10 automobiles that should have never been built

[dkff49]

More so than the PRius, would be the new Tacomas.   Toyota is recalling Tacomas buy the truckload due to faulty frames.   These are being CRUSHED at a fee of $500 per vehicle, regardless of condition from 1995-2000.   A family friend had a 99 that was "purchased by Toyota".  They cut him a check for $11,000 for a 9 year old truck.   What I've been hearing lately is that the recall might widen to accommodate all Tacomas from 95-04.   

I received my notification on my tacoma about 2 months ago, they are not recalling them all and are not buying them no matter the condition. What they are doing is acting on the fact that there were a small percentage of trucks that made it through with inadequate amounts of undercoating. The action taken for this is and extensions in the frame warranty and free undercarriage inspections. If a truck is found to have excessive rust (such as holes) in frame then options are discussed beyond that. I have friends who just had the frames cleared of undercoating and had it reapplied others like mine have had no problems and I have heard of one or two that have been given excellent trade offers.

The statement that they are buying them up without regard to condition is false. They are buying them up no matter the body or interior condition but frame condition is the factor.

Everybody has their opinion and entitled to it. I own a 97 Tacoma and have had no trouble with it at all. Best vehicle I have ever owned and I have had it since it was new. I have beat the living sheet out of this truck and it takes it. I have hauled massive loads of firewood out of the woods where there was no trail and when I say massive load I mean is that the stops on the frame were resting on the axle. That truck has 130,000 miles on it and the only things I had to put in it was a battery about 5 years ago, a starter about the same, and replace the front brakes and rotors about 3-4 years ago. I even spent last year pulling my 19 foot 3,000 pound behemoth boat back and forth every week with that 4 cyl truck.


Man seeing that gremlin did bring back memories. That in line 6 was one tough engine the whole car would rust out before that engine would die. As a matter of fact that is exactly what happened to mine.

[CAP1]

ABSOLUTELY!!  I had a brand new 71 Vega, and it was dead 2 years later.  Of course, I was 18 and maybe beat on it a little too much.....but still..

that's when ya shoulda dropped a smallblock 350 in it

[midnight Target]

I am proud to say I owned and drove a 1973 AMC gremlin in college. It had a 3 speed standard on the floor, a 6 cylinder engine that produced about 10 bhp, and was the ugliest yellow color I've ever seen. It even had an after-market AC bolted to the bottom of the dash, and I mounted my 8-track player to the hump behind the gear-shift. I couldn't change tapes unless I was in 2nd or Reverse.

It was a chick magnet.

[CAP1]

I am proud to say I owned and drove a 1973 AMC gremlin in college. It had a 3 speed standard on the floor, a 6 cylinder engine that produced about 10 bhp, and was the ugliest yellow color I've ever seen. It even had an after-market AC bolted to the bottom of the dash, and I mounted my 8-track player to the hump behind the gear-shift. I couldn't change tapes unless I was in 2nd or Reverse.

It was a chick magnet.

first car was a 67 mustang, lime green black vinly roof 289 automatic. it actually had a bench seat....only one i ever saw with a bench. wasn't fast, didn't handle great, but i loved the lines.

 i was just on mcguire afb last night for business, and there by the barraks sat a beautiful(ALTHOUGH PRIMERED) 67 coupe. left a note on it.....will make a nice winter time project

[panzerr]

that's when ya shoulda dropped a smallblock 350 in it

Someone in town (Angola, Indiana) did do exactly that with their 71 Vega panel truck.  That thing would pop wheelies in all 4 gears.

[Holden McGroin]

When I was a kid, the guy across the street had a 1967 Corvair.

He took the drivetrain and replaced it with a 283 amidships and a Chevy Malibu rear end.

Then he went hunting for Corvettes.

[Baitman]

Yugo (any)

[SirLoin]

Toyota FJ and the subsequent Ford Flex should be on the list.

Haha!..I work at the plant that builds the Flex..Saw a black one the other day,looked like a hearse.(another Ford masterpiece..as in POS)

[Masherbrum]

I received my notification on my tacoma about 2 months ago, they are not recalling them all and are not buying them no matter the condition. What they are doing is acting on the fact that there were a small percentage of trucks that made it through with inadequate amounts of undercoating. The action taken for this is and extensions in the frame warranty and free undercarriage inspections. If a truck is found to have excessive rust (such as holes) in frame then options are discussed beyond that. I have friends who just had the frames cleared of undercoating and had it reapplied others like mine have had no problems and I have heard of one or two that have been given excellent trade offers.

The statement that they are buying them up without regard to condition is false. They are buying them up no matter the body or interior condition but frame condition is the factor.

Everybody has their opinion and entitled to it. I own a 97 Tacoma and have had no trouble with it at all. Best vehicle I have ever owned and I have had it since it was new. I have beat the living sheet out of this truck and it takes it. I have hauled massive loads of firewood out of the woods where there was no trail and when I say massive load I mean is that the stops on the frame were resting on the axle. That truck has 130,000 miles on it and the only things I had to put in it was a battery about 5 years ago, a starter about the same, and replace the front brakes and rotors about 3-4 years ago. I even spent last year pulling my 19 foot 3,000 pound behemoth boat back and forth every week with that 4 cyl truck.


Man seeing that gremlin did bring back memories. That in line 6 was one tough engine the whole car would rust out before that engine would die. As a matter of fact that is exactly what happened to mine.

Small percentage my arse.   In this case one frame is one too many.   I know that is about the frame mind you, the point is the frame is the most essential point of buying a truck.    The question begs, How long did Toyota sit on this?   

[Masherbrum]

Yugo (any)

I remember back in 1989 that some chick was speeding on the Mackinac Bridge and blew over the side plunging to her death.  She was driving a Yugo and was doing 5-10 over the speed limit on day that had almost 50mph winds.   

[dkff49]

Small percentage my arse.   In this case one frame is one too many.   I know that is about the frame mind you, the point is the frame is the most essential point of buying a truck.    The question begs, How long did Toyota sit on this?   

yes the frame is the most important part of the truck. That is why they increased the warranty and include free frame inspections for those models. If you are going to talk down or refuse to buy any vehicle that has had even just one problem then I would say that you proably don't drive at all then right.

Every car company has had their problems with nearly every model that has ever been produced. They have all had recalls and bad reports given about them. The funny part is though people seem to favor one or another because they have had little problems with them. The best car debate will rage on for as long as there are cars being manufactured. I personally do not have a preference but the Tacoma has been very good to me no matter how much abuse I dish out to it. I have several friends and spoke with several people and this guys is the only one that has said anything negative. Even some of the most die hard GM, Ford, and Pontiac fans or whatever their favorite is say that Toyota's are notably very reliable.

weird how different 2 experiences can be.

[Masherbrum]

yes the frame is the most important part of the truck. That is why they increased the warranty and include free frame inspections for those models. If you are going to talk down or refuse to buy any vehicle that has had even just one problem then I would say that you proably don't drive at all then right.

Every car company has had their problems with nearly every model that has ever been produced. They have all had recalls and bad reports given about them. The funny part is though people seem to favor one or another because they have had little problems with them. The best car debate will rage on for as long as there are cars being manufactured. I personally do not have a preference but the Tacoma has been very good to me no matter how much abuse I dish out to it. I have several friends and spoke with several people and this guys is the only one that has said anything negative. Even some of the most die hard GM, Ford, and Pontiac fans or whatever their favorite is say that Toyota's are notably very reliable.

weird how different 2 experiences can be.

I'll never rip on Yota's pickups, BUT, this frame issue begs for some questions to be answered.   

[dkff49]

I'll never rip on Yota's pickups, BUT, this frame issue begs for some questions to be answered.   

Agreed answered questions yes but that does not mean that they should be taking them all off the road.

And not necessarily for the purpose of splitting hairs. My understanding of the problem after several hours of searching is not the frame it is the undercoating that was faulty. Which before you say it is what protects the frame, that itself is very fixable if found early on. That is the reason for the inspection, then they can be repaired before a problem exists. I think this is actually a good way to handle the problem, at least as good as any other car manufacturer has handled their found faults. example is Ford's Pinto rear end collision issue used in the original posters link.

Again though finding out how this happened and making sure it does not happen again should be priority one and they already have the other priority taken care of which is locating the problem trucks and making amends. The rest of the location part though is going to be at the discretion of the owners to bring them in for inspections.

As a final note here, I will admit that mine has not been inspected by Toyota for bad undercoating or excessive frame rust. The reason is simple, in this state yearly inspections are required and part of that is a frame inspection looking for excessive rust and or rust holes. I know that is part of it because that old Gremlin that I had failed for that very thing amoungst other problems. That was the day the Gremlin finally died (hangs head in sorrow).