2005 Toyota Tacoma

The frame is rusting out substantially. The dealer advised me not to drive because the frame could fail at anytime. I have been driving around unaware of the problem. I could have been killed if the framed failed on the highway. There was no warning light. The Vehicle has been into the dealer and no one mentioned the problem until 08/30/2024. The Vehicle has been maintained and garaged. The vehicle is in good condition and has not been in an accident. I called Toyota and was told I was out of luck because the warranty expired even though the frame problem was Toyotas fault. A truck frame should outlast the engine and the body. I plan to keep the truck for 400,00 miles and my finances are very tight. Toyota is penalizing me because the frame didn't rust out sooner and on Toyotas time frame.

In May of 2018, I purchased a 2005 Toyota Tacoma. After arrival of new title, I received a safety recall notice from Toyota in regards to possible abnormal frame rust. I was instructed to take my Tacoma to nearest Toyota dealership for frame inspection. Prior to taking Tacoma in for frame inspection, I scoped the frame myself, and noticed abnormal rust forming throughout both sides of the frame. Therefore, I took my Tacoma to Berge Toyota in Mesa AZ. for further inspection and to have some other repairs done. Upon my arrival to Berge Toyota, l informed the service writer of the repairs that were needed done and showed him the request from Toyota for the frame inspection. My vehicle was taken to a lift, where a brief frame inspection was performed with a flashlight only and I was told the frame was fine, and the rust I had witnessed during my personal inspection was within a standard tolerance of "normal". On September 12, 2022 my frame cracked in a horseshoe formation around the driver side motor mount, causing the engine to shift and sink approx. 3/4" towards the driver side. This frame failure has caused numerous problems to occur, such as the fan to continuously rub against the shroud, abnormal shifting of the transmission, ramping up and down of RPM's, vehicle's steering locks up and cannot be safely driven, leaving me without transportation After detailed inspection was performed on my Tacoma, the horseshoe crack around the motor mount was found and it was determined this was the source of all the problems. I contacted Berge Toyota where I was informed by their service manager that Berge Toyota was not certified to do the frame inspection or repair, and further explained the safety recall had expired and instructed me to contact Toyota to see what could be done. The question I had for the Berge Toyota service manager, was if they were not certified to do the frame inspection, or repair why did they inspect my frame and inform me it was fine, when it wasn't?

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRAME AND IN 2015 MY FATHER-IN-LAW OWNED THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT INSPECTED AND ALL I KNOW IS IT PASSED. HE IS DECEASED NOW AND I OWN THE VEHICLE AND RECURVED NOTIFICATION ABOUT A RECALL ON THE REAR SPRINGS SO MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS TO RUSTED TO SAFELY TAKE SPRINGS OFF TO REPLACE. THE FRAME RECALL HAS EXPIRED BUT THE SPRING RECALL IS STILL IN EFFECT. SO I FEEL THAT TO FIX THE SAFETY ISSUE THEY SHOULD FIX THE FRAME SO THAT THEY CAN FIX THE SPRINGS TO SOLVE THE SAFETY ISSUE. ANY ADVICE OR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE AT THE RESIDENCE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF LA CROSSE (800 3RD ST S, LA CROSSE, WI 54601) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA NEEDING A NEW BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. I'M A MECHANIC THE PRICE WAS RIGHT SO I BOUGHT IT WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT WHEN INSTALLING THE ALTERNATOR I SAW RUST HOLE IN THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE A LITTLE MORE INSPECTION SHOWED THERE IS NOT MUCH FRAME LEFT THERE IS A WHOLE CROSS MEMBER MISSING THE FRAME IS BROKEN IN FRONT OF THE REAR SPRING HANGER AND ONE OF THE STRUTS IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME THE WHOLE FRAME SEEMS TO BE DELAMINATING BUT NO RUST IN THE BODY ANYWHERE I NOTICED ANYWAY I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT TOYOTA HAD FIXED THIS PROBLEM I CHECKED THE SERVICE REPORT 2/9/16 169000 MILES RUST PRESENT BUT NO PERFORATION FOUND. OK AT THIS TIME. EXACT WORDS SO HERE I AM FOUR YEARS LATER 189000 MILES WITH A ROTTEN FRAME AND TOYOTA SAYING YOU MISSED THE WINDOW I HAVE TO WONDER HOW MANY MORE OF THESE DANGEROUS PICKUPS ARE ON THE ROAD THIS ONE RUNS AND DRIVES WELL.

BOUGHT TRUCK IN VIRGINIA AND BROUGHT TO SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2016. SOON AFTER I GOT RECALL ON FRAME RUST. DAVE EDWARDS TOYOTA SPARTANBURG, SC INSPECTED AND DOCUMENTED "OK". NEEDING TO SELL TRUCK IN 2019 I CLEANED/SCRAPED FRAME AND REMOVED 6 POUNDS OF RUST FROM ONLY 1/2 OF THE TRUCK--TOOK TRUCK AND PICTURES IN TO DAVE EDWARDS AND THEY LOOKED AT PICTURES AND REFUSED TO LOOK AT TRUCK OR DO REPAIRS TO FRAME OR LEAF SPRINGS (ON RECALL). SO, I SPENT $20,000 ON A TRUCK THAT THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CONDEMN. SO, IS TRUCK UNSAFE TO DRIVE? WILL TOYOTA BE RESPONSIBLE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO TRUCK, OR MY FAMILY, OR SOMEONE ELSE?

I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA, I TOOK IT TO WHITE RIVER TOYOTA, 303 SYKES MOUNTAIN AVENUE, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION VT 05001 802-299-2880 FOR SOME RECALL WORK, THEY WERE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK ON THE LEAF SPRINGS BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS SO ROTTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD ATTACH THE LEAF SPRINGS TO, IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY FOR THE FRAME THAT HAD EXPIRED ON 1/31/19 AND THEY WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO HELP ME. MY TRUCK HAS 25,125 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT, THE BODY AND ENGINE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, BUT THE FRAME IS JUNK. I HAD NOTICED SOME INSTABILITY IN THE HANDLING OF THE TRUCK ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LEAF SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE FRAME.

OUR 2005 TOYOTA TACOMA'S GAS TANK HAD FALLEN OFF THE FRAME DUE TO CORRODED STRAPS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT SLOW SPEED ON OUR PROPERTY. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 140,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO SERIOUS INJURY. HOWEVER, HAD THE TANK SEPARATED WHILE BEING DRIVEN IT IS VERY POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE THAT THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN IGNITION, FIRE, EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE DEALERSHIP HAD GIVEN US AN AN INITIAL ESTIMATE OF $1,800 OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS STATING THAT THE CORROSION IS 'PART OF WINTER DRIVING' THIS IS FAR FROM A PLAUSIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION. GAS TANKS SHOULD NOT FALL OFF VEHICLES AND POSE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT. TOYOTA CORPORATE REFUSED TO PAY FOR MORE THAN ROUGHLY $400 IN REPAIRS TO THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. THE FINAL BILL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WERE $2,300 IN COSTS FOR REPAIR.