*You guys know about this yet* 2001-2004 Tacoma's added to Frame Recall

[Obi..]

Just a heads up, a family member from back east got a notice to bring in her truck for an inspection, and frame treatment.

It seems (from what she read to me) that it's specifically targetting areas where roads are salted, but FWIW, I know I've seen trucks out here in California with similar issues, whether they were Pacific Coast, or Sierra Nevada driven, both had some places w/ rust.

Which means, it never hurts to get under your rig and check things out.

If anybody has a direct link or further info, please add it in for posterity's sake.

[Bighead]

Found this posted on Edmunds...

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Owners of 2001 – 2004 Tacomas have begun to receive letters informing them of a Customer Support Program for frame perforation caused by rust. This warranty extension will be offered for a period of 15 years, five times the original coverage, with no mileage limitation from the vehicle's in-service date, for this specific condition; some conditions apply and these are explained in the Owner Letters.

I can assure you we have gone to great lengths to fortify the integrity of this extraordinary program. Here are some details of the program and what we have done to prepare for this event.

Based on our experience with the 1995 – 2000 Tacoma, we were able to determine that greater than 97% of the perforated frames came from twenty specific Mid-Western and North-Eastern states where road salt use is prevalent.

Owners in the twenty states will have until October 31, 2010 to visit their local dealer for an inspection and application of a corrosion-resistant treatment process in order for the extended warranty to be applied to their vehicle. Toyota is currently preparing the dealerships in these specific twenty states to apply the corrosion-resistant treatment. Customers will receive a letter from us when dealer preparations are complete. Further details and limitations will be provided in the owner letter. Owners in the other thirty states do not need to take action for the extended warranty to be applied.

We encourage owners to wait until they receive their letters to ensure the dealer has ample time to spend with their vehicle.

If the frame is confirmed by the dealer to be perforated, it will be repaired. Obviously, this new program is different compared to the earlier model Tacoma and here’s why.

When we announced the 1995 – 2000 Tacoma program, frame repair was not an option for us or our customers. At the time, we no longer manufactured frames for many variations of these vehicles. In the case of 2001 – 2004 Tacoma, replacement frames are still in production.

To develop this new program, engineers here in Los Angeles, working with Toyota engineers from Japan, created a more comprehensive and less intrusive disassembly and reassembly process with built-in quality. In doing so, they identified all of the major and ancillary parts needed to complete the repair.

Along with a frame, dealers will receive kits that include all the necessary nuts, bolts, washers, clips, mounts, etc. Additionally, they will replace specific major components like leaf springs and lower control arms as necessary. They won’t replace mufflers, brakes and other wear items as part of the program. However, if the owner wants these parts replaced, we provide the opportunity to take advantage of labor savings.

We have allocated a generous amount time for dealers to complete the work and to address the unique challenges specific to each vehicle.

We are confident with the unprecedented steps taken with both programs to minimize the inconvenience of our customers and to protect the value of their vehicles. It is our intention to deliver on the “total ownership experience” and to maintain loyal Toyota customers.

We sincerely appreciate the feedback we receive from sites such as Edmunds.com. If you have any concerns with your Tacoma or other Toyota vehicle, please call our toll-free help number at 1-800-331-4331. Thank you.

Brian R. Lyons
Safety and Quality Communications
Toyota Motor Sales USA

[atistang]

i wonder what states need to bring there trucks in to get the warranty extended?

[jrallan26]

I haven't got anything in the mail.

[Cebby]

The local Toy dealer I drive past regularly here in Pittsburgh always has a bunch of Tacos collected at the end of their parking lot. I haven't seen any double cabs yet though.

[p nut]

The word now is that some 01-02’s are getting the same treatment as the 95-00’s (meaning crusher). They’re saying it depends on whether it’s worth it for them to replace the frame or not, so it’ll be taken on a case-by-case deal.

[CJM]

I dont get it, how can they say the frames are a recall and all when the older trucks were and still are complete rust buckets?

I also dont understand how my 96T100 can not be rusted utterly out and its been in a salt area all its life and how 4runners arent affected in this recall.

[p nut]

I'm not sure about the T100's, but the Tacoma frames were made by Dana Corp. and did not get treated with rust proofing material that all of the other frames get treated with. This is why the frames are rusting. T100's all probably got treated. 4Runner frames were built in Japan (I think. Not by Dana, anyway), and are fully boxed.

[DavidAlexander]

I think it had to do with shipping them across the ocean. Weren't the tacos made in North America and the 4runners in Japan? That is the conclusion that was come to on another forum. :headscratch:

[Terracoma]

All Tacomas up through 2004 were assembled in the California bay area (Fremont).

I don't know where Dana built the frames, though.



EDIT: Google to the rescue...

http://dana.mediaroom.com/index.php/press_releases/1653


The Stockton facility provides full-frame assemblies for the Toyota Tacoma
pickup truck assembly line at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), the
Toyota-General Motors joint venture in nearby Fremont, Calif. The Tacoma
frame consists of 144 components. Dana produces frames for 11 different
models of the truck on a just-in-time basis.

[CJM]

I think it has to do with the fact that they were made here by Dana and instead of just denying it the took action.

But the jap trucks that were imported from 80+ all tended to rust out ont he cab mounts and frame. My truck is fine :) perhaps it received a different treatment or something. What little rust I had was all surface and I painted over it with that rust spray stuff.

[atistang]

I just called the help line, they registered me with my truck (i'm not the original owner) and said i should received a letter within a week, then I take it to the dealer and they will inspect it.

[MSWFox]

Sometimes living in Texas is nice. Trucks down here don't rust unless you get them in the salt water on the gulf coast. Has anyone here actually taken their Tacoma to the dealer yet and had the treatment? How did it go?

[atistang]

Sometimes living in Texas is nice. Trucks down here don't rust unless you get them in the salt water on the gulf coast. Has anyone here actually taken their Tacoma to the dealer yet and had the treatment? How did it go?


i'm actually doing that tomorrow

[atistang]

ok, i went in and they inspected it, then they told me there is no rust which i already knew. then they told me that they are currently trying to get the epa to approve the chemical they are gonna treat the frames with. they are suppose to call when that happens then i can go back in and they will treat the frame for free. So i would call your dealer before you make a trip there just for that

[arjan]

T100s were also made in Japan I thought.
I recall they had the maximum size at which not to get dinged for import taxes to protect the 'big 3' at the time.

I am glad the 4Runners have JT vin numbers. They do seem to have fewer issues.

[CJM]

Ya T100s were made in japan.