Any recommendations on dealing with dealership for bent fuel door?

I brought in my 17 TRD Sport because I recently had the fuel door issue where I fueled up one day and then it just wouldn't shut. Very small paint ding where the door was hitting but the guy at the dealership when I dropped it off said that he thinks it would be covered under some sort of customer service type warranty. Well, he called and said it's not covered. I asked why it wasn't and he said he wasn't sure - it could have been where the truck or part was produced.

Has anyone ever run into this? If so, how did you get them to fix it at no cost? I had purchased an extended warranty from a 3rd party and they're saying that's not covered. I don't want to try fixing it myself so hoping some others have had to deal with this and have some tips on how they got the dealership/Toyota to make things right.

 

Were the hinges ever lubricated? Rusty hinges are are likely contributor to a bent fuel fill door.
I think it falls into the category of user maintenance.

 

Hinges were not lubricated. I guess what is weird is the dealership saying when I dropped it off that there was some sort of customer service thing that they have for it and that it should be covered. Then they come back and say it's not covered. When I asked why they said they're not sure what includes/excludes it from being covered. Was hoping someone has been "denied" and then was able to present something to the dealership that forced their hand a bit.

 

post a pic or two?

 

IF your vehicle is a 17 and you do not have an extended warranty there is a good chance your warranty has expired. In that case it would not be covered

 

My fuel door on my second gen was bent, the fuel door on my 3rd gen is bent. Not sure what the deal is.

I just opened the door and put a little pressure on it to bend it back in place, nothing crazy.. touch up paint afterword.

 

Unfortunately this is the only one I have right now.

 

yeah mine seems super jacked up. I posted a pic below, I thought I had more but I don’t see any way of bending it back into place. It doesn’t even come close to being able to shut

 

If it was not bent when you bought it, esp if your bumper to bumper warranty is expired, there is no warranty for misuse or abuse. Bent components will generally fall into the abuse category. You would likely run into the same wall if you were still in the warranty period.

 

Some lithium grease spray on the hinges every once in awhile works wonders to keep the fuel door opening, and closing smoothly. Even fluid film is good also. Guys spend hrs, washing, and waxing their trucks to look spotless, but forget simple things like lubricating door hinges....go figure.

 

Would lubricating the fuel door hinge be included in the owners manual?

 

I would just figure out a way to get it to close again and then watch more downton abbey.

 

Man, talk about a shit design. I have only filled up about 8 times and don’t pay attention.

I have to look at my fuel door on my Lexus ES and see if it is a cheesy.

 

Don't understand why all the fuel door issues. Do people not ever lubricate their doors...like cab and house doors occasionally need it, why not the trucks fuel door?

 

I agree, if the door is bent don't know why it would be expected to fall under warranty. If you ran into a tree and your hood would no longer open would anyone expect for that to be covered under warranty?

Not sure why there seems to be so much trouble with Tacoma fuel doors as I've had my '96 Tacoma for 25 years and 2018 TRD Sport for 3 years and never a minute's trouble with either door. Have never lubricated either.
Just curious, how much are they asking to fit it?

 

Unfortunately 3rd party warranties are pretty worthless. Too many fine print exceptions. The only extended warranty worth considering is Toyotas, and then only if you get it at a good price and you have history of being a long term owner. (as in it may actually benefit you)

He was talking about 'customer goodwill', which is a dealership thing, not a Toyota thing.

Because someone realized it was more to repair than they were willing to eat.

If you can't figure it out yourself, take it to a good body shop and discuss options.

 

I have never ever ever lubricated a gas door. Ever. Do people really do that?

 

Just like I do door hinges in the house. When they get creaky.

So no, I've never lubed a gas door. But they've all worked just fine.

 

Is the bracket attaching the door/spring assembly riveted to the body or attached with screws?

If screws, would be one hell of an easy repair. You’d just need to get the door painted, unless you can order one already color matched to your truck.

 

That's a good point. Once it gets creaky haha.