Problems with 2004 Toyota Tacoma STRUCTURE

I was driving down the road and noticed some unusual rattling. i stopped and upon inspection found that the frame on both sides had cracked all the way through directly above the rear tires. this rendered the vehicle extremely unsafe to drive. i had it towed to a repair shop and they told me that a complete frame replacement needs to be done and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive as is. they said the frame is completely rusted out. i understand the vehicle came out of new york and has high salt concentrations but the rest of the truck is virtually rust free. i can?t believe that a frame rusting completely out is normal in just 10 years. i have contacted toyota (case number 1409290440) and they are telling me that any recalls pertaining to this have expired. i can?t believe they will not step up and fix what is obviously shoddy craftsmanship. my main concern is this could have caused a serious accident. they stepped up to the plate with the 1995-2000?s that had the exact same issue and obviously was not fixed in the 2001-2004 models. i am very disappointed with toyota and very concerned for the safely of other tacoma owners as this seems to be a pretty common issue with these trucks. *tr

2004 toyota tacoma. consumer writes in regards to vehicle frame rust recall notice. *smd the dealer informed the consumer, the frame needed to be replaced. however, the recall had ended and there was nothing they could do. *jb

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the transmission rear differential was corroded and leaking transmission fluid while the local mechanic performed routine maintenance. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 190,000. updated 7/14/15*cn

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that while having maintenance performed on the vehicle, the independent mechanic discovered rust and corrosion on the sub frame of the vehicle. the contact indicated that the rusting and corrosion had created 4 holes that extended approximately 5-6 feet and were approximately 4-6 inches wide. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 147,000.

Frame is rusted through in many places. it will not pass state inspection. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 12v542000 (tires). the contact stated that the frame where the spare tire was located was corroded. as a result, the dealer declined the recall repair due to the frame being rusted. the dealer stated that the frame needed to be repaired prior to the recall remedy. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 110,000. updated 11/14/14*cn updated 4/29/2015 *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the skid plate was rusted on the front end of the vehicle and there was extensive rust and corrosion on the frame. the vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician coated the rust, but the failure recurred. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 181,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the frame of the vehicle was extremely rusted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 136,000.

The frame is rotting, the cross bar is rotting, there are holes throughout, and there are areas where you can literally push your finger through! i discover the issues with the frame back in 2014. the local toyota dealer told me that there is nothing that they can do about it. the frame can be probably compared with something that sat under the salt water for a long time.

Tl-the contact owns 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated t while the vehicle was inspected the subframe was found severely corroded. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage were 108,000. rk

The frame on the truck is rusted through.i have opened 2 complaint cases and toyota will not repair or replace. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign id number: 12v542000 (tires). the dealer advised that contact that the repair could not be performed due to extensive rusting of the wheels. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 44,000. updated 08/11/14*lj the consumer stated the frame was rusted. updated 8/13/2014 *js

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that while driving on uneven pavement, a loud banging noise was heard from the rear of the vehicle. the contact also indicated that when making turns, the vehicle would become unstable. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the rear sub frame was corroded and rusted. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the failure mileage was 162,000. updated 7/7/14*cn updated 07/11/2014 *js

Frame is perforated due to rust just in front of rear axle on both sides of vehicle. about a 1.5" x 6" hole on driver's side with a fracture of about 12" going toward rear axle. passenger side has a fracture about 18" long in same area. rear suspension mounts and springs are compromised. toyota had a program to deal with issue but deadline had passed by the time i purchased vehicle. dealer told me toyota had checked out frame issue and it passed. according to toyota i was misinformed. toyota will not fix what is obviously a manufacturing defect that i never had the opportunity to deal with properly. body and bed are rust free and in excellent condition. i paid 11,700 for the truck with 88,000 mi., have owned it for one year and put approx. 9,000 miles on it. it is unsafe to drive and for all intents and purposes totaled. *tr

I purchase my toyota tacoma used in jan. 2013. i noticed last month that the frame was getting holes in it. the information i looked up said that toyota did a recall on this particular truck. i was told by toyota that it is now too late to get it taken care of. i was not aware of the recall or an arbitrary ending date. can you help me get toyota to take care of this problem. the truck is now worth nothing with the frame as it is. [xxx]. thank you for your assistance in this matter. this is the case # that toyota has assigned to my situation: #[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair when they noticed that the entire frame was covered with rust. there was a voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer however, the recall had expired. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 78,000. the vin was unavailable.

Attempted to trade vehicle in. inspection by dealer reported hole in frame. dealer refused to take my truck. estimated cost to replace frame at $9,000-$10,000. *js

I purchased my 2004 tacoma as the second owner. the vehicle had the frame replaced. upon my initial inspection prior to the purchase, everything underneath looked fine aside from what i considered normal rust on other parts such as the skid plates. today while driving down the road, the gas tank fell out of the bottom, ran into and drive-shaft, and came 3 inches from scraping across the pavement. a line split on the top of my tank, leaking gas all over. i've contacted toyota, and they set me up with a case number, informing me that someone will be in touch tomorrow to discuss further. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. while regular maintenance was being performed, the technician notified the contact that the rear subframe was fractured which prevented the vehicle from being lifted. the vehicle was inspected by another mechanic, who confirmed that the subframe fractured due to corrosion and that the vehicle was not safe to be driven. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not offer any assistance. the approximate failure mileage was 50,000. ..updated 05/19/15*bf updated 11/10/2015*js

Called toyota after pa state inspection was told that the frame was rusting out. got the run around from toyota stating that there was a preventative coating recall that my fianc didn't have performed. when i called toyota they didn't have her information and she owned the truck four years prior to the call. after they blew me off. she got her first recall notice for the spare tire, took it to toyota on 1/13/15. they can nt perform the recall saying the frame is rotting to bad and the truck is unsafe. look at the post on line look at edmunds look on google this is a huge safety and consumer protection issue why wont the government step in and address this or do people need to die first. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact noticed that the rear frame of the vehicle was corroded. the vehicle was taken to a dealer. the technician diagnosed that the frame needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 90,000. the vin was unavailable.

I have a 2004 toyota tacoma pickup truck. this has had a very bad for a year. the other day the mount for the right rear broke and the front end of the rear spring was rusted away from the frame. this is the same problem my 1996 toyota pickup had. that one the bought back and i now have this one. the rest of the truck is pretty good. the rack and pinion steering also rusted away and started to leak fluid. this leak was under the right mount of the rack. this was also fixed by me. this is my work truck and personal way of getting around. these are both very serious safety problems !!! i contacted the ceo of toyota, toyota sales in califorina and girard toyota. they said i slipped through the cracks and i did not get any notices !!! they are putting tons of frames on for other peoples but i have been singled out some how and i cannot get one. this problem has been going on for 20 years !!! this with out question should be a recall and all items concerned should be replaced free of charge. please help with this serious problem. thank you. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the frame was completely corroded. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who verified that the frame was perforated due to corrosion on the right and left side of the vehicle. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 130,000.

I was driving along and hit a pothole. the truck made a very loud metallic crunching sound under the cab behind me. after that, when i hit a bump, a similar loud metallic crunching sound occurs. i went to my mechanic, and he said that a body-frame mount had rusted through, and that there was also excessive rust in many other places. i had earlier replaced a shield over the gas tank that had completely rusted away and was banging against the drive shaft. i checked with toyota on my mechanic's advice, and there was a safety recall on my truck for exactly this problem (excessive frame rust), but it had expired in december of 1012. my mechanic says that my truck may be unsafe to drive. i bought the truck in july, 2012 from a subaru dealer, ruge's in rhinebeck, ny. i was not told about the rust condition, or about a recall. i never received any communication from toyota about this. i would like to know what if any options i have here. *tr

2004 toyota tacoma. consumer writes in regards to frame rust recall. *smd the consumer stated he had no knowledge of the recall, when he purchased the vehicle. an inspection revealed, severe rust on the bottom passenger and driver side frame rail. also, holes were found in the frame. the consumer was informed, the recall had expired.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the driver side door's electronic lock system failed. the door locked on its own and did not unlock with the interior or exterior door handles. the passenger side door was used to exit the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure a diagnostic was performed, which was unable to locate a failure code. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified. the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. updated 1/19/16 ln; updated4/16/18*jb *tr

My low mileage toyota truck has both front and rear bumpers rotting through from the back to the front . there is a hole coming through the chrome and the back side is completely full of crumpling rust. these bumpers are going to offer little to no protection in a accident situation . i believe this should be included in the rust recalls of these trucks please make it happen before someone gets seriously injured. thanks , [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken for a routine oil change when she was advised that the frame was severely corroded. the dealer informed her that the vehicle was included in a manufacturer's recall however, the recall had expired. the dealer stated they could not repair the problem. the manufacturer was made aware of the problem. the approximate failure mileage was 96,500.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that during a routine inspection, it was discovered that the sub frame had holes. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing however no results were available. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 124,000.

I own a 2004 toyota tacoma and have regularly serviced and maintained my truck, which has always been stored in my garage. on november 6th, i went to have my yearly vehicle inspection and was told that the truck failed because of rust in the frame near the gas tank. john, the garage owner, told me about the toyota recall for the frames, and said he believed my truck was included in the recall. i then called the toyota dealership where i bought my truck, woburn foreign motors in woburn, ma, and they were unsure about the recall procedure because they thought the recall had expired. the service manager gave me the vin number and confirmed that the truck was on the recall list. she gave me the phone number to call toyota corporate. when i spoke with them, they told me that the recall had expired in 2011, and they assigned a case manager, [xxx], who would be the only one that could over-rule the expired recall. he called me a day later, and said toyota would not take care of it because they had sent me a letter notifying me that i was to take it in so they could do undercoating. i told [xxx] i never received the notice in the mail. since my profession was pharmacy, i am very detail-oriented, knowing the importance of recording when we dispense prescriptions to customers. i believe that toyota is at fault for this problem, and they should stand by their product and resolve it. i recently received another recall notice on november 14th, 2013, for a spare tire mount under the truck that may rust and make the tire fall. toyota asked me to bring in the truck for repair to resolve that issue, but not the frame. without a replacement frame, i am unable to drive the truck because it is dangerous and cannot pass inspection. having always maintained my vehicle, the truck engine and cabin are in excellent condition. i would appreciate any help you could provide. thank you. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

I brought my 2004 toyota tacoma in to toyota of nashua new hampshire for concerns about my frame. they told me the frame is so badly rotted it is not safe to drive. they told me they could not do anything under warranty due to the fact that i did not have the frame undercoated by toyota. the frame undercoating recall ended 10/11. i was not aware of this recall. i have contacted toyota corporate in torrance california. i was told they could not help me and any further escalation of the matter would need to be "outside" of toyota. the truck is nine years old with 75k miles on it with a value of about 8,000 with a good frame. it is worthless in the current condition and cannot be driven. thank you [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Vehicle frame rusted to the point where it will be unsafe to drive soon. vehicle is from a "heavy road salt use" state, but has had very limited exposure to salt during the winter months. most times the frame has been rinsed with clean water after exposure to salt. toyota's voluntary repair period has expired, yet they acknowledge a manufacturing defect. in addition there is a recall for a similar item related to the spare tire carrier on the same vehicle. *js

Frame rusted completely unsafe to drive never rec'd any notice of rust problem. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an unrelated repair when they noticed that the entire frame was completely rusted and caused the fuel tank to become slightly detached from the vehicle. the mechanic strapped the fuel tank back onto the vehicle as a temporary remedy. there was a voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer related to the frame, however the recall had expired. there was also a recall associated with nhtsa campaign id number 12v542000 (tires) but the dealer refused to honor the recall because the vehicle was not previously repaired under the manufacturer's voluntary recall. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 104,000. the consumer stated she was never notified of the recall, involving frame rust. updated 01/08/14 invoice received 01/28/14

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 12v542000(suspension). the contact took the vehicle to cumberland toyota (1540 interstate dr, cookeville, tn 38501, (931) 272-3719) and was informed that her vehicle did not need a remedy and was safe to operate. the contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer a few years later and was informed that the vehicle would not be serviced due to the corrosion that had accumulated. the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that they could not assist. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure mileage was unknown. *pm*jb

Yesterday, i went to my mechanic for an inspection on my 2004 toyota tacoma. he said it wouldn't pass because holes were everywhere along the frame. i took it to toyota. they took pictures and documented the fact that my car was unsafe to drive. they said it wasn't their problem, and that i had been given four years to fix it. when i looked up my vin number online, it mentioned only the recall for the spare tire (which i had already taken off three years ago). i called toyota central, and they said it wasn't their problem. apparently, i had received a first class letter between november of 2010 and december of 2011 which stated that i needed to have my frame sprayed. they said that the cutoff for this "remedy" was december, 2012. when i asked if, had i had the frame sprayed six months ago, would this rot have miraculously not appeared, they said they didn't know. they apologized for the fact that it was not their problem, and that was that. i may have received a letter...i am not sure, and cannot honestly claim i didn't receive it. what i do know that i do, though, is regularly check on line for recalls so that i can make sure that i am not missing anything. the dealer told me that this particular recall was voluntary, and therefore it wouldn't have been posted in normal channels. to make matters worse, the dealer specifically said that someone had come in the previous week with the same issue and it was "too bad". he also said that toyota would probably be doing something about this because so many people were having such major safety issues. he said that if i wanted to hold on to the truck...maybe something would happen in a year. what am i going to do with a truck i can't drive because it won't pass inspection and has been deemed unsafe? *tr

Vehicle frame is rusting, rotting, and crumbling from beneath the truck. i was unaware of the condition when i was told by a mechanic during a pennsylvania state vehicle inspection that the frame will eventually fail and split apart as i am driving down the road. i contacted toyota and they told me that i missed the recall window which would have extended the warranty on the frame. when i explained to them that i was not contacted about such an important recall, and if i were i would have to be an idiot not to act on it, they replied that their records show that a letter was sent to me therefore toyota will not honor the recall and replace my crumbling frame. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated he was driving 20 mph and completing a right turn when he applied the brakes, but the brake pedal abnormally went down to the floorboard. the vehicle did not respond. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who advised the contact that two brakes lines were fractured and would need replacing. the mechanic then advised the contact that there was a manufacturer's recall for frame corrosion, and referred the contact to an authorized dealer. the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer however, the technician was unable to confirm frame corrosion. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 80,000. updated 12/4/13*cn

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed a hole in the frame of the vehicle. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

i own a 2004 toyota tacoma pickup witch was included in the frame recall. at the time of this recall i was having health issues that prevented me from following though on the recall. after i got back on my feet i called the toyota dealer in berlin vermont and was told it was to late to have it done. i then called toyota and spoke with a gentleman, i told this person all about my health issues that had prevented me from getting this taken care of. he also told me it was to late to have it looked at and repaired. i then asked him what would happen if the frame broke when driving and caused a crash or a death and he told me that was my problem. i now have a recall about a spare tire hanger that may rust off allowing the spare tire to fall off. it would seem to me that this is just a continuation of the frame problem that i was told i was to late for..i have run my own auto repair shop for over 30 years so i am note unfamiliar with autos or dealer. thank you for hearing me out and any help you could give me would be very nice. *tr updated 1/7/16

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection and they detected that the entire frame exhibited rust. there was a voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer related to the frame; however, the recall expired. the manufacturer was notified of the defect. the vehicle had not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

Excessive rust. recall twice.

I purchased a used 2004 toyota tacoma 4x4 4 years ago in ny. i moved to ma 2 years ago and took truck to a cape cod toyota dealer and asked them to change oil and tell me if there were any issues i needed to deal with. to make a long story short they told me about the spare tire rust recall and made the repair. when we picked up the truck they gave it a clean bill of health. they then said "by the way, you have a tiny hole in frame that may need to be taken care of at some point-not urgent." fast forward 2 years- a garaged truck that only had an additional 7,000 miles. we took it for the ma state inspection and it failed. they said it needed a new muffler. we took it to our local cape cod mechanic who called and said the problem was much bigger- the entire frame is rusted out and it is not safe to drive. we filed a complaint with toyota corporate and they won't do anything. the dealer called to say come pick it up even though they know it is not safe to drive. how much is a life worth? obviously toyota doesn't care. help please!!!

according to records, [xxx], toyota extended the corrosion-resistant treatment (crt) beyond 2010.the document reads additional 15 years. currently i visited a toyato dealer and they claimed toyota ended the aggreement dec. 2012. no notice was recieved of change. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that he heard an abnormal noise from under the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection where they advised that the frame was rusted and the cab mounts were corroded. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 78,255.

3 years ago toyota sent us a noticed and called .. asking us to have our frame inspected due to frame failures and rust. we complied and had the undercoating and frame inspected for 3 years with the understanding that this would protect us if future frame problems were identified. this year 2012 we were told we didn't need to have the frame inspected, however when we were replacing the brakes we noticed significant rust on the frame of the vehicle. we immediately called our dealer for a frame inspection and was told the frame had failed and that we shouldn't drive the vehicle. for safety reasons. i called the toyota hotline and received a claim number was told we were eligible for the a frame replacement because we had received the undercoating . they set up an appointment for the toyota rep to inspect the vehicle today march 8th.. the rep never showed up. we weren't provided with a rental vehicle and thus having trouble meeting our work commitments.. and they expect us to put our children back in a vehicle which we were told is unsafe to drive, i am very concerned about how many other toyota drivers are driving unsafe vehicles. *tr

Frame: i had my tacoma in for work (the clutch would not return fully to the up position) and the dealer (tj toyota, potsdam, ny) said there were holes in the frame. there was one on the left side near there sway bar and two on the right side just in front of the passenger door. the dealer called toyota and toyota said the program for undercoating the frame ended in december and they would not do anything. i bought this truck in january 2011 from the dealer (tj toyota, potsdam ny) and they did not undercoat the frame before they sold the truck to me (with 77,500 mi). i am currently fighting with toyota and because my truck cant pass inspection (which expires today) i can not legally drive my truck to work and there for cant work because i am a mechanic and work out of my truck. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the frame failed and detached from the vehicle due to rust and corrosion. the manufacturer was notified who offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 136,000.

Nhtsa:action # 10027968 service bulletin #251424 report date nov.25,2008 - nhtsa # 10030357 [lsc]90d 2001-2004 tacoma frame corrosion - preventative compound] i purchased a 04 tacoma from prestige toyota,kingston,ny on 10/27/10.i asked the service manager about lsc 90d he stated that they did the inspection, but not the compound on 10/16/10.what the lsc 90d states is the frame is to be inspected and one of the following op. codes 8630jm or 8630jn corrosion-preventative compound applied. this would extend the warranty on the frame for 15 years. this vehicle was inspected 1/3/13 . it failed state inspection,i'm furious. when i contacted dealer and toyota "they stated they could not do anything". that the program ended 12/31/12. listed in lsc 90d states that" toyota has received reports that a small number 146,228 of 2001-2004 tacoma's operated in severe cold climate areas. 20 states listed with high road salt use exhibited excessive rust corrosion to the frame,causing perforation of the metal". well if your frame is perforated . wouldn't this be a major safety issue!!!! i never received any of the cover letters. i had the vehicle in for service on 8/30/11 @ prestige toyota again why wasn't the inspection done and corrosion-resistant compound applied. when lsc 90d was passed on 4/1/2011. my family and i where subjected to frame failure which could have resulted in death. i used to use this truck for business,now what do i use it for scrap metal? how do i service my customers and pickup material with out this truck.which i"m paying for until 11/14. please report to consumer affairs also and bbb. i believe the frame on your vehicle is the major structure of your vehicle which every thing is attached to. this vehicle was bought new in glens falls,ny. so it has always been in ny one of the 20 states listed on lsc 90d service bulletin. toyota received 25 million from dana corp. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota tacoma. the contact stated that the bottom of the frame became perforated due to severe rust. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic and was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the service campaign ended 12-12-12 and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 112,000.