First time buyer - rust concern

Hi everyone,

I am a first-time buyer (and a first-time poster in this forum). I am looking into a 2016 Trail Premium with 62k miles ($28k). I would love some help on what other users in this forum think about the rust built on this car from its life in the Rustbelt. Is this something you would stay away from, and is it too late to protect sufficiently?

Thank you!

 

Your best bet would be to go outside the rust belt and find one that doesn't have all that rust. Then as soon as you get it, take it in for a full Fluid film or Krown rust proofing treatment and follow up annually.

That already looks bad to me.

 

It is not bad for 6 years old vehicle in a rust belt, that never been undercoated. calculating frame will completely rust thru in 15 years, if never been untreated, you have good 10 years life of this vehicle. If you apply fluid film deliberately, everywhere inside frame, and especially inside radiator support, this vehicle have life expectancy up to 20 years. New vehicle properly treated with fluid film has life expectancy 30 years, or more. for such a long life statistically high chance it will be written off earlier, due to collision or major component failure. so, get two cases of fluid film, spend one weekend applying it, and enjoy good vehicle.

 

It's not bad but it's getting there. It would need attention to prolong it's life and stop further rust. Nobody likes buying a vehicle and immediately work on it to prevent rust.
I would skip this. No dearth of used 4runners.

 

The frame itself is probably not at the point of dangerous, but it if you want to keep it long term, you’d need to start working on it. Rust removal is tedious, and even after a lot of work, you still can’t remove rust inside the frame rails. You could also just douse everything in tons of woolwax.

The bigger issue is that it’s equipped with KDSS. If the valves/lines, or pistons are rusted, then it’s possible for things to be damaged. It's very expensive to fix or replace kdss. Expensive enough to make that 4runner cost you as much a new one (and it will still be a used one with rusty frame).

There are some threads on here about kdss corrosion that will give you more info.

 

Welcome. For the money you’re paying, $28k, I would keep shopping. You can find a newer, lower mileage, and cleaner 4Runner. For about $11k more, you can get a brand new 2024 base SR5 4WD.

 

Just guessing here but a decent job to remove, patch, and spray this vehicle underneath is probably 2k to 3k. But it would need to be done super professional and not cutting corners.

 

If you don't live in the Rust Belt yourself, do not buy a car from there. That's going on 8 years old, the horse has already left the barn as far as rust prevention.

 

Thank you all for those helpful insights. I gather that it is probably better not to pursue this car.

 

I'd get a cheap endoscope camera off of Amazon and look inside the frame.

 

It is very difficult and expensive to undo rust. Unless this car is heavily discounted, look for a less rusted example.

Insofar as this car, it does not appear to be to the point where it is immediate safety concern. Even if you do nothing, you probably have at least 5 years before anything structural fails. If you power wash it, spray rust converter on the worst spots and then yearly apply Fluid Film, you likely can extend this to 10 years or so.

However, this car will never be 'forever' truck.

 

I agree, KDSS could be a problem down the road. An expensive problem at that. Look for used trucks outside the rust belt.