Help: Hatch Handle Melted

G

Grape Ape

Member
So...apparently this is a real problem according to the dealership here in TX and I'm seeing anyone has been able to resolve this defect for under $80. The dealership says they have to sell me the entire hatch assembly (electrical and all) to replace the rubber piece that covers the latch activator.

Has anyone come up with either a creative way or a part number for just the rubber piece?
 
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OP, are you trying to say that the rubber cover over the hatch release switch melted? I think that is part of the switch assembly and can't be purchased separately, so the dealer is not BSing you in that respect. But, I also see it online for only ~50 bucks, so maybe you might want to purchase it elsewhere if they are trying to charge you 80 bucks for the same thing.
 
buchaja said:
Damn! How hot has it been over there lately?
Click to expand...

Hot as balls (100+), but I'd never expect that part to melt. Mine has been in TX for almost 3 years now with nothing melted. It's not like the part is exposed to a ton of direct sunlight.
 
Bullhead City, AZ here. We hit around 120 here in June. No problem with melting. Perhaps the melting is being caused by something other than the ambient temperature? Something on the 4R perhaps?
 
Maybe something like oil or grease. I noticed that sunscreen can be pretty corrosive to rubber and some plastics too.
 
I'd try this place:

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/

They always seem to be quite a bit cheaper than local stealership.

Another option could be someone parting out a rear end collision. Often these folks consider the rear hatch toast, but you could probably get that assemble for cheap if you find one. Good luck.
 
I haven't had a chance to take it up to the dealer since it started. Mine is past the 36k warranty but we have an extended warranty since it was a certified used.
 
Go back to the stealership and ask them to replace it under your extended warranty.....My LE has been in Las Vegas for a year and a half and I park outdoors during the day....Hot as a Camel's crotch in a sandstorm I tell ya' and I have not had any problems....
 
Thanks everyone for the responses. I've still yet to find just the rubber cover part number, but the dealership is trying to help me out with that. The guy at my dealership knew exactly what I was talking about...I didn't even get to finish my sentence before he was telling me it's an issue around here. I don't have a garage so my vehicle is (sadly) sitting out in the TX heat during the day and it's just this year. I have had my Runner for 3+ years and never had this issue, but then again I always parked in a garage.
 
I just noticed this issue on my 2010 4Runner. I did a search through some other forums and found that it was also an issue on 4th gen 4Runners and even on other models with rear hatches like the Sienna. I'm kind of disappointed that Toyota didn't fix this problem between the 4th and 5th gen 4Runners since I found 4th gen threads about the issue well before the 5th gens were available. I, too, have an extended warranty and am going to discuss with my dealership. I'm not optimistic about the outcome, though, since I saw in the 4th gen threads that they didn't cover it as a warranty item.
 
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