Toyota buying back unsafe, rusted Tacoma pickup trucks - turn yours in before the frame snaps

[Kolesar]

http://www.ohio.com/business/17252894.html

Toyota addresses corrosion issues
Local Tacoma pickup owners receive repairs, extended warranties, generous buyback checks

Published on Thursday, Apr 03, 2008
...

Because of corrosion on the frames of some 1995 to 2000 Tacomas that are creating holes, Toyota Motor Sales USA has announced a ''Customer Support Program'' to extend warranty coverage, repair or repurchase the trucks.

So far, the program has only been through word of mouth and on Internet forums, but Toyota officials said letters will be sent to about 813,000 owners with vehicle identification numbers believed to be affected.

Some trucks might not have had adequate corrosion protection, and driving on road salt in the winter in Northeast Ohio could cause advanced surface rust, Toyota said.
...

''In many cases, these vehicles are considered unsafe,'' said Ganley. ''It's actually great for us because it brings buyers back in our doors.''

Ganley said his staff has told him that some of the frames are in bad shape.

''There are some that the common word going out here is 'Swiss cheese on the frame,' '' he said.

Toyota officials have said the vehicles have not been recalled and this is not a special service campaign, but a goodwill assistance program. The vehicles in the program are not all of the Tacomas made in 1995 through 2000, said spokesman Bill Kwong, but all owners of those vehicles can take their trucks in for an inspection.

Rae Tyson, a spokesman with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said no investigation is ongoing with the Toyota Tacomas, but the agency is aware of Toyota's voluntary program.

Ganley said it's possible his dealership was among the first to report the Tacoma problem to Toyota. In September, the frame snapped on a Tacoma truck that was in for a routine oil change when it was being lifted in the service bay, said Service and Parts Director Michele Baum.

''We were lucky because the technician wasn't in the truck,'' she said.

Within a couple of days, about six Toyota engineers from Japan were at Ganley Toyota looking at the vehicle, she said.

Kwong said he could not confirm if Ganley's was the first reported incident.
...
Ganley said his staff has told him that some of the frames are in bad shape.
...

[fed-up]

1. k/r for all the other Toyota owners out there (I have an old Toyota van) nt