2015 hood flex help!!

[greasy knuckles]

Ok all… I have read, researched and visited the dealer. I traded my 2006 Limited 4x4 for a brand NEW 2015 limited 4x4 magnetic grey. Hated to see the 2006 go but my AC went out and the expense just didn't make sense. Call me crazy but the flex in my hood is very distracting and annoying. My fault for not test driving it at speeds high enough to replicate but that's in the past. I have read forums of older models doing this but I bought mine brand new and it is unacceptable to me. A master tech mechanic started a ticket with Toyota and they replied saying this is normal to ease "pedestrian impact". Whatever that means… Anyways- my dealer is willing to do what they can and to go as far as swap it out for a different kind of vehicle. I asked the dealer if installing a hood with a scoop would solve the problem and he felt it would cause more problems than it would solve. I don't want to do any modifications myself yet if I may have to switch cars. Would swapping a hood with a scoop help? There is a fake scoop that is being installed on the tacomas …thoughts ? Is anyone having this issue with their 2015 trucks or SUVs? I like the looks of the new TRD's but they just don't have all the "bells and Whistles" of the Limited.
Sorry so lengthy but needed to get the facts out there! Thanks in advance-

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Well, this is a new one to me! I don't think I've ever noticed my hood flexing at all.

If it really bugs you that much, just take it to a custom body and fender shop that you know/trust, have them weld in some extra supports underneath, then re-shoot the hood!

If you wanna spend money on it, then have a custom fiberglass shop build one for you! There's a guy on the forum that does fiberglass fenders/panels/hoods, I think this is his website:

Precision 4X4 Center

 

[Javelin]

I have a 2011 trail w/ hood scoop and the hood vibrates slightly at highway speeds

 

[Jeremy556]

Apply dynamat to the bottom of the hood

 

[vdo]

I have the same vehicle as you and noticed the same thing on our first highway trip. I've never had a car that had this much hood flex and it was very annoying. At first I thought the hood wasn't closed tight. When I asked my service guy about it, he said that it was normal. Toyota wanted to reduce as much weight as possible to help with the mpg's, thus the thinner sheet metal.

 

[Engineer]

Apply dynamat to the bottom of the hood

Just curious have you done so? During my recent road trip I noticed it more than usual (likely because after 10hrs on Interstate 90 there is not much else to look at). Thinking about trying this but am not confident it will make much of a difference. Don't think it would make it worse but just not sure the juice is worth the squeeze. If you have done so I would be curious if you could see a difference.

Edit: This is the "worst problem" my Toyota has....hahahaha

 

[The Waco Kid]

Apply dynamat to the bottom of the hood

OP try this.

 

[Mistaken]

My 2011 does it, like I assume they all do. It doesnt bother me that much but I can definitely notice it. Seems like its just thin sheet metal all over the vehicle. You can see the door skins wiggle if someone shuts the door with some force too.

 

[Javelin]

My 2011 does it, like I assume they all do. It doesnt bother me that much but I can definitely notice it. Seems like its just thin sheet metal all over the vehicle. You can see the door skins wiggle if someone shuts the door with some force too.

Yeah the doors are super light. My friends end up slamming them because they are used to heavier doors on their trucks.

 

[Mistaken]

Yeah the doors are super light. My friends end up slamming them because they are used to heavier doors on their trucks.

Yup, my son slams them everytime. :brick:

 

[1engineer]

Question: Do you have a bug shield or something on the front of the hood currently?

 

[4Surfin]

I have noticed it more on my 2015 than I did on my 2011. I think the color of the vehicle makes it more pronounced. I went form mag grey to black

 

[WTERUNNER]

Just picked up a brand new 2015 SR5 and haven't noticed any hood flex.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

We've got at 2015 Mag Grey TE, and I've noticed it. Doesn't really bother me though as it has no negative impact on performance and is otherwise fairly minimal. Would i prefer it didn't have that flex, sure, but I'm not all that chuffed.

 

[kboxvegas]

Never noticed it on the road but I did when going through the dryers at the car wash.

 

[wanderMT]

I've noticed it also on my '15 LE but decided I can live with it. Bug deflector makes no difference - noticed it before and after. Maybe some day I'll try to figure something out but dyna mat sounds like good idea.
I do believe all cos. have the sheet metal as thin as possible now.

 

[Watchdogg]

I only notice flex when I hit a bump at speed. No flex that I notice at any other time. Mines a 2015 TEP.

 

[Cincyvol]

I've had no hood scoop and now have one and both hoods flex about the same. I notice it and would like it if it didn't flex but it certainly doesn't bother me enough to override all the other things I like about the vehicle.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

The sheet metal on the doors and roof will ripple as well when you close any door when all of the windows are up. Most new vehicles have this issue as manufactures are trying to cut weight by using thinner "High Strength" sheet metal. Just some are worse then others. Even $50K+ Ford Raptors have thin sheet metal that flexes and ripples when shutting the doors.

Also, some say that adding the Hood Insulation will help with hood flex, but I haven't noticed a difference after adding mine.

 

[2014 Warthog]

Hmm this is weird.

I have a '14, never noticed this.

I've had the hood vinyl covered for quite a while now. Wonder if that's preventing it? But I never noticed it before that either so...

Where is it flexing exactly? The middle? The trailing edge or leading edge?

One thing people don't generally notice is that the rubber stops for the hood in the front on the left and right sides are adjustable by turning them and they should be snug when the hood closes. If they aren't then yes the hood can rock a bit and may cause flexing...