disgrace.
Any feedback from the group or mediators would be very much appreciated!
Thanks,
Bill Bartolotto
See Also
Edmunds Answers: Tacoma Frame Rust Questions
0
Comments
I just wanted to share my most recent experience with you all regarding my 2003 Toyota Tacoma truck. Please read...
I own and bought new a 2003 Toyota Tacoma from Rockingham Toyota in Salem, NH.
I was just informed by my mechanic on 12/5/2012 that my truck would not pass Mass state inspection due to a trouble code (check engine light) and most importantly that my frame was completely rusted through and that my Toyota truck was unsafe to drive. I personally verified this by crawling under my Toyota truck and poking my fingers through the frame. My Toyota Tacoma is ready to fold in half due to the extent of frame rust.
After contacting Toyota in California (phone 800 331 4331) and discussing the safety issue with the assigned case manager Eric Back, I was told that there was nothing that could be done to rectify this unsafe condition. I also contacted Rockingham Toyota in Salem, NH. and they would take no responsibility for this unsafe condition. They mentioned that the safety recall "program" had expired. As a note: I received no notification regarding this serious safety recall.
I am now the proud owner of a Toyota Tacoma that is unsafe to drive and is realistically worth less than nothing.
Honestly,.. Until 12/5/2012, I loved this truck and had faith in Toyota's commitment towards its' customers,... Now I have serious doubt in their commitment or concerns towards customers' safety.
This Toyota Tacoma is-- NO "WAS" my only means of transportation!
What can I do???? Any thoughts???
Regards,
Brian Senter
12/12/12
Ohhhh what a feeling!
Toyota has left me hanging. My 2003 Toyota Tacoma with 105,000 miles is un-driveable, due to a rusted frame. And because the recall "program" expired last year, they will offer nothing to correct the problem, claiming that I received seven (yes 7) recall notices. Why would I not respond to or acknowledge seven recall notices??? Because I never received them!
My last contact at Toyota was with the Executives office 310-974-7521 where I was informed by Deborah Houston that I was not going to be compensated, my frame would not be replaced and no favorable resolve (for me) was available. Well,..Of course she did offer a possible $1250.00 towards another new or used Toyota, because I am a loyal customer.
Thank You Toyota,... Thank you Deborah.
Stay tuned folks. I'll be posting some great pictures of the underside of my truck with my hand through what used to be a frame rail.
Best of luck to any future or present Toyota owners.
Brian Senter
Toyota case #1212062051
I would really appreciate any information anyone has on how to deal with Toyota about this.
Interesting that they offered you a "possible 1250.00 towards another Toyota--given the situation we are in (like you this was his only transportation and he needs to get to work) and the seriousness of what has happened to the truck--does Toyota seriously think that we would buy another of their vehicles???
Good luck to you and please let me know if you find out any new directions to pursue this.
SNoel
From reading on here, I am doubtful on whether the previous owner ever received the letter in the mail. Why would anybody ignore a letter like that?? Is there anything I can do?
Thanks,
Dave
Remember one thing - I know it's convenient/common for people to refer to this as a recall, but it's not. A recall can't expire, per federal law. This is a voluntary service program from within Toyota, thus they can set their own rules for it, including having an expiration date.
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host
Hello, I have a 2003 Tacoma and just found out today that the frame is rusted through. My truck was at a shop getting a brake control put on for our camper. The service man told us he could not do the work because the frame is shot. I called my Toyota dealer today and have an appointment in 3 days with them. I was told they would have to take pictures and submit them to Toyota. This is pretty upsetting since I did have the rust coating applied by my dealer before the expiration date. I was also told this would extent the rust proof coverage until 2017. We have a 7 day camping trip coming up and several more in the future. Now what's going to happen?? Toyota better make this right since everything was done by the dealer and before any expiration dates
Please don't hit me, but I could really use a little help.
I'm a Yota fan, I was about to buy a 2004. I'm in NC, it is and has been.
It's a 2004 crew Prerunner Trd. 6cyl 108800 miles.
Please, can you point me to some info and steer me right on what I'm looking for if it's not apparent just checking it out from what you can see on a lift?
I'm prepared to hear you say don't do it. I haven't been under it, but before I accept it I'm already scheduled to have my good friend/mechanic to look at it at his shop.
Is this rust a definite in these years or are there different frame materials?
I sincerely appreciate your input
Ernie
Pissed off Toyota customer,
-Bill
TL/DR: I know a lot of you have Toyotas, and I hope you are happy with them. Please get your vehicle’s frame checked regularly. Some models have a severe problem with frame rust, making them profoundly unsafe. Unlike other vehicle safety issues you may have heard about, there is *no recall* for this, and as I found out, there is no remedy for the owner either.
On 12/1/2014 I took our 2002 Toyota Tacoma to our usual shop for what I thought would be regular mechanical repairs (I thought my alternator was failing).
What happened was the mechanics said the truck’s frame — that huge piece of metal that everything is built upon — was so badly rusted they would not even put the truck on a lift. They said they literally have had Toyota trucks break in two in their shop, while on a lift, due to rusted frames. I’m not talking about surface rust here. I’m talking about a hole big enough to pass my hand through.
It turns out Toyota knows about this problem too, but somehow no regulatory action has ever occurred. No recall was ever issued. On the internet I learned Toyota ran a “program” (from 2009 to 2012, I believe) where they were compensating owners with these frame problems. So I called Toyota corporate. The rep confirmed there was indeed a “program”, and mailed owners about it several times. Mind you, I was the second owner. I emphatically told her I never received notices of the program, and didn’t know about the rust until 12/1/2014. Nevertheless, Toyota closed my case by telling me the “program” closed and they will take no further action. None.
So what I thought was a $5000 asset is actually a $200 scrap heap that isn’t even safe to drive. Toyota knew about this material defect, didn’t care that I didn’t get the memo (the rep herself suggested these might have been mailed to the previous owner — HELLO?), and basically I showed up too late to be remedied.
Needless to say, I will not be shopping for a Toyota any time soon. And I promised the rep (who was very polite, and I did not blame her personally), that I would do my best to prove to Toyota that while they may have closed their financial liability on this rust problem, they can expect to feel the impacts of bad publicity for not taking care of the customers who slipped through the cracks.
My husband LOVES his truckand wants to replace the frame, however I am just now stumbling upon this information and am not sure what to think or where to begin with reading so many complaints about the frame and Toyotas failure to satisfy their customers as well as the safety of its passengers.
#Disappointed
888-327-4236, Monday-Friday, 8:00AM to 8:00PM EST(Spanish-speaking representatives available)
TTY: 888-424-9153
(Please have your ODI number referenced above available.)
Sincerely,
Gavin
9/11/17 I wrote James Letz, CEO of Toyota, and manager of Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing, 6781 Headquarters Dr., Plano, TX 75024, I stated, "I followed the corrosion prevention in the Owner's Manual. The quality of the frame on the 2002 Toyota Tacoma is inferior due to inadequate rust protection at the factory."
9/28/17 I received a response by phone, (972) 324-7000, from Grand Prairie, TX. He told me there was a recall letter sent out to the owners of 2002 Tacomas, informing the owners to check for rusting and corrosion on the frame, and they could bring the truck in for a rust prevention spray; however, it expired 2011. They obviously know how severe the problem is. I told him I was scared, and he answered, "I understand I would be too." He led me to think nothing was going to be done, but it was up to the Engineering and Manufacturing department, oddly enough, that is Mr. Letz! Where is the "Genuine Toyota Quality?"
I have filed a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration @SaferCar.gov and @CarComplaints.com