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Pickups Toyota Tacoma Toyota Tacoma 2004 and Earlier Frame Problem
921 messages, Last post on Nov 06, 2009 at 11:20 AM
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I have a 99 Tacoma SR5 V6 with a bad frame rust / rot problem. Near the front of the spring shackles the rust is so bad that I can push my finger through the frame in spots. I have contacted Toyota and they pretty much told me too bad. My warranty expired 9/2006 and they said there is nothing they will do. I have since contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and filed a complaint on their website. It appears that many people across the country are having the same problem. I would encourage anyone having this problem to make a report here http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ . The ODI number for my complaint is 10183884 and it can be searched on the website as well. I am also pasting a copy of the other complaints to show it is not just one or two people. This is a search from just 1999 model years : Report Date : March 5, 2007 at 12:51 PM SEARCH TYPE : VEHICLE YEAR : 1999 Make : TOYOTA Model : TACOMA Make : TOYOTA Model : TACOMA Year : 1999 Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10175255 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: October 17, 2006 VIN : 4TAWN72N8XZ... Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Summary: I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM BLAISE ALEXANDER FAMILY DEALERSHIP ON OCTOBER 19 2005. I BOUGHT IT WITH 80K MILES ON IT. I PAID ROUGHLY 13,500.00 FOR IT. MY LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE NOTICED A SMALL RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS AGO. WELL A FEW MONTHS LATER I HAD NOTICED A HUGE HOLE HAD APPEARED IN THE AREA OF THE LEFT REAR SHACKLE. SINCE IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL WELD SHOP. HE AGREED TO TRY AND FIX IT. UPON REMOVING THE BOX, THE GAS TANK HE NOTICED HE HAD OPENED A MAJOR CAN OF WORMS. BOTH SIDES OF THE TRUCKS FRAME WERE SHOT FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAB TO THE BACK BUMPER. HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THIS WAS MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD BOUGHT IT ON OCTOBER 17 2006 AND SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF THE TRUCK THEY HAD JUST SOLD ME LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. THE GENERAL MANAGER JOHN PANKO SAID HIMSELF THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ROAD WORTHY. WELL A LONG STORY SHORT... TOYOTA CORP WAS CALLED IN TO INSPECT THIS VEHICLE AND OFFERED TO GIVE ME $2000.00 TO FIX IT. A SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $6000.00 TO FIX. WELL NEEDLES TO SAY I AM NOT PAYING ANOTHER 4K ON A VEHICLE THAT I ALREADY OWE $11,500.00 ON. I HAVE NO WARRANTY LEFT TO DATE ON THIS VEHICLE, AND EVEN IF I DID, THE FRAME WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE ALEXANDER DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GIVE ME A LOANER CAR, OR HELP ME IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND LONG ENOUGH. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND PLAN ON FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR PENNSYLVANIA. ALSO THE DEALERSHIP NEVER GAVE ME ANYTHING IN WRITING FROM TOYOTA SAYING THEY AGREED TO PAY. HOW DO I EVEN KNOW IF AN INSPECTOR CAME OUT OR NOT. ALEXANDERS COULD BE SAYING THIS TO SHUT ME UP. ANOTHER PROBLEM I NOTICED THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE IS A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. I ALSO HAD 2 SETS OF NEW TIRES PUT ON IN THE SAME WEEK. CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME?*JB Make : TOYOTA Model : TACOMA Year : 1999 Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10177454 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 20, 2006 VIN : 4TAWM72N0XZ... Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Summary: CORRODED FRAME RAILS ON A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 WITH XTRACAB. PURCHASED USED FROM A PA USED CAR DEALER WITH 120K MILES. WHILE REPLACING THE REAR SHOCKS, I NOTED SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION OF THE FRAME RAILS AND CROSS MEMBERS ON THE FRAME OF THIS TRUCK. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, I NOTED SEVERAL AREAS WHERE THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPAIR PATCHES WELDED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME TO BEEF UP THE WEAKER AREAS. THIS INCLUDES THE DRIVER'S SIDE FROM THE FRONT WHEEL TO THE REAR JUST BEYOND THE REAR WHEEL. THE PASSENGER SIDE ON THE REAR AREA BETWEEN THE SPRING MOUNTS. THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME RAILS ARE FILLED WITH CORROSION AND LARGE PIECES OF THE FRAME THAT HAVE FLAKED OFF. RUST PROOFING WAS APPLIED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME TO PROTECT/HIDE THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE WAS OWNED IN COLUMBUS, OHIO IT'S FIRST YEAR, AND THE REMAINING TIME IN W. VA, ACCORDING TO CARFAX. NO ACCIDENT DAMAGE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE BODY IS IMMACULATE. FAILURE OF THE TRUCK'S FRAME COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I AM GOING TO ASK OTHERS VIA VARIOUS WEB PAGES TO REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES FROM 96-04 MODEL YEARS. *NM Make : TOYOTA Model : TACOMA Year : 1999 Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10179283 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: January 21, 2007 VIN : 4TAWM72N9XZ... Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Summary: 1999 TACOMA FRAME RAILS RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. *NM Make : TOYOTA Model : TACOMA Year : 1999 Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10183884 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: March 1, 2007 VIN : 4TAWN72N7XZ... Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Summary: I HAVE A 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 XTRA CAB, WITH AN IMMACULATE BODY, HOWEVER THE FRAME RAILS HAVE ROTTED OUT SO BADLY THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER THROUGH THE RAIL IN SOME PLACES. THE FRAME IS UNSAFE AND A FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOST SEVERE LOCATION OF THE ROT IN JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME. *JB Make : TOYOTA Model : TACOMA Year : 1999 Manufacturer : TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10183886 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: February 26, 2007 VIN : 4TAWN72N7XZ... Component: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Summary: FRAME ROTTED OUT ON 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 XTRA CAB 4X4 NEAR THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLES. UNSAFE CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. *JB |
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Replying to: berdman21 (Mar 05, 2007 1:28 pm) |
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Replying to: montucky (Mar 30, 2007 4:26 pm) Do I call a lawyer next? I bought this thing a month ago! How do I search the ODI database for this problem-when I input the ODI number nothing comes up. cheers, dan |
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Replying to: drotigel (Apr 02, 2007 12:42 pm)
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Replying to: berdman21 (Mar 05, 2007 1:28 pm) I bought it new in 98' and maintain it regularly. The last time that I put it on a jack the frame partially collapsed where it was resting on the jack. After further inspection I found severe corrosion throughout the frame. The bumper brackets are barely holding up the bumper. It has been a reliable truck and this is the second Tacoma that I have owned. Both were equally reliable. However, the problem has given me quite a scare. I don't dare haul anything heavy in the bed and the idea of towing something with it is simply out of the question. The body is still in pretty good shape with a little corrosion on the front of the hood from a stone chip. I just don't understand how the problem could have become so severe. I would expect a certain mount of rust down there, but this is more severe than I have ever seen. My best guess is that the vehicle is almost worthless even though everything else is in satisfactory condition. Until I discovered this problem, I had expected to keep it for at least 5 more years. Any Advice? I filed a complaint w/NHTSA
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Replying to: wlr (Apr 13, 2007 3:27 pm) |
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I have been looking for a decent used Tacoma for quite a while. Over the weekend, I drove two used Tacos at different dealerships. The frame on one was so bad I couldn't believe it. I thanked the salesman for his time and said I couldn't afford to buy the truck and then turn around and put money into it right away. The other truck I am still actually considering buying, although everything I am reading about rusted frames is causing me doubt. Overall, the truck is in pretty nice shape, but there is what appears to be surface rust on the frame. I just figured it would be a quick fix. Anyway, it really seems like this is a common problem for these trucks, and that no one has had any luck finding a semi-permanent solution. Am I being paranoid, or should I not take a chance on this purchase? |
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| My father has the same problem with his 98 Tacoma 4x4. Bought it new from the dealer, only has 100,000kms on it, body and everything else is pristine. But the frame is rotten real bad near the leaf spring mounts on both sides. Does anyone here have luck to get a dealership or Toyota to do something about it? Please let me know. Also, if anyone know where I could make a complaint in Canada, i'd like some input as well. | |
| Yeah, I join the others in complaints. My '97 Tacoma has terminal frame rot. This was to be my first and only new car -- my dream car -- I am 69 years old and retired. This Tacoma will not pass PA inspection. The rear frame is rotted out. It is not safe to drive. I never expected this from a Toyota. My last Toyota had 249,000 miles on it. This rotten one has only 78,000. I am disappointed! | |
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Replying to: berdman21 (Mar 05, 2007 1:28 pm)
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