2004 Toyota Tundra Frame Rust

So I just got my Tundra back from inspection and was told that my frame is rusted out. My mechanic told me to call Toyota, that he was pretty sure there was a recall that had been issued for this model truck. Called Toyota, they said there was no "recall" but there was a "limited service campaign" that ended in 2015.

Wondering if anyone has any advice/knowledge/know-how of how to proceed with this, what my best options are. Try Toyota again, press them, maybe see if there is any way they will help me out? Scrap the truck entirely? I still owe about $8,000 on the truck itself.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Enter your vin here and see if there are any open recalls.

https://www.toyota.com/recall

If there’s a recall open, there’s a chance you may get a new frame.

 

There aren't any open recalls

 

Plenty of forum members are getting new frame replacements for this issue. Hopefully one of them can chime in...

 

Then your best bet is to call Toyota corporate and make a stink. Maybe they’ll treat you right and offer you a new frame. Otherwise I’m afraid you might be out of luck.

 

Any advice for making a stink? I'm not very good at this but I'm on hold with them now...

 

Even though we all know you wouldn't do this. Tell them if this is how they treat their loyal customers you'll have to sell the tundra and start buying ford.
I known factory issue should not have a limited date on it and should be fixed.


Toyota services is normally pretty nice.

 

There is a recall. I had my 04 limited frame replaced for free from Toyota because of the recall.

 

When? Recently?

 

About 2 yrs ago. But is definitely out there.

 

The frame replacement ended last year for the older first generation model I know because I was one of the dummies that got my frame sprayed when the first recall came out. Now Toyota says they are not responsible. So as another member put it the stealership offered me $6000.00 for my limited double cab I let them know no more business for them and fixed it myself

 

That’s actually not true. My truck is currently at the dealership getting the frame replaced.

 

Hey Isaami, can you please give us some details. Like the OP said and lots of other posts echo, the frame replacement ended a couple of years ago.

What was required for you to get yours? Did you just show up for an oil change and the dealer said, btw here's a new frame for you?
Are you the original owner?
Is this same dealership where you purchased the truck?
Did you have the frame inspected previously?
Are you related by blood or marriage to the owners of the dealership?

Anything you can tell us might help others to get some help from Toyota. Thanks!

 

Was your frame sprayed as part of recall ? If your frame was not sprayed it was my understanding there was no statute of limitations and they will replace your frame. But if a frame is sprayed and still replaced it I would like to know the process

 

I got a reopened recall notice for my 07 about 7-8 months ago
It’s going in this Saturday for frame inspection

 

here's my thread documenting the whole thing.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-1100-tundra-build.32740/


TL;DR is that there are two different solutions for the frame rust issue. There's the TSB, which expired, and the Recall, which can never expire. My truck did not get the rust preventative coating, and so the recall didn't get closed. Because of this, when I brought the truck in for inspection, it failed and Toyota is putting a new frame on.

If the truck got the coating, Toyota is off the hook and you're SOL.

this is a link explaining the difference between the frame sections covered by the TSB, and the sections covered by the recall. They ARE different.
http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/toyota-launches-00-03-tundra-frame-replacement-program/

 

Completed repairs before painting. Where I am pointing this is the direction that should not be welded

 

That some damn nice work man
You got skills

 

I told them the same thing they Don't care even though it was Toyota cares are the ones who called me. Here's the worst part I worked for Toyota for 18.5 years and was there when the first Tundra rolled off the line in Indiana. I can assure you that calling without some legal backing will do you no good. All of my vehicles have been Toyota for the past 20 years Don't get me wrong they build a good vehicle they just Don't get it right all the time

 

This may be a silly question but is it obvious if the frame was coated? I know the previous owner had my truck inspected and it "passed". Meaning it's the original frame. But I don't see any obvious signs of coating.

 

Yes it is take your fingernail or a plastic knife and scrape around in different areas. If it has been sprayed it will come off as a black waxy substance. But don't be fooled if you don't see it all over most of mine was gone by the time I started working on it. My dealership didn't even clean the frame before applying and left overspray all over the back of my cab

 

Reason for not welding here? Creates weakness fold?

 

I used to modify and extend semi tractor frames for a living and was told to never weld across the flanges because it puts the frame in bind when the frame has to twist and a weld there will limit that frame movement

 

if it "passed" then Toyota sprayed it.

 

Classic corporate spin whether it's GM Dex-Cool problems, Ford engine fires, or anything Dodge.

Bring your truck to Toyota for inspection to be told, "You have premature rust, but no perforations or rust holes so were not replacing your frame. We will however spray your frame with our special anti-rust juice at no charge to you." Then 4 years later when your frame is crumbling like rustbuckit's and you take it back to Toyota they say "Sorry rustbuckit, but your received our special anti-rust juice a couple of years ago, so all those rusted seams and new rust holes are no longer our problem. Truck is not safe to drive. Btw, you've been warned your truck is unsafe so if the frame splits in two and you run over somebody's dog/kid/granny/mother/frog, expect to be charged with negligent homicide if you live in NY, MA, MD, DC, CT, NJ, or any other blue state. But remember, Toyota values you as a customer so please fill out our customer survey for a discounted oil change"

So my best bet if I want to buy a used first gen is to now find one that has never had the rust juice coating, make sure it's rusted to hell, punch some holes through the rust, and drive it to a dealer and get a new frame regardless of how old the vehicle is?

 

So Toyota just called me back and said their final answer is that there is nothing they can do for me. Should I just take it to a Toyota dealership under the guise of wanting a standard inspection and see what they do/say?

 

What do you have to lose? Take to a dealership without mentioning anything about your conversation with Toyota Corp. In Isaami's other thread a former Toyota employee was saying the dealership wants to do the frame replacement because the dealership can get the job done in 20 hours and Toyota Corp pays 40 hours for the swap...extra cheese for the dealership. Maybe the dealership will argue on your behalf. Please post what happens if you take it in.

 

I had to go to a machine shop today to pick up some stuff for my job. Lo and behold there was an 02 extended tundra sitting there I asked who it belong to. I then informed him that if the frame hadn't been sprayed he could get a new one. He asked me to check and it hadn't and it was rusted badly. He said it wasn't worth it that it had 300,000 miles on it . I said do it anyway maybe they will cut you a deal on another one to prevent having to replace the frame

 

I’m going to take it into Toyota after the holidays — any advice for what I should do if they tell me to fuck off? Like I said I still owe $8000 on this truck, I’m going to be fucked if Toyota won’t deal with the frame.