What is the "Rust Perforation Standard"?

Hi everyone,

I purchased a 2005 TRD off-road from a Toyota dealer 2 years ago. Big mistake, I took their word for it that the rust was not an issue, without requesting pics (purchased online). Anyways, suffice to say that both the Toyota dealer in town and 2 independent auto shops said the truck is not safe to operate. The used car manager at Toyota said it's worth parts at this point. It's been sitting in my driveway for nearly 2 years now. It's a shame, only 99k miles and looks new if you don't get under the truck....

With the lawsuit proceeding, I was hoping that someone could tell me what the "rust perforation standard" mentioned in the lawsuit is? My frame doesn't have holes yet, but big chunks of steel are flaking away. When I purchased the truck, 2 years ago, Toyota (manufacturer, not the dealer) told me it had rust proofing applied (in 2013), and didn't need a new frame. The rust proofing has all flaked off of course, painting over rust doesn't do a damn thing. I am worried (rightly so) that they will try to deny this claim as well.

Here are some pics. Thanks in advance!

 

I was told a dime sized hole and they'll replace the frame otherwise they'll just coat it with some type of material. I don't have any holes either but I the front sub-frame/suspension mounts are rusting pretty bad.

Maybe rub it with salt until a hole forms?

 

At least my 2012 Spruce Mica RWD TRD Off-road was a Cali car and rust free! Of course, I wouldn't own 2 Tacomas at the moment if it weren't for this issue (and Toyota not wanting to address it).

 

The perforation standard is:

1. if rust perforation(s) of > 10 mm is observed the frame will be replaced;
   
   
2. if no perforations of > 10 mm are observed the frame will be receive Corrosion Resistant Coating (CRC) IF the vehicle is registered in one the "high road salt", "CRC states" listed in the settlement (Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.)

Note: 10 mm is about 5/8th the diameter of a US Dime; a dime is 17.91 mm ø

 

Pictures of frame doesnt look bad at all. Seen much worse. What did they say that was unsafe. If it doesn't have any perforations it is driveable. Start spraying frame and suspension with oil to slow down corrosion.

Also look at frame near the front cats. A well known source of frame perforations. We also need to see more pictures of the frame, not suspension parts. Most of what I see is just surface rust that if not treated with develop into more serious rust later.

Also be aware of where it is parked. Parking on grass is a great way of speeding up the existing corrosion. Park on gravel, concrete or blacktop when possible. At this point even a heated garage may be detrimental to the existing rust.

 

Drive that shit

 

As far as rust goes, that vehicle is **NOT UNSAFE**. While it is possible that it has OTHER problems as well that may contribute to safety, certainly none are visible in those pictures.

 

My 2014 looks like that and does not look bad. Look under any truck after 3 years of salt.

 

Except mine (6 years of salt), but I'm obsessive with keeping it slathered with chainsaw bar oil.

 

Its all good just drive them LOL! I touch up each year but its going to happen.

 

Its all good just drive them LOL! I touch up each year but its going to happen.

 

I have to wonder whether CRC over dirt/rust will offer significant protection. I saw nothing saying they have to clean the frame before applying CRC. Also, having the frame inspected by a Toyota dealership sounds like the fox guarding the henhouse. Where would the objectivity be? I suspect few frames will be replaced based on influenced judgments to decide in favor of CRC instead. But I suppose I should just be glad someone took it to court and got a settlement.

 

Mine is going in next week for the CRC. The dealer said they need it for 3 days and will give me a loaner. I will ask how well they wash it it down before the CRC is applied. What gets me is while the truck, 2010 with 24,000 miles, was in the lot they did nothing. I have had it for 3 months, took it in for a free oil change and was told they tested it for perforations, found none, and CRC needed to be applied at their cost. Why didn't they do that while it was sitting on their lot for two months?

 

Sorry for hijacking op, purchased an 05 now has 140k. I know I don't have any big holes, but what would be the recommendation for cleaning up the frame prior to them most likely doing the frame coating? Thanks in advance. Don't want this thing rusting from the inside out.

 

Wow! just got my notice. I've had her since she was new (2010). currently has 50k, I have this one because my 1st one (1999 TRD) had the very same issue. It had 56k on it at the time. That frame was inspected by Toyota in 12/2009 and was found to have a completely rusted out frame. It went from the dealer to the crusher along with a video tape being of it going into the crusher. They issued me a large checked for the truck as being in showroom condition. I thought that Toyota had addressed the problem back then. Guess not. My current frame has plenty of surface rust but nothing significant that I can find. Will be taking it to the dealer once hunting season is over as they will likely not provide me with a truck loaner. Last time they gave me a new Venza and were very unhappy about me put deer in the back. Oh well, they should have given me a truck. I must say that Toyota has stood behind their Tacos throughout all of the problems. Additionally, I want to thank the folks on this site for keeping me up to date on the various TSBs that have come out over the years. I have had each and every one of addressed by the dealer in part because I had the TSBs in-hand when I went there.

 

I just got a notice in the mail today that the class action lawsuit was settled and my warranty on the frame perforation is extended to 12 years from first use (which would be the February 2021 on my 2009). It also mentions that I can take it into the dealer for an inspection if I suspect it has corrosion issues. Being as almost all of the 233,000 miles on the truck have been in bone dry Colorado, mine doesn’t look anything like the pictures in this thread. In fact, it looks pretty clean except a couple spots that could be mistaken as rust tubercles but I think they are just backside welds that distorted the front side metal a little bit and those areas catch dust. A quick rub with a finger exposes clean painted metal.

Last year, the dealer replaced the rear springs on recall for corrosion issues with the leaf brackets. Again, those were clean as a whistle but the recall didn’t specify a condition, only replacement of certain spring configurations.

I wonder if this problem is endemic to Tacomas from certain plants or if it is a universal design issue?