Sorry everyone, but I don't have the time to read all 200 pages. Can some one tell me if anyone is getting support from Toyota with a lift installed?
I have the Sky Jacker 3" adjustable front Coil Over lift on my 07 TRD.
The lift was installed professionally by Chux Trux of Kansas City, MO...actually my Toyota Dealer recomended them.
I know they have every right to deny any warranty work since the issue could easily be blamed on the lift, and I know it is an expensive fix to replace the fender crumple zone. But, I do feel the rips are related to a weak design in the crumple zone.
This also happened on my 2wd Silver FJ, and now on my lifted TRD. The silver FJ was totally my fault as the rips where directly related to a little accident I had on the trails, but the TRD has only be taken off-road a hand full of times on very "light" trails.
So, you had rips after an accident that occured in the same place as the bulges and rips were are all experincing? Hmmmmm, interesting. What kind of accident was it? Head on, off set head on? Or something else? And what did you hit?
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
So, you had rips after an accident that occured in the same place as the bulges and rips were are all experincing? Hmmmmm, interesting. What kind of accident was it? Head on, off set head on? Or something else? And what did you hit?
Right. Firstfj, it sounds like you have some cause-and-effect knowledge you need to share with the forum. Did you do a radical jump or something that you know led to immediated bulges or rips?
I want to buy a new FJ. I have been following this forum to see what problems the FJ might have. If you new about this problem before would you still buy the FJ?
I want to buy a new FJ. I have been following this forum to see what problems the FJ might have. If you new about this problem before would you still buy the FJ?
I want to buy a new FJ. I have been following this forum to see what problems the FJ might have. If you new about this problem before would you still buy the FJ?
Oh yeh I would. But this is a decision you need to make yourself. I plan on keeping this vehicle for a long long time. I plan on using it for what it was made for...wheeling. It's gonna get beat up and dirty and scaped and scratched and dented, and on and on. So for me, resale or trade in value is not an issue for me. Are you buying it to be a grocery getter that you're going to trade in on a new vehicle in a few years? If so, get something else or at least wait until this issue is resolved. The bulges are not a major mechanical or structural issue and I don't think they will effect how the vehicle functions. But I would be concerned about how it may effect it's eventual value in the short term.
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
The thing that bothers me most about this issue has been the potiential decrease of value on our FJ's. Now, I never expected this vehicle to retain its value, but this can/will seriously impact trade-in or resale values.
This is precisely why Toyota will fix this problem. I spoke to Toyota USA in regards to this issue last week and they assured me that it was a known issue that was being investigated for a proper future solution. After asking them a dozen or so "the sky is falling" questions, it was explained to me that Toyota has a large personnel investment in this model, to the vehicles legacy and to their core off-road group (FJ owners).
Think about it guys; this vehicle has gotten tons of publicity as a serious off road vehicle. It has spanked off road vehicles the likes of Jeep and Hummer in reviews and races. Do you think Toyota is just going to stand by and allow Jeep and others to have ammo to give Toyota off-road vehicles a black eye with an issue like body rips? Such a black eye would not only encompass the FJ for all of its years produced, but would extend into its Land Cruiser and 4-Runner line up (most people associate this vehicle as a Land Cruiser and it shares the 4-Runner platform). Even if they change aprons in '09 again (it seems the '08's are having the same problem), they will have to fix the affected years models. To not do so would have much bigger ramifications for Toyota than screwing over two model years of FJ customers.
Case in point: Back in the 70's when Ford did nothing to fix a known problem during a couple of years with the Pinto, the car became known as the "bar-b-que that seats four". This not only set a reputation for ALL model years of the Pinto ever produced it also had a huge negative impact on sales of the Mustang II’s which shared the same platform as the Pinto (doesn't the FJ share the same platform as the 4-Runner?). Additionally the initial years of the Ford Escort (the Pinto’s replacement) had bad initial sales. It took Ford a HUGE amount of money and PR efforts to recover from this as a corporation.
What I am getting at is there is much more at stake for Toyota to find the root solution to this problem and fix not only future model years but the '07 and '08 models than upsetting a few thousand customers. Right now Toyota sets the standard in the industry for superb quality, safeguarding such a reputation is certainly worth fixing a few thousand vehicles. If we don't want them to simply put a spit and bubble gum patch on this problem, we will have to be patient while they figure it out. Thanks for reading my long winded post.
No, the FJ does not share the same platform as the 4Runner. It shares a platform with the Prado, which is also having the same problem. The FJ does share part of the drive train though. Besides that, I agree 100%. I highly doubt that one of the most succesfull models Toyota has ever built which has such a huge, long time, loyal following will not be taken care of.
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
This is precisely why Toyota will fix this problem. I spoke to Toyota USA in regards to this issue last week and they assured me that it was a known issue that was being investigated for a proper future solution. After asking them a dozen or so "the sky is falling" questions, it was explained to me that Toyota has a large personnel investment in this model, to the vehicles legacy and to their core off-road group (FJ owners).
Within the industry, we've already been hearing about the FJ Cruiser's model redesign scheduled for 2012, so rumors of the FJCs early demise might be premature...
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" I'm not aware of too many things, but I know what I know, if you know what I mean..."
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes... that way when you do criticize them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes..."
The following vehicles are all based off the Toyota 120 platform:
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 120
New FJ Cruiser
2003+ Toyota 4Runner
2005+ Toyota Tacoma
2003+ Lexus GX 470
So maybe the FJ and the 4-Runner are just close cousins. Either way it just furthers the point that Toyota stands to lose a LOT if this platform proves to have faults that Toyota doesn't find a solution for.
P.S. For those that site the Prado as an example of how Toyota ignores problems (yes, I have been guilty of the same thing in the past) I submit this to you:
"TOKYO May 17, 2006; Japan Today reported that Toyota Motor Corp told the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Tuesday it will recall 107,767 Land Cruiser Prado sport utility vehicles due to problems with the joints of the rear wheels and axle, the Japanese ministry said.
The Land Cruiser Prado cars subject to the recalled were manufactured between April 1996 and January 1999.
Recalling vehicles 10 years old and most certainly out of warranty is not the mark of a company that leaves its loyals hanging. It does reflect careful, thought-out problem solving to address the core of a known problem. I promise I will shut up now.
Bernd
/ WPOK492 
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