All new recent Taco owners, check your driver door panels

I picked up my new truck a week ago and noticed this on the drivers side door. At first it appears as if someone just missed an area while detailing it for delivery. Well, i applied some interior dressing to re-do the door and get rid of this "missed spot". Well, its not a missed spot. I called my sales guy and he knew exactly what it was. That stupid plastic cover piece that the factory installs to prevent door scuffs actually allows the sticky residue to stain the panel. So when dressing is applied you can see the discoloration. The sales guy, who is actually a sales manager, told me they have replaced multiples door panels on new trucks because of this crap and toyota just cant seem to get it in their head to quit using this plastic strip. Here is a picture, wondering if anyone has had a similar issue or maybe even found an easier solution other than an entire door panel being replaced. I mean damn, i only got 320 miles on the truck !!!

 

Nope, my '15 doesn't have the issue.

 

Not present on my '14

 

I don't have this either, and it wouldn't much matter to me anyways as I always accidentally kick the bottom of the door with my work boots getting out of the truck lol

 

he mentioned not all have it,, but here lately yes

 

especially on '15 models.....

 

no problems here

just have it replaced. it's new, it's free. end of story.

 

yeah, still sucks you have to replace anything on a new truck. bs in my opinion.

 

Well at least they are making it right without any runaround! Think positive!

 

What is it that you are replacing again? Seems to me the dealer is paying for it and doing it for you for free. Sucks, sure.. but not sure where you have a leg to complain about or say something is bullshit.

A lot of things have this plastic wrap on them these days, particularly stainless steel items. It IS possible to remove it without leaving evidence behind, but you actually have to use care and pay attention. The dealership is the one who removed the plastic pieces, not Toyota, so it would seem your dealership is the one who can't get it together. They wrongly blame Toyota, as are you, and then complain about it being covered for free.

 

James,

I'm complaining because its a new truck. It would be different if something happened 10-20k miles down the road, but 320 miles is no excuse, it should have been in tip top condition prior to delivery. James, also, please tell me more about your experience with this plastic piece and the proper way to remove it, i assume you are a trained certified Toyota technician or a service adviser, is that correct, sir?

 

What does mileage have to do with removing plastic protective film from interior pieces?
Do you think Toyota is training $10/hr dealership detailers on how to remove plastic film?

I am sorry your inflated sense of entitlement doesn't allow you to see things clearly. Please don't derail your butthurt of free labor and parts on my behalf.

 

I have a 3 month old DCSB T/O I have that, it still feels bumpy, I thought it was just residue from the sticker and was planning on hitting it with some goo gone. Should I take it to the dealership before trying anything?

 

In short, yes. If you're under warranty and you have an imperfection, the dealer is the first person you should take them up with. If they tell you to kick rocks, then by all means take it elsewhere or handle it yourself. Until then, they have a responsibility to take care of your vehicle and that should be utilized as much as possible, provided they aren't the type of dealer to cause further damage and then say they can't help you, or they can fix their mistake for $XXXX.

If it's an inconvenience to let them handle something, then weigh that. Otherwise, I'd let them fix things.

 

Your opinion. New truck = starter's package. You'll be ripping into it with mods and upgrades in no time. Median upgrade spending on TW is about $2000, with about 1% of users spending north of $10000. Some people order parts before the truck is delivered. The door panel comes off and on without much opportunity for collateral damage. It's the first step when upgrading speakers.

 

I don't have a discoloration, but I have actual lettering residue on the door there and on the sill. I didn't notice it for a while. The first time I saw it I thought it was dirt, then realized it was lettering from something that used to be on there.

I've been meaning to try to clean it off but keep forgetting. When I do try if it doesn't come off easily, then I'll maybe talk to the dealership. I might not though too, I figure the less those monkeys touch my truck the better.

 

Sometimes shit happens. The dealer will honor the warranty/service. Try that with a Ferd or Chevy, they'll most likely invite you to have sex with yourself.

 

First let me say, Wow. I am surprised at the vitriol spewed at the OP because he doesn't think his new truck should come with a damaged door panel. Nice to be here. I expect I will be subject to more of the same, as I agree with him. I am also surprised of at how willing some of you are to accept and excuse it away. Is it ever "convenient" to take your vehicle to the dealership? Sure they'll fix it for free, that is if your time, gas, frustration, being without your vehicle is all "free".

Please don't allow me to derail your misguided belief that taking your vehicle to the dealership is actually "free". Or diminish your desire to accept poor treatment from corporations. I, however, will still expect that when I pay a dealership representing Toyota for a vehicle it should come without easily avoided issues ( I know, silly sense of entitlement; getting what I paid for ).

I wonder how many detailers could be properly trained for the price of a couple door panels? Hmm, what's a better business practice, disappoint customers and replace door panels at a loss, or properly train personnel to remove plastic? Looks like Toyota and/or the dealerships representing Toyota choose to disappoint customers and give away door panels.

By the way, my door has the same issue.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

It's not a matter of getting what you paid for if they're making it all good... It's a cosmetic issue that is unfortunate and inconvenient, yes. But it is also being handled correctly by the dealer.

If a restaurant screws up your order, and then fixes it and apologizes and gets you exactly what you wanted ... Are you gonna go and talk shit about that restaurant? If you answered yes to this, congratulations on being perfect in every way and never screwing anything up.