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Toyota Tacoma 2004 and Earlier Frame Problem

1348 messages,  Last post on Apr 25, 2013 at 10:23 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Tacoma, Toyota 4Runner, Car Safety, Auto Body, Car Warranties, Truck

Messages Page 101 of 135

#1000 of 1348 2006 Toyota Tacoma by andreac

Jun 28, 2010 (9:49 pm)

Ok, so really I am so surprised at the continuous problems we have had with our truck...starting probably about 6,000 miles when the tailgate failed to open, after putting a load of dirt in it...mud flaps feel off just driving on our dirt road, along with both horns fell out in the snow one day, now the horn no longer works, first time the wire was broken, now no horn, the compass and degree gauge glitched out and not longer works, the airbag light has been on for awhile now, the fenders flap since they are bolted together with plastic, my husban had to zip tie them, by drilling new holes, since they just broke due to driving vibration? Alright so the real kicker is this, the truck has been making loud noises the last month, when you go over the bumps...took it to my shop, couldn't find a problem...a few weeks pass, my husband looses all powersteering of the truck. stops immediately, see the resevoir is empty...strange we service the truck all the time, fills it up and see if it responds, looses all fluid...we tow to Toyota...Guess what the FRAME is broken!!!!!!!!!! What, how can that be??????????????????
We only 75,000 miles on this truck and owe over $10,000 still, they tell me $9,000 new frame, along with powersteering pump etc. several more thousand....but get this, they said they will pay for 1/2 of the frame...what ? why? Is it defective?
I have no warranty, but they are saying we'll pay 1/2, that just shows that it is their fault and we aren't going to take that. It is not fair to sell us junk, and charge us a fortune for it....Going to the top, hopefully that will do something? I am loosing my Faith in Toyota

#1001 of 1348 01 Tacoma by aillon

Jun 30, 2010 (6:56 pm)

Hi Everyone,
 
So I have deposit on a 01 Tacoma with 84k. It already has a new frame in place, with a new muffler and rear shocks. Car has some rust but not much. I am only paying 8k for it. Sounds like a fair deal that I can drive to 150k.
 
Am i making the wrong choice?

#1002 of 1348 Re: 01 Tacoma [aillon] by tcincy

Jul 01, 2010 (7:22 pm)

Replying to: aillon (Jun 30, 2010 6:56 pm)
I am 56 years old. I have owned about 20 used cars and 2 new vehicles.
 
I don't think it matters what the YEAR the vehicle is....it's HOW MANY MILES ARE ON IT and how well has it been maintained?
 
84,000 miles isn't a huge amount on a car that's 9 years old. That's only 9,000 miles a year...- not alot.
 
The key is: Has the car had REGULAR oil and oil filter changes?
Has the car been well-maintained?
 
In 1999 I purchased a '99 Tacoma, had the oil/filter changed EVERY 3,000 miles.
When a belt broke I replaced THEM ALL. When a hose broke I replaced THEM ALL. I put 141,000 miles on it with mostly normal maintenance issues..it was a really dependable truck, but then, I helped it by replacing these items before they caused a problem.
 
I found out about the "rust" buyback and was lucky enough to sell it to Toyota in 2008, for $ 8K. If not for that....I was the original owner and KNEW it had been well-maintained and was fairly confident it would have lasted until 200,000 miles.
 
I know someone who has a '90 Ford Ranger. It's 20 years old...HOWEVER...
he has given it regular oil changes/filter changes and regular maintenace.
it just turned 200,000 miles.
 
lst thing I do after buying an old car is "have the oil and filter changed" immediately.
 
It doesn't matter if the previous owner said it had a recent oil change or not - I do it RIGHT AWAY.....so I KNOW it has just had one !
 
2nd thing I do is have ALLTHE BELTS AND HOSES REPLACED.
If the vehicle has 50,000 or more miles on it, and I know the hoses and belts are original, or appear to be old - I replace them all. Yes, it's an expense.
But it's just a matter of time before a belt or hose wear outs and breaks, causing either overheating, breakdown and/or tow truck to garage - in short - headaches.
 
Having hoses replaced also means the radiator coolant/anti-freeze will be replaced! These items will help an older car get a "new lease" on life from the get-go.
 
That's what I did with a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse I purchased for a teen in 2007.
It had 52,000 miles on it. I knew the owner but decided to have the oil and filter changed right away, have all the hoses and belts replaced right away because they were original and would wear out "anytime". The car now has 113,000 and I have no reason to believe it won't last to 200,000 miles.
 

#1003 of 1348 2004 Toyota Tacoma by mancuso2

Jun 28, 2010 (3:47 pm)

#1004 of 1348 2004 Toyota Tacoma by mancuso2

Jun 28, 2010 (3:47 pm)

owner of 2004 Taco took vehicle to toyota scion of Scranton, Pa 3 weeks ago ,also had a frame hammer test in 2008 came up w/extensive rust then. reps name Diane Hoffman. Her exact words on its way out.2010 test 3 weeks came back failed frame. Getting run around w/frame replacement had 5 different case numbers, want to get in volved in class action law suit. We as taco owners have to stick together; no frame replacements. don,t want a $3-$4000 bill up my back for a vehicle i had in mind to keep for many more years to come. Does everyone know they are taking entire vehicle apart and putting back together w/rusted parts.I am in no position to fix this vehicle or purchase a new one.

#1005 of 1348 Re: 2002 rusty frame [tunapete1] by tunapete1

Jul 11, 2010 (11:01 am)

Replying to: tunapete1 (Jun 04, 2010 5:23 am)
Truck in shop 5/28 Picked up on 7/9, new frame. only had to put new shocks on rear 85 bucks.. I think dealer was trying to make me buy new veh with threat of 2K of parts. I still wish they gave me 10k towards a new truck. Now I have a pu with 138K and still not worth that much for trade in. Thanks for all comments as info is important when talking with the dealer. They can't give you a snowjob... Tks Pete

#1006 of 1348 Question for those going who have gone through the frame replacement by gscott13

Jul 12, 2010 (9:39 pm)

my 2001 tacoma is at the dealership now awaiting a new frame. when i brought it in, i also intended to have some additional work done and was unsure if i should call them on the estimate i received... just wondering if they are trying to slip a couple of things through by billing both toyota corp. and me for the same thing...
 
one of the things it needed a four wheel alignment (not horribly out of alignment). in my head, i'm thinking that this would be happening anyway given they are stripping everything off of the frame...
 
the other item is the replacement of the right rear emergency brake pivot and bell crank... i've seen people reference the e-brake in other posts, but was unsure if this is the same thing...
 
lastly, i guess, are there any questions in particular i should be asking about things they should be doing that they might try to slip through that i should specifically ask about? admittedly, i don't know much at all about vehicles and would appreciate any guidance...
 
cheers.
 
-greg

#1007 of 1348 Re: Question for those going who have gone through the frame replacement [gscott13] by tunapete1

Jul 13, 2010 (4:43 am)

Replying to: gscott13 (Jul 12, 2010 9:39 pm)
you get veh alignment. They tried to make me pay for emg brake pivot fix but I lube mine so they were loose. Many are frozen. If they are frozen take some PB Blaster and a hammer and loosen them up slow. They will free up in time. Have to keep them lubes or they will freeze up. Good time to replace shocks.

#1008 of 1348 Question by houdini1

Aug 26, 2010 (6:38 pm)

Is there somewhere on the net that you can check by Vin. to see if the frame has been replaced?

#1009 of 1348 Re: Question [houdini1] by mrbill1957

Aug 27, 2010 (6:26 pm)

Replying to: houdini1 (Aug 26, 2010 6:38 pm)
I haven't seen any list, and I doubt any list will ever be published.
 
Keep in mind, the frame replacement is just that, a replacement. It falls under the same category as any other warranty part Toyota replaces. Sure it's a big job, but the truck wasn't in an accident so the truck won't be on any lists showing damage as if it was in an accident.

Messages Page 101 of 135

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