Why doesn’t Toyota improve frame corrosion resistance

Not an issue for us Southerners but seeing all the rusty frames on this site has me wondering why Toyota hasn’t learned from the other manufacturers. Seems they could either go to aluminum or stainless or just better coatings over their steel frames.

 

Seeing up north trucks/cars, I don't really think anyone has figured it out...

All depends on region and type of de-icer they use. Best thing to do is undercoat your car/truck and keep it up.

 

This is like the bedliner issue for me……we lay 60k for a truck and get a bed that is bare painted metal. Factor the extra $500 into the cost of the vehicle and call it a day……same with the frame. Treat it properly and pass the final cost onto the sticker. If it’s $1500 for both that negligible…..and I would certainly pay that for peace of mind and convenience

 

I think there were legitimate issues with early 2000s frames vs same year competition. Whereas today I think it’s more a factor that these Toyotas are used in the winter and mechanically last longer than the competition so end selling to non-rust belt states with the Toyota tax (then have a rusty frame from 10-15 years of corrosion/poor maintenance). Meanwhile a comparable aged F150 is in the scrap yard in the same conditions. However Toyota should likely design their frames for the salt abuse if possible.

 

It's not a Toyota thing. If you buy a brand new truck here (any brand) and drive it through 2-3 winters with no treatment the entire underside will be completely rust colored.

 

I don’t think they really did have any frame corrosion issues post 2009, especially if you’re properly coating them for winter if you live in the rust belt. I put woolwax on and it’s so thick and resistant to being washed off that it’s really only needed every other year to keep everything looking new. I just did mine last week, crawling around under there everything looks like new if I were power wash off the old woolwax and dirt. I’ve gotten 2 applications out of a gallon can and still have more left. It just takes a few hours to do is the only pain. If your frame rusts away with all of these products on the market to address it, you’re just lazy and/or cheap since you can also have it done for 200-300 dollars at several places.