Gavy

Well guys today I had my 2000 limited in for inspection with a friend of mine who is a mechanic and I just got a call that my frame rail near the muffler is rotted out and he'll need to weld in about 2 feet of new metal. Apparently there were no holes but you could push in on the frame that's how weak the metal was. I guess I'll call Toyota and log a case but I doubt anything will happen. Sure wish us 4Runner owners would get a little help from Toyota on our rust problems like the Taco owners.

worshipmentor

iTrader: (3)

I feel your pain! my 87 xtra cab 4x4 that was my dad's and spent 20 years in upstate NY has a severely rusted frame by the fuel tank.
I saw another one that spent its whole life on the Mississippi gulf coast with the same problem!!!! MY brother fixed it some but i need to reinforce some more.
wish Toyota would help ME out too!

Gavy

Yeah I guess what makes it worse is that my wife drives a 2000 xterra and we've had that and the 4runner for almost the same amount of time and both have been driven mainly on the street. When I look under the xterra the frame still has paint on it and is strong as can be then when I look under mine I see nothing but rust colored metal. That right there tells me there is a severe flaw in the construction or make-up of the metal that toyota used/uses.

gonzo

Lets us know what Toyota says.

Gavy

I spoke with a woman at Toyota who gave me the standard we will document your information and inform you if anything changes in the future crap. I asked how many calls they have received about 4Runners with frame rot and she stated that I was only the 2nd that she had heard of. Whether that was truthful or not I don't know. I understand that our frames were made in Japan and were supposedly not affected but mine and others have had this issue so something seems amiss.

gonzo

I would also report it to here. http://www.nhtsa.gov/
Just calling a dealer I don't think will yield you any help. If all the owners with frame problems report it to Toyota CORP. and NHTSA I think there would be more likely a better chance of something being done. If enough complaints come in they have to look into it. That is "my" understanding on how it works.

Teuf

Good luck. I moved from Ma. to NH back in 1990. My local toyota dealer sold me a brand new bed for 500. They knew I was a fiend about keeping her clean, so the rusty bed got me some sympathy. Yes my frame rusted too, I have had it patched here n there.
its still rusting only slower now in central Ca. I miss NH.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I love my Toyota`s but this is part of the price you pay for a smaller truck. I fix them as they need it buying new crossmembers shock mounts what ever it takes

Also due to stupid govmint mileage standards weight needed to be cut some place and the frame was one of them.

Also this new liquid brine they spray on the roads is down right brutal not only taking out the metal but the rubber bushings and hoses as well.

I also think it is getting into the roads and helping to destroy any of the metal like in bridges and drainage pipes.

foggysps

File a complaint here @ NHTSA and get a campaign started.
Apparently Toyota is not going to step up and fix the issues unless they have enough complaints and the government feels that there are enough incidents to pose as a safety concern.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Look on the Left hand column and click "File a Complaint"