Hilux early chassis fail: rust perforation after 7 years and just 44k miles of road use in U.K.

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If you google MOT check and enter your reg, it will flag up the details of your vehicle and any outstanding recalls. Make sure you use the GOV.UK site. aAs John Gryphon said it might be worth a chat with a solicitor. Also trading standards might be able to offer advice/help
 
Lever357 said:
A friend of mine bought a HiLux about 6 or 7 years ago, brand new and took it to a bodywork company a few days later to have a tipper fitted. The mechanics lifted the rear tub off when he was there, only to reveal the base of the cab body was rusted because it was not painted. Weeks of phone calls and emails later, Toyota's response was it was not company policy to paint parts of the vehicle the customer did not see!!
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The things they DIDN'T tell people on Top Gear...
 
ChesterP said:
In Japan, they don't salt their roads in winter AFAIK, and many vehicles made for overseas markets don't have much in the way of rust prevention added. My lexus chassis underneath (RX450h) was unpainted for the most part and I liberally coated in Lanoguard after reading accounts of premature rusting on some Japanese cars. Watching the experiences, particularly in Australia where Toyotas seem to be the mainstay pickup trucks, on Youtube, there was a series dedicated to "overlanders" and several episodes featured the prep stages of various off roaders where they swore by treating chassis members at least every three years to a coating of Lanoguard (made here in Blighty) as they found it one of the best rust preventatives which also served to keep things like UJ boots supple and was safe to plaster just about anywhere. Since doing that on mine. it remains in great condition 8 years on.

My last Lexus wasn't treated and 10 years in the front cross member holding the rad was all but eaten away. You would expect a dedicated off road vehicle to have all chassis members powder coated or otherwise surface protected, Seven years I'd say is unacceptable but also unlucky for the OP, as there seems to be loads of Toyota and other Japanese makes of pick up locally which have to be 20 years old and still going strong. I know that Suzuki Vitaras were renowned for chassis rot and returned one for a refund I bought from a dealer when on inspection it was eaten through and they'd clumsily tried to hide the fact under some underseal.
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chriswjx said:


Thought I'd google it just to see, as I know Japan does get some pretty cold winters, and more than a few on here have commented about them not salting the roads.

Consensus is that (at least in some parts) they do!
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Just remember, that the Hilux is not made in Japan. For the UK market, they are made in South Africa, for the SE Asia and Australian/NZ market they are made in Thailand.
No doubt there is a 'spec' that the chassis should be finished to, hopefully @zambezi gets a positive resolution to this.
 
Email arrived late yesterday. In essence I am now to submit the vehicle to a Toyota approved fabricator for assessment of the remediation of the worst affected bracketry as per images in this thread.

There is no specific offer of help on the table at this point. Subject to the approved fabricator's adjudication Toyota will make a "goodwill gesture" towards cost of remediation which offer does not imply liability.

I will take this one step at a time. If the fabricator says ££££ and Toyota says £, then I have not moved this forward appropriately yet. If fabricator says ££££ and Toyota says £££ then perhaps I will have had remedy. Will update over time.
 
In your position I think that I'd be making it clear that I had zero faith in any other part of the chassis being in better condition than the bits that are obviously rusty as f##k & that the only 'goodwill' I'd accept would be a complete chassis replacement. Cutting out a few bits of steel that have rusted from the inside out is a short term remedy.

Just saying.
 
Crazy! It would cost them virtually zero to fix this and avoid public awareness..they should fix/replace and ensure this is swept under the carpet….unless of if course, there’s a greater issue they already know of , and are afraid to accept liability as it would open a can of worms, in which case one unhappy customer is a small price to pay.

Corporate games at their best.

I would have liked to think better of Toyota…

Customer is King…dead…
 
Soon surely the admin boys will put a new Forum Category up entitled Japanese Trucks breaking/rusting/snapping in half poor service etc”. (LR Disco 4 owner)
 
My Hilux was reviewed by the local dealership's preferred independent body shop. They found multiple areas of excessive chassis corrosion. To remediate would require 15 hours labour and would include removal of the rear tub for access. But...they added...that will only buy a couple more years as the rust is extensive. Their opinion? Change chassis now.

TGB's response: (1) you are out of warranty (2) This opinion is that of an independent company [even if it is endorsed by local Toyota dealership] and would need to be echo'd by a TGB Approved outfit.

TGB have identified their locally approved bodywork company and I am not thrilled as they do not have a great name in either the professional or public perception. But needs must. I certainly cannot see how they can adjudicate differently to the first, so perhaps this is the neccessary next step?
 
Good news things are still progressing, but TGB are dragging their feet. You need to be preparing the next stages. The press, facebook campaign, what ever. Since they blurt on about their 10 year 100000 miles stuff if maintained by them. A bit of bad press wont do-them any good.

Surprised your dealer hasnt offered you a trade in deal you cant refuse to shut you up and make you go away!
 
addjunkie said:
Surprised your dealer hasnt offered you a trade in deal you cant refuse to shut you up and make you go away!
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I proposed that. The dealer declined.

Independently, Toyota GB suggested same idea [not knowing that the dealership had already declined to px this vehicle]. When I stated that the dealership's rejection of this vehicle as px is the clearest statement of the extent of the problem, there came no response from TGB.

However, I am now hearing of other failed chassis from same era of U.K.-market manufacture. I will not let this slide.
 
addjunkie said:
Good news things are still progressing, but TGB are dragging their feet. You need to be preparing the next stages. The press, facebook campaign, what ever. Since they blurt on about their 10 year 100000 miles stuff if maintained by them. A bit of bad press wont do-them any good.

Surprised your dealer hasnt offered you a trade in deal you cant refuse to shut you up and make you go away!
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Can we crowd fund this...I am in for £20.00 :tiphat:
 
Tis the Nissan navara saga all over again, deny deny deny and the problem will go away.
Oh no it doesn't, maybe set up a Facebook page for Toyota rotten chassis owners and pursue a " class action " 🤔
 
After all these Landrover/ Rangerover owners did after years of unreliable engine fails .
Again a manufacturer charging for known faults rather than holding up their hands
 

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They’ll kick the can down the road until you go away I’m afraid. There’s a backlog on orders, you’re just one lost customer, doesn’t mean squat ton them sadly. I’m afraid that’s probably the reality of the situation whether it sounds negative or not.
 
I would say that there’s a lot of 4x4 dealerships out there at the moment that couldn’t give a toss whether a customer wants there pre ordered 4x4 that they have waited patiently for the last year to arrive because as previously said there scarce and they know “somebody will buy it “
I know of 2 down here that the customers booked automatics and blue in colour and when told there pickups were ready for collection they were made aware they were manuals and the wrong colour 🤷‍♂️. When the buyers complained about this they got fobbed off and told its all they could get and didn’t have a date for any more 4x4 s being imported in so … 🤷‍♂️take it or **** of . Customer satisfaction and customer care 😞
I hope you get somewhere with Toyota .
 
Rory said:
Just remember, that the Hilux is not made in Japan. For the UK market, they are made in South Africa, for the SE Asia and Australian/NZ market they are made in Thailand.
No doubt there is a 'spec' that the chassis should be finished to, hopefully @zambezi gets a positive resolution to this.
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Funnily enough my 2009 Hilux, poverty spec, is ex MOD. I was having new tyres fitted onto Toyota 15” rims. The tyrefitter argued that 30x9.5x15s were insufficient load carrying although the DoE center, our MoT equivalent had said they were ok.Anyhoo the Hilux is made in Thailand and yes the chassis, crossmembers and tub are in good condition for the year.
 
@Sika98k
That is interesting, I have a HL2 2008 D/C, is yours a crewcab? As far as I can remember, the HL2's, apart from the crewcabs, came with 16" wheels, until they changed to 'Active', 'Icon' and 'Invincible' spec (2012?).
 
Rory said:
@Sika98k
That is interesting, I have a HL2 2008 D/C, is yours a crewcab? As far as I can remember, the HL2's, apart from the crewcabs, came with 16" wheels, until they changed to 'Active', 'Icon' and 'Invincible' spec (2012?).
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My is indeed a crew cab. The supplied 16” steel wheels had started to look pretty grotty. A set of 15” Toyota alloys turned up.
 
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