rusted toyotas

jbrumberg · Jun 4, 2008

Scooby074:

The service department showed me a diagram that indicated 12 areas on my frame that had failed. Those areas appeared to be in the body mount areas. Now I am just waiting for Toyota to contact me. I am interested in a truck like mapmaker's. Jay

slowzuki · Jun 4, 2008

I'm kicking myself now, last August I bought a used Toyota Matrix for the same price at a Tacoma I looked at. The transmission in the Matrix (5 speed) has just let go outside of warrantee at about 80k miles and the dealer/toyota won't do a thing for us.

jbrumberg · Jun 4, 2008

slowzuki:

I know some individuals who really made out by buying a used Tacoma with this "buy back" now; but a friend of mine traded in his Tacoma for a new Tundra and only got ~$7K. He probably would have gotten almost twice as much with the buy back

. Jay

Scooby074 · Jun 4, 2008

Jay, Thanks for the info.

I understand that Toyota is limiting the buyback to people that owned the truck at least a month (i believe) before they announced the program. Does anybody have any insight on this?

To bad there wasn't a program for those of us that didn't win the "rust" lottery!

Several friends on mine have made thousands on their old beaters!

Jason

john_bud · Jun 5, 2008

Scooby074 said:
Jay, Thanks for the info.

I understand that Toyota is limiting the buyback to people that owned the truck at least a month (i believe) before they announced the program. Does anybody have any insight on this?

To bad there wasn't a program for those of us that didn't win the "rust" lottery! Several friends on mine have made thousands on their old beaters!

Jason

I don't understand how length of ownership impacts rust formation. If the frame fails, would a new owner be less injured / killed than an long term owner?

My guts tell me that any owner would have the same deal, even if the truck was just purchased that day. Could be wrong, but ...

jb

Wayne County Hose · Jun 5, 2008

Scooby074 said:
I haven't taken mine in yet (honestly I'm scared they'll find something wrong ). Ive followed the insrtuctions online, they basically say to whack certain parts of the frame with a hammer and see if it dents. I did that, but couldn't dent it.

Jason

Get a bigger hammer!

rickguns · Jun 5, 2008

I sure wish my 96 T100 was in the buy back program. I would sure love to have a new Toy. but I don't think the wallet can handle that

Scooby074 · Jun 5, 2008

JB : I think toyota is trying to limit people from buying a vehicle (perhaps someones old parts truck that's not on the road) and selling it back to them for a major profit. Your right though, the rust is still there no matter how long you've owned it.

I think the thing to remember is that toyota isn't calling this a recall, just a "buy back" and its at their discretion.

WCH: Believe me i tried

, I wonder if i use the 5lb sledge.....

EDIT: after a little time on the toyota forums i see that if the vehicle was purchased after March 2008 than toyota will only pay the purchase price, if it was purchased prior to that than toyota pays 150% of Blue book excellent condition.

ray66v · Jun 5, 2008

There really is no excuse what so ever, for this to be happening to these trucks, or any other vehicle, in this day and age. The alloys, level of corrosion protection, and strength needed for this job are not a secret.

Was this yet another a failed "experiment". With the industry, shamefully, using the customer, and their families, as the guinea pigs?

While Toyota is apparently stepping up and taking care of these trucks, one cannot help wondering who they are really worried about here.

john_bud · Jun 6, 2008

ray66v said:
There really is no excuse what so ever, for this to be happening to these trucks, or any other vehicle, in this day and age. The alloys, level of corrosion protection, and strength needed for this job are not a secret.

Was this yet another a failed "experiment". With the industry, shamefully, using the customer, and their families, as the guinea pigs?

While Toyota is apparently stepping up and taking care of these trucks, one cannot help wondering who they are really worried about here.

Ewww, that's a very Machiavellian angle to it (good job!). Maybe the balancing act of rusty truck prompting a new truck purchase swung too far? Actually, giving it some thought, you have a real good point. An extra buck in materials would make the the truck frame last a lot longer, yet they don't. Ergo, they are meant to rust. "Oh what a feeling"