***Cracked Dashboard Action Request***

[momo.75]

From what i have found from most salvage yards, either the air bag has already been deployed or the dash already has cracks from the defective material or the wreck.

As it looks right now, our only options are to buy a new dash (@$1K) and pay for installation (@$500). I am sure there might be some people that could do it themselves, but i wouldn't feel comfortable doing that because of the airbag.

This is another option i found, but have yet to see it in a 4Runner.

Toyota Truck dash cap cover,4Runner dash cover,Toyota Pickup

It says you can return it if it is unpainted. I thought about ordering one to test fit, but it will be a while before i could get around to it.

 

[NJshadow93]

Some of you mentioned painting or Plasti-dipping the dash, I'm not sure how practical that would be, especially since you can't really remove it (which would be ideal for painting it) and the fumes inside your truck would probably not go away. It would be nice to see if Toyota owns up to their defective product. I'm not sure if I'm accurate with this, but it seems like the dash on my 2006 SR5 is harder than I remember the dash on my 2003 SR5 being. Did they actually change the material or was that just an idea being thrown around? If they did change it, a good way to handle the issue would be to replace the dash with the updated material. I fear if anything though their resolution would be throwing some kind of cover over it...

 

[momo.75]

Yep, they did change the material in the dash, but i am not sure exactly when. i have a buddy that does interior repair for dealerships and he was telling me that it was the same issue with the same year model Lexus SUV's.

 

[DexTech]

any of these cracked dashboards have a cover on them before they cracked?

 

[momo.75]

nope

 

[e10pvmt]

Here is mine...2003 SR5....112K...ya it s a FL truck but heat should not do this to a dash. To me its ****ty craftsmanship and the fact that they changed the material mid model tells me they found something out and needed to confine it to earlier model years. Mu parents have an 07 SR5 with not a single dash issue. I will have to check and see if the material feels different. Mine feels sticky and if it is breaking down.

 

[e10pvmt]

and someone mentioned earlier "what would they do for a 10yr old vehicle?".......Didnt Dodge have to replace thousands of dashboards on Rams for defective dashes that broke down in the heat and were warping?

 

[J053619]

I would cry if my runner's dash started cracking like this. I have an 06 and fortunately see no signs *knock on wood*, has everyone with a crack used some sort of solution/wipe to clean their dash?

 

[talonjade]

Ok, so you guys have been getting me paranoid (MOMO)

I got my T4R 03 V8 Sport in Colorado

****she came from PA and I could tell she liked to go to the Beach (sand everywhere)

those conditions are not great (dry sand and moist air, rusty winters)

****Current condition: She now lives in CO ;garaged every day for 50% day. Standard interior cleaning 2X month... 1Wax Mo. My cleaning process is already listed in post. As far as I know the dash was not replaced although Zune integration was added sometime.

I wonder if there is correlation between those who have added stuff perhaps when they re-assemble its binding/stressing the dash???

I have a hard time believing My dash is 100% after some of these pictures!
Especially given its past and I know the last owner wasn't a clean freak and most-likely was not (on top) of cleaning.

 

[Sports Night]

2005 cracked dash, lower above glove box. Will submit complaint thks for info

 

[gaterose]

Dash Designs charcoal "dashtex" dash mat-

 

[JG1911]

I have the cracks in my '03, garage kept, 303 applied since I bought her new. I have a friend who works for Toyota, they are never going to address this issue. trust me.

If someone has the time and the desire, you could take Toyota to small claims court, there is plenty of evidence out there that this is a defect. You'd actually probably win, in fact they would probably settle just so there wasn't a precedent that others could use.

 

[jcurtis1806]

The same crap is happening to mine. It started when I direct wired my radar detector...it's gotten a ton worse since then. My buddy has an FJ which is designed in such a way that I doubt it'll crack (hard plastic) but mine has seen better days!

 

[FrankA]

Mine too

2003, 94000 miles. I have the exact same cracks.. started on the drivers side by the vent, then slowly migrated throught the hood of the gauges. Now going towards passenger side. I dont want to replace the dash, because I am worried about squeaks an rattles inside the cabin. I dont want the dash mat because I feel it draws attention to what is underneath the mat.

A friend of mine said that someone in Texas makes aftermarket skins that fit flush over the dash, and they come in factory colors. Anybody have any info on it. or anything new from Toyota?

 

[momo.75]

2003, 94000 miles. I have the exact same cracks.. started on the drivers side by the vent, then slowly migrated throught the hood of the gauges. Now going towards passenger side. I dont want to replace the dash, because I am worried about squeaks an rattles inside the cabin. I dont want the dash mat because I feel it draws attention to what is underneath the mat.

A friend of mine said that someone in Texas makes aftermarket skins that fit flush over the dash, and they come in factory colors. Anybody have any info on it. or anything new from Toyota?

I don't know anybody that has tried one.

Toyota Truck dash cap cover,4Runner dash cover,Toyota Pickup

 

[GregGimbert]

Don't be embarrassed about calling and asking. Mine cracked at less than 60,000 miles, never armor all, always sun shaded. Its BS form Toyota. Next time I am buying American. Needed to anyway, this is just the straw..

 

[FrankA]

This is the place in Texas :
Toyota Dashboard Cover Caps, Camry,4-Runner,Toyota Pickup

Anyone tried it?

 

[stebat]

Our 04 SR5 has it above the glovebox. We bought it new in late 03, cracking started in about 08. Glad to find this thread. I throw up a pic tomorrow.

 

[chapi1]

Same here! I have an 04 that I take care of obsessively, and I have a crack above the glove box that started out very small and is now at least 4-5 inches. Pisses me off and is an obvious defect and Toyota should be covering this as it is a problem with so many runners. Thanks for the info and I will be calling in!

 

[rk09]

I have been reading this forum for sometime (very helpful) and this issue has convinced me to become active.

My 03 4Runner (SR5, 2wd, v6) has cracks on the dash very similar to the pictures posted, however, I only have one crack in the middle where the passenger airbag is.

Disclosure: I bought it used in December 2007 w/ 44k miles. According to the door jam sticker, it was built in September 2003. Currently it has 121k.

The cracking started before 100k miles when the truck was barely 7 years old. I think this is premature considering when parked outside, I have kept the sunshades up nearly all the time. My first car, a 93 Ford Explorer was sold when 15 years old, had sat outside nearly it's whole life, and had no signs of cracking in the dash.

I plan on calling the Customer Service helpline this week.
Thanks.