We purchased our 2007 Tacoma in Colorado as a new vehicle with a 6 foot bed, access cab and manual transmission and paid extra for rust protection package. We have driven ~120K miles until 2022. We really loved driving the truck and it has served us well for modest offroad needs getting to trailheads in addition to hauling stuff in the bed/moving cross country and driving on roads. It doesn't have great 'creature comforts', but that wasn't the point of having the truck. We give the truck 5 stars for performance, utility and reliability.
However...! Buyer beware !!!
Our truck has extensive undercarriage rust corrosion and now has two cracks in the frame. We have been informed that if the frame were to break during transit, that it could potentially rupture the gas tank (besides falling apart at a potentially inopportune moment). It turns out that this a SEVERE problem for ALL Toyota Tacomas - EVEN NOW! There was a settlement from a class action lawsuit on the frame due to rust, corrosion. We did not receive written notification of the settlement (which expired in 2019), but we had inspections of our truck in 2014, 2016 and the rusted leaf springs replaced in 2017, and documented heavy rust damage in the undercarriage. However, because we moved to California, they initially claimed that these problems could only be addressed/resolved in 'cold weather states', even though we had purchased and used the vehicle in a cold weather state. They did not acknowledge that there was a settlement for the frame when we had the truck in for service/inspection during 2014 to 2019.
We have recently discovered that the frame is CRACKED in two places, so the vehicle is no longer safe to drive (especially off paved roads) and certainly not with any cargo. I have tried repeatedly to contact and discuss with Toyota corporate to resolve this problem. Today, I received the final word that they refuse to acknowledge any responsibility, saying that they had honored the settlement (for 1.5 MILLION vehicles) which expired in 2019, so they bear no further responsibility. This is now the owners' headache - but there no frames available to perform the repair ourselves (because so many vehicles have the problem and there are none in junkyards, either!) They will not compromise or provide any resolution to our loss of a truck.
We maintain that is another example of corporate negligence at Toyota. Their refusal to work with us plus continued reports of continuing frame damage for Tacomas and for 4Runners (and possibly other truck/SUV models) tarnishes their brand and suggests that there is an inherent problem with the construction.
Buyer beware!!! You will need to monitor your frame and rust/corrosion. We welcome a new class action lawsuit or some other remedy to resolve (while recognizing that trucks made before 2018 are not considered worth the effort - or at least until more people die).
I noticed rust at the top of the wheel wells( where the struts are attached) The rust has now eaten right thru the metal on both sides. It is just a matter of time before the struts will be unsupported !!!
- burnsrb,
camlachie, ontario, Canada
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We purchased our 2007 Tacoma in Colorado as a new vehicle with a 6 foot bed, access cab and manual transmission and paid extra for rust protection package. We have driven ~120K miles until 2022. We really loved driving the truck and it has served us well for modest offroad needs getting to trailheads in addition to hauling stuff in the bed/moving cross country and driving on roads. It doesn't have great 'creature comforts', but that wasn't the point of having the truck. We give the truck 5 stars for performance, utility and reliability.
However...! Buyer beware !!!
Our truck has extensive undercarriage rust corrosion and now has two cracks in the frame. We have been informed that if the frame were to break during transit, that it could potentially rupture the gas tank (besides falling apart at a potentially inopportune moment). It turns out that this a SEVERE problem for ALL Toyota Tacomas - EVEN NOW! There was a settlement from a class action lawsuit on the frame due to rust, corrosion. We did not receive written notification of the settlement (which expired in 2019), but we had inspections of our truck in 2014, 2016 and the rusted leaf springs replaced in 2017, and documented heavy rust damage in the undercarriage. However, because we moved to California, they initially claimed that these problems could only be addressed/resolved in 'cold weather states', even though we had purchased and used the vehicle in a cold weather state. They did not acknowledge that there was a settlement for the frame when we had the truck in for service/inspection during 2014 to 2019.
We have recently discovered that the frame is CRACKED in two places, so the vehicle is no longer safe to drive (especially off paved roads) and certainly not with any cargo. I have tried repeatedly to contact and discuss with Toyota corporate to resolve this problem. Today, I received the final word that they refuse to acknowledge any responsibility, saying that they had honored the settlement (for 1.5 MILLION vehicles) which expired in 2019, so they bear no further responsibility. This is now the owners' headache - but there no frames available to perform the repair ourselves (because so many vehicles have the problem and there are none in junkyards, either!) They will not compromise or provide any resolution to our loss of a truck.
We maintain that is another example of corporate negligence at Toyota. Their refusal to work with us plus continued reports of continuing frame damage for Tacomas and for 4Runners (and possibly other truck/SUV models) tarnishes their brand and suggests that there is an inherent problem with the construction.
Buyer beware!!! You will need to monitor your frame and rust/corrosion. We welcome a new class action lawsuit or some other remedy to resolve (while recognizing that trucks made before 2018 are not considered worth the effort - or at least until more people die).
- Alex F., Half Moon Bay, US