My 2002 Tacoma is having it's frame replaced
 

A few months ago, Toyota sends me a letter that states they're inspecting all Tacoma frames up to year 2003. They said that in high road salt areas, like we have in our New England winters, some frames rust and become "perforated". So I brought my truck in to be inspected. If it passed, they would spray the frame and undercarriage with some anti-corrosive material and I'd be on my way in a couple days. Mine didn't pass. It failed and they wouldn't let me drive the truck home. They gave me a rental on the spot, told me they'd replace the frame and it would take 3-4 weeks.
So, now, I'm planning to get the truck back tomorrow or thursday, and i'm a bit wary. They replaced the frame (which consists of lifting the body and motor off and swapping it to a new frame). I'm getting new leaf springs, new control arms, and some other stuff (ebrake cables, etc.).
I'm worried it will never be the same. a bunch of guys at my local toyota putting together a truck by hand is not the same as robots doing it on an assembly line.
i'm just curious if anyone else here had this done, or knows someone that had it done. i'm just wondering what to expect. to be honest, i'm expecting a lot of vibrations, rattles and squeeks that weren't there when i brought the truck in.
the good news is that this isn't costing me a dime, so there's that i suppose. i guess i'll find out in a day or two.

While at the dealer last with my Sienna, I saw this same procedure on what looked like a newer Tacoma. Looks pretty straight forward. The quality of the work unfortunately is in direct relation to the skill of the tech doing the job. The first sign of a problem I'd be right back there asking for it to be fixed.

I'm really beginning to rethink Toyota being such a great manufacturer. My Sienna (part of some 600k Siennas that underwent a "warranty enhancement") is getting new front doors due to welds failing. Now I'll have new paint that I'm sure will not match the rest of the shell.

I thought the deal was they buy your truck back and give you a generous price towards a new one. I wouldn't want mine striped down and reassembled either.

Dana frames.

yeah, that's what i thought too. and it was true for a lot of the older tacomas. i learned that for the trucks 2000 and earlier (i think, don't hold me to it) they were buying those trucks back at 1.5x the KBB private party value at excellent condition, regardless of actual condition. That was because those frames aren't being made anymore... it would be a special order to replace them. But from 2002 on, those frames are still in production and the frame manufacturer is providing Toyota the frame at half the cost. So it makes financial sense for toyota to fix the problem (replace the frame) rather than buy the truck back.
believe me, i'd much rather get the 1.5x the KBB. For a trade in, its the difference of getting $17K for my truck (at 1.5x) and getting $8800 (trade-in value, good condition).

What year Tacoma's are included in this recall?
Mine's a 2003 double cab.

new control arms and everything...hell, you will have all new bushing, and ball joints? please post a picture when you get your rig back. i am damn curious.

i bet they do it right, and you dont hear/feel a thing. my feeling is that toyota really stepped up and addressed this thing. i would love to see the price tag, afterwards.

i think it's at least up to 2003. 2004 is the new body style, right? not sure about 2004 and up.
i would call toyota and give them your VIN. They'll tell you if you need to do anything. I got a letter in the mail. Are you the original owner? If not, maybe that's why you haven't heard anything.

sure. i can post a few pics when i get it back. i'll let you know how it works out.

So much for that superior Toyota build quality.

I think you getting a good deal personally. Cheers to Toyota for standing by their product.

I don't think the frame being replaced should be an issue. If they were repairing part of a unibody car, then yeah, I would be more worried because automobile bodies are pre-stressed when constructed. Its near impossible to make them 100% right after they have been compromised.

They build untold 10s of thousands of vehicles with rusting out frames and they get a kudos?

LOL...wow.

I would never buy any truck that was not made in the USA.

Honestly other than a few little niggles Toyota's don't have that many problems and the stand behind their work. Would GM or Ford? Probably not.


I bet you will notice it. You will think you got a new truck with all those wear items replaced...

Here is a link that tells how I got my '99 Tacoma bought back by Toyota. It was a hell of a lucky deal for me. My replacement high mileage Tundra has been 100% trouble free for the past year.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/410030-toyota-tacomas-breaking-two.html

Dude then you better buy Toyota. My dads Tacoma. Made in America. His 99 and 06 dodge. Both made in Mexico.



How's your foot taste?

A rotting out frame is a "little niggle"?

I fail to see it that way. To me that's a gihugic fk up that screams "poor quality".

Perhaps you should actually read what i typed before chiming in turtle boy. :D

Bought it new. Haven't gotten anything in the mail that i can recall.

well, i agree with the first part. toyota's not replacing 10s of thousands of frames, and buying back thousands of older trucks to "do the right thing". they're doing it to try and avoid a class action lawsuit when one of these things snaps on the highway killing people.

As far as the whole, "buy american" thing, my truck was built in CA while a lot of the GM counterparts were built in Mexico, so... i don't think location of the built has much of a correlation to quality. not nowadays anyway.

Sorry, the Tacoma's are not made in California. They are made close to CA, but not in it or the US for that matter.

I have been to the plant.

i'd call a dealer, or bring it in to a dealer and inquire about it. even if your frame is fine, you'll still get some anti-corrosion stuff sprayed on it.

hmm... i believe my year Tacoma was built in Fremont, CA. If not... someone's lying. :)

Some Tacomas are built at the NUMMI plant in/near Van Nuys, CA

Mexico right?

I stand corrected. The Tacoma's with the frame issues were built at NUMI, in Freemont. Toyota is stopping production there and some will be built in San Antonio alongside the bigger truck, and the majority in Tijuana.

Sorry 'bout that.

The ones built in Kali probably all had illegals building them anyway.

the tundras are also buily in the USA....texas and indiana. almost all us market toyotas are made in the USA btw...and the VAST majority of drive trains are made in WV.
what would i know, we only make and sell the exhaust systems to them....:rolleyes:(all brands)

I bought my 2001 Double Cab new in 2000. Not a spec of rust on it. It's great to live in the South!!!!

The V8s for Tundras and V6s for Tacomas are made in Huntsville, Alabama. The plant used to be a few miles from where I lived...

If Chrysler offered me a fresh new frame for my Jeep TJ, I'd be all over it! I hate rust...

OK.. I got my truck back. So far, so good. Drove it about 10-15 miles without any issues. The only thing i noticed, and it might be all in my head, was that there seemed to be more engine noise. I don't know how that would be possible, but it kinda sounds a bit louder in the cabin. Maybe it's not and I had just gotten used to the quietness of the 2010 Ram that they gave me as a loaner. But overall, I'm happy. They did tell me to drive it about 100-200 miles and bring it back to them to check out again, just to be sure everything still looks good. SO I'll do that.
Here's some pics of my 2002 Taco and its 2010 frame. :)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416736.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416772.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416813.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416856.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416884.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416914.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254416943.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1254417484.jpg

damn dude...that is a nice truck. the new frame looks awesome. they replaced alot of stuff..your AC coolant?!!

maybe more sound is transmitting to you in the cabin thru all the night tight bushings between the frame and body?

I've never heard of the frame having to be replaced on a domestic truck. They must not build them as well as the Japanese.

my god those eastern winters are harsh on cars. I can't believe how much rust you have on the parts they didn't replace - the shocks, the skid plates, - I have a 92 toyota 4x4 and the undercarriage looks almost new comparatively. At least they galvanize the bodywork to the ends of the earth or you would be driving a pretzel.

Check tire wear, they must have done an alignment, hopefully.

it happens...i have seen domestics have SEVERE chassis/frame rust.... If you complain about them doing this, well, NO WAY ford would EVER warranty it.....nor dodge or gm, Kudos for Toyota stepping up.

you guys on the west side think that is rusty? wow...that is a clean one here, glad they did a good job, looks the goods !

are you going to remove that, "caution, heavy part" sticker?

Wow.
New parts- zero cash Gotta love that.
Mine goes in next Wed. for inspection.
Maybe i'll spray some calcium chloride on the frame and let it soak till then.
How many miles are on your truck?
I've got 112000+ on this one and i'm sure it's got more rust on it then yours.
Good luck with your "new" truck.

90,500 miles on the truck.
as far as the "heavy part" sticker goes, it's not my first priority removing that. :)
i think i'll just let this winter's salt and sand do the job for me.
and yeah, the local public works people here in CT get a little carried away and are a bit too excessive with the sand and salt they put on the roads. we'll get an inch or snow and they'll throw another inch of salt and sand on top of it. by spring time, my road looks like a beach. When I go to VT, they're so used to lots of snow that it will snow like 6" and the roads remain untouched. A happy medium would be nice. Perhaps in Massachusetts. :)

If you haven't done so already, spend a decent amount of time underneath and in the wheelwells making sure the routing and reinstallation of all wiring, brake lines, hoses, etc. are done intelligently so they aren't crimped even a little and don't chafe against each other or the frame or body.