2006 with broken frame - no help from Toyota

Just discovered that the frame is broken on my 2006 Access Cab. My mechanic says the break is in the right frame rail, starting just behind the sway bar and extending about 10" almost to the sway bar mount.

Looks like Toyota knows about frame issues with these, there was a limited service campaign back in 2015 to spray the frames. Mine had the service in July 2015.

Called Toyota's 800 service number. A rep politely told me there's nothing Toyota is willing to do for me.

The truck has only 155K on it and is just beginning to show slight signs of rust here and there. I was hoping for another four or five years out of it.

Anyone else had the problem? Did you get Toyota to help?

Any idea what it would cost to have the frame replaced? How many other problems would replacing a frame be likely to cause?

 

Does it really need to be replaced or could it be welded?

We need pictures to see what is going on.

 

My mechanic says it is beyond what Vermont law will allow to be welded. If it is welded, he can't pass it for inspection. He's been a good mechanic for us for 15+ years, had several opportunities to run up bills - all of which he passed up. Have the truck back now, when it thaws a bit, I'll crawl under and get a couple pix.

 

Your mechanic, most likely , don't want to weld that frame because of liability concerns, in case you'll get into accident. If you can find welder that will do the job, then respray frame, i doubt any inspector will see that. Just my 2 cents

 

Move to a free state, or sell the truck to a free state, or find a welder who will do it and cover it up.


Say no to that totalitarian BS. You where born free.

 

Montana, the land of no totalitarian BS...nor survivors of traffic accidents.

 

Lol.....that was for like three years....20 years ago...

Lots of survivors...I'm an EMT here Its my job to help you survive.

Live free. Die free. Anyone wants to inspect my vehicle...it better be my insurance company because I'm dead.

 

I forgot about that. If yall though we got shitty mpg at 80....

But yeah, we'd have to see a pic of that crack to give a good guess.

 

The funny thing is that I never saw anyone going faster than that during the reasonable and prudent years anyway.

 

Yup. Wyoming bumped sections of I-80 to 80 MPH and they issue fewer speeding tickets than they did when the limit was 75. I talked to some of the HPs and they said that 80 is about as fast as most people want to drive anyway, so they aren't tied up with run of the mill speeders. They only have to worry about the real jackasses that are going way too fast. *Full Disclosure* Fastest I've ever driven was 131 in my WRX I miss that car.

 

that’s a bummer dude. My invoice for total frame replacement is just over $14,000 parts and labor. If Toyota won’t help you out, you could possibly find an old beater with a replaced frame for cheap, and swap that over. I’ve heard 3rd party shops will do a frame swap for $2-3,000, though I have no evidence of this.

 

Get some pics of area and post. In the meantime, call Toyota. Call Toyota. Call Toyota. Call Toyota. Shittttt call Toyota till they invite you over for dinner. Polite harassment

 

Oh and did I say call Toyota till they ship you a box of chocolates and 2 cans of my bad

 

Moving to a free state occurs to me just about daily. I have an appointment next week with the dealership that did the undercoating service in 2015. I expect they'll tell me that they 'fixed' the problem. I'll have to point out that they're using a new and unique definition of the word fix. Also expect that I'll have to track down the Toyota corp area rep and have a discussion with him. Hopefully, I can make the impression that I'll be more of a PIA than just buying the truck back.

Will get some pix.

 

Friend had my Brother in law weld his up when it wouldn't pass.

It passed and we are in NY.

The guy that inspected it said that he would worry about anyone that hit me due to that fucking frame aint going to go any where...

He used diamond plate but dont remember the gauge

 

Sounds like replacing the frame is really the only option. Below is from https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VN-113-Periodic_Inspection_Manual.pdf

 

Yeah 80 on i90 is about the max I want to go. But i do see people people driving faster in the summer months and the occasional idiot in winter.

 

Thanks for the link Festerw. I'd taken my mechanic at his word, nice to see the documentation says he was telling the truth.

 

BigSkyTaco - I've gotten to the point where I'm disappointed if I don't find the idiots wheels up in the median before I get home.

 

In looking around at the Vermont inspection requirements, I don't see anything that prevents welding a frame, or prevents a welded frame from being inspected.

https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/DMV-Inspection_Guide.pdf
and their 2020 inspection manual
https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VN-113-Periodic_Inspection_Manual.pdf

The above inspection guide does state "Check frame, unibody and sub frame for broken, cracked or severely rusted areas". It's silent about repairs.

I think you've just got a mechanic that doesn't want the work or the imagined liability. Personally, I'd skip the dealership and head to a welding shop.

 

Arg, scratch what I wrote.

From that manual above, page 50, "No patches, welds, or repairs of any kind to any portion of the above-described frame and unibody areas are acceptable, unless the repair meets manufacturer recommendations, specifications or requirements."

 

And this article likely explains your mechanic's fear:

https://vtdigger.org/2015/08/15/mec...laughter-for-approving-inspection-of-vehicle/

 

That is lawyer talk to protect Toyota. Frames are stretched, shortened and welded everyday. Without seeing the rust or crack on your frame to know if it's repairable, but if it is I would weld it and undercoat it if Toyota won't help you. You don't have much to lose at that point and if it passes inspection you have your 5 years and if it doesn't your just at the same point.

 

That's got nothing to do with Toyota. It's from the Vermont vehicle inspection manual.
Doesn't matter how well the repair is done the inspection mechanic can fail it.

Not that doesn't mean they if it's done very well that every mechanic would notice it.

Only other option I can think of is register it in a non inspection state, get it welded, and drive it.

 

I don't think PCJ understands the totalitarian bs of the annual DMV safety inspection.

On a side note, my brother had his 2017 Honda Pilot hit in the left rear while parked at the mall. The impact was typical mall traffic stuff, not a police chase, so I assume someone drunk or texting while driving. Maybe a 20mph impact resulted in a mashed bumper and quarter panel about the size of a trash can lid. I was amazed when the insurance totaled the entire suv and gave him a check for $29k. My guess is the same "lawyer speak" came into play. The frame or trailing arm at the wheel must have been bent in the collision and Honda said, "nope, no frame stretching, welding, patching allowed", thus had to total the entire thing. Good way to sell more cars, bad for our insurance rates.

 

Yeah, my bad. Was distracted and misread. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

Here are a few pix of the frame where it looks to have split at a seam. Have an appointment with local Toyota dealer in the am to have them look at it. Who wants to bet on what they say?

 

They'll say : you need a new frame sir, that will be $10k

 

That looks like substantial rust to me. Or am I wrong? I’d buy a new truck.

 

I think we have a different opinion on "slight rust". That frame is shot, no one is going to weld that back together