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
"This letter confirms that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc (“Toyota”), has offered to repurchase your Tacoma for $15,177.00, subject to confirmation that your 1999 Tacoma complies with all of the conditions of the warranty extension."
I'd be crazy not to take it. So I guess I'm looking for another Toyota vehicle for around $13k-14k. What would be a good utility vehicle - the 4Runner? Is that one based on the Tacoma chassis? I see also the Highlander, RAV4, Sequoia and Land Cruiser could do what I need done. But is the 4Runner the closest SUV comparison with the Tacoma?
Thanks!
I just took my 2000 Tacoma SR5 4x4 in this week for the frame inspection after I noticed really bad perforation on the frame (it looked fine less than a month ago).
Toyota really has stepped up. They failed 4he truck within 30 minutes of me dropping it off for the inspection. I have a 30 day loaner for free (brand new Siena van) and I just got the offer: $13,774. I paid $10,200 for the truck four years ago. Great experience for me overall.
Luckily, i was able to take the truck back to the dealer and get a full refund.
When I first called the dealership to inquire about it, they also told me that "the program had ended", but when I called Toyota Corporate, different story.
Good that you got your money back, still a crappy situation though. Good luck finding something else.
It was the 1995-2000 Tacoma models that were simply being bought back, without the option to replace the frame.
So Toyota may offer to replace your frame. It could be that they are now offering a buyback on the 2001-2004 models...I'm not sure.
As far as how badly perforated the frame needs to be to fail...from everything I have read and heard, it doesn't take much. If the frame has any perforation whatsoever, I believe it will fail the test.
As far as timeframe, I think 30 days is pretty typical.
Good luck and please post back with your results!
Toyota sure is misleading about their warranty. Luckily I was able to return the truck.
Other posters have talked of having a truck failed within thirty minutes of inspection. You can find the actual guidelines for the Frame Inspection on the Internet. I have them saved to my computer but can not upload to this site. You can find a lot of information just by using google. Other posters talk of a 3 week loaner vehicle and the 150% KBB buy-back. Good luck.
I bought an 04 Taco and just 24 hours later found 2 soft spots on the frame which I was able to punch holes through with my finger. Sure, I should have done a more thorough inspection on the truck but that is not my point.
My point is, I was told directly by a Service Rep at the Toyota Headquarter in CA that my truck was not under warranty and that they would do nothing to help me. I returned the truck to the dealer. Two months have passed and now the dealer has new frame on that truck and it is back on the lot for sale.
Toyota is very misleading about their recall program.
Yes, that was the same place my own truck was rusted through. They should buy it back from you.
The number to call is 800-331-4331. Get them to open a case for you. Have your VIN# handy. They should ask you where you want to take the truck for the inspection, and the rest should be smooth. I had a totally smooth transaction just last month on my 2000 Tacoma. They gave me a loaner for almost 30 days. As soon as you turn the title over to them, they will want the loaner back.
Don't take no for an answer. It's worth pursuing for sure. A 1999 Tacoma will be a buy-back, not a frame replacement. Good luck and let us know how you do. Dave
Details of my story: Went to dealer for oil change of 97 Taco reg cab manual 4x4 in Aug 2011. They inspected frame and were able to perforate with a hammer and punch while on a lift (note: i had been to same dealer in 09 and it passed then). They said it rusts from inside of frame due to poor inner coating and weak spot isn't detected until it pushes through. I was told it's unsafe to drive but they let me drive it home anyway after signing off on the dealer inspection. They said i could keep it until exactly 15 years after the first in service date which in my case would be July 14, 2012. I turned it in last month and the dealership provided a free loaner (my insurance) until I received a check. When i turned in the vehicle i was called within a week by an IBG rep (buyback contractor) who had me email or fax a copy of title, lien release if any. After the title was found to be clean and not salvaged (a disqualifier for the program) they offered $8700 (= 1.5x blubook for excellent condition, but happens to be exactly what i paid 12 years ago!) and gave three days to sign the acceptance form provided. Then a field agent called within a week to schedule the sign off etc. The agent said that Toyota has become picky lately and wants all original equipment to be present, for example, they let me take my brand new tires off and put on junk tires but the alloy rims had to stay. Also, any damage is ok as long as the car is drivable and whole and the title is clean. If any original equipment is missing even a CD player they will discount the offer and delay the process unless it's reported up front. Once everything is in order, the field agents are given about a week or so to close the deal or they have to send the paperwork and check back to HQ and you have to start the process over again.
I just collected my check.
Frame Warranty Policy
Letter to Owners
Frame Recall Notice to Dealers
Frame Inspection Chart
I found all of this on the Internet. Just be specific with your search engine.
Good luck.
Thanks for any guidance,
Jamie
To get info have your vin handy and call the
Toyota Customer Care 1-888-270-9371
Mon - Fri 5 am to 6 pm and Sat. 7 am to 4 pm PT.
To open a case call the
Toyota Customer experience 1-800-331-4331
They will assign a case number and an agent from their Truck Team will call back with instructions.
I've noticed that Toyota has been reissuing frame inspection deadlines varying by state. Toyota customer care has confirmed that the latest deadline for all the affected states is 12/31/12 (even though there were previous deadline letters for 3/31/10 and 12/31/11 for various states). This deadline issue affects vehicles registered only in the following states: CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, Ml, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI, WV and WashDC.
Also i was told that if you buy a used vehicle to call one of the numbers above to register yourself in the database as the new owner. Also if you are the 2nd owner the warranty transfers without issue but if you are the 3rd owner or above that it requires a phone call. I think this has to do with making sure the title is clean.
Thanks
Don
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host
Thanks
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.
There was only one spot about 2" diameter where rust had bubbled up, so I chipped that away with the hammer (it was a claw hammer) and found that it wasn't deep or serious. Banged away at every frame surface I was able to get to. Made a heck of a noise.
Luckily, this truck has spent most of its life in VERY dry Western Colorado.
Good people get screwed. Bad people get rewarded.
Wow, that statement is so totally TRUE, especially when it comes to car deals. I'm fully convinced that there are NO truly honest car dealers out there. Some are better than others, but all of them have only ONE goal: To separate you from your money. The manufacturers are just as tainted too.
This dealer we bought the Tacoma from is just a local, independent pickup and trailer dealer, yet the owner had a massive room in the back of the dealership that was full of vintage Mopar muscle cars and dragsters. That stuff doesn't come cheap, so it seems that at least his business is VERY lucrative.
I certainly don't agree with that overall statement. You get out of car shopping what you put into it. If you do your research and price your vehicle before even going to a dealer you go in as an educated buyer and won't get screwed. I bought three of my new Toyotas basically over the internet and my son has bought used cars this way also. I priced my cars first, down to every little detail of every option I want and then allow an amount for dealers profit before ever going in to the dealer. The dealers that sold me my cars couldn't possibly screw me because I knew what I wanted and knew exactly what I wanted to pay and how much I wanted to allow him to make on my purchase. You gotta remember, this is the dealers job to sell and make money off of you, but you have to do your own homework first to prevent being "screwed" and taken advantage of. Going to a reputable, well known dealer in the first place will go a long way in preventing being taken advantage of also.
My truck has been inspected and failed but Toyota is trying to say the recall ended on 12/11. That is not true. Thanks for any info. pete