That's just the rock warrior wheels right?

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Actually its the same recall notice I got on my 18" trd aluminum wheels. When toyota bought back my truck last month the service manager told me they were going to have to change them out. It was something to do with the casting of the aluminum from one of their vendors.

 

That's just the rock warrior wheels right?

No, they're the 5-spoke Enkeis referenced here: http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/tundra/101461-pic-new-enkei-18-inch-tundra/

I think they were part of the Texas Edition package but I've seen lots of these wheels on other Tundras in this area without the Texas Edition package.

 

Does anyone know for sure? The old Enkei had a lugnut recall. I thought the texas wheels look like bloated limited wheels.
What is the story on TRD wheels? Is it the 18" silver or the 17" RW?

 

Mine were 18" silver that had the notice. It may not apply to a style per say, but batches produced at a a certain time. Mine was an 08 made in spring of 08

 

Mine were 18" silver that had the notice. It may not apply to a style per say, but batches produced at a a certain time. Mine was an 08 made in spring of 08

Were your exact wheels pictured or described in the notice? Just because a buyer gets a notice, doesn't mean it actually applies to their vehicle. I got a recall notice for the TPMS issue that applies to vehicles equipped with three specific TRD wheels. My truck is a TRD Off-Road, but did not have the wheels listed in that recall.

 

Can you scan and post your letter? Or take a pic.

 

Can you scan and post your letter? Or take a pic.

Of course

 

I had to chuckle when reading the part where they claimed that even after cracking, the wheels would last the life of the vehicle. Of course, if the wheel blew apart on the freeway and the truck crashed... well that IS the end of the life of the vehicle!

I also find it interesting that they didn't include a picture of the affected wheels in the recall letter (as Toyota did in the TPMS recall letter that had photos of the three wheel types that were affected by that recall). Does that mean there was only one type of 18" alloy wheel on all GST Tundras? Btw, what if an owner sold or traded his defective wheels to someone outside the GST area?

And I know this is off-topic, but why is there a "Gulf States Toyota"?

 

And I know this is off-topic, but why is there a "Gulf States Toyota"?

Pretty big distributorship. Second largest...in the world.

 

I have GST installed 18" wheels. I didn't get a letter, but I hope they replace mine because I think they are ugly. Though since I no longer live in GST, it kinda makes my truck unique.

 

...............................

And I know this is off-topic, but why is there a "Gulf States Toyota"?

Back in the 1960's, Toyota was looking to set up a nationwide dealer network here in the states and needed a few distribution networks setup. Gulf States Toyota sprung from when Carroll Shelby actually turned down the opportunity upon pressure from the big three in Detroit. A loose associate of Carroll Shelby jumped on it and started what became Gulf States Toyota. This allowed Gulf States to control all Toyota franchises in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. So any dealer in these states has to order their vehicles through Gulf States exclusively. They are then processed and that is where Gulf States adds the stupid up sales and funky options that would not be found in a Toyota sold in another region and/or distribution network. Since Gulf States actually controls the franchises in these states, they require these dealers to order "X" amount of these over priced "fluff" packages.

With the exception of Gulf States and Southeast Toyota distributors, Toyota corporate has bought back all the other distributors around the country and brought them back in house. Unfortunately, these two remaining independent distributor networks cause some grief to consumers who are looking to buy in one Toyota corporate owned distribution network and live in a Gulf States or Southeast distribution network. They do not play well together.

IMHO, Gulf States Toyota and the others like it are a legalized extortion racket that adds cost that would not normally be there.

 

IMHO, Gulf States Toyota and the others like it are a legalized extortion racket that adds cost that would not normally be there.

Absolutely right. I've bought numerous new Toyotas from these dealers and the crap that Gulf States Toyota piles on these cars is just plain wrong. $700 for a "protection package", for example?!? Trying to find a new Toyota without this all this fluff is possible but very difficult, and highly annoying.

Every time I've bought new, I've said "never again". With the Tundra issues, I think that proclamation will stick this time.

 

Mhejl- can you post a pic of your wheels? Are they the same ones as Asianflava has in his pic above?

 

Absolutely right. I've bought numerous new Toyotas from these dealers and the crap that Gulf States Toyota piles on these cars is just plain wrong. $700 for a "protection package", for example?!? Trying to find a new Toyota without this all this fluff is possible but very difficult, and highly annoying.

Every time I've bought new, I've said "never again". With the Tundra issues, I think that proclamation will stick this time.

Over the years, I have bought about 6 Toyota's in Gulf State region. In every one of those transactions, it was like pulling teeth to wheel and deal.

Now that I live in Delaware and have bought two new Toyota's here, the difference is night and day.

When Gulf States adds that crap, the selling dealers still have to pay them for the wholesale costs, thereby leaving them little room on the front end of the sale to negotiate with.

 

Mhejl- can you post a pic of your wheels? Are they the same ones as Asianflava has in his pic above?

My wheels are like those I linked to previously in post #4.

 

I called the GST hotline and spoke to someone in support. I asked about the cracking and they only know what is on their paper.
It is the Enkei diamond wheels and they will replace them with identical looking wheels, just made better.
These are the same wheels that had the lug nut recall.
If you have these wheels from the dealer, should be no problem to replace. If you got them from someone else, they haven't decided how to handle.

 

Back in the 1960's, Toyota was looking to set up a nationwide dealer network...

Hootbro, thank you for the excellent write-up. That was exactly the kind of information I was looking for: thorough, complete, and concise. I tried to give you points for your post, but I was told I have to spread more of my points around first.

The reason this question first came to mind was that I remembered reading some time ago that GST Tundras were equipped with a different back-up camera (installed at the port) than other Tundras which came with the camera installed at the factory. So does this mean GST not only controls their dealers franchises, but also has some control over Toyota's manufacturing for the GST-destined vehicles?

 

Hootbro, thank you for the excellent write-up. That was exactly the kind of information I was looking for: thorough, complete, and concise. I tried to give you points for your post, but I was told I have to spread more of my points around first.

The reason this question first came to mind was that I remembered reading some time ago that GST Tundras were equipped with a different back-up camera (installed at the port) than other Tundras which came with the camera installed at the factory. So does this mean GST not only controls their dealers franchises, but also has some control over Toyota's manufacturing for the GST-destined vehicles?

I will give you some more back story on Gulf States Toyota (which can also apply to Southeast Toyota also).

When buying or going to a dealership in a Gulf States covered region, you are really dealing with two corporate entities and not one when you buy that Toyota. When Gulf States and the other distributors started up in the 1960's, it was a best deal for Toyota of Japan as back then they did not have the venture capital to start nationwide sales and were confined to a few Southern California dealerships.

This led to so called "Sweetheart deals" with these distributors early on to include Gulf States. These private held distributors had non-expiring ironclad contract language that allow them exclusive rights to distribute Toyota's in their respective region. Over time, this gave these distributors leverage to dictate to Toyota corporate what features and options could be installed and sold on vehicles delivered to their distribution region.

Over time, Toyota Corporate began making offers and buying back the various distributors with Gulf States and Southeast being the lone holdouts. The reason Gulf States and Southeast have decline offers of a buyout is because they know they have the potential of making more money in the long run by keeping the distributor network than selling it back to Toyota Corporate. It all rolls back to the original contract with Toyota corporate back in the 1960's and not having a buy out clause in it.

With the above being said, Gulf States controls all entry of Toyota Vehicles into it's region to include parts and controlling the dealers. Gulf States also controls how the vehicles are equipped that are delivered to them so they can add their specific parts like wheels, trim molding and certain "special editions" only found with them. Most times these extra "doo-dads" they add are commercial off the shelf stuff you could buy yourself for half the cost.

Back in late 2009, I lived in Amarillo, Texas and within the Gulf States region. My wife wanted a new 2010 model FJ Cruiser and was very specific on options and features. When we went to the local dealer with our list, it was a 2 week battle to get the vehicle we wanted and not get all the extra useless crap that Gulf States wanted to add on it. In the end, we got what we wanted but you would have thought we were asking for winning lotto number or the cure to cancer. To be fair, our selling dealer was great but they were frustrated by having to deal with Gulf States on the issue. Also, getting a inter-dealer transfer from a non Gulf State distribution region would be the equivalent of dividing by zero, not going to happen.

 

Interesting post, I was wondering what the deal was with SET and GST. My wife's Highlander is a SET vehicle and my Tundra is a GST vehicle. We have options that local vehicles don't have.

When I had warranty work done on my truck, they could not find it because although it is a Toyota warranty, it is a GST Toyota warranty. They called it in and all was good.

 

The reason Gulf States and Southeast have decline offers of a buyout is because they know they have the potential of making more money in the long run by keeping the distributor network than selling it back to Toyota Corporate.

That, along with the fact that GST is now one of the largest private companies in America (according to revenue)...and you won't be seeing the "loose associate" jumping off that gravy train anytime soon

 

Lets see if this works, my sig should have a pic of the wheels in question. Yep it works, check it.

I'm in SoCal, but bought my truck in FL in 2008, before I moved. It's funny, I called the 800 number on the recall letter told the guy where I lived, he wasn't too happy about shipping wheels cross country.

I tried to get him to do me a set of TRD wheels, no dice since they are from Enkie, they can't be replaced by a OE wheel, bummer.

 

I really like the TRD wheels. actually the only part of the package but in my area, 75% of the trucks are TRD and have those wheels. Sort of like status quo. So having the Enkei are like having custom wheels that is covered under warrenty. Not a bad deal.
At least they are giving you the newer improved version of the same wheels, the alloy that looks like a bloated limited wheel or the other flat faced newer wheel are just butt ugly.

 

the alloy that looks like a bloated limited wheel or the other flat faced newer wheel are just butt ugly.

Photos please!