Wrote Toyota an email as some others have done. This is the response I was given:
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize for your concern regarding the paint of your 2005 Toyota Tacoma.
Because we are unable to directly inspect your vehicle, we have contacted the Customer Relations Manager at Younger Toyota to further evaluate your 2005 Toyota Tacoma.
Toyota dealership technicians are specialized in the diagnosis and repair of Toyota vehicles. They are provided with extensive training and have access to state-of-the-art equipment to help in the accurate diagnosis of your vehicle. Also, if necessary, we provide additional support to assist Toyota dealership technicians in resolving unusual vehicle concerns.
The Customer Relations Manager will contact you by the end of the business day, Thursday, February 3, 2005.
Now, I was contacted by the Customer Relations Manager of my dealer today. He was unaware that I had already stopped by and talked to my service advisor. I told him how the dealer said they would pay to fix it this time. I also informed him I will be buying the factory running boards the day my truck gets repainted. Before I told him this, he told me to get the 3M film on the problem area. He said the dealer used to do it on some vehicles in the past, and they probably still do this today. I will look into this, maybe they will even pay for it?? He told me it wasn't expensive. Seems like 3M tape and running boards is a lot of work and money to fix the problem that should never of happened. Hopefully, Toyota will be decent and fix it RIGHT and give me a deal on the running boards. Crossing my fingers that I won't have to live with a constant problem...
-Sam
I have the same arrangement from my dealer--I'm buying the running boards and they're going to repaint the rocker panels. I might wait, though, until the winter is over. I'd hate to have the truck repainted, and then immediately drive in snow again. As for the 3M tape, those little pieces of tape on my fender didn't last for one 20 mile trip in the snow--they look all chewed up. If you put the tape on and it doesn't hold up, how hard would it be to remove the tape, and would removing it possibly damage the paint underneath? I'm hoping the running boards will be enough to protect the paint, but if not, I might put rocker panels on it. Those black vinyl panels at Cabela's look nice.
I have the same arrangement from my dealer--I'm buying the running boards and they're going to repaint the rocker panels. I might wait, though, until the winter is over. I'd hate to have the truck repainted, and then immediately drive in snow again. As for the 3M tape, those little pieces of tape on my fender didn't last for one 20 mile trip in the snow--they look all chewed up. If you put the tape on and it doesn't hold up, how hard would it be to remove the tape, and would removing it possibly damage the paint underneath? I'm hoping the running boards will be enough to protect the paint, but if not.
According to 3M's website, the tape can be removed if there are ever any problems. Don't know how easy, maybe just heat the area and it should peel right off. I am waiting for Toyota to repaint the truck for Spring break. (middle march) I had it scheduled for this weekend, but thought the same, might just get bad again. So I decided to wait till I had plenty of free time and when winter was almost over. Best of luck.
-Sam
I currently have an 01 F-150 Supercrew and I'm looking at the new tacoma. This is very unsettleing. In response to the nissan owner sayin it happens on all cars I have 75,000 miles on my F-150 w/all terrain tires and no paint chips on my rockers!
My last truck was a Dodge Dakota and it had no paint chips on the rocker panels. If I were you and I was considering a Tacoma, I would tell the dealer that I've heard about paint problems along the rocker panels and insist that they give you running boards for free. I don't think this is a reason not to buy the truck. It may be annoying, but all things considered it's a minor problem. It's good to know that when Toyota does have problems, they're relatively minor annoyances. When American vehicles have problems, people could die. All the 2000 F-150's were just recalled because they could burst into flames even while they're not running and parked in the garage, and the govt is claiming that millions more Ford vehicles are affected though Ford isn't admitting that, yet. Remember, this was the company that brought us the Pinto. All the Dakotas were just recalled because their wheels could fall off--Dodge knew about this for years but waited for the govt to force a recall before it did anything.
PDR447 - I, too, owned an F150... I loved that truck so I am by no means a Ford (or Chevy for that matter) basher. However, NicksToy does make a good point regarding the scope - the liklihood of major problems with a Toyota are far less than other vehicles (owned a Chevy, engine blew at 80k; owned a Dodge, head cracked at 39k, etc...).
I currently have an 01 F-150 Supercrew and I'm looking at the new tacoma. This is very unsettleing. In response to the nissan owner sayin it happens on all cars I have 75,000 miles on my F-150 w/all terrain tires and no paint chips on my rockers!
That's awesome, Wish I could say the same.... Considering my titan doesn't even have 2000 miles on it.... But like I said before I can care less, my truck is for work and it isn't going to stay pretty, thats why I have the TL and Camry, however they are both having problems with soft paint... Since 91 I have not had a car regardless of brand that didn't chip easy.... I have grown to accept it... However to me it is a car/truck, it is going to happen, it will depreciate in value so I might as well use it and no worry about what it looks like.... That however is just my opinion....
Its not mine.....I have a Short bed Double cab ordered and I am trying to figure out if anyone's short bed out there is doing this and if it is...in what location??? because the location of those pics doesnt exist on a short bed
I have a double cab short bed and on both sides I am having problems with the paint chipping. The spot that it is chipping is located on the bottom corners at the front of the bed, not on the fenders but the sheet metal.
I have a 2002 Ford Ranger and waiting a couple more months to save some more money to buy a 2005 DC Short Box 4x4....
My Ranger's paint was peeling actually and I live on a gravel road.... Ford did not use enough chip guard in the paint process so I had to have my rocker's repainted....
I had them make the chip guard thicker and round it off into the door jam and it has held up very well now....
Chip Guard is something they add to the paint, it is only a couple of dollars and it helps out... Does Toyota use this product at all?
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, I didn't mean for my post to come of like ford is better that toyota. Like I said I WANT a tacoma. I posted because people were saying that it's due to the new paints and I just wanted to show everyone that thats not the case. For all you that are lucky enough to have a new tacoma don't just rollover and say it's the paints fault, toyota needs to fix this. After all, if ford can do it toyota better be able to!!!(read: toyota is better than ford)
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, I didn't mean for my post to come of like ford is better that toyota. Like I said I WANT a tacoma. I posted because people were saying that it's due to the new paints and I just wanted to show everyone that thats not the case. For all you that are lucky enough to have a new tacoma don't just rollover and say it's the paints fault, toyota needs to fix this. After all, if ford can do it toyota better be able to!!!(read: toyota is better than ford)
You are taking my post way out of content... First off... Paint on my Ranger should not of peeled off.... I had to pay to have extra thick chip/rock guard added and it took care of the problem.. Ford cut back on the amount they have put on vehicles from 2000 to 2002...... Also.... I was wondering if Toyota used such a product on their rocker panels? I have never owned a Toyota and was wondering and if Toyota hasn't, could they add it into the warranty repair for the ones who are having it fixed under warranty so this does not happen again... It would be a cheaper option than running boards.....
My gosh.... Please re-read my post....
And just realized it was not directed towards me... ooops... Sorry about that...
DC, 4x4, Long box, SR5, black, 10/04, California, Northern Ontario, No, 2600 miles
All of my driving has been on paved roads that have been covered in salt or a sand/salt mixture. I found one small stone chip (not unexpected), certainly not the sandblasting that others have had.
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