YUP......I met with my local rep yesterday.....NO GO with the paint.....she said it was "enviromental" and not a warranty issue....she suggested a bottle of touch up paint.....that's just an insane option if you ask me.....I'm taking it to the next level of pursuit....
Good for you! I'd do the same thing...and will if the regional rep gives me the same line. Good luck in your pursuit. I'll post my results when I meet with the rep.
Just curious, was it a regional rep or just the local rep? Not really sure what the difference is but I was told I have a future meeting with the "regional rep".
__________________ Missin' my FJ 40 But lovin' my FJ Cruiser
It is more than 3 people having problems with paint chipping -- in fact, you won't have to look too hard to find a poll that shows a lot of people are having this problem.
Like the windshield issue, I think the shape of the truck has something to do with why chipping can be so bad. But I also think the paint is pretty bad. I've had other vehicles -- even other vehicles that have been in mud and on roads that are sanded in the winter -- that haven't had nearly the problems as I have on the FJ with just a few hundred miles on it. I have a number of chips on the door that go all the way to metal.
After a few off-road related scratches in my truck, I've become less concerned about a few chips and plan to try the cleanning/touch up method for a while. However, that's just me.
People should be able to reasonably expect a brand new vehicle should not be peppered with white/silver spots -- and enough people have had the problem that it appears to be a genuine issue.
I don't think going straight to lawsuit is the answer -- particularly if everyone really concerned with the problem hasn't even bothered to inform Toyota, open a case number, talk with the dealer, etc.
OTOH, I am having trouble understanding why, with issues that seem to be happening to a significant percentage of owners, someone always feels the need to be a pompous d1ckbag about it when other people decide they would like to do something about it. I guess the Internet is just a good way for pompus d1ckbags to spout off.
BTW, just for fun, I called a body shop buddy of mine to see how much it costs to repaint an entire vehicle with paint adhesion problems. He said that if the paint is really bad, it will always be a problem even if you repaint, because the base coat still won't stick to the vehicle. It sounds like the only way to truly fix the problem is to completely remove the jacked up paint and that this is prohibitively expensive.
I just got back from seeing the Engineer and Toyota Rep. Here is what happened..
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!
__________________
Brian G.
Hopedale, Massachusetts
Black Cherry 4x4 AT FJ Cruiser - "Spartacus" Upgrade Package A CQ Package C7 Package CF Package DH
as far as I know she was the regional rep out of Mass.....I think her name was Heather......and I believe she comes out of mansfield mass.....not 100% sure though.....keep me posted.....in another post on here about the paint I just posted about talking with my local body shop.....look under the title paint chips and IRA toyota.....something like that!
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JimmyHoops previously said:
Good for you! I'd do the same thing...and will if the regional rep gives me the same line. Good luck in your pursuit. I'll post my results when I meet with the rep.
Just curious, was it a regional rep or just the local rep? Not really sure what the difference is but I was told I have a future meeting with the "regional rep".
I'm not reading this whole thread but this has nothing to do with Toyota or Toyota paint. A lot of automakers use environmentally safer water based paint these days. Go to any other auto forum and you'll see similiar threads. I had the same problem with my audi. Soft paint. If it's a problem, get clearbra, but please don't waste your time trying to get toyota to warranty it or threaten class action lawsuits, it only makes it worse for the rest of us.
Once I found out why this is happening and where it is happening, I backed down. If the engineers Paint equipment said that my paint thickness was 1.75 mm, then I would have continued on. But in my eyes continuing on while knowing it's not a paint issue just where your located in the great USA and what you state uses to de-ice the roadways. Then what's the point. If you win and Toyota repaints it. The problem will happen again. It's a combination of boxy look and salt that does it. I am curious if Element owners are having this same very issue..
Quote:
Jo2 previously said:
I'm not reading this whole thread but this has nothing to do with Toyota or Toyota paint. A lot of automakers use environmentally safer water based paint these days. Go to any other auto forum and you'll see similiar threads. I had the same problem with my audi. Soft paint. If it's a problem, get clearbra, but please don't waste your time trying to get toyota to warranty it or threaten class action lawsuits, it only makes it worse for the rest of us.
__________________
Brian G.
Hopedale, Massachusetts
Black Cherry 4x4 AT FJ Cruiser - "Spartacus" Upgrade Package A CQ Package C7 Package CF Package DH
First, I don't believe in the rock salt theory, I bought my FJ in Oct. 07. Less than three weeks after I bought it I started to notice chips so I ordered a container of black touch up paint and got to work. We all know that the winter started late in the Northeast therefore rock salt is a bunch of BS. I am starting to notice chips in the white as well, I am going to order white touch up next.
If there was a class action suit what would be the remedy? Free paint jobs for everyone, a monetary refund, Toyota pays for us to have them painted on our own or free touch up paint for the life of the vehicle?
It's one thing to get them to admit to a problem and another to get them to do something about it.
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