I don't want to do anything that someone has already done, however, since it appears that there are some trucks who have a very bad problem with chips and others who don't seem to have any problem, I thought it might be helpful to try to isolate the issue to a particular type of truck, manufacturing facility, time period etc.
What I was thinking is if everyone could respond to this thread in the following format, we could analyze the data and see if there are any trends (unless there is a moderator who has a survey tool that could do this automatically )
The format should look like (I will assume the year is 2005 for all):
Cab Configuration, 4x4 or 4x2, Bed Length, Option Package (Off Road, Sport, SR5), Build date (from the inside of the door jam), Manufacturing location (Cal, Mexico, etc), State you drive in, Chip problem? (Yes/No)
For example, mine would look like:
DC, 4x4, Short Bed, Sport, 12/04, California, MA, No
We could then take this information and, if a trend is found, use it to add additional credence to the issue with Toyota
I was just on a Nissan lot because I wanted to check out the Frontier (very plasticky and old-fashioned on the inside, by the way--glad I got the Tacoma) when a young guy and his dad came up to me and asked about my Tacoma. It seems they've been wavering about which one to get. They noticed my paint, and I told them it's happening to alot of the Tacomas and the dad said that pretty much settled it for them. I think they're going with the Frontier.
Toyota needs to understand that we're angry, and that having a fleet of paintless brand new Tacomas on the street, and internet disscussion threads lit about about the paint problem, is going to ruin sales for this vehicle. Write to Toyota and complain!
Toyota Motor Sales USA
National Customer Relations
19001 Southwestern Ave.
Dept. WC11
Torrance, CA 90509
DC, 4x4, Short Bed, Sport, 12/04, California, MA, No -- MAFAN, 1046
DC, 4x4, Short Bed, Sport, 12/04, California, WA, No -- COINNEACH, 766
DC, 4x2, Short Bed, Offroad, Silver, 12/04, California, LA, No -- rrp0968, 650
Also....I think these are the same as the Tundras were.......if you look on the inside of the backing plate on the front brakes......it will have a sticker with the actual build date of your truck. Mine is 12/17/2004. In other words.....look under the front of the truck and look at the plate that backs up the front brakes.......there should be a sticker with the date.
I also thought the color was valuable info as well.
DC, 2WD, Short Bed, Sport, 10/04, California, Texas, No chips where everyone elses are since I have running boards(1 chip next to windshield in door pillar post area), 4200 miles approximately. Last 5 of the VIN# 12216
I hear that the last few digits of the VIN# are the numbers of the truck as it rolled off the line. Hate to add more things but why not see if this was more prevalent in early models. I could be wrong about the VIN# being number of the truck as it rolled off the line.
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2005 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD Sport (Silver Streak Mica)
I've got an '03 Stepside Tundra and have posted on this very issue almost 2 years ago. Evidently paint quality has not improved since. I purchased my Tundra in October, by March it had the ''sandblasted look''. The truck really looked as if it had 100k on it. The damage was located at the same location that you are all referring to; on the lower box, and mine being a stepside just below the "step" area. I figured the stepside design attributed to it. I decided to return to the dealer and complain. The service manager agreed that the paint looked horrible. He said lucky for you the regional Toyota rep. was in the building. She took one brief look at it and said " we'll paint it no problem". Wow! no shouting, no pleading, nothing. One catch though. She said Toyota will only paint it once. She recommended putting on the factory running boards to prevent further damage. I argued that I should not have to pay for them to prevent further damage. She offered them at dealer cost and said take it or leave it. Well, I did want running boards anyway and $380 as opposed to $600 for them was enticing enough to say ok.
So after almost 2 years...how is my truck's paint holding up? Good and bad. The running boards were installed and most of the box and even the doors were painted. The paint is holding up well. Except now a new area of sandblating has appeared. The underside of the rear fender flares look horrible. They are sandblasted worse than the truck was originally. The running boards definitely cured the original problem, but it appears that road debris is being directed further back.
I decided to try a simple fix for now. So far its working. I've applied a type of colored tape that I purchased at A&A auto here in Pa. It's been on since September and is holding up well so far. Don't forget, I live in the northeast and we get a lot of snow and road crews don't spare cindering around here.
I love my truck in every other way. But Toyota paint SUCKS! plain and simple. There in NO reason that a $30,000 truck should have paint of this quality. Paint is also chipping on locations like the hood.
I've kind of given up pusuing Toyota. But every survey I get from them sends me off on a tirade about their paint quality.
I guess they're not listening yet.
Good thought yfzjen.... My last 5 digits were 31124. If I get enough responses, I would be happy to compile them and run some stats to see if there is any statistically significant variables.
There's a big post on this over at toyotanation.com under the truck section. Over 3000+ views so far. Might get some info there too. Or get them to come over here and post also.
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2005 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD Sport (Silver Streak Mica)
Yeah.....could be.....I thought I read on the Tundra board that it was the build date of the truck.....could be the brakes......who knows.......if so.....looks like our brakes were built a day apart......lol
I have also added the last five of my VIN.....
31124, DC, 4x4, Short Bed, Sport, 12/04, California, MA, No -- MAFAN, 1406
33782, DC, 4x4, Short Bed, Sport, (03L5) 12/04, California, WA, No -- COINNEACH, 766
34283, DC, 4x2, Short Bed, Offroad, Silver, 12/04, California, LA, No -- RRP0968, 650
12216, DC, 4x2, Short Bed, Sport, 10/04, California, Texas, No -- YFZJEN, 4200
I sent Toyota a letter and emailed a copy of it to Motor Trend magazine. If Motor Trend gets enough similar letters complaining about the paint on their 2005 Truck of the Year, they might publish one and then Toyota should take notice. In the meantime, if you're reading this and considering purchasing a Tacoma, tell the dealer you're aware of the paint problem and that you want running boards installed for free or else you're not buying the truck. Can anyone think of any other ways to get Toyota to listen and do something about the lousy paint on their trucks?
It's not just a Tacoma with these problems, all Toyotas have it, I have a Nissan Titan that is doing the same thing.... Nothing will be done about this... It's the paint that they have to use, they can't use lead based paint anymore so it is going to get scratchs and chips in it..... I have a 04 Titan, a 04 Acura TL and a 03 Toyota camry all with a ton of chips on them.... It's going to happen unless you can convince the paint company's to make something that will last like the old lead based paint did.....
I'm not trying to argue with anyone here, but this is a problem with all auto manufactures, it's going to happen and will for years to come..... It sucks but it has been going on for years now..... I have learned to accept it cause no matter what you try it won't be resolved....
Quote:
Originally Posted by NicksToy
I sent Toyota a letter and emailed a copy of it to Motor Trend magazine. If Motor Trend gets enough similar letters complaining about the paint on their 2005 Truck of the Year, they might publish one and then Toyota should take notice. In the meantime, if you're reading this and considering purchasing a Tacoma, tell the dealer you're aware of the paint problem and that you want running boards installed for free or else you're not buying the truck. Can anyone think of any other ways to get Toyota to listen and do something about the lousy paint on their trucks?
Nice to know its not just the Tacoma and that it is wide spread among many maufacturers. I had my 88 Chevy custom painted and even the area behind the rear wheels looked like it had been sand blasted much like the area in front of the wheels on the Tacoma's. We rock guarded it the last time and it's not near as bad this time thankfully, but the front bumper looks like someone shot the heck out of it with a BB gun. And I only average 4-5000 miles a year on this truck for the last 5 yrs.
So where's your Titan chipping the worst at? Damn sorry @$$ paint these days.
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2005 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD Sport (Silver Streak Mica)
Has anyone tried to isolate this...?
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For all you "hunters" out there, including myself 
, there's also 
Linear Mode
