I have a 2004 Tacoma, I
I have a 2004 Tacoma, I received the recall notice about the frame rusting and took the truck in, and they coated it. That was in 2010, it is now 2015, in 2014 I brought the truck in for the recall on the spare tire cable, they replaced that, I asked them to check the frame they said it is ok. I asked if they need to reapply the rustproofing and they said they did not get any instructions from Toyota to do that. The coating in and has been flaking off, it lasted a few years.
Today I had an accident I rear ended a car and my front bumper really moved allot. I am waiting to get it into a shop and will have an independent mechanic inspect the frame.
I am seeing a lot of rust on the frame it’s scaling, that likely affects the strength of the metal and since I only have four more year and Toyota has not requested another inspection of my frame, I feel it’s my responsibility to keep checking it.
Has anyone had there frame treated and then asked to come back for an inspection? My truck only has 60k miles and I am on a slower progression I suspect.
After today’s accident, it really made me think about my safety, that being rusting frames are weakening frames. I am fairly certain the mounting brackets on my bumper were rusted and gave way in the collision. My real concern is around stress point the leaf springs and engine mounts.
I previously had a 1992 that had a frame rust out, it had a perforation at the engine cross support. It went from being worth about 3K in 2005 to worthless once I discovered it.
If I find perforation after 2019 I once again lose all the value in the truck. It’s a shame the trucks are really great runners, but rusting frames are dangerous.
I feel strongly that Toyota sprayed some frames to only slow the rusting and have no intention of following up, with that and that they are fully aware that the frames they sprayed will eventually rust threw, however likely after the extended warranty.
I do live in the northeast and rust is a problem, however in these vehicles the frames are or have problems. I drive 4700 miles annually I work from home, I also keep it in a heated garage. I look at other vehicles of the same year and they do not have scaling on the frames, not like the Tacoma does.