Toyota Quality?

[giants269]

Found my first issue with me 2011 SR5 the other day.
While at the gas station I noticed that my front driver side fendo flare had a gap between the body of the truck and the flare.
After closer examination I noticed that it seems to be glued on at the top.
I can push it in but after a few seconds it will pop right out.
Looking inside the crack I can see some white glue residue.

Took it to dealer today and showed them the problem.
I thought it would be a simple fix, just apply some more glue right?
The service guy told me he has to order the new fender flare molding to change out the current one?

I was like wow all that work just for that?

Seems excessive, is it normal to have to change out the whole thing?
Has anyone else encountered this problem?

 

[harper7]

Found my first issue with me 2011 SR5 the other day.
While at the gas station I noticed that my front driver side fendo flare had a gap between the body of the truck and the flare.
After closer examination I noticed that it seems to be glued on at the top.
I can push it in but after a few seconds it will pop right out.
Looking inside the crack I can see some white glue residue.

Took it to dealer today and showed them the problem.
I thought it would be a simple fix, just apply some more glue right?
The service guy told me he has to order the new fender flare molding to change out the current one?

I was like wow all that work just for that?

Seems excessive, is it normal to have to change out the whole thing?
Has anyone else encountered this problem?

I've had practically my whole truck apart and nothing on the outside is glued on.I've seen nothing but top quality and I've torn cars/trucks apart for 30 years.I had the whole front apart and opened the headlights today for a retrofit.Excellent quality on the lights!

The flares are held on by a bunch of orange and blue push pins and white 1/16 thick x /1/4 wide 3M double faced tape.You can buy the pins and the tape by the roll so something sounds fishy that they have to order you a new one. They come unpainted plain black.

Almost sounds like someone had the flare off before or it was taken off and replaced without changing the clips and tape. They come real tight from the factory,believe me. Could have been at the dealer or at port. These babies are made at the Tahara,Lexus plant in Japan , noted for very very high quality and that's something that would stand out like a sore thumb.

 

[giants269]

I've had practically my whole truck apart and nothing on the outside is glued on.I've seen nothing but top quality and I've torn cars/trucks apart for 30 years.I had the whole front apart and opened the headlights today for a retrofit.Excellent quality on the lights!

The flares are held on by a bunch of orange and blue push pins and white 1/16 thick x /1/4 wide 3M double faced tape.You can buy the pins and the tape by the roll so something sounds fishy that they have to order you a new one. They come unpainted plain black.

Almost sounds like someone had the flare off before or it was taken off and replaced without changing the clips and tape. They come real tight from the factory,believe me. Could have been at the dealer or at port. These babies are made at the Tahara,Lexus plant in Japan , noted for very very high quality and that's something that would stand out like a sore thumb.

Hmmm thanks for the reply Harper.
I'll try to take some pics tomorrow to show you.
I guess it might be the 3M tape that's coming loose.
The area that's peeling off is the top right corner edge towards the driver door. I can clearly see some white residue, which might be the tape part.
Toyota says the part will come in next Wednesday.
If it comes in black and they have to paint it I hope they can match my color. I have Mag gray. This is my first Toyota. Just concerning to me since my SR5 is less than a month old.

 

[Ryan F.]

The Toyota quality on this truck is amazing. The fact that your dealership is committed to fixing it the right way is an extension of that philosophy that reaches from the assembly plant to the Service Writer. I don't give a damn what people say, Toyota quality rules, and I will never, NEVER, buy anything else. Go get that baby fixed, and ride on my friend!

 

[zaw]

I have the same issue. The driver side fender flare came apart and showed the glue residue between the gap.
I showed it to the dealer. Per Service Manager, he can order new one to replace it but the new flare comes in black color. Even the flare is to be painted and replaced, there'll be color mis-match in a longrun.
I'll wait and see how far the flare would come apart.

 

[giants269]

I have the same issue. The driver side fender flare came apart and showed the glue residue between the gap.
I showed it to the dealer. Per Service Manager, he can order new one to replace it but the new flare comes in black color. Even the flare is to be painted and replaced, there'll be color mis-match in a longrun.
I'll wait and see how far the flare would come apart.

Finally the fender came in and yes they had to take it to the body shop to be painted. To me it looks like a perfect match. But my T4R is only 1 month old so maybe I couldn't tell. If your's is older maybe you might see a slight difference. I was happy with the repair.

 

[mc1200s]

This pisses me off. I've got the same damn problem. I know this will be covered hassle free under warranty, but getting the paint to match is going to be a long shot. Even if I get lucky with an ideal match, it's likely the body shop will not remove slight swirls to my level of satisfaction. I'm a freak when it comes to paint. They will leave swirls under the clear that I wont be able to remove, nobody but me will notice. Right now I have nada and my ocd is in control. Sorry for being so negative. :crybaby:

Here yo go:

~original[/IMG]

 

[Tilo]

I'm guessing that it wasn't there when you inspected your new 4Runner for the first time. How long after your purchase did you notice that?

 

[mc1200s]

I'm guessing that it wasn't there when you inspected your new 4Runner for the first time. How long after your purchase did you notice that?

I didn't notice it at all until this evening, right after I read this thread and checked for the first time. Truck is just a few weeks old with 500 miles on it. After reading the thread, I walked out to the garage, and sure enough...

I think the cold weather caused it. There is the possibility that it was this way when I purchased it, but I doubt it. The tape is still pretty sticky and will almost stay against the fender if you push it as if it just came apart. Dust and salt hasn't built up in the gap yet ridding the flair of it's stickiness. I may live with it, but I'm afraid that the gap will just grow over time and spread from clip to clip length i distance. I've got 11 more months to make the decision as we only have 1-year for body work/paint/panel adjustments on our new car warranty.

Anybody else have the flair tape coming off the fender?

 

[T4Fun]

I've got 11 more months to make the decision as we only have 1-year for body work/paint/panel adjustments on our new car warranty.

Anybody else have the flair tape coming off the fender?

come again, 1 year? hows that 3 year/36K bumper to bumper warranty doing?

 

[mc1200s]

come again, 1 year? hows that 3 year/36K bumper to bumper warranty doing?

I was confused. In the future, I'll get my facts straight before I post garbage.

 

[Scuba6]

I noticed that my driver's side fender is pulling off (truck is 1 month old) and found this previous thread about it. Anyone else finding it odd that the driver's side front fender is consistently the problem??

Follow on question: if they have to get a new fender and paint them to match, what is y'alls opinion of having them (begging them?) to paint my husky mud flaps the same color? The flaps are not yet installed, so this seems like the perfect time. I don't know anything about painting such items, but would the paint stick to the husky mud flaps just as well as the factory fender?

 

[Woodztoy]

but would the paint stick to the husky mud flaps just as well as the factory fender?

Yes the paint will stick, they just have to put a flex agent into the paint and it will be fine. I have this on my 05 F350 and it still looking brand new, they are also Husky mud flaps as well lol. I am actually getting my limited mud flaps painted when the truck comes in can't wait!!!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[bradj]

for everyone that is having this issue... Do you have a 2010 or 2011?

 

[Scuba6]

for everyone that is having this issue... Do you have a 2010 or 2011?

2011.

 

[Superman]

I've had practically my whole truck apart and nothing on the outside is glued on.I've seen nothing but top quality and I've torn cars/trucks apart for 30 years.I had the whole front apart and opened the headlights today for a retrofit.Excellent quality on the lights!

The flares are held on by a bunch of orange and blue push pins and white 1/16 thick x /1/4 wide 3M double faced tape.You can buy the pins and the tape by the roll so something sounds fishy that they have to order you a new one. They come unpainted plain black.

Almost sounds like someone had the flare off before or it was taken off and replaced without changing the clips and tape. They come real tight from the factory,believe me. Could have been at the dealer or at port. These babies are made at the Tahara,Lexus plant in Japan , noted for very very high quality and that's something that would stand out like a sore thumb.

Agreed. It always happens at the port. Minor unloading errors do occur time to time. They're most definitely not as professorial as the workers in the Tahara plant. "Tahara plant is one of the most sophisticated plants in the world and has won awards for both the quality of production and attention to detail. This was awarded by JD Power and Associates. When employees enter the factory floor, they have to go through an air shower to remove dust. Also the employees look through 4000 details for every car produced. Workers are required to exercise and perform other physical activities such as holding and rolling golf balls in their palms. This keeps them sharp and is believed to help retain the standards necessary to produce flawless vehicles." ( Tahara plant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) :trophy:


I'd like to go and visit the plant!!! :banana:

 

[fins]

So what should be considered normal flare gap? All my flares have about 1/16" gap. Should they be flush to the body?

 

[3x4runnerOwner]

Seems like maybe the sheet metal might be contracting in the cold weather? I wonder if replacing flares and tape will actually be a long-term fix or something that occurs when it gets cold. Did Toyota go with a thinner sheet metal in this gen? Might be more susceptible to changes in temperature.

 

[JasonCz]

Follow on question: if they have to get a new fender and paint them to match, what is y'alls opinion of having them (begging them?) to paint my husky mud flaps the same color? The flaps are not yet installed, so this seems like the perfect time. I don't know anything about painting such items, but would the paint stick to the husky mud flaps just as well as the factory fender?

I've been toying with the same idea. The flaps on the GX470 are body color matched and look great. Let me know if you get it done....I want to see some pics!

 

[Scuba6]

I've been toying with the same idea. The flaps on the GX470 are body color matched and look great. Let me know if you get it done....I want to see some pics!

I finally took my truck into the dealer to get the new driver's side fender flare ordered as discussed above. I asked about getting the 4 mud flaps painted at the same time and was quoted a price of $90 PER FLAP!

Wow. I haven't done much body work before, but this definitely seemed crazy high to me. Anyone with more painting experience care to comment on the price - just out of curiosity?

Once the roads are cleared of the snow and salt mix in a month or two, I may well take off the mud flaps anyway. I don't like the look of them, but do appreciate the functionality since the snow mix has been so bad lately.