Can anyone help me understand this for sale TRD Offroad?

A dealership is offering a 2015 Tacoma for sale. The video walk-around clearly shows the TRD Offroad vinyl sticker on the rear outside bed. However, the compliance sticker in the driver's door jamb shows an A04A, and the L/H dashboard has a switch with a red button on it in place of what I think should be the Locking Differential switch if this was an TRD Offroad version.

This red button doesn't seem legit. Would anyone like to comment on how a Toyota newbie can affirm a 2nd Gen Truck is an actual TRD Sport or Offroad? Is there a reliable VIN lookup?

 

It’s missing the E-locker button.
That’s a big red flag……..
No reason to remove it.

To be sure, you could crawl under the truck and look for the Locker actuator.
Someone played the sticker game. Good thing you didn’t fall for it.

 

Can you get us pictures of the hood and front of the truck?
We can help more with those pictures.

Here is my Button and actuator

 

It could be garage opener or whatever previous owner used for. Ask the dealer and see if they could contact the owner about it and then tell you what that button is being used for as long as the owner used that dealership to traded in. If not, the dealer may not waste time to call other dealerships if the truck is delivered from other dealership. Dealerships usually swap vehicles around.

The button is not part of VIN. Just addon by previous owner. If it is part of VIN then that means it is dealer's job to add options on truck.

 

I notice that truck is missing the power inverter button too.
I’m betting it’s not a Sport or Off-road.

SR5 at the best.

 

Thanks to our friend in the "Volunteer State" for the red flag alert!

Some of you may be aware that there are clueless dealers (and a few unscrupulous ones!) that advertise every TRD as a "TRD Pro" among some other misconceptions. Is there a checklist or VIN decoder that a 1st time buyer could have in hand when looking at 2nd generation trucks?

 

Yes, make an account with Toyota.
It’s called “Toyota Owner” account. (Google it)

Sign up, add the VIN and see the build data.

 

This is a side topic that someone may be able to answer here.. let's say this taco does end up being the wrongly advertised or sticker badging to attract buyers to scam them. What can the consumer or potential consumer do? I would hate to have someone without the knowledge getting trapped into something like this. I know i would be a victim if i was desperate.

 

Surprising the sales people used to selling cars are clueless about trucks.

In most cases it is the lowest paid employee gathering the data and taking pictures at the dealers I interacted with.

The Sticker upgrade is common!

I think the quickest way is get a visual on the rear differential . After seeing the dash switches.

An inspection mirror works wonders .

 

I don’t know, the sales guys are usually sells guys.
I could see how they wouldn’t know.

Kind of like hardware store cashiers.
They can “usually” tell you what isle it’s on, but they cannot tell you much more.

I’m pretty sure most vehicles are sold by Make, Model, and VIN.
Unless the sales paper specifically says “With Off-road Package”, I bet there isn’t anything you can do.
You have to read the fine print. Read it really carefully when buying Used vehicles.

 

Do as much research as possible on the age range of the vehicle your looking for.

The real problem is proving criminal intent and not just being completely clueless .

 

Another thing: I have a 2014 V6 6spt MT TRD Off-Road (not TRD Pro,) and the e-brake on it is a hand-pull lever to the right of the steering wheel -- not a foot-pedal lever in the lower left driver's footwell, as your photo shows.

 

Not much displayed in the output there. With the 'Grade" listed as DLX , I'm guessing that someone added stickers.

Vehicle Specification Details
---------------------------------------
BodyType DoubleCab
Model 2015 Tacoma DriverType 4WD
Grade DLX
ExteriorBlueRibbonMet(8T5) SellingDealer
InteriorDarkGray PreferredDealer NoneSelected
Engine6-CYL Date of First Use December31,1

 

Could be; it's easy to buy a set of genuine OEM "TRD Off-Road" decals. Also possible, but much less likely is some kind of body-swap due to collision damage. i.e. if the original bed was crash-damaged, it could have been removed and replaced with a different bed that happens to be from a TRD Off-Road.

 

I agree about most hardware chain stores . I am lucky my local store all the employees Have for the most hands on experience . Difference in the farm country perhaps.

 

This guy added a button for garage opener which is similar to yours:

 

Wow, they used to list a lot more info.
Haven’t logged in there in awhile

Check out Port / Factory options.

Here is an example

 

We had a thread about how most all the information has been removed.

 

I kind of live in “Farm Country”.
The problem here is, the guys with experience can’t make enough in the retail store.
They hire kids……that’s how it goes I guess?

 

I must have missed that thread.