120 Towbar recall

[dagree Member Find all posts View Profile Close dagree]

Called into our local Toyota dealer this morning to also ask the question. Was told that it will soon be reclassified as a safety recall and letters are being prepared to send out.

Booked mine in for an inspection in two weeks. Was asked to bring it in with the hayman reece tongue fitted so they can test it while fitted.

Will let you know how it goes and if they swap the HR WDH for the Toyota one.

[nige Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nige]

Hi all,

Called my Toyota dealer after reading this thread. No problems. Asked my rego, They said it is affected and needs looking at. Took it in Thursday and they replaced the bolts and slapped a sticker on it about non genuine weight distribution kits, which I don't use.

I just cam back from a 7000 km trip up the centre on some extremely corrugated roads towing an off road camper trailer with an off road hitch. So was thinking if it was week, the trip would've broken it!

I guess one thing on my mind is that I use a HR tongue in the Toyota bar when towing the camper trailer as the Ozhitch fits the HR tongue better than the Toyota one. I guess the camper only weights 650kg empty (1200kg loaded roughly) so thinking it should be ok??

[GregB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GregB]

All,
Had my 08 120 serviced last week and got a call that my tow bar had been checked and had signs of stress fractures and would be replaced (had one in stock luckily).

When I went to pick it up they asked about the what I tow etc and when I told them I use a HR tongue when towing our van they advised to avoid voiding my warranty I needed to bring it in and swap for a genuine Toyota option. What they offered me was not a height adjustable option which I advised was no good to me (nor directly comparable to what I would be handing in). I did my own research and found the 150 series option that appears to be height adjustable (someone posted a picture earlier) and they are now looking into that for me. Fingers crossed as I called HR direct today (they are starting to get calls on this as well) and they advised swapping over tow bar to a HR option which is going to be a $800+ exercise - ouch!

What surprises me is that given I would have thought a high percentage of 120 series owners are like me and chose the vehicle to tow a family van (we are not Grey Nomads yet!) that Toyota would realise this is going to be a big issue for them and get it right up front!

[Rusty Olds Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty Olds]

Had my 08 Prado done today. The bar is fine and they just replaced all the bolts, the 2 Allen Head bolts were slightly loose but all else was OK. I also swapped my WDH for the Toyota LDH (why they couldn't use the term used generally within Oz baffles me). My WDH wasn't height adjustable so it is no big deal for me, though I may drill another hole in the new hitch to move the ball further aft to get more door opening room. That is one of the problems with the hinged door on the Prado versus the tailgate I had on my 80 series.

[GregB Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close GregB]

Update on my post yesterday (#78)
Toyota have been back in contact saying the do not have a height adjustable option for the 120 series and that if I continue to use the HR option I do so at my own risk and will void any future warranty claim related to tow bar!
It would appear this leaves me with two options 1) Swap my HR for an inferior Toyota product or 2) Layout the cash to replace the tow bar myself with a non Toyota option that is considered safe!

Got to say I'm not a happy Toyota customer at the moment.....

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Update on my post yesterday (#78)
It would appear this leaves me with two options 1) Swap my HR for an inferior Toyota product or 2) Layout the cash to replace the tow bar myself with a non Toyota option that is considered safe!

Got to say I'm not a happy Toyota customer at the moment.....

I don't Tow (mines getting a new Toyota towbar sometime. ((faulty))??). IMO I'd go for option 2, yes it's dear but you get a pukka product, never been any issues.

I've never been a big fan of Toyota customer service..just got too big and impersonal IMO!

[Pitbull Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pitbull]

My experience here is that based on the information I saw on PP I booked the car in to have it looked at by a prominent Sydney dealer.

Walked back to the car only to see some nice big scratches in the rear bar - after much protest I was advised that they would repair the damage and offer me a courtesy car (a camry) while the rear bar was being resprayed. The damage was in a position (on the drivers side top corner of the bar) that it could only have occurred while the bar was off the car as there was nothing damaged around it.

This is the exact reason why the car gets serviced at home and goes to a trusted mechanic for big jobs as opposed to Toyota. I now have to go through the exercise of removing / refitting two baby seats 8 times for something that should have been resolved on the day - un-bl00dy-believable

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

Ours has been in twice in the last week, first time checked bolts under bumper, second time they replaced the bolts and the towbar housing. Now they have order a new WDH which I will exchange for our old shepherds crook style WDH, will keep the HR WDH for the ute.

OK update two more visits to dealer as they 'lost' the LDH, anyhow now have a new Toyota LDH which is rated at 2500 kg and 250 kg ball load. It actually has raised the ball height by another 4mm but at least it is made of steel not cast. The head is designed to stay fitted all the time as per a normal towbar tongue, the bars are fitted from below and slide up 2 holes fitted with a washer on top and retained by a R clip. Chains slide up and down the spring bars by fitting a shackle on the end of each chain.
Definitely not as robust looking as the HR unit but then again does not weigh as much either. As it is rated to the max the prado can take and is " legal" according to Toyota, no warranty or insurance problems if something goes wrong.
You can bet now that Toyota have formally raised this problem with using non approved WDH with their bar design that if something does happen then the insurance companies will see it as an out for them as well

Only other alternatives are to flick the Toyota bar and fit a HR or just flick the Toyota all together

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

FC - Any chance of a photo of the LDH in place? Cheers mate.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

This is the Toyota LDH picture from the facelifted 150 accessories page

Rang Windsor Toyota in western Sydney yesterday. The Spare Parts manager emailed me around half a dozen pages with the specifications of this LDH. Cost for a 150 is around $700-. Assume a 120 will be similar price.

[artman555 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close artman555]

Hi Guys
I took my 120 in to my Gold Coast dealer a week ago after hearing of this. Called them first and gave my vin number and was told Yes you need yours checked. At that time they were not too sure of what was happening.
Took off my bumper and I asked to see the towbar while the bumper was off,,,that was fine and the service manager showed me where the 2 allan key style bolts were a bit loose but the hex bolts were solid as a rock.
They changed the allan bolts for new hex bolts and also changed the towbar itself for a new one.
When asked about my HR hitch and bars I said I own several cars and would not be swapping mine as I use it on the other drive.
They then offered me a brand new Toyota LDH set at no cost which I accepted. I may not use it though as it does look flimsy to me. The deal is though and you sign a form to this affect that the LDH set remains with the car not the driver. So if I sell the Prado I must give the LDH set with it. No problem there.
They also said I may void my warranty if I use my HR WDH with the car when towing the van.
I dont have a warranty anyway at 7-8 years of age for the Prado.
I called RACQ who is my insurer and explained what had happened and also asked if I am covered using a HR hitch and bars in the event of an accident??? I am certainly covered according to them. HR is a repuatble and known brand and it is also listed on my policy.
So far I have towed over 70,000klms with the HR and no visible damage to my towbar etc. I will add that my HR towball height is very much the same level as with just a normal towball on the car. It isnt a drop hitch design which I am told is a big part of the problem as it transfers the stresses not from axle to axle when using the WDH but around the chassis frame of the Prado and "can" cause warping of the chassis.
Anyone who take a trailer or van in any way off road with a WDH still on is asking for issues.
I am happy with my setup now and hope all the other PP users get a satisfactory outcome.
Cheers
Arty

[PradoGXL08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PradoGXL08]

Hi All,

Is the major problem to do with the HR LDH or just the HR Insert?
I don't have a LDH, but use a HR Insert for my Tvan - DO35 Offroad coupling.

My OE Toyota has the 50mm Ball fitted to it, but rarely used.

Just trying to get an understanding, that all.

Stuart

[dagree Member Find all posts View Profile Close dagree]

Stuart,
My understanding is the issue is due to extra stress put on the towbar when using aftermarket WDH/LDH's. Don't think using an after market insert would be an issue.

In saying that I'd still take it back and get the bar and bolts checked. Won't cost anything.

[FC_Holden Member Find all posts View Profile Close FC_Holden]

FC - Any chance of a photo of the LDH in place? Cheers mate.

Will try and get some pictures tomorrow, it does not look like the 150 unit

[CaLLaN 52 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close CaLLaN 52]

Hi All,

Has anyone received any letters yet due recall, I have mine booked in for wed morning, been told it would take about an hour, but seems they are relying on word of mouth at the mo to get the job done. Also claiming to get an engine mount changed due rough idle, was told this is up to Toyota as I already have the later mounts....we'll see what happens there!

Cheers,
Steve J