Toyota Tundra Problem?

[IslandTractor]

I know Toyota did not make the frames. Buy Toyota prides themselves about quality. Those frames were not quality. They were basically cheap Chinese trash. Toyota still claims the Tacoma is the most durable mid sized truck. Not where I live. You can't find a 1995-2001 Tacoma. I see tons of Ford Rangers, Chevy/GMC s-10's from that time frame and before. But no tacomas. The drive train might be durable, but frame. Nope. Yes I know that Toyota baud 15% over KBB to the people they bought the trucks back from and even offered more off if you bought a new one.

You sure those frames (and beds) were Chinese? I suppose Toyota may have sourced them there but I thought a lot of the steel in those trucks was American made.

 

[debo1683]

I know Toyota did not make the frames. Buy Toyota prides themselves about quality. Those frames were not quality. They were basically cheap Chinese trash. Toyota still claims the Tacoma is the most durable mid sized truck. Not where I live. You can't find a 1995-2001 Tacoma. I see tons of Ford Rangers, Chevy/GMC s-10's from that time frame and before. But no tacomas.
The drive train might be durable, but frame. Nope. Yes I know that Toyota baud 15% over KBB to the people they bought the trucks back from and even offered more off if you bought a new one.

Cheap Chinese crap that, at the time, was made in American factories. After Dana payed Toyota the 25 million, they sold those factories to a Mexican company.
Dana Corp ordered to pay Toyota $25m for frame rust issues - Torque News

 

[Btown]

It is my understanding that the issue with those frames was not entirely Toyota's fault. Those frames were made by Dana, and they(Dana) ended up paying $25 million dollars to Toyota for damages. I think Toyota did the best thing they could in the situation. They were given a bad part by an OEM manufacturer. Unfortunately, it was a major component. It's bad no matter how you look at it, those were really good little pickups. I was at the Toyota dealer the other day picking up some parts and they had 15 truck frames sitting on shipping pallets outside their service garage. They all looked like Tundra/Sequoia frames.

I know Toyota did not make the frames. Buy Toyota prides themselves about quality. Those frames were not quality. They were basically cheap Chinese trash. Toyota still claims the Tacoma is the most durable mid sized truck. Not where I live. You can't find a 1995-2001 Tacoma. I see tons of Ford Rangers, Chevy/GMC s-10's from that time frame and before. But no tacomas.
The drive train might be durable, but frame. Nope. Yes I know that Toyota baud 15% over KBB to the people they bought the trucks back from and even offered more off if you bought a new one.

 

[Btown]

You sure those frames (and beds) were Chinese? I suppose Toyota may have sourced them there but I thought a lot of the steel in those trucks was American made.

Sorry I didn't mean to say the were Chinese made, but of cheap Chinese quality

 

[Btown]

Cheap Chinese crap that, at the time, was made in American factories. After Dana payed Toyota the 25 million, they sold those factories to a Mexican company. Dana Corp ordered to pay Toyota $25m for frame rust issues - Torque News

Not saying that they were not American made, but that article does not state where they were made.

 

[AaronS]

Not saying that they were not American made, but that article does not state where they were made.

If I remember correctly, there was a Dana plant in Kentucky supplying frames to the Toyota plant in Princeton, IN.

 

[IslandTractor]

If I remember correctly, there was a Dana plant in Kentucky supplying frames to the Toyota plant in Princeton, IN.

And we all know that Kentucky is a major source of cheap Chinese pot metal.

People are quick to blame the Chinese for anything trashy. The reason so much Chinese stuff is trashy quality is because AMERICAN marketers have decided to order cheap quality from Chinese factories. The Chinese can put a rocket into space, they know how to make good steel if you are willing to pay them to do so.

In this instance however, the "cheap Chinese steel" was actually American made.

 

[aczlan]

If I remember correctly, there was a Dana plant in Kentucky supplying frames to the Toyota plant in Princeton, IN.

Ran across this:

This is exactly what happened. I do automation work for the auto industry and I've worked with engineers from Dana that were involved in this mess. The manufacturing process just wasn't properly followed when the frames were built. I don't think all the frames in question came from Mexico, but I may be wrong about that.

It's my understanding that the corrosion protection was a coating the frames were dipped in prior to getting the final black treatment that's visible to the eye. Apparently the solution they were being dipped in just wasn't maintained at the proper chemical levels for it to work properly, but it took years for the defect to show itself.

Aaron Z

 

[Grateful11]

Just bought a new 2015 Tundra. I knew there were rust problems in the past, sure hope they've fixed the problem. Looked at everything before settling on the Tundra. Chevy 1/2ton's assembled in Mexico with some major drivetrain parts from Mexico, Ford $2-4K higher than everyone. Chevy and Dodge were coming in around $48-52K MSRP. The Tundra stickered at $42K with their added paint protection crap and stuff, got them down to $36K. It has their big V8.

Sitting at my sister's home.

 

[seymojo536]

The drive train might be durable, but frame. Nope. Yes I know that Toyota baud 15% over KBB to the people they bought the trucks back from and even offered more off if you bought a new one.

Just to set the record straight. Toyota was paying 150% of the excellent KBB price, no matter what the actual condition of your truck.
I had a 2000 tacoma. I USED that truck. It was worth maybe 5-6,000. In 2005, with over 150k on it, I was going to replace the rear shocks. I noticed a small rust spot in the frame near the attachment point. I was able to poke the tip of a screw driver thru it. Took it to the dealer for them to evaluate the situation. I received a check for $12,000 3 days later. Say what you want about the problem, but I'm driving a 2015 Tacoma and my wife and 4 children all drive Toyotas. They made a customer for life that day.