2014 4Runner: Rust by radiator/front tow hooks?

Hey guys I am new to the 4Runner community but wanted to know if any of you have experienced rust below the radiator/front tow hooks? I submitted a complaint with the NHTSA today because the rust is excessive. I will provide some pictures.

 

salt water??

 

Don’t think salt water was the cause. I live up in the country side and barely go to the beach. There was this soft foam piece that seems like the culprit. Peeling the foam back uncovered the rust. Wondering if others have this issue.

 

I'll crawl under mine later today and report back

 

I had a very small amount in the same spot right under the useless foam piece. No where near like this one though bud im sure if I hadn't found it, it would've progressed to that. I grinded it with a wire wheel on a Dremel and coated it with crc heavy duty corrosion inhibitor and pulled all the foam out. Is there any real benefit from the foam other than holding moisture? Also im in New Orleans and the vehicle has never been in salt in the 3 years I've had it

 

Thanks for your input. Unfortunately I failed to notice the useless foam piece only after I installed a lift kit. At that point, it was corroded away as you have seen in the pictures. I am glad to hear that you caught this in time to prevent any further damage. I hope Toyota can help me solve this issue. As of right now there aren’t any recalls on the frames rusting only on previous Tacoma models.

 

Rust is so disheartening. Glad you caught it in time. I hope you never need to use those tow hooks.

 

The whole Tacoma frame replacement problem goes back years. and it affected Tacoma,Tundra, and Sequoias. My FIL had a 2004 ,had new frame installed , then sold the truck for some big $$.
He had a low miles V8 with leather seats and other fancy options that made it more desirable, I guess?

 

This may sound like a conspiracy but i gotta ask what yall think. Was there some secret rule for carmakers that made them HAVE to make a vehicle that doesn’t last forever. Just hear me out... Toyota’s drivetrains and other major components on most of all models they produce worldwide just laugh at high miles and old age. But the FRAMES, the goddamn frames are like cake in the rain when exposed to salt. The factory coating is like crayola water paint. Maybe an exaggeration but you just don’t hear about other automakers that rot out this fast in salty conditions. I strongly dislike Nissan, but I’ll give credit where its due,they are one of the best when it comes to resisting rust no matter how much salt they splash around in. Thoughts?

 

Structural rust is definitely an Achilles heel of Toyota. Hard to understand the corporate strategy of that failure.

 

What’s the purpose of the foam piece?

 

I also would like to know this.

 

I saw that foam strip when trimming my front bumper. My to do list includes ripping it out and going for a rust treatment before winter. In the winter, we use salt on the roads the way kids use ketchup on their french fries

 

That is how my 4th Gen looks like. As for fifth Toyota installed plastic splash guard to prevent that area from blasting and rusting. Did you keep OEM splash shield that spans from bumper to a skid plate?

 

I keep the plastic piece on and i had about a 10th of what the op has. Grind it down and coat it if it’s not rotted through already. Maybe the foam is supposed to help with airflow through the radiator but it’s most likely the reason it happens. Like I said, mine has never been in salt and the rest of the frame is perfect

 

I’ve got the same rust bucket under my radiator. Glad you caught it.

Asked a guy with a 2016 if I could check his out and he had the same rust just starting to form.

I attached some pix of my 2014 but my rust has even gone up to the bumper support structure. They put the same foam over the holes that would allow the water to drain.

I’m in Manoa where it rains a lot and don’t do much highway driving so that probably didn’t help drying.

 

Yikes! Going to check mine tomorrow. I spent a lot of time under there, so I don't think it's has that problem. Who knows though, never pulled back that foam piece.

Toyotas BOF vehicles are such garbage in this one aspect. It's disgraceful. My Volvo is 6 years older than my 4Runner, and has basically no rust.

 

Hope you are clear, I looked at a pre 2014 4R and it was clean.

Yeah I had an 06 Tacoma that was luckily qualified for a new frame. Loved the 6MT though.

I would like opinions on the importance of the frame cross-member and how urgent it is to have a solid piece. The one on my truck is very close to being a non-continuous part... Here it is with diagrams https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-cross-member-5102160041

I'm guessing it acts as protection for your radiator and a low point to hook recovery straps to.

 

So, is the general thought here that the foam piece under the radiator should be removed ? Thanks in advance.

 

What does your 2020 have in that area? I looked at a 2020 Tacoma and they had a rubber flap instead of foam.

Looking at it from a design view, I would say Toyota is trying to prevent rain from getting past the radiator and onto the steel frame/engine components behind...

 

Man, that looks so bad, it hurts.
This is definitely something to keep your eyes peeled out for.
6 years old and it’s worse than a Mazda.

 

My 2020 4runner has the square foam that goes left to right under the radiator, just like the first couple pictures in post # 1. I am just wondering if I should leave it alone or remove it.

 

beemertrash- I would leave it alone and try to monitor it. Note that there is spot weld on the upper face of the cross member about 3" inboard from the recovery hook that I believe would be the first spot to rust.

Or do what the new tacomas have. Remove the foam and replace with some Neoprene Rubber sheeting that will block spray and not absorb water.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I do not see the cross member being super critical. More of a radiator bumper for bottoming out and point for towing from

 

Thanks, I will keep a eye on it and go from there, the rubber might be the way to go.

 

One of the benefits of an aftermarket skid.... that foam gets pulled off to mount it (or at least my RCIs did). Just looked at our 17 and 19, nice and rust free.

 

Hmmmm, I don't remember messing with it when I installed my RCIs. Maybe a previous owner yanked it out, or it disappeared at the same time as the stock skids. I bought my 13 in early 19.

 

*another thing to check (reminder)

 

I checked that yesterday on my 2011 and there is nothing beyond minor surface rust.

 

Just pulled this foam piece off of mine yesterday. Only very minor surface rust behind it. Now I won't have to worry about it.

 

Awesome, I'm glad you guys do not have the level of rust I do... Thank you all for checking on this. When you have the chance could you post a pic of your rust in the area? I'll be going into Toyota again tomorrow and it would be great to show others having the same problem with the foam.

Removing the foam is a simple fix. However, the engineers at Toyota thought it was needed for some reason. I've looked at the same area on a 2021 Tacoma and they have rubber flaps instead of the foam.
I'll be installing neoprene rubber flaps, held on with Heavy Duty 3M double sided tape and self tapping screws where needed, to keep spray from getting past the radiator.

As for the corroded piece below the radiator, I'm not sure if I need to replace the crossmember. Does anyone have input on how critical that thing is?

Part and Diagram here
https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...AT/Frame-Crossmember/63038166/5102160041.html