How bad is this frame rust?

I recently bought a 2003 Tundra. Went to the mechanic who refused to service the truck due to frame rust. Mechanic claim the truck is unsafe to drive. I'm on the west coast, truck is from out east, so the mechanic has likely never seen the such severity of rust.

No recalls available. What should I do?

- Sell at a loss.

- Try to find a frame at the junkyard to swap out. I'm reading about 40hrs labor?

- Find a donor vehicle with good frame. Swap cab, bed, engine, etc. How many hours labor is that?

- Add sweat equity, remove rust?


Thank you.

 

Is the rust bad? Yes. Unsafe? Hard to tell. The crossmember looks like an issue. How’s it up front where the boxed section of frame resides?

Also, go around the vehicle and hit the frame with a small hammer to see if it’s compromised in the questionable areas.

The 2003 is eligible if it hasn’t been coated with their rust coating so you’re probably in luck.

https://tundraheadquarters.com/toyota-launches-00-03-tundra-frame-replacement-program/

 

I agree with Bill. That one might be eligible for frame replacement based on that cross member. The west coast dealer may not have much experience with it so you may have to educate them.

Read this thread.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/early-1st-gen-2000-2003-tundra-frame-replacement-faq.54331/

 

Here are some pictures of the front section. Haven't tried hammer for soft spots or anything yet.

I'm in Canada, checked for recalls online also called Toyota corp, no recalls available.

 

Didn’t that campaign expire a long time ago? The truck is almost 20 years old. Hard to believe anything would be covered at this point.

 

Oh, that would suck if it didn’t apply to Canada. I’m not sure if they were listed in the recall letter and service campaign. Luckily it’s 3 feet away so I’ll take a look.

 

Toyota is still honoring it at least here in the states even though they don’t have to do it.

 

A few best gen members have recently gotten new frames replaced, crackie is one off the top of my head.

 

Ffs no wonder new Toyotas are so expensive.

 

Here part of my letter if that helps. I would call one of the states that qualify to see how they’re handling people in their state and what they could do for you.

 

I had my frame done under recall last June or July. That picture right there was about what my spare tire crossmember looked like and that qualified it. Canada must not be as friendly.

 

That is too bad for me to consider driving. I would be afraid something would let loose at highway speed, hauling or towing.

 

The spare tire falling out is a huge concern and what spawned the recall. Definitely check that and the cable holding it. I think the service campaign for the frame replacement came as a result of the lawsuit.

Once again check the frame with a hammer to verify if it’s bad enough to not be driving. Maybe even ask the mechanic specifically what area made him hesitant about fixing it.

 

Oops, @frichco228 I confused you with the OP. Sorry about that.

 

That looks pretty bad, I’d bust out a wire wheel and chipping hammer on various parts of that frame to double check but IMO it looks like a lost cause.

 

That frame is overcooked. Was clearly left in the oven too long.

 

shes done... not unsafe yet.. but its a mater of time before it is.

 

I am on the other side of the coin. From the pictures you posted, I would say it is surface scale. My '13 4Runner looked like this. Passed dealer inspection. I brushed and scraped and do a fluidfilm application every summer now. Have fun with those LCA bolts.