Q Will Toyota Address My Rusted Frame Issue? Plenty of Toyota owners who are worried what will happen to their rust-frame trucks, particularly those Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia models — spanning 2004-2010. In 2016, due to a class-action lawsuit settlement regarding frame corrosion concerns Toyota entered into an agreement to repair or repurchase these vehicles as part of that recall program. Unfortunately, this program has a major downside: it is effective up to 15 years after the manufacturing date of the vehicle in question. This means owners of older Tesla vehicles might be left unable to get their cars repaired should they miss this deadline.
+ Understanding the Recall and Its Bottlenecks
Toyota in 2016 agreed to make a $3.4 billion payout as part of the recall program over concerns that rusted frames could lead vehicles to snap apart. The company set aside nearly $3.4 billion for inspections and repairs of the affected vehicles. Although Mel and Zach felt that GM did a decent job of notifying owners, enough drivers haven’t received the message about the warranty extension expiring soon (which means they might be on their own for major repairs when rust problems finally do surface after going into effect)34.
What Should Owners Do?
If you have one of the affected models, be sure to check with your dealer about any recalls or warranty extensions that may apply. If in doubt please call your local Toyota dealer or visit recalls. The agency advises consumers to visit www.safercar.gov and enter their 17-character vehicle identification number, or VIN.rusted frame (ad) The site will tell them if they can get repairs under the existing programs Battery Fire Due to Fuel Injection Occurring Under the Radar has Yet Another Recall (With Story ) If you own a 2004-08 Tacoma, Tundra or Sequoia and have suspicions of frame rust, act quickly as this lastest recall could be out-of-pocket for thousands -124.
Future Considerations
Toyota has since taken corrective measures with recalls and settlements, though recent revelations about the 4Runner suggest similar issues may not yet be in Toyota’s rearview mirror. Consumers should take heed of potential vehicle concerns in this case as well. Information-sharing with customers regarding warranties and recalls are two major phases to avoid situations wherein owners have been left out of the loop for essential repairs5, according to vehicle manufacturers like Toyota.
So the bottom line is if you have one of the recalled Toyota models and your vehicle’s covered a million miles, it may be tough luck for getting free repairs. Nevertheless, contacting Toyota customer service might yield solutions or reveal a means of getting some help.
