My 2018 TRD Off Road is showing wrinkling/peeling protective film on the front grill. I thought it was the paint, but the dealer said it was the protective film (PPF). I did not purchase any protective film add on and the dealer does not want to cover it under warranty. Is this PPF something other owners of this car have noticed as standard on their cars?

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Anyone know if this is added at the factory, the port or the dealership? Thanks for the help

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PPF isn't typically installed as a default from the dealership or at port. Generally, a customer purchases a vehicle and wants PPF installed so they pay for it. Then the dealerships generally have to outsource it to a different shop to get installed. That shit ain't cheap either (a square yard cost me $100CAD + tax as a normal Joe that walked off the street i.e. no vendor discount, full retail, etc.).

PPF shouldn't wrinkle like that. Almost like it was installed in error and someone tried to pull it off, then figured **** it, and left it. Or almost like someone hit it with a heat gun and then decided it was too much trouble and left it alone.

If it bugs you enough, just hit it with a heat gun and slowly peel it off.

Clear Bra Paint Protection Film Removal: How To and What To Use! - YouTube

Thank you for the information, that is helpful.

It seems a lot of 5th gen Off Road and maybe SR5s come with PPF on their lower doors and possibly the grill as well. Can any owners out there confirm or deny that?

Many cars come with something that looks like PPF (just far thicker) near the rocker panels/wheel wells/lower rear doors to prevent rock damage.

The 4R doesn't "come" with PPF on the front, but it is a dealer (and possibly port - if factory ordered) installed.

Most dealers are completely incapable of installing PPF properly.

If you bought the car new, then it was most likely installed by the dealer. If used, then either the dealer or somebody else.

If it was installed by the dealership when new, then it falls under the bumper to bumper warranty.

Did you buy the car new? Is PPF on the window sticker or on your sales order?

I did buy the car new. No one in the service department installs PPFs so it does not make a lot of sense. None of the paperwork on the car indicates that PPF was installed. Dealership (A) traded another Toyota dealership (B) for car and no one knows who installed it, lol.

The dealership I bought it from (A) talked to the dealership (B) and they don't know anything about it, but they said they have a guy who comes in randomly and who can do that type of work.

It has been the usual headache dealing with the dealership. Lots of runaround. My service manager wanted to wait and talk to this guy, I asked him to just warrenty the grill part through Toyota and I would pick it up myself.

He finally agreed today, so we will see.


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I can see some thick plastic running under my doors, but not on the front. I am actually looking for it to have one put in including the hood, but the guy who installed my window tint said they are expensive... I still want to do it though because my other two vehicles have lots of rock and stone chips on the front and the hood. I wouldn't like that to happen with my new baby LOL...

Every Pro I have seen has the film guard on it.
Yours, to me, looks like someone tried to peel it off.

What is there to warranty on the grill other than the PPF? Unless, of course, the installer damaged the grill during install.

The thicker PPF is applied at the factory.

The "normal" PPF is applied by the dealer if they think they can sell it to the customer and there are two kinds of PPF - the expensive one that has a Toyota part number and is already cut to size, and the other stuff (if it is a halfway decent brand) comes on big rolls. Most PPF installers will cut the PPF to shape using software template on a plotter/cutter.

Having a decent installer do PPF for you will be far cheaper than having the dealer do it and the results will be far better.

Any tint guy who says PPF is too expensive should be avoided at all costs - even for tint - as they are clueless about the industry and detailing.

If they try to rake you over the coals, look at the other OR models on the lot while you're at the dealership to see if they have PPF on the same spots as yours.

If so, your warranty claim should be valid.

That is exactly what I was thinking too. They have pretty low inventory at the moment. I am really just curious at this point.

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Since the car came from a different dealership, you probably need to go to the original dealership to check inventory. Hopefully, it's not far.

I have put PPF on every car I've owned since hearing about it. It's a great product and saves the front of your vehicle. Even if you can't get them to fix the problem, I would have it replaced. My 14 TEP was used but came with it on, saving me from having to add it.

Excellent timing.

I had suntek ultra installed on the front clip of my new Pro in May (very reputable installer). A couple of days ago I noticed the same thing happening in the same exact spot but on the driver’s side. I am meticulous about keeping the film clean from bugs and bird droppings so it’s not from that. The pattern of “damage” doesn’t correlate to something getting on the film from the roadway. The only thing that makes sense is it’s a defect in the film or install error. I haven’t had a chance to take it back to the installer to see what their thoughts are on it.