Buy a New Truck or Repair a 2009 Tacoma?

Let's have some guys with experience weigh in but those pictures make me a bit uneasy with my prior advice and the general consensus to hold on to this truck.

You're right on the weak spot of Toyota trucks with this one. After seeing that, if your wife is reasonable and you've been financially responsible, I might actually lean towards hunting down a nice clean frame, whether new or used.

Have you taken it to the dealer and if so, what have they advised re the frame?

TLDR: I don't like what I see from the standpoint of keeping the truck.

 

That's a good point! If I go and spend $35K - $45K on a new truck I'm going to be nervous to do anything with it. I have two 10 year old boys and their friends are over a lot which would also make me nervous.

 

I really appreciate this feedback. I wasn't sure by the look of things. I can't imagine replacing the frame would be a good idea financially, right?

 

Frame looks sketchy....

 

They’re gonna turn into teenagers. Believe me, I know from experience, my brother and I tore up everything we touched. Their friends can be worse. I remember my brothers friend, a really big kid, always had flooding pants and bonking his head. He would pick up something, looking at it, break it, it was comical watching him. I think having a new vehicle get broken by a bunch of kids would be more upsetting than if it were old.

 

my boys are 8 and nearly 6 so I hear ya. Upside is you can maybe consider T4R which has more rear seat space than Tacoma. Or Tundra but $$$$

I'm curious what the dealer has to say and what the background is on the frame, if was treated, what the frame warranty replacement possibilities are, etc. The dealer is your first stop on this journey and it's well worth the fact finding before you spend money on it.

From a friend with better judgement than me who I sent the link to:

 

It's definitely not terribly cost effective to pay for a frame swap vs just buying a similar vintage without frame trouble.

 

Time for a new shop


Fix the truck!

 

Thank you for asking a friend! There is a recall for my truck but it had to do with the potential of a leaf spring puncturing the gas tank. I had that done years ago. I'll do some more digging though.

 

Pictures # 5 and the last picture show holes in your frame .You missed the frame replacement program window. Tacoma owners are eligible for a new frame 12 years from when first placed in service. I would trade that truck in like yesterday. If and when you look for any Toyota truck bring a proper working flashlight, card board to lay on to throughly inspect the frame. The Toyota frames need to be maintained like any other part of the vehicle . There are many threads discussing rust remediation Winter is coming .This time your wife is right. G.L.

 

Thank you for your honest opinion. The only recall I received for this truck was the issue with the leaf springs and took care of it several years ago. I was not aware of the one you're referring to, although I do see some information on newer models on the NTHSA website.

 

Thanks I appreciate it

 

I can’t get them here either. CA,CO & NY I believe are the restricted states because of emissions requirements (I’m in CO). I had to have mine shipped out of state then shipped to me.

 

Even if you sell it you do not have to buy the vehicle people call turd gen for multiple reasons.

If you do keep it, there are performance catted headers, used manifolds
Rust converter paint
Brake line flaring tools if it’s hard lines
Probably roomy to work on

fluid film

salt shift makes underbody cleaners and frame spray nozzle. I got the frame nozzle.
I don’t know about salt.
In CO there was mag chloride. Garden hose gets purged and shut off for winter.
Car washes probably re use salty runoff water.
In my case I worked at a shop with water hose, drain buckets, and drain grates in the floor. For occasional rinsing. But some rust still started to form.

 

My understanding of the frame recall program is that it’s entirely based on truck year and frame condition. In very specific time windows, if a frame has very specific rot, you may then be eligible for replacement. It is not a safety recall for specific models and years which would be something all owners would then be notified about. And it won’t show up in owner history unless the frame was previously treated making it ineligible for replacement. It is not something tied to your VIN, you have to present the truck to a dealer and meet the criteria to be eligible.

I’d mostly trust @FRE1809 to know the numbers but you can always attempt to confirm that with your local dealer.

I know of one person who got a new frame from the Tundra program but I’d imagine the terms are different there.

Also, keep in mind that there are some costs for a frame swap not covered by the warranty program, stuff you’d have to pay out of pocket. But the bulk of the labor and the frame itself is included so if eligible it’s typically worthwhile to take advantage.

If it were me, and I had any remotely trustworthy service advisor, I’d get them to look it over and advise on options. Trading it to a Toyota dealer could make some sense, they have the parts and tools to do a frame swap and get it back on the road if it’s financially viable so they might be able to pay more than someone just parting it out. And while they might not give you top dollar in trade, they can help you source a replacement vehicle at a reasonable price.

Selling it private party without disclosing the frame condition, well, that’s not something I would feel all that good about myself.

Parting it yourself could be the most lucrative but most people don’t want to have a side job of junkyard manager and most wives I know of might not like that.

I have a friend in the NE w a tundra with similar frame issues who is similarly stuck. It happens. There is no easy answer and it’s hard to give up on a trusted rig.

Bottom line, I wouldn’t sink thousands into this truck without some plan to address the frame rot. Easiest way out is to sell and move on. If the 4.0 is a must have, there are some ok options in the used market on 2.5 gen 2012-2015’s. I actually think 2nd gen is the current best value in a used Tacoma, it’s nearly the same truck as what is sold new today in terms of capability. And I personally struggle paying 40k+ for an AT DC Tacoma, at that price point I’m thinking 2.5 gen Tundra or new 4Runner.

 

Unfortunately with the looks of that frame I'd be looking at replacing the truck with a non rusted out one. Glad I live in the non-rustbucket zone, the only time we see a frame like that is a NY, Pa, NJ, etc auction car/truck that made its way to a shady dealer here. As to the suggestions of sticking with a 2nd gen I have to agree and did. Can actually find 2016-18 as cheap or cheaper than 2012-15 with equal miles around here which should tell you something

 

Thank you for the thoughtful and quick responses! I really appreciate it. I have some contacts at Toyota dealers so I'm going to try to get myself in a newer Taco. Price matters so we'll see what happens.

 

@DaBronze9774 How much trade in value for your current Tacoma?

I'd have to agree that picking up a new one is a good idea. It's a shame to see one claimed by rust. Hopefully with some rustproofing your new truck can last a lot longer!

 

He will need to get on a airplane and get the hell out of new england, way south of Buffalo NY. Those rust free vehicles are generally going for a premium also. IMHO going new, trouble free is the way to go, throw on some seat covers and teach the kids this is dad's new car so respect it.

I think he should just go new, maybe toyota can cut him a deal on a base model sport or sr5 given the frame rot, or be willing to over allow his trade in as a mechanics special, someone will want that for a swap.

Swap frame plus new parts is 12k+ making the truck worth like what 15k? Or sell as is for 3-5k and get a new vehicle.

Edit-missed it, good luck OP. Turd gen, THIRD isn't the worst, many more features, better gas mileage and less torque until you have it tuned.