Engine Bay Body Rips

[cruiserlarry]

[quote=fjdave5341;1029760]

cruiserlarry previously said:

Yes, assuming you have documented the problem during the warranty period (although I've been unofficially told they will take care of this problem no matter what...).QUOTE]

Larry,
Any advice for us lucky ones who don't yet have this problem showing? Its great news that they are going to cover the guys with problems and they should. My (and others) fear is that we show no symptoms of this until the 37K mark and are denied a fix because it didnt happen during the warranty period. I included your quote above where you said you were told unofficially they will take care of the problem no matter what. With your experiance with Toyota, do you think this is will be the case? How would you recommend someone handle a case like this? Try your luck with the dealer first and if that doesnt work call Toyota USA? Any idea if they are going to publish any official paperwork stating that this is a known problem? This would help those affected or future affected owners when they hit the dealer up. Thanks for keeping on top of this.

Two things to consider:

First, only about 20% of the vehicles appear to be affected by this problem, based on informal surveys. So, there is a high probability you may never have the issue to deal with.

Second, even Toyota seems aware that this is most likely a structural design problem with the part, and will likely cover it no matter when it shows up. There is plenty of information, on this forum alone, to demonstrate that the owner has nothing to do with the occurrence of inner fender well bulging and ripping, that it is not directly related to off-road use or vehicle modifications, and that Toyota has not come up with a permanent solution at this point in time. They would likely run into a consumer "brick wall" if they attempt to deny coverage based on a warranty time-line (in my opinion, based on my industry experience - but this is not an absolute).

With any luck, your FJC will never be affected, and this issue, for you, will be moot...

[nissanaltimacrazyhorse]

SO SAD TODAY... You can add me to the list slight bulge on drivers side. 19300 miles on my fj all off roading has been a 3.5 or less. Build date 7/07 yes this is a 08.

Just thought i share only noticed because i was cleaning my trd intake.

[nissanaltimacrazyhorse]

My tire has not bottomed out to the top of the fender but i have bottomed out on the frame in a mud hole. Which i think the last mud hole did the bulge. But ill still off road just my thoughts on buying another toyota have changed a bit. Really my next car purchase will depend on if toyota fixes this right. If they do ill buy toyota agian if not ill look somewhere else.

[Thai]

[quote=cruiserlarry;1029803]

fjdave5341 previously said:

Two things to consider:

First, only about 20% of the vehicles appear to be affected by this problem, based on informal surveys. So, there is a high probability you may never have the issue to deal with.

Second, even Toyota seems aware that this is most likely a structural design problem with the part,

Considering that this bulge issue is a STRUCTURAL & MATERIAL problem, it is simply a matter of time for most (if not ALL) FJs. This is not like the Tundra camshaft problem where the supplier had a few bad batches...this is a design problem from the factory...and a well-known problem apparently among overseas Prado. So, i believe that if you keep your FJ long enough (e.g. after warranty expires), then most (if not all) FJ will eventually show signs of it. If you take it off-road or put on aftermarket stuff, then the bulge will show sooner. Remember, there are many FJ owners who are not on this forum and don't even look under their hood...so, the 20% is probably a big underestimation...and IMHO, given time, this % will go up.

As with all car manufacturers, Toyota is not an angel. They will try and dodge this problem with all sorts of tricks, including as member above found out, blaming on off-roading. And as noted, it is not up to the dealership to decide your fate on a warranty repair, it is up to the regional Toyota representative for these costly repairs. My guess is that Toyota will NEVER issue a TSB nor recall for this problem...it will be too costly for them to repair all FJs from 2007 to 2008. In addition, this would lead to a nasty public image of the suprisingly vulnerable Toyota armor.

In other words, my advice to those affected and those not affected (yet), GET TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY! (I would NOT bother with those aftermarket ext. warranty.) I would not rely on Toyota's generousity nor put the fate of your FJ in their hands. If you are already out of warranty, then i recommend going to church and praying a whole lot!

Good luck.

[nissanaltimacrazyhorse]

or trading the rig in when youre sick of it if toyota doesnt fix it thats my plan anyways;

[cruiserlarry]

Thai previously said:

Considering that this bulge issue is a STRUCTURAL & MATERIAL problem, it is simply a matter of time for most (if not ALL) FJs. This is not like the Tundra camshaft problem where the supplier had a few bad batches...this is a design problem from the factory...and a well-known problem apparently among overseas Prado. So, i believe that if you keep your FJ long enough (e.g. after warranty expires), then most (if not all) FJ will eventually show signs of it. If you take it off-road or put on aftermarket stuff, then the bulge will show sooner. Remember, there are many FJ owners who are not on this forum and don't even look under their hood...so, the 20% is probably a big underestimation...and IMHO, given time, this % will go up.

As with all car manufacturers, Toyota is not an angel. They will try and dodge this problem with all sorts of tricks, including as member above found out, blaming on off-roading. And as noted, it is not up to the dealership to decide your fate on a warranty repair, it is up to the regional Toyota representative for these costly repairs. My guess is that Toyota will NEVER issue a TSB nor recall for this problem...it will be too costly for them to repair all FJs from 2007 to 2008. In addition, this would lead to a nasty public image of the suprisingly vulnerable Toyota armor.

In other words, my advice to those affected and those not affected (yet), GET TOYOTA EXTENDED WARRANTY! (I would NOT bother with those aftermarket ext. warranty.) I would not rely on Toyota's generousity nor put the fate of your FJ in their hands. If you are already out of warranty, then i recommend going to church and praying a whole lot!

Good luck.

Assuming its a structural issue, Toyota uses multiple sources for it's parts, and one source may have a materials issue while others did not, thus not every vehicle may end up with the problem. I still feel we have 2 separate issues - cracking (design/materials) and bulging (bottoming out the suspension/contact with the inner fender well).

Regarding buying an extended warranty: I guess if you want to give Toyota additional money for something they will cover outside of warranty as demonstrated so far, go ahead. I don't think we've seen a case where the problem first showed up outside of the warranty period, so it may be a moot point.

Anyone who has had this problem first start outside of the warranty period, speak up - and let us know how the Toyota reacted to your situation...

[VDM]

Talked to my svc guy today. My new parts will be in in a couple of weeks. He does not know if these parts contain the braces. Once I'm back from Moab/Ouray, we're supposed to sit down with the Toyota rep and decide what is to be done.

[nissanaltimacrazyhorse]

so i guess i should go to the dealership and get it documented? Or should i wait till it gets worse? Sucks because my dealer would fix no questions asked but i guess this ones out of there hands.

[VDM]

nissanaltimacrazyhorse previously said:

so i guess i should go to the dealership and get it documented? Or should i wait till it gets worse? Sucks because my dealer would fix no questions asked but i guess this ones out of there hands.

I would get it documented just for safe measure. I'm out of warranty and they authorized an immediate fix over the phone before I even got to the dealership.

[Thai]

cruiserlarry previously said:

Assuming its a structural issue, Toyota uses multiple sources for it's parts, and one source may have a materials issue while others did not, thus not every vehicle may end up with the problem. I still feel we have 2 separate issues - cracking (design/materials) and bulging (bottoming out the suspension/contact with the inner fender well).

Regarding buying an extended warranty: I guess if you want to give Toyota additional money for something they will cover outside of warranty as demonstrated so far, go ahead. I don't think we've seen a case where the problem first showed up outside of the warranty period, so it may be a moot point.

Well, considering that the overseas Prado have this same problem, i would rather incline to believe that it is a design +/- material problem. So, i don't think that it is as limited of a problem as you say it is. Of course, i hope that i am wrong.

As for warranty repairs, you may want to read this again:

FJWoods previously said:

The dealer had a Toyota Rep take a look at mine, My skid plate is dented from hitting on some rocks. They claimed that the stress I put on it from banging it down on rocks caused the bulges. I grabbed the sheet metal on the skid plate and pulled it back out to show how flimsey it was. They insisted that I had abused.

If Toyota is balking at repair for a vehicle under warranty, then what do you think they will do with a vehicle NOT under warranty??? Unfortunately, these type of costly repair will be on an individual basis and may depend on the mood of regional Toyota rep. The ext. warranty (Toyota only) is mainly there to help with your argument in the future. Without it, Toyota has no incentive to repair it. Anyway, i got my Sienna 7/100k mile zero deductible warranty for only $850 (even cheaper at some other places)...so, it's not expensive to begin with...could be cheap insurance down the road for a known problem.