***Cracked Dashboard Action Request***

This thread is crazy!! I have an '03 SE and about 7 months ago overnight I noticed a crack that starts where the dash starts running along the lip above the gauge cluster and stops just to the right of the tachO. That is the only one so far..I feel fortunate. Sorry to all that are experiencing worse!! I have a dash story with a dealer quote..:happens:

A few years ago I had the stock head unit replaced because my 6 disc stopped working..I had the "stealership" install it because with the core and install it was only ~$160 (I would've normally done it but it just seemed so cheap and they needed the core. LESSON LEARNED).. I just let them do it thinking it was such an easy job, what could they screw up...WELL the tech that replaced it jacked my dash up right above the head unit by prying on it and ripped a piece of the dash material off next to the gauge cluster. I found out they let him go while getting one of my free oil changes. I complained...they attempted to fix it..THREE TIMES and it still looked like crap.. I complained and they said they could replace it and would have around $1100 into it or they would give me a dealer credit..I thought about it and took the credit. I ended up getting a set of tires, T4R rubber floor mats, trans service, brake bleed, and 4 free mobile one oil changes.

If more cracks develop IDK what I'll do. Truck is payed for and she ain't no show pony. I may take the number and call just to see what happens. Good luck all.
 
Cool take apart.

Here's an idea/tip for anyone that decides to do it. Use an empty egg carton (or two) and mark the 'cups' with the screw size/type/location - whatever works for you. Helps keep them separate and organized. Plus, if you need to move them for whatever reason you can close it up and move them fairly easily.

*knock on wood* I never had to do that job though….
 
Just found out a long crack along my dashboard on 04 4Runner SR5 with 91k this weekend. The crack look like several pictures posted on this thread.

Crack started from the driver side air vent, goes up and along the hood/lip of the instruments/speedometers panel then it goes down on the left side of the glove box, will try to post pics.

This is my wife vehicle she drives it daily. This weekend I drove it and noticed that crack. Not sure how long the crack has been there. My wife is not the kind of person who noticed these kind of things on a car. She the kind of person who would not notice issues on a car unless it blow up or burned down.

Anyway, before finding this thread and read all these posts by other owners having the same issue. When I first found out the crack this past weekend, at first I thought that it is due to the guy who did the inspection sticker on her car last Friday may have something to do with it. Being a Texas registered vehicle, the inspection stickers and registration stickers are placed inside the lower windshield on the driver's side. At first I thought that when the guy who put on the sticker and during the process of scraping up the old one and putting in the new one and being it is hard to reach corner of the the windshield he may have put pressure on the dashboard and cracked it, but as I do research on the internet I found many similar issue with the 4th Generation 4runners dashboards cracks.

I'm going to start bringing this vehicle to the dealer to complain about it. Can someone tell me of any other phone numbers or email where I can start raising or creating a case on this issue?

Thank you
 
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Just called "Customer Experience Center" number 800-331-4331 found on Toyota web site.

Told them about the crack and told them beside the cosmetic issue of the dashboard, main safety concern is the cracks could have accidentally deploy the airbag even when the vehicle is not impact.

They said search the existing issue on the car and found nothing on it and simply say there is nothing they can do.
 
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Told them about the crack and told them beside the cosmetic issue of the dashboard, main safety concern is the cracks could have accidentally deploy the airbag even when the vehicle is not impact.

I do not see how a cracked dash pad would/could cause an airbag deployment.
 
Hey guys! I am new here,

I just got my 04 V6 Sr5 4wd a week ago.

I was so excited when I received it that I didn't look at the dashboard. But the other day what a surprise: I found one :(

I already call and email Toyota regarding the issue:

Everybody in this forum should help and all together would make Toyota take action.

Copy and paste this to email toyota: Email Toyota Also for the record my info was "submitted under reference number: #120929-000134"

And I just receive a reply from them:

We apologize for the concerns you are experiencing with your 2004 4Runner's dashboard.

Presently, we have not identified a defect in the manufacture of 2004 4Runner's dashboard by issuing a recall under a Special Service Campaign.

However, please reply to this email with your vehicle's 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number, as we will document your product concerns at our National Headquarters for review.

Also please provide us with your full name, and daytime phone number so that way if we issue a product update in the form of an extended Warranty or Special Service Campaign involving your Solara, we will have the data on file to notify you by mail of our prescribed course of action.

Thank you again for bringing your concerns to our attention.

We look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,
Thomas Morita
Toyota Customer Experience Center
[/I]​

Your email has been submitted under reference number: #121226-000228

Ticket submitted, again...though I know its a waste of time...I mentioned also that it may pose a safety risk because of the airbag. This is the second time I contacted them. :moon: to Toyota.

I also slammed them on Facebook...surely will be marked for deletion.

I will post pics...I posted pics over a year ago...cracks have grown much worse.:mad:
 
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I purchased my 2005 T4R with 50k miles on it and it had a single crack which now is much worse. The car itself is very clean and I keep it up well, even using a custom sun shade but the crack has now gotten worse. I just found this thread even though I lurk here often and I will send an email to Toyota now. Good luck to all.
 
I'm probably cursing myself but after reading these posts about cracked dashes I went and looked at ours and there ain't a single crack anywhere on it. It sits outside 99.99% of the time and I don't park under any kind of shade.

I would not worry about the airbag going off because of cracks in the dash pad, the dash pad is not what is holding it back from firing.

If mine does start to crack I may just pull it out and recover it with either Plasti Dip it or do a vinyl job over it.

The pictures I saw posted were nothing compared to the cracks in the dash pad of my old Suburban, those suckers you could have gone wheeling in and may have gotten lost.
 
I just spoke to my neighbor, three doors down, whom has a 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA w/90k. She has the same cracking problem on her dash!!!! I went down to inspect it and it is terrible! Probably three times as bad as my 4R. Of course, she has the same "graphite" grey dash material that our 4R's have, so this problem is not model specific. Just thought that the group should know if you didn't already.

Preacher
 
Dashboard cracking

The old fax is not working. New number indicated below

" ... As several of you have posted, there is an issue with some of the dashboards in the 4th gen. If you have any issues with your dashboard cracking, without any previous damage, and would like to try to get it fixed call this number."

All we can do is try with a joint effort hoping that there will be a corrective action on Toyota's part.

Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
Customer Experience Center
19001 S. Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90509
800-331-4331 - Fax 310-468-7814



I filed my complaint today 01.08.2013
 
Dash Cracks

I was wondering how this happened. Didnt they figure out the whole dash cracking issue decades ago??? My 04 has a crack over the glove box and another started on the driver side. I bought the truck used and assumed it was somehow done by the previous owner's kid and a razor blade. I thought surely Toyota would not allow such defective material like this?? Aparently I was wrong.

Anyway, thanks for the info. Good to know I'm not alone. I will report this and reference your case number ASAP.
 
I was wondering how this happened. Didnt they figure out the whole dash cracking issue decades ago??? My 04 has a crack over the glove box and another started on the driver side. I bought the truck used and assumed it was somehow done by the previous owner's kid and a razor blade. I thought surely Toyota would not allow such defective material like this?? Aparently I was wrong.

Anyway, thanks for the info. Good to know I'm not alone. I will report this and reference your case number ASAP.

And just to add to my previous quote... it's DEFINITLEY defective dash material. My truck is an 04 model with only 45K miles and has spent 90% of it's life in a garage. I am very particular about taking care of my vehicles, so for anyone who may be concerned that their dash is cracking due to negligence, dont be concerned! It's not you, it's the dash.
 
Dash Cracks Complaint

I filed the complaint under reference number 130109-000127. I will post the Claim/Case number once I receive a response.
 
Now I look at my dash each day for cracks. Reading that they will appear all of the sudden/overnight has me hawkeyeing my dash pad now. Great, something else for me to be ocd about. I ordered a cover that glued over the dash on my old Suburban but that ain't gonna be an option on these I don't think.

I hope mine don't start cracking and I feel ****ty for you cats that have this happening.
 

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