Early 1st Gen (2000-2003) Tundra Frame Replacement FAQ

So it's been a while since I posted. I have had an '02 with 105k miles for close to nine years now. OP had the CRC spray. It's pretty "gently loved" now as I have known for a while that the frame was a timeboxed commodity and my plan has been to drive it into the ground, fixing only what will prevent it from being on the road (so far, O2 sensors, front brake pads, and a strut of which the spring seat rusted and finally blew out, luckily in my driveway vs on the road). The other day I was under it and found that the entire drivers side rear shock mounting point has separated from the frame, and the shock is now pointed backwards. Probably suboptimal

I was hoping it would last long enough to see used truck prices creep back down, but this is really not fixable. Not sure if anything has changed w/ Toyota corporate but CRC or no, this rust is soundly in the recall zone, and the crossmember (previously replaced) is now holier than Pope Pius. I will try giving the dealership a call and see if there is any hope, and as always I appreciate hearing any experiences or thoughts. Thanks!

 

If it's been sprayed and/or had the crossmember replaced I wouldn't get your hopes up but it can't hurt to try.

It's always interesting that this recall was better for you to ignore for 10 years than get it dealt with right away. I know if I owned the truck when the recall came out I would have had it sprayed right away without knowing any better.

 

I know... it's really unfortunate. It's been a while since I called corporate but the smug-a$$ way that guy (I think it was like Keith or Brian) would tell us that the CRC actually does something significant was enough to put me off buying another Toyota forever. Gotta love corporations!

 

Yeah, that's the incredible irony... the folks out there who missed the initial recall ended up being way better off

 

And with this being the case, Toyota should be held accountable for this BS coating which basically did nothing. They sued and collected from Dana corp and then turned around and screwed the consumer. I think a number of us should simultaeously file complaints to the NHTSA. Also shoot short clips of these failing frames and clip them together in a single video for people to see on YouTube. A lot of people are out there unknowingly driving unsafe vehicles because Toyota spray painted their vehicle, assuring them everything would be fine. They never even took the bed off my truck to do the job, and I filed a complaint with corporate when I caught the dealership doing this. Corportate basically said tough shit and good luck. We've been duped! F Toyota! How about we start gathering names and phone numbers from different enthusiasts sites and see if we can get a legitimate claim of fraud together.

Hi all, I'm new to the forum but not this problem. I hope to join other sites and get the same message going. If we get enough people together and make enough of a stink where it starts to draw some media attention, maybe Toyota will actually pretend to give a shit about it's customers.

 

https://www.classaction.org/learn/how-to-start

 

Alright guys so I got this Tundra from my grandpa for a good price. It’s an 02 with 65k miles on it. Body is completely rust free. Interior immaculate. Everything well taken care of. Only downside you ask? He lived in MN. I’ve started to scrape and treat the rust up front but I haven’t touched the rear frame because it’s never had the CRC applied. The recall is still open on it because grandpa had it serviced in ND which apparently is not a cold weather climate state therefore they never did the CRC.
My question for the hive mind is the cross members in green and red look great. But the mounting locations on the frame are rough. This spot is the worst of them, and I’m wondering would this constitute a frame replacement? This is the area circled in blue on the diagram.

 

One member stated that the frame recall is over but not sure if that is true or not. Get some pics of your spare tire crossmember mounting locations. That's the spot that really matters nowadays. Regardless it would probably be good to just go ahead and take to your dealer and have them inspect.

 

So I talked to my friend at Toyota in recalls (which is where I got the diagram) and he talked to a guy who handled some of this major frame recall, and they said the recall never expires because it’s a safety recall.

 

I've heard the same thing as well. Recall exists now because of the worry of the spare tire crossmember rotting off and causing a hazard in the road.

 

Anyone know of a good way to get the 2004 DC frame replaced under warranty? My spare tire crossmember is rotted as well

 

From my Toyota friend.

 

Pretty sure 04 means you're SOL. Might be worth taking in and giving it a shot though.

 

Service guy said it was finally ending, but I've also heard safety recalls can't expire. Who knows for sure. Take it in and see! Good luck

 

Not knocking your service guy, but he’s probably confusing customer support programs, warranty programs, and limited service campaigns, with safety recalls. Which for a tech is understandable. The guy I got this info from used to work in the recall department, and checked with someone currently in the recall department. I am hesitant to take it to my local KC dealer on the off chance that they have the CRC spray on hand and apply it to end the recall for my truck without checking with me first. You know something like, “Oh and while it was in we went ahead and took care of that safety recall for you!” We all know that spray is a bandaid on a bullet wound.

 

No offense, sounds right to me.

One angle to think about is that the service advisor gets paid for the amount of hours the recalls worth. Sort of like a commission. Most service advisors would be more likely to push for a full frame replacement than just the spray. They get more more kickbacks

 

The spray is no longer an option. Its either too rusted out and it needs either just the crossmember replaced (which is also unlikely these days) or the whole frame.

 

Another frustrated 2002 Tundra owner with 100k miles, beautiful condition except for rotting frame that local dealership told me is not safe to drive. Like others I was told not covered, but I see others getting replaced. I’ve opened a complaint to NHTSA and following what appear to be other class action lawsuits potentially talking about the same issue. One owner truck, has been great for 20 years, but this is really frustrating because I did have the earlier warranty treatment which apparently did nothing.

 

Sucks. I'm pretty sure if you got the spray you are not eligible for a full frame replacement.

 

All it'll take is a class action lawsuit with a legal team capable of proving the coating is and/or was a completely ineffective 'lipstick on a pig' solution and Toyota will have to replace those too. (Edit: But it may already be happening; Toyota is huge and has enough legal power to drag something like that case on for a decade or more, and every year that passes, there are less trucks left on the road to repair ...)

 

I hope you can get further with this than others have. It is ridiculous that since you were proactive and had it sprayed when they tell you too that now you can't have a replacement. If you hadn't had it sprayed you could just get it replaced. The spray counts as a full remedy to the recall even though it just makes it rust faster. Best of luck to you!

 

When I bought my 2000 Tundra it had a new frame and the guy said he took it to White Bear Lake. He also said that he knew they wouldn't replace it so he had them shake it down, knowing they'd break something and have to replace it. I wasn't there so I don't know but that's what I was told.

 

ATTENTION ALL 2000-2003 TUNDRA OWNERS!! I have SUCCESSFULLY had my frame inspected and a NEW FRAME ordered and FULLY REPLACED by Toyota as of NOV 18th 2022. My tundra has been in my family since around 2010 and has been one heck of a truck. When I started driving in 2019 I took the truck over from my dad and have been adamant and determined to keep it in the best condition possible. I have been aware of the frame and its deterioration from about the time I started driving it and have watched it worsen. As of may 2022 I noticed a crack forming on the C-channel of my side rail. Because of this I inspected the frame for the first time in over a year and found many more holes and fractures that raised major concern. I then turned to this forum and that led me to taking it in for inspection. Took it in and less than 30 minutes later the tech took me into the shop and he pointed out the concerns and said they were going to take pics and send them to Toyota for approval of ordering a new frame. That was on the 7th of October and I called on the 10th and the service advisor said the FRAME WAS ORDERED and COVERED BY TOYOTA! With the exception of various bolts and other things that are expected to brake during replacement to which is customer pay. My truck never had the CRC recall spray applied as it completely eliminates the option for frame replacement. The estimate on the frame was around 2-3 months, I was shocked when I got a call in less than a month saying it was in and they were ready to go. I spent about the entirety of a week getting together various Toyota part numbers as I wanted to replace suspension, exhaust etc. while almost everything would be covered by recall labor. Some components included with the frame are brake lines, fuel tank straps, and various clips bolts and brackets. In its entirety it took around a week and only got notified of needing new O2 sensors and control arm bumpers as they were not salvageable. I don't know where the rumor of this recall ending came from but to my knowledge it is false the parts manager said my frame arrived on a truck with around 15 other tundra frames out for delivery around the country. Feel free to ask any details of the process as I have done my fair share of research and investigated the matter thoroughly.

 

Sounds like good news. Couple of questions:

What year is your Tundra?

What is the name and location of the Toyota dealer?

TIA!

 

HERE'S THE DAMAGE

 

My Tundra is a 2000 and I had it done at Monken Toyota in Mt. Vernon Illinois

 

Me and my dad got the chance to see the new frame before the process began. And as I went to drop off various self provided parts I asked if I could take a couple pics. Not everyday you see your truck in a million pieces.

 

nice! We’ve got a 300k + tundra getting a frame here, just approved. it doesn’t move under its own power due to a dead transmission.. but it’s getting a frame lol (I think the guys paying for a transmission too)

 

Hell yeah! That's great news for other 2000-2003 members! I had my 2000 Tundra frame replaced last year at Swope Toyota in Louisville KY.

 

I have a new reg cab tundra frame sitting in the barn… I have issues. (If anyone finds a reg cab v6 in need of a frame…. I’ve got one waiting lol)