I thought Toyota was going to tell me to kick rocks

Damnit I shouldn't have looked, luckily the bug/rock shield is covering it. Built July 2022

 

Haven't you seen the bedside support brackets? they are basically required to ensure you can shut your tailgate. (Kidding)

For those all in a panic about color match, it's likely that the body shop has newer paint systems than the factory. There is a color code assigned to your paint, it's tweaked by body shop from there.
Yes, it's an art, but someone with good visual color perception can match it no problem with digital tools. A color test exists and I can assure you, it really humbles you to what your perception is. Historically only 5% of engineers get a perfect score. Just to clarify, your knowledge has ZERO bearing on your color perception. You are more likely to notice an uneven gap than the paint match is 1 value too yellow. Suppliers can typically match color masters better than factory FYI. The challenge is to paint different contours so they show the same color. Mica is the "flake" in paint, how it lays defines how it "looks" and impacts appearance. When surfaces do not match, it is challenging to define acceptability.

 

My ‘21 (built in Nov. ‘20) has the same thing on the passenger side of the hood, not quite as much as the OPs, but it’s angled away from the fender like that at the bottom. Seeing as mine’s almost 2.5 years old and the OP’s truck is brand new, this isn’t a random mis-stamping, I think it’s the mold.

 

If it was getting painted by a good custom shop 100% they’d tweak and make it match and yes it’s an art form, I personally have an incredible painter. This hood is gonna go to the dealer paint shop, they’ll put the paint code in and put what it calls for and paint the hood and send, the dealer body shop isn’t tweaking shit. They’re gonna shoot it and send it. I’m betting they won’t even want to do a blend on to the fenders.

 

I have a body shop out here I'd trust with any car needing their services. Impeccable work. Beyond local BMW, Audi, etc dealers though, the cheaper guys use other shops that end up looking like crap. Im not rolling the dice with that. Add in someone scratching fenders, messing with cowling from hitting something or any other countless problems. It just not worth it for that little off angle edge.

 

Better check the tailgate and see if it spells T-A-C-O-M-A. Who knows what it spells if they can’t get the hood right.

 

Here's the punch line, if it looks like shit, call them out. There is technology that is available to aid in match color. If you can perceive it, ask them to use their digital tools to confirm and the data that will confirm it is off. Allow them the opportunity to do it right. If your not happy, challenge it.

 

Kwallity.

 

I inserted a washer on the driver side and a thin piece of foam with adhesive on the back centered mine very well and keeps it there.

 

99.99999% they won't blend IMHO. They'll put the hood on and send it. If you complain and get a couple independent shops to state that it needs blended to match properly then you may have a case for them to have to blend - IF you want them to blend it. It sucks to have paintwork on a new vehicle, but as many people will tell you - it happens a lot more than a person might think due to damage in transit, on the lot, etc. I'd confirm the "factory painted" statement about the replacement hood and go from there before I decided to swap hoods myself. I honestly doubt that you'll get a factory-painted hood. Maybe they said you'll get a new factory hood painted (not aftermarket) and not a new, factory-painted hood. Small difference in semantics. The most accurate match is going to come from parts painted at the same time. Good luck and hope it doesn't sour you on the new ride!
PS - now I'm headed to the garage to check my hood/fender gaps!

 

Good luck with that, that is not how it works. also just because you get a "factory" painted hood doesnt mean it will match colorwise. 2 plants, over multiple years, there are differences (variant color formula's) due to the factory not making 1 batch of paint for the entire production line/process. they will send a factory hood but, it will arrive in E-coat, needing prepped for finish. then the dealership will have it painted.

the dealer will tell you everything you want to hear. what actually transpires for replacement, will be totally different. if you have a good painter... DEMAND he paints it for you.

I am telling you, they are not sending a painted hood from toyota to you, for one... for 2 if they did, there is a good chance, it will come damaged. (30 years in the collision industry, 4.5 in a toyota dealership). seriously... pick your battles, this could turn out worse than you have. live with it, get them to throw in lifetime powertrain warranty, or someothing you really want, for your troubles. Ski

 

i would have thought this would have been obvious but im really interested in how this will turn out.

 

Not to mention fit. I haven't had a real chance to go over all of my gaps, but if this were mine I'd really struggle with the decision to have it replaced. It may turn into a shitshow with different shades of silver and improper fit of the panel quite a possibilty. I'm of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school -- is this really broken? I'm not sure the gamble is worth it.

 

Maybe someone can come up with a nice aftermarket fix for the hood given how many of them are out there. A nice little clip on broken tooth like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber would do the trick.

I had VW replace a fender under rust warranty on a VW Golf a while ago. New factory fender, painted on-site at the dealer. It wasn't rusty, but it sure as shit didn't match, haha.

 

Go look at other trucks at the dealer... if they have any. If you find a good one, in MGM, tell them to swap the hoods... if the paint is a match.

 

My wife (actually me) Backed her 4runner into the back side of our garage. She (i) scratched the back corner of the truck. Our dealer said it would be 300.00 to fix it. 3 weeks later I paid the 300.00 and they matched her lunar rock absolutely perfectly. Like you literally could not tell the back corner was repainted. So, be hopeful. It might just work out for you.

 

I'd take that little gap over a non-factory painted hood, but that's me.

I know the dealer is saying it comes from Toyota painted, but it absolutely does not. They will order an OEM hood and got to their local discount body shop to get it sprayed.

 

Glad I saw your post! I have the same defect in my ‘22. Didn’t think much of it.

Now I’m going to go after a new hood. 8)

 

Thanks for the input guys. Having the hood painted doesn’t bother me plus I’ve measured the factory paint…. It’s thinner than it’s ever been so I really don’t care. The factory paint is nothing to be proud of just my opinion

Also if I keep a vehicle over 80k miles I almost always end up having hood repainted anyway as they all take a beating.

Again great input. Big Gaps piss me off for the prices we pay - pisses me off more than a paint job that will match and be warrantied. So I’ll survive.

I have an amazing paint guy if Toyota lets me down I’ll have him do it.

 

Yeah totally. I’m not worried at all. And I’m glad yours was fixed so well!!!! Awesome.