Paint Chips and Ira Toyota - Page 4

hikenwinter · 05-08-2007, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Tucobkg previously said:

Up Date:

Just got a call from the Service Director. Toyota will be sending out a Rep and an Engineer to inspect my vehicle on May 8th. This inspection will be for both the windshield and paintchipping issue. I'll let everyone know how this goes.

DIEING to hear your results after today's meeting!! I met with my local REP yesterday here in NH and didn't get anywhere with my paint comming off!.....off to the next level for me!

Tucobkg · 05-08-2007, 09:03 AM

I just got into work just now! I spent the morning at IRA Toyota. To think the first thing I do when I come into work is to log into this site and update my fellow FJ'ers.. Boy this is sad. Anyway...

The engineer was a really nice guy so was the Toyota Rep. Here is what their had to say..

Paint Chipping - No repaint! Why, paint chip issues are only happening in the Northeast and Northwest portions of the country. It's the rock salt their use on the highways during the winter months. States like Texas and Florida do not have these issues. The paint has to be at a minimum 2 mm to 4 mm thick. My FJ was a little over 4 mm in some areas! Therefore no manufactors defect was found! He also said that Toyotas made in the U.S. do have paint issues. It's because of the EPA guidlines. However our FJ's were built in Japan which do not have these guidlines. Therefore the paint quality in Japan is far better than the U.S.

I was a little worried due to Spartacus' battle scares from off-roading. But they turn their heads when it came to that. Good thing..

Windshield Issue - This is a design issue. It again only happens in the Northeast and Northwest portions of the country. They did say to keep complaining about it. Toyota will do something on the 2008 models. Also their have a diesel version of the FJ for canadians! More on this on a separate thread.

I did get a free bottle of touch up paint! The service manager was very helpful so I didn't rip his head off when I found out that I wasn't going to get a free paint Job!

Quote:

hikenwinter previously said:

DIEING to hear your results after today's meeting!! I met with my local REP yesterday here in NH and didn't get anywhere with my paint comming off!.....off to the next level for me!

hikenwinter · 05-08-2007, 09:17 AM

well doesn't that just suck!! I just stopped by my local bodyshop.....privately owned and run....infact he used to be located somewhere in mass and had Red Sox members as customers.....anyways.....he came out to see what I was talking about all the paint chips......He says Toyota's responsable for it if they wanna keep us (the customers) happy......he also said the panels seem like they're plastic and that could be the reason why the paint isn't "sticking" the way it should as if it were metal......he also said to keep nagging Toyota.....thanx for your update!

Quote:

Tucobkg previously said:

I just got into work just now! I spent the morning
at IRA Toyota. To think the first thing I do when I come into work is to log into this site and update my fellow FJ'ers.. Boy this is sad. Anyway...

The engineer was a really nice guy so was the Toyota Rep. Here is what their had to say..

Paint Chipping - No repaint! Why, paint chip issues are only happening in the Northeast and Northwest portions of the country. It's the rock salt their use on the highways during the winter months. States like Texas and Florida do not have these issues. The paint has to be at a minimum 2 mm to 4 mm thick. My FJ was a little over 4 mm in some areas! Therefore no manufactors defect was found! He also said that Toyotas made in the U.S. do have paint issues. It's because of the EPA guidlines. However our FJ's were built in Japan which do not have these guidlines. Therefore the paint quality in Japan is far better than the U.S.

I was a little worried due to Spartacus' battle scares from off-roading. But they turn their heads when it came to that. Good thing..

Windshield Issue - This is a design issue. It again only happens in the Northeast and Northwest portions of the country. They did say to keep complaining about it. Toyota will do something on the 2008 models. Also their have a diesel version of the FJ for canadians! More on this on a separate thread.

I did get a free bottle of touch up paint! The service manager was very helpful so I didn't rip his head off when I found out that I wasn't going to get a free paint Job!

Tucobkg · 05-08-2007, 09:38 AM

It does but atleast I now know what is causing it. Rock Salt. It makes sense since I took Delivery in November and no more chips are being formed at the moment.

Quote:

hikenwinter previously said:

well doesn't that just suck!! I just stopped by my local bodyshop.....privately owned and run....infact he used to be located somewhere in mass and had Red Sox members as customers.....anyways.....he came out to see what I was talking about all the paint chips......He says Toyota's responsable for it if they wanna keep us (the customers) happy......he also said the panels seem like they're plastic and that could be the reason why the paint isn't "sticking" the way it should as if it were metal......he also said to keep nagging Toyota.....thanx for your update!

JimmyHoops · 05-08-2007, 11:15 AM

Brian,

So, let me get this straight...at first they said that your FJ would be repainted free of charge from Ira/Toyota.....Then upon further inspection they said no way because of some BS about road salt.....

Let me ask you this? Have you lived in the same area for a period of time where you have owned other vehicles? If so, did paint chipping occur on your other vehicles to the extent that it has on your FJ?

First of all, sounds like thier story is a little fishy since the chipping is also occuring in Colorado and I presume it is hapening elsewhere outside of the north east. In Colorado, the state uses liquid-salt solutions (magnesuium chloride and the commercial product Ice Slicer Caliber 2000), not rock salt. So, I call total BS on thier explanation regarding the use of rock salt. That explantion may be good enough for you, but if they try to use that line on me, I'll call them out on it! Thanks for the heads-up and the tip on that one!

I'm still going to meet with the mid-west regional rep and see what happens. Initially your story was very encoraging, but after hearing your update, sounds like Toyota is not willing to back up thier products. I hope to be proven wrong on this assessment, but things aren't looking too good.

I'm delighted that they will try to make adjustments for the 2008 model year, but that doesn't do much for current owners. But, if this does indeed happen to me (as I suspect it will), Toyota will lose my business forever!

No vehicle, no matter how it is designed should have the paint falling off it (or chipping) within the first year. Sounds like Toyota is well aware of this problem and is trying to make the issue go away with simple explanations that don't meet any criteria for a reasonable expectation of durability.

On a last note, I'm not sure how road salt would effect the side panels of my FJ. As stated before, I have paint chips ALL over my body and they are not just isolated to the hood and A columns on the front of my rig.

Personally, if they tell me it's my problem and try to hand me a touch-up stick...I'll tell 'em to go shove it up their A$$! Get the rig repainted at my expense and and vow never to buy a Toyota again!

Tucobkg · 05-08-2007, 11:29 AM

It's basically an environmental issue. Yes, I grew up here my whole life. I mostly own sports cars though. Very aero designed. I did get chips on those as well just not as bad as the FJ. The FJ is very boxy. Therefore more porne to it. It's not just the Northeast that's effected but also the NorthWest.

I guess I could have made a bigger stink out of it. But that's not my cup of tea. The Engineer explained it very well to me. Even to the scientific level of deflector angles, pitch and a whole bunch of other things.

Quote:

JimmyHoops previously said:

Brian,

So, let me get this straight...at first they said that your FJ would be repainted free of charge from Ira/Toyota.....Then upon further inspection they said no way because of some BS about road salt.....

Let me ask you this? Have you lived in the same area for a period of time where you have owned other vehicles? If so, did paint chipping occur on your other vehicles to the extent that it has on your FJ?

First of all, sounds like thier story is a little fishy since the chipping is also occuring in Colorado and I presume it is hapening elsewhere outside of the north east.

I'm still going to meet with the mid-west regional rep and see what happens. Initially your story was very encoraging, but after hearing your update, sounds like Toyota is not willing to back up thier products. I hope to be proven wrong on this assessment, but things aren't looking too good.

I'm delighted that they will try to make adjustments for the 2008 model year, but that doesn't do much for current owners. But, if this does indeed happen to me (as I suspect it will), Toyota will lose my business forever!

No vehicle, no matter how it is designed should have the paint falling off it (or chipping) within the first year. Sounds like Toyota is well aware of this problem and is trying to make the issue go away with simple explanations that don't meet any criteria for a reasonable expectation of durability.

On a last note, I'm not sure how road salt would effect the side panels of my FJ. As stated before, I have paint chips ALL over my body and they are not just isolated to the hood and A columns on the front of my rig.

Personally, if they tell me it's my problem and try to hand me a touch-up stick...I'll tell 'em to go shove it up their A$$! Get the rig repainted at my expense and and vow never to buy a Toyota again!

JimmyHoops · 05-08-2007, 11:45 AM

Brian,

I understand if you don't want to take it to the next level. This certainly alot of effort that I would prefer to spend on other matters. I guess all I can say is that I'm disappointed with Toyota but hope that they will try to make things right in my case.

As stated before, I love just about everything about my FJ and don't have any intention of getting rid of it (certainly not over paint and/or windshields). I bought it to be a purpose built rig and will have to confine its use to just that until it's durability meets the rigors of daily use. I'll do what I have to, to make it right (even if I have to cover it out of pocket). But what Toyota is not realizing is that they will be losing a lot of future business with their care-less attitude. Especially in this information age where anyone with a computer can do real world research from actual owners and not just from trade publications and publicity campaigns. I think it's time for Toyota to wise up, but to each their own.

Tucobkg · 05-08-2007, 11:57 AM

I hear yeah Jimmy!

Was I disappointed in Toyota? Maybe a little. That little is due to them only having 3 different primer colors that are electrified to protect from rust. If they had the primer color to match the initial paint job, it may not be a big issue. That's what I would have done painting a boxy vehicle. But I guess the cost would have to go up!

I could take this a step further. I was told that by both the Toyota Rep and the Toyota Engineer. I'm bowing out only because I now understand the issue. It really isn't a defect. If it was, I would continue.

Jimmy, If you take it to the next level, please let us all know how your doing. I would be interested in your findings.

Quote:

JimmyHoops previously said:

Brian,

I understand if you don't want to take it to the next level. This certainly alot of effort that I would prefer to spend on other matters. I guess all I can say is that I'm disappointed with Toyota but hope that they will try to make things right in my case.

As stated before, I love just about everything about my FJ and don't have any intention of getting rid of it (certainly not over paint and/or windshields). I bought it to be a purpose built rig and will have to confine its use to just that until it's durability meets the rigors of daily use. I'll do what I have to, to make it right (even if I have to cover it out of pocket). But what Toyota is not realizing is that they will be losing a lot of future business with their care-less attitude. Especially in this information age where anyone with a computer can do real world research from actual owners and not just from trade publications and publicity campaigns. I think it's time for Toyota to wise up, but to each their own.

JimmyHoops · 05-08-2007, 12:05 PM

Brian,

I'll be happy to post my results and any addtional actions that are taken along the way. I hope that they will be cooperative in the interest of preserving my business. I would love to post that this tale has a happy ending.

In the event that it doesn't, then I'll choose a custom color to differentiate my FJ from every other on the road. I love my VooDoo Blue, but if it comes out of pocket, then I'll go custom.

But I'll be sure to keep you and the rest of the forum members informed.

Tucobkg · 05-08-2007, 12:10 PM

Thanks Jimmy!

Now go out there and hunt them Toyota people to death! Take no prisoners!

Quote:

JimmyHoops previously said:

Brian,

I'll be happy to post my results and any addtional actions that are taken along the way. I hope that they will be cooperative in the interest of preserving my business. I would love to post that this tale has a happy ending.

In the event that it doesn't, then I'll choose a custom color to differentiate my FJ from every other on the road. I love my VooDoo Blue, but if it comes out of pocket, then I'll go custom.

But I'll be sure to keep you and the rest of the forum members informed.