Hood Flutter

I've only driven my Pro around town (about to hit 500mi) and I do notice some hood bounce on bumpy roads. Going on a road trip this weekend and we'll see if it has highway flutter.

I did notice that in addition to the 2024+ Tacomas having hood flutter (especially Pros and Sports), that the 2024 GX550s and 2024 Grand Highlanders had hood flutter issues. Both of those vehicles have TSBs to correct the problem. If you look at the underside of those hoods, they look a lot like the Tacoma hood.

GX550: https://forum.ih8mud.com/attachments/l-sb-0013-25-pdf.3837747/
Highlander: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cVBJJGgQu5cJP4A59g7IBoeOlzoYFlXL/view

How does one go about "helping" Toyota get a TSB started? Complain to dealer? Take it in for warranty work so it's in writing?

 

Submit a complaint.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2025/TOYOTA/TACOMA/PU%252FCC/4WD

 

An enterprising aftermarket company should just make a HDPE or ABS stiffener that runs between the hood bolts and glues down to quiet all the complaints

 

Mine's done it from day one. I'm not worried it's going to come apart or anything, but I do feel like it's kind of odd. If they've got a fix for it that works for the Lexus and Grand Highlander cousins, they should develop one for us.

I mightacould submit a NHTSA complaint about it.

 

Just submitted a complaint. I don't know anything about cars/trucks, that shaking hood could come open and block my view of the road. Definitely a safety issue.

 

Nothing new here. I remember complaints about gen 3 4Runners and have driven many modern or past few decades vehicles where you can see some hood flutter.

 

The hood flutter has been around since the 2nd gens. I was able to fix my 07 by adding 3m automobile adhesive between the hood skin and frame. Unfortunately, hard to do with the 4th gen since the hood skin points (at the rear) are inaccessible.

 

But there is something new. Toyota started using aluminum hoods and so far two vehicles, introduced in 2024, have hood flutter issues that are being addressed by TSBs.

 

I'm not aware that it is a safety issue and I chose to make a few submissions to Toyota directly where they gave me an incident number and even followed up. That seemed much better in two ways. The follow up for one even included that it was submitted to a weekly meeting. Mentally I like the approaching a problem directly vs a tattle or complain way when it is an option.

GRC being work responsibilities, I've also seen problems solved faster with direct and good communication. That also helps us solve problems faster and at lower cost. Costs have to get passed on so it is worth considering.

 

My 3G did that when going against high head winds. This one doesn't.

 

Some hoods must have been produced with machining debris and some weren't.

 

If enough people complain, they could always just delete the fake scoop & replace it with a sticker.

 

If my memory is correct, the 3G solution was to glue down the sheet metal to the framework.

 

Pretty sure I have read about non Pro/Sport owners commenting about hood flutter. GX550s and Grand Highlanders don't have scoops and they got a TSB. All came out in 2024, all are made of aluminum.

GX550 Hood Grand Highlander Hood Tacoma Hood

 

I'd prefer Toyota to build a hood that functions appropriately, but yeah an aftermarket product could be a good soloution. The hood on my Ford flutters it's not only Toyota, I don't think it's going to fly open or obstruct my view.

 

Forgot the Tacoma hood is now aluminum maybe the flutter is just the result of using aluminum.

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XggxeuFDaDU?si=L0cUFRlq200sdjbE

 

The aluminum albeit lighter, still retains some heft, so my guess as to a culprit would be cost-cutting on the rubber seals, allowing too much air to get in and underneath the hood.

 

Wouldn't just putting a front spoiler/rock deflector on the front of the hood stop that?

I had planned to to do that anyway, but it sounds like something they will roll out if we all keep writing into the NHTSA (if staff cuts mean there is anyone left to process it timely) eventually.

 

While probably not a safety issue, the Tacoma Bridge engineers probably said it's just a little flutter, no problem. A NHTSA complaint and contacting Toyota Brand Engagement about how your expensive truck doesn't meet your expectations is the best way to get them to extend the GX550/Grand Highlander TSB to the Tacoma.