Bad wheels

[Kjsayers]

I have been going to the car wash all winter so I haven't hand washed the truck. I finally got a chance to hand wash my truck and noticed the finish on my wheels is starting to bubble. Has anyone else experinced this?

[zmtnbik]

What kind of wheels?
17" sport
16" TRD
16" steelies
15" steelies
after market?

[05TacoTRD]

Originally Posted by zmtnbik

What kind of wheels?
17" sport
16" TRD
16" steelies
15" steelies
after market?

Yeah, kinda crucial info there.

[Kjsayers]

17" sport

[Navigator]

I've seen more than one truck in Southern Ontario with corrosion on the 17" sports.

I went to look at this '06 a couple weeks ago and it had issues. Dealer said it would be repaired under warranty, but I passed on the truck anyway.....the rest of it was no prize either.

[Rockstar2448]

Maybe it's different years of production or just the area the trucks are being used. I have a 2005 TRD Sport and my wheels look perfect. They will be getting replaced very soon, got some Maxx6 on order I almost decided to just keep the factory Sport wheel just because they are in such good shape, even at 3 years old.

[Kjsayers]

Mine look more like they are bubbling.

[lsocoee]

Do you work or drive in a corrosive environment? What do you use to clean your wheels? What about your co-worker's wheels?

It should be covered under warranty. Just don't tell them that you clean them with battery acid.

[Kjsayers]

I live in Indianapolis. I usually clean them with diluted simple green. But for the last 4 months it is whatever the car wash uses.

[squad314]

I intended to start this very thread tonight......I spent 4 hours washing and waxing my truck today.All 4 wheels are showing bubbling at various degrees.My truck is an '07 TRD Sport with 17's.....Never any abrasive cleaners and well cared for......Off to the dealer we go.

[ChrisDeSoup]

Ouch, does it have anything to do with salting of the roads during winter? I hope my rims dont bubble.... I live in California and only snow I see is on the way to Tahoe 2-3 times a year during winter. Maybe I should get some crappy steel ones for winter...

[squad314]

Chris it's possible because we get snow and the salt that goes with it plenty.I would be awfully surprised that after one winter this would happen.It almost looks like its a flaw in the alloy that is pushing its way up through the clear coat.

I'll try to get some pics up today.

[Kjsayers]

Mine sounds like the exact same thing. I too am going to the dealer. I have the same truck.

[ChrisDeSoup]

I have some friends with fancy chrome rims on thier cars and they remove them before winter and replaced them with the stocks. You might want to pick up some steel rims for winter after you get your rims fixed under warranty.

[squad314]

Here's the worst of my 4....All however are affected.

[ChrisDeSoup]

Looks like rust bubbles to me! I have never seen that on an alloy wheel before today. I don't think the wheel is covered under the "rust" section of your waranty, I believe but am not positive. Please post the dealers response.

[thinkingman]

Let's make this a sticky....need to pass on the dealers responses.

[thinkingman]

TTT
We need this to stay alive.
Anyone get a dealer response?

[squad314]

Saw the dealer yesterday,spoke to the service manager.He recognized the problem right away.Without hesitation he said that they would be sending them out to be refinished.When I suggested that perhaps new wheels would be in order he said that Toyota Canada would absolutely not replace them....Today I visited the shop that my dealer will be sending them and the owner said that this would be about the tenth set he's been sent.He said that the aluninum is oxidizing under the paint/clear and that it is a defect in the casting process.He assured me that they would be better than new when finished and welcomed my input as to how I want them done.(stock,polished hi-gloss,painted,powder-coated...etc).The dealer promised me a loaner when the time comes and in the mean time I'll thinking about how I'd like them to look......Any input?

[missileman125fw]

Originally Posted by squad314

Saw the dealer yesterday,spoke to the service manager.He recognized the problem right away.Without hesitation he said that they would be sending them out to be refinished.When I suggested that perhaps new wheels would be in order he said that Toyota Canada would absolutely not replace them....Today I visited the shop that my dealer will be sending them and the owner said that this would be about the tenth set he's been sent.He said that the aluninum is oxidizing under the paint/clear and that it is a defect in the casting process.He assured me that they would be better than new when finished and welcomed my input as to how I want them done.(stock,polished hi-gloss,painted,powder-coated...etc).The dealer promised me a loaner when the time comes and in the mean time I'll thinking about how I'd like them to look......Any input?

I am not an engineer but if there was a problem in the casting of the wheel wouldn't this problem keep coming back? I would think replacement is the only way to go. Good Luck Squad314!!!