Yep, my DC short bed is sand blasted too. I only have 316 miles on it, and I've been REALLY careful to drive slowly in the muck to prevent just this. In fact, I drove my old car the other day so that the slag on the road wouldn't make this any worse.
I took it to the dealer today, and I have to meet with the service manager Monday. He's apparently the only guy authorized to look at paint...?
Anyway, I plan to get step tubes, but I didn't want the Toyota DeeZee ones though. Unfortunately, nobody else has a wide oval tube out that will fit the 05, and I simply can't wait if the paint is getting blasted like this. I'm hoping the Toyota ones will do the trick. I don't want running boards.
I'm considering demanding that *more* of the thick rubbery stuff be sprayed on the rockers, etc. I imagine this isn't too much to ask of a good body shop, and actually, I've seen the stuff on a whole lot of various cars before, and never seen it work so poorly. So, maybe more or better of the same would help?
FYI, mine does have the clearish overcoat of rubbery stuff on the rockers and lower doors, and it's chipping as well, and the POS 3M deal on the rear fender looks like Sh*t now. And no, the slag around here isn't rediculous. I just got back from WVa, and they spread boulders there. My old car was hating it.
I'll let you know what happens. But for those of you wondering, your short bed with the "protective measures" on it is not safe from this problem.
Unfortunately tubes or boards seem to be the temporary fix to the problem. If you dont mind them that is. I needed them to climb in and out of truck and luckily mine came with factory chrome boards and they look pretty good. If you dont want the DeeZee tubes you might look into Westin Oval tube bars. That's the lowest mileage ive heard so far I think with this problem. But rest assured im nearly 5000 miles into the truck and no chips on the rockers or bed area at all. Boards must be working to keep the beating down on the paint. Granted here in Texas we dont have the barage of salt, sand, and rock on the road during winter that many states do. heck white stuff falls around where I live and we just pack it in and stay the heck home!
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2005 Toyota Tacoma DC TRD Sport (Silver Streak Mica)
Here are some pictures of my 05 Black DoubleCab, 1300 miles... You have no idea how much this drives me crazy. I only hope Toyota fixes it the RIGHT WAY! Enjoy.
As you can see, it is a couple of big chips, the rest looks sandblasted. The plastic rock guard on the fender flare doesn't do didley crap. Once Toyota repaints the truck I am putting on the running boards. My whole rockers look the same, sandblasted...
Notation: The embedded photos were made into links, as they were not sized correctly of 400 X 200. It was distorting the page as well. --- Possum
My truck is black and it looks the same way. You won't have a choice about the running boards--Toyota will require them to be put on or else they won't repaint the truck. I ordered mine from toyotapart.com, because their price, even with the shipping, was alot cheaper than my dealer's price, and they arrived yesterday. I'd put them on myself right now because it doesn't look too difficult, but I think they're only going to have to be removed anyway to paint the lower section under the doors, which is where the damage is the worst. If you get under the truck, you can see the flat piece where the sheet metal curves up under the doors--it's about 4 inches wide and it runs the entire length of the sides. Left untreated, that whole section would turn to rust within a year. Once I schedule the paint job, I'll have the dealer put the running boards on because as soon as the truck's repainted, I don't want to drive a single mile without the running boards in place. I just hope they work because I don't want this to happen again every winter.
Add me to the list of those having paint chip problems on the 05 Tacoma. I've had my Dbl-Cab SB TRD-Sport (Radiant Red) for a little over a month with less than 1,000 miles. I've babied it so far and I already have multiple paint chips. I never experienced any paint chips with my 02 Tacoma.
As others have done, it's important that Toyota hear from as many as possible having the same issues. The e-mail address that I have for Toyota is toyota_cares@toyota.com . If anyone has a better address, would appreaciate if you would post it.
See attached pics for examples of what I've experienced. I can only image what the truck will look like after one year of driving...
Last edited by disabati; 02-06-2005 at 04:29 PM.
Reason: Added photos and updated info.
Man, I read this entire thread thinking I was safe from the problem. Well, I gave my truck a bath while it was getting dark so I didn't notice anything.. Once the sun came out today, I realized that my truck got sandblasted too . I called up the dealership I bought the truck from and had the service manager look at it. He said that he would get it repainted, but the same thing would happen. Sooo, he took all my info and said that he'd contact Toyota about it to see what they want him to do. Oh and, I do have the 3m protective stuff but it's all messed up. I guess after Monday comes, I'll let you guys know what Toyota had to say.
BTW, does anyone know what the detailing department uses for scratches? I've had them use this tannish liquidy stuff to remove some scratches when the truck came and it made the paint look flawless. It did help the sandblasted area, but nothing will hide big rock chips.
hey i'm a lil confused, hope you all can help me out,
i gave the truck (dc black sport 4x4) a bath the other day, no scratches or chips, but i noticed that on both sides the paint is smooth and then as it gets to the lower portion along each side, it gets rippled or scaly? it is of even length and width on each side, i noticed some of you have it too, but i'm not sure of that's a paint problem, or its supposed to be like that?? i kind of looks like its meant to be like that but i'm not sure?
It is supposed to be like that. It is where there is more layers of paint put on it because that is an area that rocks hit more than others. I think there might be a different kind of paint there also but it is obviously not helping the chips.
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!
I took it as he meant that it happens on all the foreign cars due to the regulations on the paint. I could be wrong though.
I never had this problem on my Ranger (but I had rockers that took most of the hit). I am going to look at my Tacoma closely tonight, but I think the 3M is in my near future.
Also, don't let this stop you from buying the Tacoma, I am a Ford fan too but this is one of the best trucks I have ever owned! I love it!
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The New - - 2007 Sun Fusion FJ Cruiser
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I am planning to expect the rockers, lower doors, rear overfender, and front of lower bed corner to be repainted. I have read here that others of you (at least one??) have been told that the truck lowers will be repainted only if the running boards are purchased.
How many of you?
Unfortunately, I have no idea how the lower half of the door will be repainted without seeing the paint difference somewhere in the door. Any ideas? Can shops do that? I mean I know they say they can blend, but I've never seen one look right.
Oh, and here's what I think I know now about the lower paint.
The rough orange-peel texture on the lowers is a product, usually by 3M, called rock-guard. Unexplainable by me, IT IS UNDER THE PAINT. I have spoken to multiple body shops now, and they have all agreed that manufacturers put it UNDER THE PAINT. Supposedly, this "cushions" the rock blows and prevents chipping. As we well know, that's rediculously stupid. At least for Toyota. If you look on the bottom of recent F-150's, the stuff is THICK! And you'll also likely notice the lack of paint chips. I did find a paint shop that sells it to body shops, and it comes in clear, and tan. Unfortunately again, it says clearly NOT FOR USE OVER OEM FINISHES. I have no idea why. I was thinking the clear may be a prevention for those of you wanting to prevent all this hassle...oh well. Three possibilities that the paint seller guy had- either the rock-guard isn't on thick enough, or the paint isn't thick enough, or both.
Sucks.
NICKSTOY- if you are out there, what exactly did they say they'd repaint, and do you get to arrange it to see it gets done right, or are we S.O.L.?
Thanks.
I'm rambling again...
I emailed Toyota about my paint(it wasn't a super nice email , and I got a response inside 24 hours stating that the "customer relations representative" at my dealership would be in touch by like 10am Thursday (2 days). I also separately took the truck to the same dealership, with photos from this site of other's trucks (THANK YOU!), and suprised the service manager. He said he'd get the regional service manager to look at it, as soon as he comes around. Unfortunatley, that's not for 4-6 weeks. So, unacceptable damage in 2 weeks/350 miles, and I have to wait another 4-6 weeks.
I've decided to go ahead and get the running boards, just to protect the paint, and be one step ahead of Toyota. I really wanted the tubes, but I can't have the paint doing this, especially for 4-6 more weeks. I'll have to say, mine's not really that bad yet, but hey, it's only got 350 miles on it. I'm thinking prevention. This is B.S.
I think if we flood Motor Trend with letters- you know, Truck of the Year and all, maybe we'll get our POS paint fixed without a hassle. Especially the guy who got the reply that "damage from road debris isn't a warranty issue". BS. Same roads, same "debris" and no damage on LOTS of other trucks...
My service order says "Toyota to repaint bottom of vehicle along rockers-both sides-due to paint blistering. Customer to have running boards installed." Since the rocker panels are textured and don't really blend into the rest of the paint anyway, I don't think that blending in will be an issue. The dealer told me that they've done this before with other Toyota trucks too, so I guess it's a common problem on all Toyota trucks. Toyota, however, doesn't consider this a warranty repair--it's more of a courtesy to customers that they'll do because the trucks are brand new. Toyota's one condition, though, is that customers have Toyota running boards installed to prevent this from happening again. It can't be tube steps or other brands of running boards.
MBWARE: you can install the running boards right now, but they're going to have to come off when they repaint the truck, and then they might charge to remove them and then reinstall them, instead of just charging to install them. The service manager told me that there was no rush to repaint the truck, and he suggested that I let the paint go for the rest of the winter, and have it repainted when spring begins. No sense in repainting the truck and then subjecting it to more winter slop. I already got the running boards from Toyotapart.com, and I'm going to have the dealer install them after they repaint the truck. I was going to put them on myself right now, but the damage is already done, and I don't want to have to have them uninstalled and then reinstalled later. I think that when the dealer repaints the rockers, they'll make sure that it's done right, with enough chip guard on the paint. I think that Toyota probably skimps on the paint a little too much and that's what's causing all of these problems.
My service manager "met" with the regional service representative at an out-of-town meeting, and I was told today that the regional guy "hadn't heard of any such problems with the paint". I think this is the beginning of the song and dance.
I really felt well supported with photos of some of your trucks, along with MY TRUCK at the dealership. Any way we could get a bunch of pictures of as many trucks with the paint chipping as possible, to discredit the "it's your truck only" arguement?
This is all over the internet, and he's not heard about it. I don't expect all Toyota guys to check the internet, but certainly Toyota "really" knows about it.
Thoughts?
I was just thinking that if I had pictures of 30 or more trucks, obviously different trucks, then maybe they'd own up to it.
Drove my X-Runner on a 6 hour round trip with only 1000 miles on it and had the same paint problems as all of you. Must have been the 70mph speed because didn't have one chip the first thousand miles driving around town. Had a pro re-paint it all up and covered the whole panel with 3m plastic up to the indentation and down over the lower body kit and covered the fender flares as well. Had to b!t^h and moan about them getting that junk to cover it all the way up to that rubber seam. Good as new now. Just waiting for my next big trip to see if the 3m holds up. Probably won't and then I will have to drive my truck right through the dealers showroom at 120mph. Maybe that will get their attention. Learn how to test your vehicles properly Toyota. And take some auto painting lessons while you're at it. I could sneeze on these crappy paint jobs and blow a fist sized paint chip right off the hood if i wanted.
Gave my Dbl-cab 05 Tacoma a bath today and looked closely at what you guys have described, and yes, I have the same problem. There appears to be something wrong with Toyota's paint application process.
I'm sure Toyota has not admitted any wrong to date, but, knowing their reputation I hope they live up to their high standards and make good on the problem. But, the only remedy for those of us having this problem is repainting the vehicle, something that doesn't sit well with me.
, and I got a response inside 24 hours stating that the "customer relations representative" at my dealership would be in touch by like 10am Thursday (2 days). I also separately took the truck to the same dealership, with photos from this site of other's trucks (THANK YOU!), and suprised the service manager. He said he'd get the regional service manager to look at it, as soon as he comes around. Unfortunatley, that's not for 4-6 weeks. So, unacceptable damage in 2 weeks/350 miles, and I have to wait another 4-6 weeks.
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