warning if you have a 2011 and want to order an OE grille

i have a '11 SR5 and wanted a paint matched OE grille.

so, i went online to toyotapartsbarn (awesome guys, BTW), input my year/make/model, and ordered the silver painted grille it said would be for my truck. it was something like $187 shipped.

well, this is what i received today -



that isn't the style grille i have on my truck.

i called Gary over there and he explained a few things-

apparently toyota put the previous style grille (pictured) on the inital run of '11s, then quickly switched over to the style i have on my truck (honeycomb effect). that is why on the sheet it says something like 09-11 or something.

he said i should have input my vin. the problem with that in my mind was that if i put in my vin it would show for an SR5 that should have a chrome grille, which it does...but he said they use that to assure that the date of manufacture matches the part i'm getting.

he also mentioned that i should not hesitate to put notes in the comment box to give them an idea of what i'm trying to do. he said they monitor all of that and call you if there is any confusion.

i mentioned these guys were awesome because they were extremely understanding and flexible, and just flat out nice. they are taking this grille back and exchanging it for the proper '11 grille, but painted silver like i wanted. he verified i'm going to get the right piece because the price is even different by a little bit, and of course it has a different P/N.

cliffs:

1. if you are ordering a toyota grille, input your VIN and use the comment box

2. toyotapartsbarn is awesome.

 

he said she said blah blah blah...

you want to put NOT your VIN, but the VIN of a car that has the grille(or any other part) you want!

ex: find an '11 that's listed for sale and use that VIN to order parts speced for that car.

 

i have the honeycomb grill, but i like that grill they sent you. it even comes with the black emblem... nice!

 

it's a chrome emblem.


to the OP. i believe there were actually pictures of the first '11 to roll off the line and it had the new grill on it. they shipped the wrong part or shouldn't have had '11 as an option, but basically he is feeding you BS. if you like that style... enjoy, if not, call him out on it and ask for a '11

 

x2. It pretty much sounds like they just plain sent you the wrong grille. I'd bet money that NO 2011 rolled off the line with the 2005-2010 front grille.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2010/07/2011-toyota-tacoma-spied-with-4runner-like-grille.html

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/07/first-look-2011-toyota-tacoma-with-new-grille/comments/page/2/

 

they def are sending the right grille to me next week.

and i agree that even if the story is true, the catalog should not have "-11" there for this grille. 10 out of 10 tacoma owners will identify the honeycomb grille as an '11 and any '11 owner ordering a grille will expect the style that came on my truck, not the one they sent.

but next week this will be a distant memory once the replacement grille is installed ; )

 

it looks like a black emblem with chrome edges

 

I think he is trying to say the grill will fit a 2011 not for a 2011

 

well, they followed through and sent the right grille.

before:


after:


way more subtle, which is what i like. now, to get the rear bumper color-matched.

 

Very nice!