Grill surround discoloration on 2012

Anyone notice some discoloration on their grill surrounds? I have a 2012 Super White Sport and I can already tell there is a slight color variation between the surround and the rest of the truck. This was not like this originally. I am also noticing a little variation on the fender flares as well but it is not as noticeable to me. The truck is just 6 months old. Yes, it does sit in the hot AZ sun but I was not expecting to see this so soon.

I have noticed color changes on the fender flares of some Tacomas and never cared for this. I knew it was probably inevitable since they are not metal like the truck but certainly didn't expect to see it yet.

Anyone else seeing this on their 2012's yet? I'd post pictures but I doubt it would be noticeable. It is also storming out or I'd try and get a couple shots.

Is this something that should be covered by the warranty?

 

The paint on the plastic surfaces looks a bit different than the paint on the metal surfaces

 

Of course that is pretty noticeable but do you think the discoloration should be happening so quickly? I figured there was no getting around it but sure didn't expect to see it this fast. I went with Super White hoping to delay this issue. Guess not.

 

The paint on my fender is definitely different than the rest of the truck. It appears to have more orange peel and the reflection is cloudy. I didn't notice this on the grill surround though. I just attribute it to different surfaces taking paint differently.

 

FWIW, my 2010 super white did exactly the same thing. The fix is easy. I have tried washing scrubbing and waxing with the typical car care products.

The one product that restored the white back to a bright white was ToyoGard Cleaner / Polish. I tried many but this is the one that works.

With very little effort it will remove the scum that builds up over, into or whatever on the painted plastic parts.

Be careful of the pricing. The last bottle I got came up in the computer at around $30, the guy did some checking and it came down to around $10.

PK

 

Also, the pieces are probably painted at a different time using a different batch of paint.

 

My grille is a different shade as well. I noticed it 1 week into ownership, with 200 miles on the odometer.

Fenders have more orange peel but don't look as off as the grille.

 

Yes, I notice the texture difference on the fenders. Of course this is because they are plastic. It seems the paint on them bonds different than to the metal.

My grill surround is nice and smooth like the rest of the truck but the color has definately changed since it was new. It looks almost off-white compared to the rest of the truck. Such a bummer.

 

Hmm! So you think the ToyoGard Cleaner/Polish will take care of this? Was your grill surround looking off-white? Sounds great if it works.

It is a Toyota product that can probably only be purchased at the dealer, right? I'll need to call my dealer and see how much it is. Can I ask where you purchased yours? Big price difference.

 

This may be true and the fact that some are plastic and others are metal makes a difference too. Unfortunately my grill surround is changing colors, more than likely from the sun/heat.....I'm guessing. Just did not expect this so early on, after a few years, yea, maybe. It would be understandable.

 

Be thankful it's not a Silverado.

My Duramax was 6 months old and the body side molding looked like it was rusting.
The truck had been clayed when new to remove rail dust, and there were no signs of rail dust contamination on any paint anywhere, but these strips were turning muddy red/brown.

I just took them off. Others on FSC were reporting that the dealer would replace them under warranty. You'll see it on white chevy trucks all the time.
Wonderful... so the dealer replaces my moldings every 6 months for 3 years and THEN I remove them? Nope.

 

Well your story sucks more than mine. I sure didn't expect this yet. I knew over time it was inevitable. I agree with you, the grill looks off color-wise. Mine is looking off-white instead of super-white. Yes, the fenders have an orange peel type texture and a slight color difference but nothing very noticeable as of yet.

I did notice the fender issues long before I got my truck and didn't care for the difference in paint especially over time. I thought getting white would have put that off for some time. Sure didn't expect the grill surround to do that.

Have you taken it to the dealer and had them look at it? I just had mine at the dealer a little over a week ago for the first oil change and hadn't noticed the grill issue then. Maybe they needed a perfect Super White grill surround and traded mine out! LOL!!!!! That would be something!

 

Well that just sucks! How is the lights on the truck. I know Chevy has a big problem with one light going out. You see them like that all over the place.

Why don't these automakers get their issues straightened out???? I use to think Toyota had excellent quality and it seems over the years it has gone downhill. I love my 87 Toyota pickup and it's a diehard vehicle, taken care of and it will be around forever! Matter of fact I'm having trouble parting with it.

 

I never had a single problem with that truck in 45k until I gave it back to the bank. Only issue was every now and then the fuel gauge would drop to zero, but with a 55 gallon Titan Supertank, it didn't concern me because I always had enough fuel to make 300 miles, and I don't blame it on GM... it very well could have been related to the tank installation.

I hear ya.
A lot of it is the need to give "us" what we're asking for, and hold down to a price that we're willing to pay.

I hate to say it, but the main issue though is assembly/fab facilities in North America and Mexico that aren't helping Toyota.
The Toyota corporate philosophy keeps them from becoming another GM, but they're still drawing from the same labor pool with a sense of entitlement.

 

Yea, I hear that as well! Maybe things will change for the better over time.

 

its probably due to the fact that the truck is built in Mexico and America.. I can see a difference in color between the doors and cab.. assembled in different facilities is my guess. mine was built in Mexico.

id try the wax idea.. if nothing improves.. gp to the dealer. mine hasnt had any issues in the Az sun yet.. the color difference has been since day one on mine.

 

The grill surround is off white when discolored. Nothing I found made it white except the Toyogard. No soap, no cleaner, no wax.

Yes it is a Toyota poduct, purchased mine at the dealer.

Wash the truck, takes about 15 minutes to apply and remove by hand with a clean towel.

Once done, the white is returned.

If it is the sun, and it gets pretty sunny and hot here also, it would not clean up this easy.

PK

 

this ^^^

any time different materials are used for body parts...there will be slight variations in color...many times it gets worse over time.

remember the first Corvettes with plastic bumpers? the red bumpers would turn pink.

 

Update:

Took the truck into the dealer for the second oil change and show them the discolored grill surround. I showed the service adviosr the grill surround, at the time the truck was parked under their shaded service drive blocked in by vehicles on all sides. Service advisor looked at me like I was crazy and asked if I park outside. WTF??? Truck is 10 months old what does it matter if I park outside??? If the paint is going bad on any part of the vehicle so early on then they have some serious issues to check out.

Left the stealership thinking they were going to try and talk their way out of this issue.

Finally got a call several hours later. The service advisor did indeed see the discoloration. Couldn't miss it really! He said it appears to be yellowing. Hmm, really??? Said they were ordering a new surround. Finally something went right. The advisor said he had never seen this before.

On a side note, he said the surround's were on backorder. What's with the grill surround demand??? LOL!!!

Left the feeling good that they saw the issue and were doing the right thing in replacing it without a hassle. I drove about 3 miles towards home and boom, I hear a loud smack and see a long weatherstrip piece fly agains the back of the cab. Really??? Stopped and pushed the strip back into the groove and drove back to the dealer. Service advisor said that blower on the car wash works too good. Really??? OK, so the rooftop weather strips come off that easy? I'm thinking a redesign is in order.

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. I am a diehard Toyota fan but this has me wondering about their quality level. It was hard to find any flaws with my '87 pickup.

Ah regardless, I am happy there was not a hassle with replacing the surround. Gonna try and snap some pics. If the discoloration is noticeable in them, I'll post pics.

Thanks for the input and advice! I think I'll bury this surround in wax when I get it back!!! LOL!!!

 

I have a white one so I am curious to see your pics. Thx.