Recall - Early Toyota Tundras - Northern states

[LS2JSTS]

Better rethink resting your case and actually rread the information thats out there......



"According to a story in the Automotive News, Toyota seems to believe that:

Frame supplier Dana is not the source of the rust problem.
NHTSA is likely to expand their investigation of Tundra frame rust to a full engineering analysis.
Much of this is based on statement by Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons, who is also the main point of contact at Toyota for the unintended acceleration issue.

Here are the statements made by Lyons to the Automotive News:

It is too early to speculate what we will do for Tundra…They’re [NHTSA] only looking at one specific portion of the frame — the cross member that supports the spare tire — not the entire frame. [Lyons confirmed that Dana built the Tundra frames but that no connection exists between the Tacoma and Tundra frame rust issues] The frames were built to a different design and at different plants…so this is not apples to apples. [Toyota does not blame Dana]. Ultimately, this is our vehicle and our responsibility.".......


With repect to the Tacoma frames it is entirely incorrect to state that Dana didn't build the frames to Toyotas spec. They most certainly did and even Toyota acknowledges that they did. The only question that Toyota eventually blamed Dana for was whether the properly spec'd steel in the frames was correctly prepped for corrosion. When you say that Dana cheaped out on the steel spec you are making it up from whole cloth. Toyota never even made that claim. Where do you get that from that they did?

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
When you say that Dana cheaped out on the steel spec you are making it up from whole cloth. Toyota never even made that claim. Where do you get that from that they did?


I didn't say that. The person that I quoted that actually owns one of these trucks did. Maybe he'll share where his info came from.

I just think it's very interesting that frames made by Toyota don't have this issue (Landcruiser, 4Runner) but the Dana made frames do....

Carry on.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: 02SE
Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
When you say that Dana cheaped out on the steel spec you are making it up from whole cloth. Toyota never even made that claim. Where do you get that from that they did?


I didn't say that. The person that I quoted that actually owns one of these trucks did. Maybe he'll share where his info came from.

I just think it's very interesting that frames made by Toyota don't have this issue (Landcruiser, 4Runner) but the Dana made frames do....

Carry on.


Who cares where he got it from. The reality is that even Toyota never made the claims he is making on their behalf. I trust the words of the official Toyota spokesman over some internet fanboy....Who says things like "nothing but XXXX for me"? Never trust anyone who makes statements or claims like that.

I agree, that is an oddity. Where does the steel come from for each particular model? The LCruiser is still built in Japan right?

 

[brianl703]

It all depends on what Toyota specified for Dana to do and whether Dana did it. Perhaps Toyota left something out of the specifications that isn't needed when they build frames in-house since it's a corporate standard...but is needed when they hire an outside contractor to build those frames.

There's a saying when dealing with specifications and contracts..if it isn't written down, it doesn't happen.

I had some salespeople at my last job who couldn't get that simple concept. Apparently the people they were selling things to didn't either, based on the "how come my X doesn't have Y" questions that I dealt with.

 

[02SE]

The Landcruiser and 4runner are both built in Japan.

Here in Utah where the roads are heavily salted for about five months every year, I've yet to personally see a Landcruiser or 4Runner frame that resembles the pics of the Tundra in the link.

I personally have a '97 4Runner that serves mostly as a winter driver, and for fourwheeling outings throughout the year. The undercarriage is covered in Salt all winter long. Having changed the engine oil and greased the driveline recently, it still looks about the same as it did when I bought it 12+ years ago.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: rpn453


I dare you guys to come to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and cruise 8th Street on a Saturday night. My buddy Bob Falfa would smoke anyone!


That's a pretty bold statement. What does the car ET?

 

[Ben99GT]

Isn't Bob Falfa the guy from American Graffiti?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFgTMYEaWlc

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
Isn't Bob Falfa the guy from American Graffiti?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFgTMYEaWlc


Why yes he is

 

[LS2JSTS]

I never did like Harrison Ford.

 

[hone eagle]

Dana calls Toyoda-ok these frames you spec'ed, when we do full boxed frames for Ford /GM we put drain holes here and here,doublers to reinforce the holes, chamfer the welds so no water can sit there and there.

Toyoda humm how much?

Dana - bends over a calulator $0,013 per 1000.

Toyoda -naw we'r good

Dana - ok sign here and here , intial here
shakes hands smiles both go home

Dana engineers -are you sure this is the spec?
Dana bean counters - build it the way they want ,they wont pay for more.

the rest is now history.

 

[mikered30]

Update on this:

DANA will pay Toyota $25 million for the frames.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B7KZ20110112

 

[Hokiefyd]

Wow. BITOG closed this case over a year ago: it was Toyota's fault, the end.

Awfully generous of Dana to pay restitution for something that's not their fault.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Wow. BITOG closed this case over a year ago: it was Toyota's fault, the end.

Awfully generous of Dana to pay restitution for something that's not their fault.


My mother got one of their new frames in her 2000 Tundra. The job came out excellent despite it taking 10+ weeks drop off to pickup. At least they gave her a nice Camry to drive around in.

$25M means someone is admitting to fault or cannot withstand the legal fees.

 

[Hokiefyd]

A friend of mine got the 1.5x KBB that Toyota promised for his Tacoma. Bought it for something like $9k and Toyota paid him $13.5k for it. Unfortunate that it happened, but that's the brakes. Vehicles rust sometimes.

The fact that Windstars have become un-roadworthy because of axle rusting kind of puts this problem into perspective. It happens every now and again, the manufacturer deals with it (hopefully positively with the customer), and life goes on.