2002 Toyota Tacoma Body & Structure Problems

The contact's daughter owns a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that several independent mechanics and an auto body repair shop had informed her that there was a hole in the subframe, and the subframe was significantly corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

The frame has prematurely rusted out causing a driving hazard.

The truck frame has completely rusted out and has snapped in half. Leaving my truck undriveable. Toyota had an extended warranty but only if you followed exact criteria. This is a big safter issue that should be recalled

Truck was taken to dealer about 5 years ago or less for underbody spray and frame inspection "recall". Truck was cleared as safe. Today, Tire shop informs me frame is unsafe to lift the car by, and proceeded to put his hand through the frame to show the severity of the issue. So I take the truck to my local dealer and ask them what can be done about it. They inform me that, this "program" ended in 2016. I read that 10mm holes in frame would issue a frame/car recall. There is no way there wasn't an issue less than 5 years ago. I believe this is negligence of the dealer in keeping people safe in this vehicle and on the highway.

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRAME IN 2010 AND THEY SAID UNDERCOATING WOULD PROTECT THAT HOWEVER NOW THE FRAME IS RUSTED AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT IT WILL FAIL. IT ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE FRAME.

FRAME RUSTING

I HAVE A 2002 TACOMA THAT WAS PART OF THE FRAME PERFORATION RECALL. HOWEVER, I DID NOT GET A FRAME REPLACEMENT. THE "FIX" WAS TO APPLY A GEL OVER THE RUST ON THE FRAME, WHICH, SUBSEQUENTLY, ALL FELL OFF THE FRAME ONTO MY DRIVEWAY. RECENTLY, I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 4WD REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT MY "FRAME WAS SHOT" AND THE TRUCK WAS "UNSAFE TO DRIVE", DUE TO THAT. AND IF THEY LIFTED MY TRUCK TO DO THE REPAIR, IT MIGHT "CRUSH MY FRAME". I EXPRESSED MY DISPLEASURE FOR THE RECALL FIX AND HAD THEM DO AN ESTIMATE ON THE 4WD REPAIR. THEY CAME BACK WITH AN OUTRAGEOUS NUMBER, AS IF THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO THE WORK. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS AND NO ONE WILL TOUCH IT. *SO, I HAVE A TRUCK NO ONE WILL REPAIR, I CAN'T SELL IT, I CAN'T TRADE IT IN...AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT. IT HAS NO WORTH.ONE OF MY LEAF SPRINGS HAS RUSTED AND BROKEN, TOO. THE TRUCK HAS 215K AND IS IN GOOD CONDITION OTHER THAN RUST. THE ENGINE WILL GO 500K. I SEE RECALLS ON THE FRAME AND LEAF SPRING FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS, BUT THE 2002 SEEMS TO NOT FALL INTO ANY OF THEM. I DON'T EXPECT A NEW FRAME, BUT ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING A SIMILAR TRUCK AT A REASONABLE PRICE OR OTHER FAIR SOLUTION MAY BE A CONSIDERATION.

FRAME FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION: TOYOTA HAD PLACED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" TO REPLACE THE FRAMES BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T TREATED FOR CORROSION BUT WITH AN ENHANCEMENT, IT EXPIRES AND DID SO IN 2017. I JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND LEARNED THEY HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE SPARE WHEEL COMPARTMENT. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THE FRAME NOT A SAFETY RECALL?? I HAVE HUGE HOLES AND LARGE CRACKS ALONG MUCH OF THE FRAME AND MY MECHANIC TELLS ME IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY FINGERS GO THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE FRAME! MY MECHANIC TELLS ME BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE CORROSION IN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK, THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS IN DANGER OF FALLING OUT!! LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR TOYOTA TRUCKS FOR 2002 AND BEYOND. FOR MANY YEARS THIS HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED. THE GOV NEEDS TO DEMAND A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS TRUCK AND ALL THE OTHERS AFFECTED.

MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH. HE COULD PUT HIS FIST THROUGH A HOLE IN THE FRAME AND RECOMMENDED I CALL A DEALER TO SEE IF THIS WAS ON A RECALL LIST. WHEN I CALLED AND GAVE THEM THE VIN, THEY SAID NO IT IS NOT A RECALL. WHAT CAN I DO? ESPECIALLY IF I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOWER THAN THE OTHER SIDE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO JEFF WYLER TOYOTA OF CLARKSVILLE (808 E LEWIS AND CLARK PKWY, CLARKSVILLE, IN 47129, (812) 284-2277) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 305,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK COVER OFTEN POPPED OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V542000 (TIRES). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL WALSH TOYOTA (815-768-1962, LOCATED AT 4000 N COLUMBUS STREET, OTTAWA, IL 61350) WHERE THE FRAME WAS COATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMINDER ABOUT THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORROSION ON THE CHASSIS AND THE FRAME HAD CRACKS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR. ELMHURST TOYOTA (440 W LAKE ST, ELMHURST, IL 60126, (630) 279-2160) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME AND CHASSIS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME OF A RECALL FOR MY CAR MADE DUE TO THE ROTTING OF THE FRAME. I'VE HAD MY DAUGHTER CALL TOYOTA, WHO'S INFORMED HER THAT MAILS WERE SENT TO MY HOME ABOUT THE RECALL, WHICH I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED. I FEEL THE CONDITION OF THE FRAME IN MY CAR IS A VERY DANGEROUS HAZARD AND I AM NOT ABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

IN 2012 WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS VEHICLES FRAME. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD EVERYHTHING LOOKS OK. NO OTHER ACTION WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. YESTERDAY WE NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FRAME. THE CAR IS NON DRIVEABLE. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD THIS IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED TOYOTA HQ AND THEY STATED HAD IT BEEN SPRAYED - WHICH WAS TOYOTAS DIRECTION ON THIS RECALL, IT MAY HAVE PREVENTED THE RUSTING AND CRACKING BUT SINCE THE DEALER DIDN'T DO IT, IT IS NOW OUT OF ANYTHING ANYONE CAN DO. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD SEND ME A COPY OF THE DIRECTIVE GIVEN TO THE DEALSHIPS ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS RECALL AND THEY SAID THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THEY COULD PROVIDE AND THEY CANNOT TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE DEALERSHIP. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS? I FEEL THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE THE SPRAYING AS THEY HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED, WE MAY NOT BE IN THIS SITUATION TODAY.

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ABOVE VEHICLE'S FAME IS STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE. I SHARE THIS TRUCK WITH MY 18 YEAR OLD GRANDSON. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF I HAVE ANY RECALL WITH TOYOTA BEFORE I PROCEED WITH EITHER FIXING IT OR JUNKING IT. IT HAS 140,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND I BELIEVE I AM THE THIRD OWNER. I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RICK MCGILL'S AIRPORT TOYOTA (865-970-2615, LOCATED AT 3145 ALCOA HWY, ALCOA, TN 37701) FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO VEHICLE OWNERS, EXPIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS ROTTING ON THE VEHICLE. MCGEE TOYOTA OF DUDLEY (191 W MAIN ST, DUDLEY, MA 01571) AND HERB CHAMBERS TOYOTA OF AUBURN (809 WASHINGTON ST, AUBURN, MA 01501) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

MY 2002 TACOMA HAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME AND DRIVE TRAIN AND I WAS TOLD BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT THE TRUCK UNDER BODY WAS SPRAYED IN 2010 AND THAT THERE HAVE TO BE HOLES IN THE FRAME TO BE COVERED. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A 15 YEAR WARRANTY FOR MY FRAME TO WHICH IT IS NOW 2018 AND HAS EXSPIRED. I FEEL THAT TOYOTA KNEW THAT DEFECTED STEEL WAS USED FOR THESE FRAMES FROM 2002. I WON'T EVEN BOTHER TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

SHOCK RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME, MECHANIC TRIED TO PUT ON LIFT TO FIX AND THE FRAME STARTED TO POP AND CRACK AT THE REAR WHEEL AREA, IT IS RUSTED THROUGH. THE FRAME WAS COATED DURING THE RECALL PERIOD IN 2011 AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK. I VERY MUCH DOUBT THAT IT WAS.

FRAME IS RUSTING REAL BAD AND FALLING APART.CALLED TOYOTA AND DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL CRACKING AND BREAKING APART ON THE FRAME I READ ONLINE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH A LOT OF TACOMA'S AND LIKE TRUCKS. BUT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. EVERYWHERE ELSE ON THE FRAME IS LITTLE RUSTY GIVEN THE AGE OF THE TRUCK BUT IN ONE SPOT IT IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND SCARY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OR WHERE ELSE TO TURN.