1998 TOYOTA TACOMA Structurebody Problems

I BOUGHT A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 AUTOMATIC WITH 106995 ON THE ODOMETER AND I AM HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING IT INSPECTED BECAUSE OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR FRAME IS TESTED TO BAD

FRAME IS VERY BAD SHAPE DUE TO RUST PROBLEM AND BROKEN

MY SON WAS DRIVING HIS 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FRAME SEPARATED IN HALF. LUCKILY HE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE AND GET IT OFF OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HARM TO HIMSELF OR OTHERS. THE TRUCK WAS LATER TRAILERED TO A FRIENDS HOUSE WHERE A TEMPORARY BRACE WAS WELDED ON. WE LATER BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A DEALERSHIP WHO TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE FRAME AND SAID WE WERE NOT DRIVING THAT TRUCK HOME IT WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED BEYOND ITS YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE US A RENTAL CAR FOR THE EVENING UNTIL THEY HEARD BACK FROM TOYOTA WHO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FRAME BECAUSE THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED. UNFORTUNATELY I AM ON ABLE TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE FOR MY SON. I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AND PULLED A CARFAX ON IT AND THERE WAS NO...

THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK IS THAT THERE IS SEVER CORROSION ON THE FRAME MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS PREVIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THEIR ATTEMPT (UNDERCOATING) FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER NOW REFUSES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUBFRAME BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER OF A BUY BACK PROGRAM, WHICH HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CASE NUMBERS: 1505202202 AND 1602030551. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,238.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY 98 TOYOTA TACOMA EXTENDED CAB 44. I KNEW NOTHING OF ANY FRAME RUST PROBLEMS OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA'S HAD. NOW I AM THE PROUD OWNER OF A GOOD LOOKING TRUCK THAT I JUST FOUND OUT IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE OFF ROAD BUT ON ROAD ALSO.YESTERDAY I FOUND THAT THE REAR SHOCK,WHERE IT MOUNTS ON TOP,HAD BROKE THROW THE FRAME AND AFTER INSPECTING AND DOING A QUICK WELDING REPAIR JUST TO MAKE IT HOME,THAT THE FRAME HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED IN OTHER PLACES BUT ONLY WELDED NEW METAL OVER THE EXISTING RUSTING FRAME.NO ONE HAS MADE ANY ATTEMY TO INFORM ME OF ANY PROBLEMS AND FROM WHAT I'M SEEING NOW IT'S PAST THE 15 YR DEADLINE. I BOUGHT A TOYOTA BECAUSE OF ITS DEPENDABILITY BUT WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE A DEPENDABLE ENGINE WHEN THE FRAME WASN'T PREPARED TO HOLD UP TO...

THE TACOMA HAS DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT RUST AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAD SPRING BRACKET. THE BRACKET IS BEGINNING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER USABLE AS A RESULT, THIS IS VERY DISCOURAGING AS THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND CURRENTLY HAS 250K MILES ON IT. ALL OTHER PARTS OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.

FRAME PERFORATION AKA RUST THROUGH PROBLEM FAILED PA INSPECTION THIS WEEK. GARAGE NOTIFIED ME OF KNOWN TACOMA FRAME RUST PROBLEMS. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS ITS TOO LATE BUT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS HAZARD THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO BE WELL AWARE OF. BODY SHOP WILL NOT TOUCH THIS PROBLEM OF RUST THROUGH ABOVE SPRING LEAF MOUNTS DUE TO LIABILITY CONCERNS. THIS SEEMS LIKE TOYOTA'S PROBLEM TO SOLVE. PLEASE HELP!

THE FRAME OF THE 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA XTRACAB TRUCK WE OWN HAS SEVERE RUST ISSUES TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE ATTACHED 4 PICTURES TOTAL WITH 2 OF THE PICTURES SHOWING THE DAMAGE TO THE CAB FROM MOVEMENT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE RUSTED WORSE, BUT CAN NOT GET GOOD PICS OF. WE LIVE MIDWEST, A AREA THAT SALT IS NOT A FACTOR. WE NOTCED THIS DAMAGE AFTER FEELING THAT THE BED WAS MOVING.

THIS VEHICLES FRAME IS BREAKING BECAUSE IT LACKED ADEQUATE CORROSION-RESISTANT PROTECTION. AS A RESULT, IT SUFFERS HEAVILY FROM RUST PERFORATION.

RUST RECALL TOYOTA CAR DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO "GOODWILL" FIX FRAME DUE TO NOT APPLYING RUST CHEMICALS ON TO THE FRAME

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED EACH YEAR AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. INSPECTIONS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE HAVE FREQUENTLY OCCURRED AT TOYOTA DEALERS BY TOYOTA TECHNICIANS. MY VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ANNUAL INSPECTION DECEMBER 2016 AT A NON-TOYOTA GARAGE AND I WAS ADVISED OF A FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES CAUSED BY SEVERE RUSTING ON THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. I WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CEASE DRIVING THE TRUCK AS IT IS NOW CONSIDERED A DANGER TO MYSELF AND, I ASSUME, TO OTHER MOTORISTS. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS ULTIMATELY TOLD I HAD RUN OUT OF TIME. I PLEADED THAT I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND WOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ANY RECALLS HAD I RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION OF ONE, BUT NO ONE IS ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I WAS NOT...

THERE IS AN ACCELERATED AND ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF CORROSION AND RUST SHOWING UP ON UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAVE LOST RUBBER BUMPER DUE TO RUST, AND SUSPENSION/FRAME MAKE NOISES DUE TO STRESS ON FRAME WHICH IS THE RESULT OF RUST/CORROSION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER TO THIS VEHICLE, HAVING PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVING ALWAYS HAD IT IN COLORADO A MOSTLY DRY CLIMATE NOT CONDUCIVE TO RUST/CORROSION. I HAVE IT AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM MULTIPLE TIMES PER YEAR FOR SERVICE, AND IT IS STILL UNDER 150K ORIG MILES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPS. ABOUT CONCERNS WITH RUST/CORROSION ISSUES, NOR HAS ANY COMPANY STAFF EVER ACKNOWLEDGED ANY CONCERNS OVER THESE ISSUES, OR HAS THE COMPANY REACHED OUT TO INFORM ME OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS. IN NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM HAS TOYOTA EVER ADVISED ME OF ANY RECALL, CONCERNS OR...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS RUST AND A HOLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 261,000.

"1995 THROUGH 2000 MODEL YEAR TACOMA FRAME RUST CORROSION WARRANTY EXTENSION" RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA ATTACHED. REQUESTED FRAME INSPECTION ATTACHED. REQUESTED ANOTHER FRAME INSPECTION ATTACHED. MY VEHICLE CASE WAS NOT HANDLED CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF TOYOTA'S PROGRAM NOR WAS I CONTACTED BY THEIR IMPARTIAL SERVICES GROUP (ISG). AS A RESULT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY PASSENGERS HAS BEEN NEGLECTED BE NOT ALLOWING ME THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF THEIR WARRANTY OFFERINGS.

MASSIVE ACCELERATED CORROSION OF THE FRAME INCLUDING LEAF SPRINGS WHICH HAS NOW PUNCTURED THE GAS TANK LEADING TO GASOLINE LEAKING. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AS FAR AS I CAN TELL FOR THE SAME REASON. HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO RECALLS BY TOYOTA AND THE COMPANY AND DEALERSHIP ARE SAYING THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE!

I BOUGHT MY '98 TOYOTA TACOMA IN 2000. SINCE THAT PURCHASE I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER REGARDING ANY RECALLS OR SAFELY ISSUES. I HAVE ONLY MOVED ONCE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND THAT WAS IN 2003. SO I FEEL THAT TOYOTA MADE NO HONEST EFFORT TO CONTACT ME REGARDING ANY ISSUES SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS AND HAVE REPAIRED ANY PROBLEMS THAT WERE RECALLED SUCH AS THE CORRODING FRAME. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT TOYOTA CONVENIENTLY LET FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 312,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED BY THE REAR WHEEL ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 319,552.

FRAME OF TRUCK FROM FRONT CAB MOUNT TO BACK SIDE OF REAR SPRING PERCHES IS RUSTED AND PERFORATED MAKING TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION WHICH RESULTED IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE RECALL BEING CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE HAVING A STATE INSPECTION PERFORMED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING CORRODED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WATER WOULD ACCUMULATE ON THE FRAME CAUSING IT TO CORRODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

FRAME RUSTED OUT CAUSING LEAFSPRING TO SINK INTO FRAME. *TR

THIS TRUCK BELONGS TO MY SON WHO IS IN THE NAVY. HE WAS ON DEPLOYMENT AND I TOOK THE TRUCK TO GET IT INSPECTED AND IT FAILED DUE TO A RUSTED FRAME. NEITHER MYSELF NOR MY SON WERE AWARE OF THE FRAME RECALL DONE BY TOYOTA. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO HELP US WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED. WE HAVE OWNED 3 TOYOTA TACOMA'S AND NEVER HAVE HAD AN EXPERIENCE SUCH AS THIS. THEY TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR COMPANY IF I WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE END RESULT AND I OF COURSE AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. MY SON SERVES THIS COUNTRY AND NOW HE IS OUT A VEHICLE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN TRUCK WAS ON LIFT AT MEINEKE, THEY DISCOVERED THE FRAME NEAR THE BACK WHEELS WAS RUSTED THROUGH SO THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT. IMMEDIATELY, I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOR THE SAME REASON. THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON TOYOTA BODY FRAMES WHEN I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN TWO DIFFERENT YEARS AND WAS TOLD THE BODY WAS FINE. ONE YEAR AND 2 OR 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS OVER, I AM TOLD THAT MY TRUCK'S FRAME RUST MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I ONLY HAVE 123,595 MILES ON IT AND EXPECTED TO DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST 2-400,000 MORE. EVERY AUTO SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT HAS EVER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD HAS TOLD ME I HAVE KEPT IT IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. SHOULDN'T TOYOTA EXTEND THE RECALL IN MY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BRACKET TO THE FRAME HAD RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 299,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED 3 YEARS PRIOR THAT THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF. UPDATED 08/29/2014 *JS

1998 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST. VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE "FRAME RUST CORROSION PERFORATION WARRANTY EXTENSION" PROGRAM OFFERED BY TOYOTA. THE PROGRAM OFFERS TO BUY BACK TOYOTA TACOMAS THAT FAIL THEIR "INSPECTION" DEALER ACTUALLY DENTED THE FRAME DURING INSPECTION DUE TO WEAK FRAME SECONDARY TO RUST. THEY DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT THEREFORE RETURNING IT TO ME, SAYING THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. CONTACTED CORPORATE TOYOTA AND BASICALLY GOT BLOWN OFF AS THEY STATED THE DEALER DID NOT PUT A HOLE IN IT DURING INSPECTION. PERSONALLY, ANY VEHICLE WHICH YOU CAN DENT THE FRAME IN CRITICAL AREAS WITH A 12 OZ HAMMER WITH "LIGHT TO MODERATE" SWINGS IS UNSAFE. AT THIS POINT I CAN ONLY HOPE I DO NOT GET INTO A CRASH WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE OVERLOOKING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THIS VEHICLE....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED NEAR THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING SHACKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 287,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

DEALER TOLD ME AT TIME OF PURCHASE THAT RUST WARRANTY WAS 10 YEARS, FOUND OUT AFTER IT EXPIRED THAT IT WAS ONLY 5 YEARS. SEAMS OF VEHICLE BODY RUSTING FROM INSIDE OUT. ORIGINAL DEALER NOTIFIED IN 2001 AND FIXED RUST IN BED. REPAIR LASTED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS BEFORE IT OCCURRED AGAIN IN THE SAME PLACE AS WELL AS IN OTHER PLACES. TOYOTA (CORPORATE) NOTIFIED. TOYOTA HAS CONSENTED TO REPAIR THE RUST PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY DEALER BUT WILL NOT FIX THE REST. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN BODY SHOP FOR THE REPAIR. *AK