I took my 2000 SR5 in to have it looked at because of a vibration issue. They suspect ball joints, which is not a big deal. However the tech was not able to lift the truck in the air to check the ball joints due to frame rot.

Now I'm not new to this frame issue. Toyota bought my 99 Tacoma a year ago because of the frame corrosion. I then purchased a 2000 which the seller had inspected by the dealer - and passed. The seller was even paranoid enough about it that they had a local shop check it also. And I checked it myself. It seemed rock solid.

Well here I am a year later and it's like night and day. It is rotting fast - just like the last one. What does Toyota do in a case like this?

 

Pics?

 

I will take some.

 

they buy your truck back.

 

I'm very well acquainted with this. Toyota bought back my '99. However I'm pretty sure that buy-back applied only to trucks purchased by the current owner prior to a certain date (March '07?).

I'm concerned I may be SOL on this one. And I want to get my ducks in a row before I do anything. There must be others in a situation similar to mine.

 

Pretty sure its for ANY truck that hasn't had the recall done already. regardless of ownership.

 

That would be great if true.

I checked the service records online at toyota.com, and the dealer frame inspection was done in April of last year. (I bought the truck in October) It reads "NO PERFORATION FOUND (ORDERED FRAME COATING)".

The frame coating was never done. I wonder if that will make a difference.

 

Why was the frame coating not done??

You found you never had time to get it done?? To busy ??Pictures would be a great help.

I was told this is pretty much over . I would talk to the service manager at your local dealer.

Might be nice to know where you live if your in the Salt Belt where they use the liquid brine that is brutal stuff.

It just takes out the fuel and brake lines after about 2 winters.

 

This was before I owned it. The prior owner passed away and I purchased the truck from his widow.

I plan to take photos today. I am in Wisconsin.

 

The right side is the worst for some reason. Here it is from rear to front:







This is where it gets bad. I created the hole at the left arrow with my finger. This is where the tech had his lift arm. He heard crunching and decided not to raise the truck.



And then ahead of the cross-member it is split.



If it had looked like this a year ago I would not have bought it. But at least it is nowhere near as bad as my 99 got before they bought it back.

 

That truck is ready for a trip aboard the USS FAIL.

I certainly hope Toyota steps up to the plate and takes care of you.


Andreas

 

Looks like some of those I fixed before this all started .

If you can do the work it can be saved but to pay someone will get real expensive to be done correct.

Good luck I would be on the phone ASAP

 

How much were you charging to make the repairs that you did?

 

that truck is doneski. if it was inspected, and the previous owner didn't get it coated. I'd tend to think you're SOL. but they might still help you out.

 

any pics?

 

One reason I can think of for that phenomenon is that salt migrates from the center of the road toward the shoulder.

I live in the high desert so I have no experience with these things, but is salting the roads really necessary out there? Out here they use coarse sand and very fine volcanic gravel. It's hell on the paint and windows, but it works pretty well and corrosion isn't even a consideration.

 

OMG, those pictures make me sick to my stomach! Hope everything works out for you!

 

The buy-back goes by your VIN. They know which trucks are the problem by that, but obviously they can't know who owns each and every truck. Call the dealership and give them your VIN and they can tell you if it's part of the buy-back or not.

 

I justed received a buy-back offer from Toyota. Their number is $15,649.50, which is higher than I had hoped for.

Needless to say I politely accepted.

 

Thats awesome to hear!!