My New SR5 Sucks

My wife and I reserved a 2022 Black Toyota SR5 4x4 from a local dealer based on the limited information that Toyota provides in its 3 page spec sheet for the vehicle. The spec sheet said that the truck had a black interior with red stitching. After paying a $1,000 deposit and waiting two months for the vehicle to arrive from the factory, we went out to inspect and accept our new truck. Everything was great until we opened the doors and saw that the truck had 4 rubberized interior door panels, and a rubberized dash panel that were all a hideous orangish-red color. We couldn't stand those panels, but the salesman said that they were removable, and could be re-apholstered, painted, or dyed with a black color to match the rest of the interior, so we went ahead and bought the truck. The salesman said he would check with his dealership's interior guy to see what would be best, he also agreed to check with Toyota to see if they could just order new black panels to swap them out. Its now two weeks later and we've now learned that:

1. The panels in question are not listed in the parts diagrams for our truck, and so you can't order new ones - red or black. The only way to replace them is to order the entire door and dashboard sections at a cost of $400-$600/door.

2. The rubberized red coating that is on these panels and the way that coating is applied to the panels precludes painting them, dying them, or re-apholstering them.

Anyone out there in Toyota Land have any suggestions?

 

Do they have a grace period where you can return the truck?

 

This is why I always test drive what I’m buying

 

No, the salesman said he's sorry, but we did accept the vehicle after we test drove it. Of course that was based on our understanding that the panels could be dyed, painted, or replaced. I will be talking to someone at Toyota about all of this, but not sure who to get ahold of.

 

Unfortunately this is getting harder and harder to do.

Your comment also doesn't help OP. A test drive isn't the issue here... It's Toyota's spec sheet and the misinformation from the salesman.

 

This stuff? Kinda bizarrish - but that's what the website interior looks like if you went there first to 'build' one for a look-see.

 

The ones on the door panels are held on by plastic melt rivets. An upholstery shop could easily do the work. The one on the dash is held on by screws and you could probably ebay a new panel for <$100 and a couple hours to figure out how to disassemble that side of the dash yourself. Easy to do the doors isn't equal to cheap, but could start by asking and upholstery shop. Probably a bit of sweat equity goes a long way here.

 

We did test drive it, and could have rejected it after we saw the red panels, but we had waited two months for the truck, and thought that the panels could be dyed, painted, reapholstered, or replaced. We should have just "bit the bullet" and said no. The rest of the truck is great, just what we wanted, but the red panels just make it awful.

 

I'm not a big fan of black trucks, but recall seeing a 2020 black tacoma back then. I didn't think it looked bad. I haven't seen the 2022's so i can't say. It comes down to personal preference i guess. Not everyone thinks the same.

 

Mark it up and sell it.

 

Best of luck with it

 

I thought I read somewhere that the SR5 interior had red accents, I don't know what I read or when I read it. I think the seats do have red stitching like the abovre picture. I think the majority of 22 SR5s have that interior.

 

If you dont have your 'agreement' in writing, in the eyes of a Toyota attorney, it didn't happen.

Sorry for your mishap.

Please post pics of said ugliness. Can't recall seeing 'rubberized' interior bits before (other than flooring)

 

If his lips moved, he lied.

 

The dealership’s “interior guy” is a unicorn.

 

Are you saying this isn't going to happen?

 

^This

They will tell you anything to make a sale.

 

Thats it alright, but we never even knew there was a "build it" website. My wife and I are in our 70's and not very smart when it comes to the internet.

 

OP, Post some pictures of your red interior. Someone here on TW may just want to trade you for theirs.

These panels and the upholstery (or the entire seat) can be easily swapped. I'm sorry you are not happy with your very sweet new truck.. you should be as these items are just superficial and there is a remedy (although it may take a while to find the right person to trade with.)

 

Are you driving a 2nd Gen?