New Truck, License Plate Holes Off....

Need some advice...I just bought a new 2012 Tacoma TRD Sport...My new tags finally arrived and as I was getting ready to install the front plate (NJ), I notice that one of the holes (they appear to be the self-tapping type) is a little more than 1/4 inch lower than the other! You can really notice it when the plate is installed. I'm pretty sure the dealer is at fault for this cause they installed their damn promo tag. I think for 30 large they could at least have taken a little more care when installing the dealers promo tag! I know I can just install the new tag and make a new hole, but what if I screw it up? Should I take it back to the dealer and let them handle it? I really don't like the idea of self tappers holding my plate on, I would think they would work loose eventually. What would you do?

 

Take it back and request a new bumper. Mine were stripped out when I got mine from Runnemede so I just threw in larger bolts. If my holes weren't level I would of surely took it back or requested they take the cost of a new bumper off the cost of the truck.

For 30k they can maybe get someone besides the stoned lot boy to drill a dam hole next time. Who did you get it from Holeman, Runnemede, etc?

 

Take it back!!!!! They will think twice about drilling into bumpers again.

 

I would say go back to the dealer. The problem is that they will probably not want to help you untill you make a big deal out of it, and that puts a damper on your excitement about your new truck. I hate it when that happens.
The only way they can really fix it right is to give you a new bumper. Drilling a new hole will be covered by the plate, but it would still bother me to know that it is not right. And I am not even OCD.

 

+1

 

Yea that sucks.

I can't understand why they have the front plate against the painted bumper. I used a couple rubber washers so the plate rests against those instead of the paint. I also put some foam weather stripping on top and bottom of the plate so if the plate decides to hit the bumper, the foam will meet the bumper instead of the metal plate.

 

Thanks, great idea! I think I'm gonna raise hell with the dealer (Liberty Toyota) to see what they'll do for me....I'm thinking since I already took delivery and signed on the dotted line, they aren't gonna be as willing to deal as they would if I would've noticed it before buying the truck. I'll post on here the results.....

 

It doesn't matter if you signed on the dotted line. If I were you I would send the salesman (copy the sales manager) who sold you the truck a e-mail explaining the issues and showing pictures. Keep it short and to the point, but be respectful. Doing the conversing via e-mail keeps the issue documented should you run into a road block. If you run into issues with the sales team I would contact further up the chain of comand at the dealership. If the dealership is unwilling to help you contact another dealership or Toyota corporate.

About 10 years ago I picked up a new Ford Explorer and about a month later when I was applying a coat of wax to the truck noticed many bad paint imperfections. The dealership ended up having the truck repainted and gave me a comparable rental during the process.

 

OK, I couldn't wait, so I took my dremel and using a small end-mill bit, opened up one of the holes in the new plate (made it into more of a slot than a hole)..I then bought a license plate frame, dremeled that out too, and used the plastic bolt head covers to hide the top of the slot....looks good, problem solved!!! I'm still gonna let the dealer know about the situation, I've decided to use the dealer thats closer to my house (Holman),for the 2 years of service and any other needed repairs. Not happy at all with the dealer where I bought the truck for some other reasons besides the plate holes...but that will be another post in the near future. Thanks for all the replies, I'm sure to have other questions for all the experts on here down the road a ways....

 

wait, let me get this straight.... you took a dremel to a brand new 2012 truck because the dealer messed up??

 

now when you sell it or trade it in they are going to want you to knock a little off the price because they don't like the holes all cock eyed..............

 

No No No...I dremeled the license plate....Sorry for the confusion...I made the License plate hole into a slot so it would be straight...I didn't touch the truck!!! I also put weather stripping around the outside back of the plate so it wouldn't rub on the bumper paint.

 

In the sate of PA were not required to have a front plate, my cousin bought a ford escape for his wife and upon test drive no front plate, went home next day when they went to pick it up the dealership tag was on there....

After arguing for a while the solution they came up with was switching this bumper out on another new escape that was same color on the lot. Easy & inexpensive...

 

okokok im with you now

 

Welcome! My dealer put there advertising plate frame on. I turned mine around (NY has a thing where they can give you a ticket for part of plate being hid) and didn't want to advertise for them for free.

I think the holes are just drilled through the plastic, sounds like your fix was a good one!

 

Excellent idea! I am going to do this today, that has been bugging me since I got me Taco.

 

At freeway speeds the headwind pushes the plate back into the bumper anyway and will eventually mold it around the bumper curve. So also put it in a strong metal frame with something protective (like that foam strip if it's tough enough to handle the weather) to support it in back.

Since not every state requires a front plate, e.g., Pennsylvania, it definitely sucks that dealers presume to drill holes just for a promo plate. That's a problem I'd only expect to deal with buying used.

Odds are, if you take it back they'll just fill the holes and repaint the bumper.