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Do they still replace 1st gen frames?

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by Silver17, Mar 13, 2022.

  1. Mar 13, 2022 at 3:02 PM
    #1
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Hello first genners! Sorry for my ignorance as I have not had a first gen for a while now and am a bit out of the loop. My 2000 and 2004 were great trucks but also suffered from frame rot. At that time my local dealer would not replace it under the service campaign, but I was still seeing some people were having theirs replaced somehow. Fast forward to now and my 16 Year old brother in law just bought a 2005 Regular cab 4x4 as his first truck.
    He brought it home Friday and right after he took me out for a quick test drive around the block it collapsed on the passenger side front…lower ball joint blew out. Needless to say, every one is very disappointed. I advised they have it checked out by an independent mechanic before purchase, but the recent inspection I think made them feel comfortable purchasing it without that happening. This prompted them to have our local mechanic check it out where it was then determined it had 3 bad ball joints, a bad tie rod end, and worst of all a rotted frame that was patched with bondo and then undercoated over. It was freshly inspected so we are pursuing trying to get his money back on the truck. I believe legally there is a case since the truck is not road worthy and can not truly pass a PA state inspection.
    Aside from the chance of getting money back on the truck, the other best case scenario is Toyota replacing the frame under the service campaign. I did some searching on the forum and saw some members had theirs replaced even just in 2021. So the question is, are they still replacing them? Is there a trick to making it happen in the correspondence with the dealers? Any first hand knowledge is appreciated, thanks!
     
  2. Mar 13, 2022 at 3:12 PM
    #2
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    Was the frame ever treated with Noxodul? Looks like a undercoating. If not, you might be in luck. Especially if the lower ball joint recall as never performed (yes, there’s a recall for that as well). There’s a website you can enter your VIN to check if was inspected for the faulty frame.
     
    Silver17[OP] likes this.
  3. Mar 13, 2022 at 3:17 PM
    #3
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Thanks I’ll have to check into it. I saw no such work description of frame inspection or coating in the service history on the Toyota owners app when I entered the vin. It is also not shown at all in the carfax history.
     
  4. Mar 13, 2022 at 3:20 PM
    #4
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

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    On an 05, no. There was never a recall on 04-06 trucks just a service campaign that's expired.

    If he purchased this at a dealer I'd go make some noise there and give the local media a call about it. Unfortunately if you're outside of Philly proper PA doesn't have any lemon or buyers remorse periods.
     
  5. Mar 13, 2022 at 3:29 PM
    #5
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Under normal circumstances I think we would be screwed. However since the inspection station clearly passed a vehicle that should not have passed they could be held accountable and may want to make it right. That aside, I found this in the PA law codes that I do believe applies since they sold a vehicle that was not roadworthy and was not capable of passing state inspection. :

    § 301.2. Advertising and sales presentation requirements.
    With respect to an advertisement or sales presentation offering or making available for sale a new or used motor vehicle or maintenance service or repair on a new or used motor vehicle, the following will be considered unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices:

    (5) "For the purposes of this chapter, a motor vehicle which is offered for sale is represented to be roadworthy, and the advertiser or seller shall disclose prior to sale the following conditions if the advertiser or seller knows or should know that the conditions exist in the motor vehicle:
    (i) Frame bent, cracked or twisted.
    (ii) Engine block or head cracked.
    (iii) Vehicle unable to pass State inspection.
    (iv) Transmission damaged, defective or so deteriorated as to require replacement.
    (v) Vehicle flood damaged.
    (vi) Differential damaged, defective or so deteriorated as to require replacement."
     
  6. Mar 13, 2022 at 3:42 PM
    #6
    Festerw

    Festerw New Member

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    It should be pretty easy to do yes, but that doesn't mean that the dealer won't try to argue they didn't know about it.

    I hope everything works out for him, it's a shitty situation to be sure.
     
    Silver17[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  7. Mar 13, 2022 at 4:45 PM
    #7
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    gascap likes this.
  8. Mar 13, 2022 at 8:47 PM
    #8
    NickB_01TRD

    NickB_01TRD You don't need less cars, just more driveway.

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    The usual bi monthly "truck was rusty and I didn't check before I bought it" thread. (I see this wasn't you that bought it or inspected so nothing on you just seems to happen a lot)
    Hopefully with it passing inspection you'll have some sort of a case that it should have been caught.
    Always weird that the 04-06 trucks don't have the recall active even though they seem to rust out just as bad.
    This is why my first three questions to any new members are
    1. How are the ball joints?
    2. Any frame rust?
    3. Timing belt age
    Seems you all just had bad answers for 1 and 2.
    Good luck in getting a case. Keep us updated
     
    Silver17[OP] likes this.
  9. Mar 14, 2022 at 4:27 AM
    #9
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Yes, i do believe the situation was avoidable. I was not available to help check it over when it was purchased. Having experienced these issues first hand years ago I hoped to spare them of this situation. An inspection of the frame by crawling around under it never really suffices, especially when they actively tried to cover up corrosion with bondo and undercoating. When I saw no frame service history I suggested checking the frame throughly and having it inspected by an independent mechanic, unfortunately that didn’t happen. All we can do is see how the dealer and inspection station will handle it. Initial interactions are promising so far. The dealer wants an assessment from our mechanic and then to have it looked at by another shop for a 2nd opinion. I’ll update this post as we learn more. Thanks to all who have responded.
     
  10. Mar 14, 2022 at 5:15 AM
    #10
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    Private sale? Usually, I bring a creeper and flashlight with me to the dealer if I'm looking at used vehicles.

    I feel weird just saying that. o_O
     
    Silver17[OP] likes this.
  11. Mar 14, 2022 at 5:32 AM
    #11
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    It was a smaller used dealer that also sells motorsports vehicles. I’m with you on bringing the creeper and a light. It’s too much money to leave to chance when buying a vehicle!
     
  12. Mar 14, 2022 at 6:02 AM
    #12
    Tundra2

    Tundra2 Zoinked

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    I didn't have a creeper when I looked at crackie. I had gotten off work that morning (night shift) and agreed to meet the shady mf who had it at noon at Walmart. Well, I didn't consider that the asphalt would be a million fucking degrees in the middle of August...

    So I took a quick roll around while trying not to boil, and was like yep. It's rusty, but not terrible or so I thought.

    Long story short, I get a new frame from Toyota. Here's the thread. It's really long, amd disorganized.
    https://www.tundras.com/threads/crackhead-resurrection.94083/
     
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  13. Mar 14, 2022 at 7:36 AM
    #13
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    Ouch, my life feels personally attacked by this statement.
     
  14. Sep 26, 2022 at 3:37 PM
    #14
    Shane1962

    Shane1962 New Member

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    I have a truck with the same problem a rotted frame. I called Toyota and they told me the frames were discontinued.
    Is there anywhere I can purchase a new one? I love the truck but recently found it is not safe on the road.
     
  15. Sep 26, 2022 at 3:40 PM
    #15
    NickB_01TRD

    NickB_01TRD You don't need less cars, just more driveway.

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    Has this truck been sprayed with undercoating by Toyota previously? If you're not sure take a look on toyota.com/owners and make an account and put in your VIN and you can see service history.
     
  16. Sep 26, 2022 at 3:59 PM
    #16
    Shane1962

    Shane1962 New Member

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    It was years ago.
     
  17. Sep 26, 2022 at 4:01 PM
    #17
    NickB_01TRD

    NickB_01TRD You don't need less cars, just more driveway.

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    If it hadn't been it would be eligible for a frame replacement. Stupid the way they did it really.

    Your only bet really is a junkyard frame if you can find one. The frames are still being produced but only Toyota can purchase them for recall replacements as far as I know.
     
  18. Sep 26, 2022 at 4:15 PM
    #18
    Shane1962

    Shane1962 New Member

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    I have a 2001 Tundra regular cab 4WD 8 foot bed.
    So far I can't find a replacement frame anywhere at all for this truck.
    I'm being told it has to be the same cab configuration having the same bed length.
    Apparently 2WD or 4WD does not matter.
     
  19. Sep 26, 2022 at 5:38 PM
    #19
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Since this thread was revived, I guess I should let everyone know that the dealer gave a full refund and returned the truck. My in laws were quite fortunate, and I think the fact that it had a brand new inspection really helped the case to return the vehicle. They had the frame “fixed” allegedly and then I saw it listed again for $1000 more!
     
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  20. Sep 26, 2022 at 7:06 PM
    #20
    Shane1962

    Shane1962 New Member

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    Glad to hear it. Nice to hear things worked out for you.
     
    Silver17[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  21. Sep 27, 2022 at 9:19 AM
    #21
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    A rivet gun, aluminum flashing and some undercoating spray can cover just about anything. o_O
     
  22. Sep 27, 2022 at 9:38 AM
    #22
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    I gotta ask OP. 16 y/o brother in law… how old is your wife :eek:
     
  23. Sep 27, 2022 at 9:44 AM
    #23
    Silver17

    Silver17 [OP] Used, but returned and sold as new member

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    Haha, there is a bit of an age gap. She is 27.
     
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  24. Sep 27, 2022 at 9:46 AM
    #24
    dittothat

    dittothat New Member

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    :hattip:
     
  25. Sep 27, 2022 at 6:16 PM
    #25
    remington351

    remington351 New Member

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    Glad it worked out for you. I always appreciate when a poster comes back to let us keyboard warriors know how things turned out in the real world.
     

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