2009 infamous "sticker", you got one?

My 09 Double Cab has a yellow sticker reducing the load carrying by 53 lbs (hand written) and I was able to get my dealer to do the TSB

 

WTF??? Handwritten??? Now that's crazy!

Rob

 

This is like the sketchiest thing I have ever heard of an automaker doing it's not even funny.

 

Surely there's a way to find out once and for all what these stickers are supposed to mean. Dealers don't seem to know... there's no mention of it in the owner's manual... only 50% of the 09's have them... most are 290 lbs, but some are something different... and my favorite, some are handwritten.

Is there a phone number that gets us in touch with someone other than the basic customer service rep? What about an address to write to? Surely someone that works in the factory also has a Tacoma, and is possibly a member here (or maybe doesn't own one, but is interested in seeing what owners have to say about them).

I consider it a scam if the sales brochure advertises a certain amount of payload, neither the salesman or the window sticker make any mention of anything different, yet there is a limitation in the form of a sticker that lets us know after the fact that the vehicle we bought is not capable of what we were led to believe.

 

I can just see a bunch of guys at the plant, piling in the bed until in bottoms out. Some dude standing to the side, adding up the weight and writing the difference on a sticker.

 

I'm no lawyer, but my guess is it is alot of drama over nothing.

It i were to inject a little common sense into the discussion, my guess is that the sticker referring to the weight of the added tow package or whatever will have nothing to do with whether a the 09's are added to the rear suspension TSB.

If the literature all states differently and the dealer did not specify (much less even be aware of) this when going through the purchase process, it will have minimal (if any at all) affect on the 09's being added to the TSB in due time, just as the 08's were.

A small, more or less hidden sticker in the door jamb of some trucks will not change that. My guess is the whole thing will pretty much mirror the time line of the 08' being added to the TSB.

 

Why look at a tundra? they are both classified as half tons right?

I was a little worried about my truck bottoming out when i was hauling some plaster to the dump. Now this whole tsb spring thing has me a little peaved..

I have an 09" 2.7 4x4 and the sticker is there..
I wish I would have known, because I bought the truck to haul crap to and from my house with...

I am bringing this issue up at the dealer Monday when I go in for the radio repair.

 

Though I've creeped for awhile, this is my first post at TW.

I have the sticker. I bought the truck (09 prerunner sr5) in the valley (of Texas) in August of 2008. Here is the kicker: I have the yellow sticker with the white space for writing. What does it say in that white space? In very distinct handwriting, "3.0"! What's funny is that the dealer took the time to point out the sticker and the 3 pound difference in capacity to me during the final inspection. I blew it off at the time--it was 3 pounds!---but now? Luckily, the dealer is family, but I live 1500 miles from the dealership. I'll probably call the dealer, and ask them to do the dirty work of asking the local dealer to take care of it. If that doesn't work, I'll try other dealers. Whatever the case, "3.0"! Anyone else???

 

3Lbs. ??? Ahhh, you must have gotten the all weather floor mat option installed! I think with the ashtray option, they round up to 1 lb.
Put on some aftermarket seatcovers and you may bottem out!

 

Yeah I just bought my '09 in January. It was delivered to the dealer in October of '08. It's a Double Cab SR5 Pre Runner with 6 Disc CD Changer and BlueConnect. The sticker on mine says payload was reduced by 2LBS.

 

It is those extra 5 discs on your dash.

 

No.. A Tacoma and any pre 2007 Tundra are NOT 1/2 ton trucks. The 2004 and prior Tacoma was classified as a compact truck and the 2005+ Tacoma is classified as a mid-sized truck. The pre-2007 Tundra also classified as a mid-sized truck. It's not until 2007 did Toyota make a true 1/2 ton truck with the introduction with the latest Tundra.

Anyone that thinks that a Tacoma should be able to do the work that a true 1/2 ton truck does will be sorely disappointed.

 

Mine was mfg 10/08 in Mexico. No Sticker

 

I have an 09 double cab 4x4 off road, I have the sticker and I have been fighting with toyota about the tsb for close to a month now with no luck but not a single time have they mentioned the stickers or tried to use it as an excuse for the decreased payload. I just keep getting the old "09 is not included in the tsb even though the part numbers ar the same" b.s.

 

I've been denied so far as well... same truck... sticker says 290 lbs...

I have to do something, though... I down-sized from an '05 3/4 ton Ram... I use my truck like a truck... I have 750 miles on my truck and have already bottomed-out the rear a half dozen times... I was carrying my ATV (600lbs), myself (180lbs), and approx. 70 lbs of gear... ~850 lbs and my truck can't handle it... the manual says 1100lbs, but I have a sticker for 290lb reduction... So, I guess i was over the weight rating by 40lbs... If I would have known about the sticker, I would not have bought the truck... WTF?

 

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is on the door frame. This is the weight allowable for the vehicle. Which includes the truck weight, accessories, cargo and passengers.

Maybe the best way to approach the dealer is to load up the bed with sand bags and weigh the truck with the driver in it at a landscape supply place so truck is close to the GVWR. Than take truck to dealer with proof the truck is not over GVWR and ask them to explain why the bumper is dragging the ground?

This should eliminate the bullshit dealer excuses about payload reduced by camper shell, tow package, tires, bag of feathers.. etc. GVWR is GVWR. It don't matter what options your truck has.

 

You paid $27K+ for a new truck. If you NEED to be able to haul heavy loads, purchase an additional leaf for $80.

It's better than regretting your purchase of a very fine truck. If you had purchased a Colorado or Canyon, you would be disappointed by everything else.

You decided to purchase a mid-sized truck and may need to upgrade it to fit your needs.

 

Has anyone contacted the BBB or the State Attorney General where they live? With some dealers doing the TSB with no problem and some just Not dealing with it, that sounds like it's a Dealer issue now, not so much as a company one.

 

Wrong. The dealer has to call Toyota and get the work approved. Some dealers are being told yes...others no.

My dealer got my 2009 approved without hassle.

 

A 600lb ATV is not a heavy load... I have friends in the 220lb range... According to the sticker, my truck would be overloaded w/ 4 people in it...

The fact is, the truck should come from the factory w/ the 4 leaf pack that gives the truck the 1100lb capacity...

If I have to add a leaf, I will, but you shouldn't have to on a new truck...

The sticker in the door is BS no matter how you slice it... It was never pointed out to me when I bought my truck, so I assumed the load capacity was as written in the manual - 1100lbs... not 810lbs... That's a 26% reduction, and actually affects my intended use for the truck...