Toyota is sending out letters to those who own a Tacoma from 1995 thru 2000 you need not be the orginal owner from new. they are offering a 15 year warranty on the frame rails. It would appear that there is a problem with the frame rails rusting or corroding away in areas (states) that use salt and or other chemicals on highways for snow and ice. The problem accured when the manufactor that made the frame rails did not coat(rustproof) the inside of the tubular frame and they are rusting or corroding away from the inside out.Toyota wants the owners to bring there Tacoma's to the dealership to be checked for frame rot. they look in certain areas of the frame, hammer check it and it either passes or fails only certain vin numbers are affected. if it fails they take pic's of the frame send them to Toyota or have a factory rep confirm the damage,they keep the truck give you a rental car for 30 days and Toyota contacts you within 30 days and offers you 1.5 times kelly blue book value of your Tacoma in excellent condition at what ever miles are on the truck at time of failing.Toyota sends a check to the dealer were you took it to get checked for you to purchase a vehicle of your choice. Toyota is offering huge insentives on new Tacomas and Tundras 1000 dollars off and 500 for preowned certified and other Toyota vehicles.
I own a 1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 SR5 live in upstate NY. best vehicle I ever owned. with 173,000 miles on it,it still gets 20.5 around town and 23.5 on the highway. I only changed plugs wires and coils 1 time at 97,000 mile, it still has orginal belts and hoses.I have had to put 3 mufflers 2sets of tires and 3 sets of front brakes pads the rear are orginal.
After I had got the letter from Toyota,I did a litttle investigating on the internet. Toyota has a blog and information at there website.
I check my frame and it was rotted,but only after I beat on with a hammer.
I took it to my state inspection guy he said it wouldn't pass next inspection.
I then took it the local Toyota dealer,filled out some paper work they checked it and confirmed it failed.
I spoke with a sales rep. they had 4 tacomas that failed the previse week and were loaded on a hauler and taken away to be destroyed.
We also estimated what Toyota was going to offer me on the buy back.
1997 4x4 sr5 loaded 173,000 miles = 13,000 dollars aprox.
I am not happy about making payments on a new truck that gets less mpg then the one I owned.
but Toyota is standing behind there product 100% I feel, and are trying to make it right.

I have seen Toyota and Nissan frames so rusty that they just crumble.I think it more the cause of low grade steel than salt.I love hearing people brag on those things then seeing spring hangers just fall off of the frame or watching the top of the bed and cab hit each other as the frame starts to sag.