2009 infamous "sticker", you got one?

I could not find much info on springs. The replaced part numbers are the same as the springs on my truck.

Replaced spring part number in TSB:
RH: 48210-04550
LH: 48220-04190

My spring part numbers:
RH: 48210-04550
LH: 48220-04190

Part numbers are changed because of a change in form, fit, or function. A company like Toyota would strictly abide by this. This means these are the same form, fit, and function springs as the TSB springs. They are completely interchangeable.

If the springs had problems functioning on the 08, the same springs will have problems functioning on the 09.

 

I'm imagining the following scenario that might explain the weird mix of no stickers, hand written stickers, and 290 lbs. stickers....

First, a Toyota lawyer whose job involves monitoring regulatory compliance (or maybe liability) notices that vehicles have GVWRs, and they have published payload limits in the owners' manuals, but, wait a minute, some of these trucks have more equipment than others. We had better notify owners that they can't carry the full amount that's in the handbook or else they could exceed the GVWR. For years, manufacturers figured that the differences weren't enough to really matter in real world vehicle operations, but we can't ignore that anymore.

So, legal talks to production, and production says, OK, we'll add stickers. So they start putting stickers on the trucks. A person or two on each line has to look at the optional equipment on each truck, refer to a table of weights for each configuration, do the math, and write the weight adjustment on the sticker.

Then somebody at the factory who is in charge of cost control for a company that is losing money fast, and notices that you've got two people working full time to do these calculations and prepare the stickers as trucks go down the line. Surely there's a better way.

Discussion ensues. What's the most weight that could be added to one of these vehicles with every possible option that's available? Or, better still, let's just choose a number that's, say, 25 percent of the average payload of all Tacomas. If we put that sticker on, then we'll always be covered in terms of the regs, or liability, whichever legal department was worried about. No one asks the question of whether customers will notice, because, well, that's not their department.

So the stickers go on the trucks, hand written at first with actual figures appropriate to the trucks, and then a blanket 290 lbs sticker to make the lawyers happy.

Then owners on Tacoma World start to notice and want to know, WTF?

So what's the next step?

 

2009 PreRunner DC LB TRD Sport with Tow
Made in Baja, 08/08
No sticker

 

The next step is stop pretending the current leaf springs are adequate.

Somehow, I doubt we'll get to that point.

Good scenario though. Surprisingly plausible.

 

Nop i sure dont

 

I have a 2009 TRD Pre Runner Taco on the way. Should be arriving the first week in July. After reading about the TSB issue, I would like to know if I should cancel the purchase while I can? I do not want to go thru a lot of hassel with purchasing a vehicle with a known issue. I owned a Ford F150 for 12 years with no problems and thought this time I would try a Toyota Tacoma.

What exactly do I need to look for when the truck arrives at the dealer so I can inspect the truck for the TSB issue or payload miss representation? Upon inspection, if I can recognize their is an issue with this one, I can ask them to correct the problem before I make the purchase.

What does the dealer do to fix the problem?
Should I not worry about this issue If I purchase the Ultimate Lift Kit from Toy Tech and AAL along with UCA's?

 

From what I understand, if you are going to be carrying heavy loads get this fixed.

I am in the process of trying to get mine fixed. It is a big run around of complete utter gibberish from their Service Tech. I am told the cab and bed have separate payload numbers. The 290 lbs is deducted from the cab capacity?? The 290 lbs does not really mean 290 lbs. This is just an conservative estimate and I will get a letter later in the year letting me know the actual number on my vehicle???

I do not have time to go over all that is wrong with Toyoya's logic.

I asked them to send me something in writing that my payload is 1395 lbs, as advertised. They need to tell me in writing that my warranty is valid for carrying 1395 lbs. I am still waiting for their email.


I would let them know asap you will not take delivery of the vehicle until this has been resolved. Show them a copy of the TSB (pdf link in this thread). Tell them you will compare the part numbers on the springs to the part numbers on the truck. They had better be the corrected part numbers. Do everything in writing as they will lie.

I think if you change your springs for the lift, it is moot point.

 

I wouldn't accept a new Tacoma until I got a written clarification that the payload is AS ADVERTISED and as published in the owner's manual. If I had noticed the sticker, I would have kept my old car until they clarified this.

We consumers can't tell yet whether this is a response to regulation that went wrong, or whether it's a dodge on the *considerable* expense of changing springs, which must be getting to be a serious financial problem for Toyota.

So far I'm OK with the rear springs on mine. I have loaded it about the way I plan to for camping and hunting, and it seemed to still have enough wheel travel in back, even with the shell on. If I see otherwise, then I'll start the fight to get them replaced.

 

Right, because you don't have a 2009 model year. I hope you didn't vote, we're trying to see how many of the 2009s have the sticker...

 

so....excuse my ignorance...but if I get the TSB done, does that negate my "reduced" hauling capacity of 290lbs? I wasn't sure of there was some correlation between the "varied" weight reduction and type of cab/model. I'm just trying to understand what can/will affect the sticker statement.

 

I had a call with Jason Nunamaker, Regional Customer Relations Manager. Here is what he told me:

The yellow sticker is part of a government mandate. NHTSA passed a law about a year ago. This forced Toyota to create a sticker for the worst case scenario sticker.

The 290 lbs reduction was for all options available on the vehicle. This would include things such as carpets, bed liner, rail steps. Since mine only has carpets this is an incorrect number. Toyota will be getting letters out later this year to give actual load deductions. They will provide a 'special sticker' which goes over the yellow sticker.

This, however, has nothing to do with the bed payload. This is the cabin payload. The cabin payload is figured for 150lbs/seat belt. I believe there are 4 seat beats in the access cab so this would be 600 lbs. The bed payload should still be 1395 lbs. They separate the bed and cabin payload. He is basically saying it is designed for more weight than they advertise.

For this to be true the following would have to be true:
Correct from website.
5350 (GVWR) - 1395 (Payload) = 3955 (Curb Weight)
Seems light to me.
3955 (Curb Weight) - 600 (Cabin) = 3355 (actual Curb weight)

I told him I will need that in writing. For my own piece of mind. Jason took down my address and will send me a letter stating the legal bed payload is still 1395 lbs and Toyota will honor my warranty if I carry this much weight in the bed. I look forward to seeing the letter.

 

Update - Mine is now sticker free. I was wiping the seals and a corner popped up, so I pulled it off. Saved it just in case it is needed in the future.

 

This sounds like yet another case of Toyota spouting more bs claims. The truck is designed for MORE weight than they advertise??? Yeah right. There is now 2 payloads... a "bed" payload and a "cab" payload? That would mean that, based on your truck configuration, you would add your 1395 lb "bed" payload plus a 600 lb "cabin" payload, to come up with a "total" payload of 1995 lbs. Additionally, your formula is not correct, as you wouldn't subtract the 600 lb "cabin" payload from your curb weight. Basically, for this regional manager's story to be correct, the GVWR of the truck would have to be increased by 600 lbs for the "cabin" payload:

5350 (old gvwr) + 600 (supposed new capability from the creation of a "cabin" payload that didn't exist before) = 5950
5950 (new gvwr) - 1995 (total payload) = 3955 curb weight.

However, this is still the backwards way of computing things. Remember that payload is GVWR - Curb weight. I suggested a long time ago, back when this thread was fairly new, that these stickers represented installed options on the trucks, which raises the curb weights, which in turn reduces payload. The only real way to determine your true payload is to have your truck weighed (with a full tank), and subtract that from the GVWR. For instance, in my case:

5450 (GVWR) - 4380 (actual weight of my truck) = 1070 lbs payload.

Now, if what willysnowman is saying is correct, my GVWR would magically become 6200 lbs (5450 + new cabin payload of 750 lbs for a dc). However, I highly doubt this is the case.

 

This is the way I always did it. I learnt it in high school auto shop class.

Toyota must have new math. I can't wait to see this in writing. LOL

 

Yeah, I have my doubts. I don't understand how our trucks, which seem to have a problem supporting the advertised weight as it is, will suddenly be able to carry an additional 58% (750 lbs cabin / 1295 original payload, in my case). I guess the suspension fairy will pay us each a visit overnight to beef up our trucks.

 

2009 DC Sport long bed. I have the sticker, pre-printed 290 lb reduction. Then I looked at the GVWR sticker, and below that the tire pressure sticker.

Guess what! The tire pressure sticker states that the maximum capacity of the vehicle with these tires is 1100 lbs. Add the 290 and that yields 1390; according to the Toyota web site the 2009 DC long bed has a payload of 1260 lb. I suspect they're printing one sticker to cover all models, which all have different payloads, most higher than the DC LB.

So it looks like the Dreaded Yellow Sticker is actually there because of the cheap pop-a-matic tires they put on the truck, NOT the springs. Upgrade to some load range C, D or E and the capacity is back.

And if any dealer tries to use the sticker to deny a spring TSB upgrade, show him the tire inflation/capacity sticker and say "I don't think so...!"

 

Thanks for this insight. I'll have to go check my stickers and see if they add up the same way. I'm astonished at the inconsistent, logically convoluted BS we're getting from various Toyota customer service folks. Seems like few of them understand the regulatory requirements or how to do load math.

Of course, the tires issue would be easily addressed by simply increasing inflation. Those published tire weight limits are the capacity at the recommended inflation. The stock tires can carry well over the GVWR of the truck, even allowing for the 10% reduction in load rating applied to P-spec tires mounted on light trucks. The problem with going to a higher load capacity tire is that they need to be inflated to a higher pressure to avoid excess heat. A LR-E tire at 30 psi on a Tacoma is going to get way too hot on the highway. I went with LR-C tires that can stay pretty cool even at around 35 lbs. inflation.

 

Thought I would pass this on as my first post. Always owned Dodge trucks but could not fathom owning a Fiat. Anyway, the article is from the Chicago Tribune on 6-23-09. I especially like the quote about some vehicles being negative now! By the way, no sticker.


Steve




WASHINGTON — Toyota is recalling 1,348 vehicles, including the 2010 Toyota Tundra, the 2009 Toyota Yaris, Tacoma, Sienna, RAV4 and Highlander and the 2009 Scion xB and TC, because incorrect labels could result in the vehicles' being overloaded, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash," said NHTSA in its recalls summary of the problem.
Toyota will contact owners and provide them with a new, accurate label. In other documentation filed with the federal government, the automaker said "each label will be generated specifically for each consumer's vehicle, based on the accessories actually installed."
However, Toyota also noted that "a small number of vehicles (less than 50) cannot be remedied with a new, accurate label because the amount of accessories added to the vehicle has caused the cargo-carrying capacity to become negative after accounting for occupancy of each designated seating position." It said it is "still developing a remedy for these vehicles."
The recall is expected to begin before the end of June.
Owners can contact Toyota at 888-270-9371.

 

That's hilarious. They will need to recertify the ones that went negative at higher GVWR. Toyotas have tended to be rated lower than those of other manufacturers for similarly sized vehicles. Probably has to do with the squishy suspensions Toyota prefers.


I'm so thrilled that I will be receiving a custom sticker. If they can make the transmission shift in a reasonable way and stop the driveline clunk, it'll all be good.

 

mine was made in Mexico, 5/09 no sticker!!!