The Toyota Tacomas were first manufactured with substandard frames in 1995, some say as early as 1994. The first 'Buy Back' of these trucks didn't occur until Mid-March 2008. That is a long time and the reason for such a late Buy Back was due to the way Toyota finally decided to handle the lousy trucks.
Wow, a Re-purchase of the old trucks. Sounds pretty good doesn't it? Expense, too, huh?
Some folks received service to their vehicles and had their frames replaced. Toyota had that option if they so chose. The repair was extensive. The entire body of the truck had to be removed and put on a new frame. The owners of the vehicles had to pay some costs as well, like replacement shocks and other 'pieces' here or there if the truck's repair didn't hold up to the extensive work well. Oops, these things happen, ya know?
See, the rust once it got started, didn't just stay in one spot. The rust spread to the body panels, to the braking systems, to just about everything in the area of the substandard material, BUT, the company only covered the expense of the frames and the mechanics time to move the body from one frame to another.
Oh, the story gets better than that...
Wow, a Re-purchase of the old trucks. Sounds pretty good doesn't it? Expense, too, huh?
Some folks received service to their vehicles and had their frames replaced. Toyota had that option if they so chose. The repair was extensive. The entire body of the truck had to be removed and put on a new frame. The owners of the vehicles had to pay some costs as well, like replacement shocks and other 'pieces' here or there if the truck's repair didn't hold up to the extensive work well. Oops, these things happen, ya know?
See, the rust once it got started, didn't just stay in one spot. The rust spread to the body panels, to the braking systems, to just about everything in the area of the substandard material, BUT, the company only covered the expense of the frames and the mechanics time to move the body from one frame to another.
Oh, the story gets better than that...
