Dealership cracked my bumper

[andy24]

I took the 4runner in to get the headlights replaced for the TSB. Well this was the result...

They cracked the bumper in the middle right there and basically denied doing it. They said they do not touch that area when they remove the headlights. Well now it is misaligned and has a bigger gap than usual. In the fourth picture, you can see a crack in my bumper. That was from a couple years ago when somebody backed into me. They said that was probably the cause for the other crack. It is not true because it was not misaligned and I never saw the new crack there before. I kept on pointing out the new crack to them and they kept on saying they do not see a crack when it is clearly there.

So now I have an appointment to get the bumper alignment fixed at a body shop. He still did not mention the crack. What do I do? Should the whole bumper be replaced?

 

[westwind77]

This is why I chose not to have the TSB done to my 4R. I hate the hazed lights, but in the end I know my luck would end up like this or worse. Why Toyota designed the 4R so you have to take the whole bumper off to change a head light :doh::doh: A little wax cleans it up for a bit. I will remember to wax before I trade or sell

 

[diverscale]

This is why I chose not to have the TSB done to my 4R. I hate the hazed lights, but in the end I know my luck would end up like this or worse. Why Toyota designed the 4R so you have to take the whole bumper off to change a head light :doh::doh: A little wax cleans it up for a bit. I will remember to wax before I trade or sell

Seriously, you have to take off the whole front of the truck to remove headlights? Jeez, I'll think twice before sending my lights for a retrofit!

 

[Qjake]

I don't see a crack either :shrug:

 

[Love4myRunner]

So you didn't decide to get it fixed when someone first backed into you but now you need to fix it because the dealership "cracked" it? I think you just wanted them to fix something you already knew about... Next you're going to drive to the dealership on "E" and blame them for burning up all your gas when I doesn't start?

 

[4runner10]

I worried about this sort of thing when getting the TSB performed, but have had mostly very good experience with my local dealership so went ahead (I paid 1/3, Dealership paid 1/3, Toyota paid 1/3). Had to make a bit of a stink as they never notified me about the TSB and when I found out about it my truck was out of warranty. Aargh!

Anyway, they did a good job and the lights look like they should for a relatively new vehicle.

I replaced a headlamp housing on my 3rd gen with not much sweat, but this new design makes you remove the whole bumper to get to a side mounted bolt. Bad design there...

Sorry that happened during the repair. The lesson may well be to take pictures of your vehicle before having major body repairs done...

 

[Jono.ful]

Seriously, you have to take off the whole front of the truck to remove headlights? Jeez, I'll think twice before sending my lights for a retrofit!

It's really not that bad: the upper grille comes off, then you loosen the bumper skin and just pop it off at the wheel wells. Takes about 20 min per side.

 

[Ramzey28]

I don't see a crack but if you are talking about the bigger gap, they did that to mine when doing my light, I just popped the bumper back into what I'm assume are clips, they didn't push it it hard enough so I had a gap.......

 

[Adventure Copan]

I see the crack, but I bet your not gonna get anywhere with the dealership. It is a bummer though.

-Daniel Kent

EDIT: That's annoying you have to remove the bumper to replace the light.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

If you're referring to that itty bitty spot in the first picture, I would have to say I'm not entirely sure they caused it. I'm not even sure how you could cause that trying to remove the bumper... though if you've been doing enough of those headlamp TSBs, you get used to not even having to touch the bumper really...

As for the gap, I would just check all the plastic clips. If you want to get really Dick Tracy on the Dealership, look at all the screw points on the bumper skin to see if they have been moved or misaligned indicating remove of the fender screws.

 

[Stifler]

you either bumped something or someone bumped you... I have that same indent in my bumper (your 4th pic) and it is because I was a dumbass and bumped into another car..... that is not done by a headlight TSB I had it done and they do not remove the bumper they just loosen it up and roll it forward a touch