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

Hey Everyone!

I need some help and advice on getting Toyota to cooperate with me on getting the frame looked at under this program. I've hit dead-ends with both my local dealer's service center and opening a ticket with Toyota Corporate which is frustrating because I'm 99% sure my truck should be covered here.
Truck details:

• 2001 Tundra access cab
• Just recently purchased for very cheap from a farmer, didn't planned on it being a long term truck if this does end up going nowhere.
• Spare tire crossmember definitely has perforations that would qualify for a new frame per the Tundra BXD campaign documents, no doubt about it.
• Originally bought in California but registered later that same year in Minnesota where it was registered every year until 2009
• Registered from 2009-2021 in Iowa
• Registered in Minnesota from 2021-present
• Toyota Owners website service history shows NO prior frame replacement, CRC applications, or even inspections.

So as far as I can tell, it seems to meet all the criteria:

• It's currently (and has historically been titled in) a qualifying state (MN)
• VIN matches the VIN range table in the BXD campaign document (pretty sure it's just all Tundras in those model years, right?)
• No prior work related to this recall has been done
• YET - when I try to look up recalls by VIN, nothing comes up. This is where the dealer said he couldn't help (said BXD shows as not open, and 90M is not applicable for VIN) and I'd need to get Corporate to figure out if my VIN should be eligible. When I ask corporate, they just say that recalls are "by VIN" and to beat it essentially (even asking multiple times "why" it's not eligible).

Has anyone ran into this or know how to proceed in getting either Corporate to acknowledge eligibility or a dealer to work on theirs even though it doesn't show as eligible in the Toyota recalls database? I really only planned for this to be short term beater, but I'd LOVE to give this thing a second life if possible - everything else on it is really quite solid. Thanks in advance!

I've attached a few relevant pieces of information - Toyota owners recent service history (just since ~08 as I couldn't fit anything older on one screen but no frame stuff before), response from corporate

 

It’s not a recall, it’s a safety campaign. Safety campaigns never expire. Or at least that’s what others have said.

You may try calling one of the dealerships on here that’s honored the SSC and done the work, ask them how to proceed.

 

I'm guessing your problem is it was originally sold in California and was registered in Iowa at the time of recall neither of which is on the list of states for the recall.

Earlier trucks did indeed have an actual recall, not specifically for frame replacement but if the recalled cross member couldn't be attached to the old frame due to rust they would replace the frame.

 

Greetings Monty - @MontysTundra

In addition to what has been suggested.

Reaching out to a Head Srvc. Mgr. directly at a different Toyota dealership, not owned by the same dealer owner of the one that you have been to if you feel/truly sense that they were unwilling to help you - may be worthwhile.

I would then request a service lane history print out and a recall history printout.

If you see no record of a coating to the Defective frame applied on any of the documentation printed out - then that indicates that the Defective frame would be eligible for a frame replacement.

The reason why you are seeing no recalls on the NHTSA website, is because they are simply a web interface for the auto manufacture. They do not store all Auto Manufacturing Defect Recall Information within their database. They simply regurgitate what the Auto Manufacture shares with them.

For example as you have read here on this Forum, and within this thread, there are folks that have had the frame coating applied according to the Original Toyota Tundra Frame Recall, and their Defective frames inevitably continued Rotting away.

And as far as Toyota is concerned, they will Intentionally & Falsely claim they have done their part to remedy the Frame Defect by documenting 0 Unrepaired Recalls for that specific Tundra VIN and that information then gets regurgitated through the NHTSA website.



&


Early 1st Gen Tundras (2000-2003) did have a recall and within it gave the directive for Frame Replacement and keep in mind Toyota avoided doing frame replacements because it would’ve cost them millions upon millions of dollars.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2009/RCRIT-09V444-6633.pdf



Hope this information is of benefit…



~USAF Veteran

 

Those 2 are making it a mountain for you to climb.

As @Festerw alluded to, the 1st Recall/Special Service Campaign was 90M dealing with cross member and as stated in the Recall/Special Service Campaign, it only involved certain states originally sold in or currently registered in.

 

Greetings Monty @MontysTundra

Iowa is on the List with regards to the Original Toyota Tundra Frame Recall

Please be aware of the following: The Safety Recall of the Metallurgically Defective Manufactured Frames by Toyota of the Early 1st Gen (2000-2003) Tundras:

Had several different names: Limited Service Campaign AOF - Safety Recall 90M - Safety Recall BOD - Safety Recall BXD and perhaps there were more... Link below.


https://tinyurl.com/mwxc7bu3



Where the Vehicle was Registered and Where it ends up Does Not Matter as long as you can find a State Listed on one of the Safety Recall Documents pertaining to where the Tundra is currently registered - Feel Free to Verify that with an Attorney

Notice the following Recent Example of a Dilapidated 2000 Toyota Tundra that was registered in New York for most of its life and then found its way down to North Carolina and recieved a Free Frame Replacement - March 2024 - All Free...

March 2024 - All Free - Jalid Guerrero - USMC Reservist/ Fred Anderson Toyota Mechanic - Sanford, NC. - posts a Tik Tok Video entitled "Rust Belt Tundra gets its Frame Replaced under Warranty !!!" (link below) taken from the Toyota Dealership Service Bay about a Dilapidated 2000 Tundra that was granted a Free Frame Replacement - All Parts and Labor Free - and in this case as others - A Free Tundra Rental is offered while the work is being done at the Toyota Dealership.

https://shorturl.at/I7vpX


Snapshot from comments of that video between Jalid and a Tik Tok Member below/attached.









Monty - You shared the following originally about your Tundra:

Truck details:

• 2001 Tundra access cab
• Just recently purchased for very cheap from a farmer, didn't planned on it being a long term truck if this does end up going nowhere.
• Spare tire crossmember definitely has perforations that would qualify for a new frame per the Tundra BXD campaign documents, no doubt about it.
• Originally bought in California but registered later that same year in Minnesota where it was registered every year until 2009
• Registered from 2009-2021 in Iowa
• Registered in Minnesota from 2021-present
• Toyota Owners website service history shows NO prior frame replacement, CRC applications, or even inspections.

So as far as I can tell, it seems to meet all the criteria:

• It's currently (and has historically been titled in) a qualifying state (MN)
• VIN matches the VIN range table in the BXD campaign document (pretty sure it's just all Tundras in those model years, right?)
• No prior work related to this recall has been done
• YET - when I try to look up recalls by VIN, nothing comes up. This is where the dealer said he couldn't help (said BXD shows as not open, and 90M is not applicable for VIN) and I'd need to get Corporate to figure out if my VIN should be eligible. When I ask corporate, they just say that recalls are "by VIN" and to beat it essentially (even asking multiple times "why" it's not eligible).

Therefore as time allows please review the Toyota/NHTSA Document Screenshots below with Reference to the Safety Recall of the Metallurgically Defective Manufactured Early 1st Gen Tundra Frames that Toyota was ultimately responsible for - which were assigned several different names over the years.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2009/RCRIT-09V444-6633.pdf








https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/MC-10093394-5448.pdf










Hope this information is of benefit and is helpful to you.

~USAF Veteran

 

Cool find on FB! A bit pricey, but saves the fab time.

https://www.jeffriesmanufacturingllc.com/product-page/bolt-in-tundra-plates