2002 Tacoma/2004 Tundra Limited

I've owned a 02 Tacoma that had a frame recall because of the frame rusting through, Toyota replaced the frame,recently I bought a 04 tundra limited, had this truck just about a year,took it for my first inspection and it failed because the frame was rotted on both sides near the motor, called Toyota and they literally told me to go jump in a lake, took to a few local garages and the mechanics questioned how it passed the last inspection, the size of the frame rots didn't happen in one year and had to be evident during the last inspection, took it back to the dealership where I bought it and there answer was get it patched,No one in this area will touch it because of liability insurance, a new frame with needed accessories is upwards of $6500, the truck had 68000 miles when I purchased it and just turned 78000, the exterior and interior are in excellent condition, do I go after the dealership for selling a apparently illegally inspected unsafe vehicle,? Who should I file complaints with being Toyota manufacturering turned there back on me,the dealership is ignoring me, thinking this will be the last Toyota truck I'm gonna own, to many costly issues with them and the Toyota company doesn't stand behind their products.

 

That blows - I know toyota only gave owners 15 years after build date which doesn't help you. I'd exhaust every option with the dealership at your disposal, even legally to get this solved. If discussions fail - I'd look for another frame from a junkyard and swap everything over. Either way you go is going to be a challenge.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

First, Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! Didn't you have the truck inspected before you bought it? Did that not reveal anything?

 

The truck was newly inspected 1 month before I purchased it from the dealer, was inspected 9/20/20 I purchased 10/10/20

 

There is another member @Tundra2 that recently acquired a used 1st gen Tundra and the frame was rusted but was able to score a new frame from the dealership. Maybe keep bugging the dealership? Good luck and welcome from Colo!

 

That "inspector" probably needs some remedial training. Just my $.02.