massive frame rust crack, I need your help!

**helpful advice only, don't tell me I made a bad choice without anything helpful to say**

So I knew before I bought my 2004 tacoma that they have issues with frame rust and I took a quick look around before buying it and everything seemed fine, but look what I found
So this is what I found in daylight (It was much darker when I first inspected before buying). It is rusted all the way through on the inside of the passenger side frame from about the leaf spring mount to a few inches behind the front wheel. The opposite side of this rust crack is completely fine. I don't think this crack was there when I bought it, I think it became visible after driving it and some off roading. All other parts of the frame including the driver side are for the most part rust free or at most a little surface rust. (on the outside). As I have read in many posts these frame issues happening from the inside out.

I really need some help and advice here. I've been driving it daily and been off roading twice and it doesn't feel structurally damaged so I'm hoping it is still strait and true. I stopped driving the truck as soon as I found the damage. I know there was a deadline for warranty frame replacement by toyota and it was extended if the frame was sprayed but the problem is I don't know that mine was sprayed or not by the previous owner. How do I go about the warranty route with Toyota? If they fight it and say it was never coated and they won't replace or help at all do I turn it in to insurance? Can I have it repaired? I'm open to any positive and constructive suggestions. It would be nice to hear from people who have gone through the recall process.

 

That is one of the longest "cracks" I have seen.
I would imagine that you could find out if Toyota did the coating though the VIN.

 

Just poking around looking for frame threads.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-rust-recall.263311/

Not sure if any of this will help or not.

 

I've been looking around about it for the last few hours. I'm pretty upset about it, mostly with myself for not noticing it. The only open recall on my VIN is for the spare tire assembly rust issue. I called the local dealership asking about free inspection and they guy said they aren't doing replacements for my year anymore then tried to sell me a new vehicle... As far as I've found it has not been recoated before the deadline. I mean look at the extend of the rust. I don't think any outer coating would prevent that! Am I SOL if the previous owner did not have it coated by the dealer? That what most of the forum posts are saying unfortunately.

 

You knew the frames have issues, yet you only gave it a quick look around and somehow missed that mess?! For your sake I hope Toyota covers it for frame replacement, but if they don't, this is going to be a tough lesson to learn. Good luck.

 

I hope I get it replaced also. I may not have noticed this because it may not have looked like this when I bought it. As I said I have taken it off road twice and did hit the frame a few times which would could have caused the rusted frame to facture like this. I did more than a once over look before buying and the more I think about it makes sense that this could have been hidden at the time. Today I found many thick chunks of frame laying inside it. I already feel bad enough, and don't need to be fathered but I do appreciate the concern.

 

Looking at the frame, it doesn't look like it's been coated. The coating does flake off so you should post up a pic of the side or area that is rust free. If the frame was not undercoated then yes, you are SOL and if you try insurance they will more than likely just total the truck out.

I'm in the process of getting the frame swapped and I wouldn't go with what the dealer told you. I highly doubt a service manager or tech would try to sell you a new vehicle, you probably talked to a sales guy/gal.

Look up the VIN on Toyotaowners and see if the frame was undercoated, hopefully it was and if not sorry to hear man.

How long ago did you buy it?

 

couple months ago. If it turns out not to be coated is there anyway I could put pressure on toyota. This could not have been prevented from a coating nonetheless. I wonder if that will ever pan out with these recalls. Here's outside of frame.

 

People still buy 1st gens in rust states without getting a proper frame inspection?

 

Really doesn't look like its been coated man. I have one that's been coated and it looks like tar has been applied to the frame. True the undercoating would not have prevented the frame rot but at least it would be covered under the 15 year warranty.

I highly doubt that Toyota would do anything for you, especially if they sent out the letter to whoever owned it at the time to get the frame undercoated.

You can try with Toyota but don't get too butt hurt when they say it's your problem, I would still call them up and see what they can/wont do. With the money they made in the lawsuit they should be taking care of every rusted frame or buying them back.

Did you buy it from private party or a dealer?

CHECK TOYOTAOWNERS website!

 

I doubt they are going to help. Especially if you are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th owner.

 

I was given a clean carfax from the dealer (not toyota) of the vehicle that included stating that there was no structural damage

 

You're the 4th owner. Good luck

 

Also if you call anyone about it, DON'T call it a recall. It was a service campaign they did for a few years for the 01-04. My truck was undercoated back in 2011 by the PO and now carries a warranty till early 2018.

Dealers really have no clue what they are talking about, well at least the two I called didn't. They both thought the frame program was expired so I called Toyota HQ about it. The rusty frame issue for the 2nd gen 05-08 is expired as far as I know.

 

Why would you expect Toyota to fix something that is beyond not just their warranty period but also the extremely generous extension as a result of the recall. This truck should have been taken out of service by the previous owner and it sucks that they passed this mess on to you but that isn't Toyota's fault. That frame is now at least 12 years old and has probably been rolling through rust belt winters that whole time, no vehicle frame would hold up to that without regular care. You knew about the issue before purchasing and decided it wasn't a big enough deal to climb under the truck. Lesson learned.

 

I can't read the paperwork but if there is something in there about no structural damage, that is the route I would take. Call them up and get an email address and send them some pics, tell them you want a refund for sticking you with a safety hazard. If they choose not to do a damn thing, talk to a lawyer.

There is no way that happened within a couple of months and if they inspected it prior to selling the truck they would have noticed something isn't right.

 

Op, can you disclose what you paid for this truck? Just trying to figure out if the PO dumped it cheap knowing of this issue

 

Only eligible for the 15 year warranty if it was inspected by the deadline, which unfortunately has passed.

Honestly, that's a hell of a rust issue....that's a painful picture to look at. I'd start looking into sourcing another used frame out of a truck that's no longer running or otherwise being sold for dirt cheap, then doing a swap. Could also take it to a fab shop and see what they say, but I fear a shop might say it's already too compromised...

Have you contacted the seller about this? There's no way that should be considered safe to drive, he should have disclosed that to you. Shitty of him not to.

 

I do not expect Toyota to fix this, never did I say that, I only wanted more info on my options. I am aware of the warranty and the extension offered by toyota and that would be my first choice in a resolution. I'm not whining here just trying to find the right solution. And as I stated in my original post... helpful advice only. I don't need to hear how I made a bad decision. I did look under truck at the frame and didn't see anything like this. Please give me helpful information or do not post here

I paid $9950 before tax

I just discovered this a few hours ago, nobody is open on a sunday evening, I'll be contacting the seller tomorrow morning. Not sure how far I can go with that as the truck was sold "as is"

 

Your cheapest option here is to find a truck of the same year and body style with a blown motor or body only damage off CL, park it right next to your truck and start swapping.