A Boston TV show has discovered that Toyota is aware of Tundra truck owners about frames so badly rusted they can’t be repaired nor replaced. Team 5 Investigates first uncovered this problem with Toyota last year with Tacomas. And now it appears to involve larger model Tundras as well.
One owner talks of a cracked frame and the leaf springs that are so corroded that they’ve snapped. He said the frame on his truck is being eaten away by rust. It has been driven only 89,000 miles, and now leaks fluids.
Another Tundra owner with the same complaint says the frame rails are orange with rust on his 2000 Tundra, driven just 72,000, and fell apart going through the car wash.
Team 5 Investigates foundd more than two dozen complaints about 2000 and 2001 Tundras filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Previously, Toyota offered buyback deals for 1995-2000 Tacomas suffering from the same issue, for one-and-a-half times the vehicle’s Blue Book value. Currently, Toyota is not disclosing how many rusted Tundras they’ve heard about or what they’re doing for the owners.
4 Comments
I have the same problem as the toyoyas with rusted frame on my 2003 Kia sorento it has actually come apart & can not be driven only has 106000 miles on it & has never been near water or used off road this is my wifes dailey driver
I hear you, man. Although everyone expects such things with Kia, but not so much with Toyota.
I have a 2000 Tundra, 2 Door standard cab long bed. I have been all over my truck and have not found any rust issues. My truck came from around Tampa, Florida were it was a leased model. God only knows what all it had been used for. But as for me, it’s been a fantastic truck.
I plan on keeping it till it dies or I do. I have read great things about how long the V6 motor last.
I run Royal Purple oils through out the entire truck. Put a TRD supercharger on it, TRD headers. Two Tough Country bumpers and some other stuff.
Would love to be albe to get a lot more power out of the motor but I don’t know how to.
Only thing that I have came across is I could put on the 7th injector kit and a different pully on the supercharger.
Already have put on the K&N freash air intake.
But over all I am happy with this truck, it’s paid for.
Not going out and buying a different one or a new one. Why would I want truck payments when mine is paid off.
I remember when the Tundra first premiered. I remember thinking “finally, a Toyota pickup truck large enough, if not to compete against the American Big Three’s pickup trucks, but certainly to offer Toyota truck buyers something bigger than the Tacoma they’ve been driving. The only thing it lacked, and sadly still lacks today, was the option of a turbo diesel engine. Is diesel for everyone? No, not really. But I believe that for those who needs a diesel engine, or wants a diesel engine, customers should be allowed the option.