Cracked dashboard

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Maybe it's time to bring back the fluffy or crushed velour and tart up the inside of the Prado - just like was done to the Sandman and Sundowner panel vans of the mid - late 70's.

This would be a cheap and easy fix for those with cracks in the dash.

[rumble11 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rumble11]

Re: Cracked dashboard

NOW YOU'RE TALKING!!!!

Make mine PURPLE SHAG!

[nozman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close nozman]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Add me to the list also. 2003 GLX crack across the top of the instrument cluster. Not happy Jan....

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

Re: Cracked dashboard

Add me as well to this ever growing list. 2003 Grande crack across leading edge of instrument binicle to drives side airvent :evil:

[wannawodka2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wannawodka2]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Thank you to everyone who has contributed info to this thread. It's more than clear this is a significant problem with the quality of material used to manufacture the dashboards in our beloved Prados. Aside from general quality issues there is a safety concern we are keen to address. Advice we (a range of forum members) have received so far suggest this cracking issue may have consequences relating to correct airbag operation and requires serious investigation at the very least.

I'm wary of going into too much detail as I know Toyota have monitored this forum. Most of the comments regarding safety in this thread I feel are close to the money and I think it's safe to say one could draw the appropriate conclusions from them and form a basis for raising an official safety concern. If you want to discuss in any more detail please PM me.

While there are some coordinated efforts being made behind the scenes there are a few very important things you can do.

1) IMPORTANT - Submit a vehicle defect notice to the Federal Govt via this link http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...s/defects.aspx (click on the 'Online Submit form' towards the bottom of the page). Even if you do not have cracking around the airbag area yet, given the experiences we are seeing this will worsen and it's only a matter of time before it does. A safety defect can be reported even if a recognised fault has been identified and it is expected to develop into a safety concern - it is important to mention the known cracking in the airbag area problem and indicate that your dashboard is failing and there is a high expectation the airbag area is at risk of cracking in time, as others are doing also.

2) Report the matter to your State or Territory motoring authority such as NRMA, RACQ, AANT, RAA, RACV etc.

3) If you are a member of a 4wd Club let them know of this issue and this forum as they may be able to help inform others.

4) Ask others you see with Prados and let them know of this forum.

If everyone does this I am told the matter (concerning safety) would be investigated by appropriate authorities.

Please persist with contacting Toyota. It would be comforting to know Toyota have to admit they've received a larger number of complaints regarding this issue (rather than the current "oh, hardly any" crap) when questioned during any investigation.

Following is a range of useful contact addresses, phone numbers etc:

Toyota Customer Experience Centre

Toyota CEC
PO Box 187
Caringbah NSW 1495

[email protected]

Toll free - 1800 252 097
(Mon to Fri 8am - 6pm AEST)


Toyota Motor Corporation Australia – President

Mr Max Yasuda
President and CEO
Toyota Motor Corporation Australia
155 Bertie Street
Port Melbourne Vic 3207

Fax : (03) 9645 1311


Toyota Motor Corporation (Global) - President

Mr Akio Toyoda
President and Representative Director
Toyota Motor Corporation
1 Toyota-Cho
Toyota City
Aichi Prefecture 471-8571
Japan

RACQ (only listed as most affected are from Qld)

Technical Advice Team
Toll Free – 1800 623 456
Local – (07) 3666 9148
Contact name - Vito

[wannawodka2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wannawodka2]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Updated list;

Total = 43 (includes 4 overseas members)

2003 - 27
2004 - 12
2005 - 1
2006 - 1
TBC - 2 ...IMm29 and Hassro, can you confirm what year & type

1) Rumble11 - 04 GXL
2) Davis See – 04 GXL
3) Lukey2830 - 04 GXL
4) Fergs - 04 GXL
5) Plister - 04 GXL
6) Rosen - 03 GXL
7) Rossgo - 03 GXL
8 ) Kelor - 03 GXL
9) Kciv - 03 GXL
10) Indy - 03 GXL
11) Kevinbloomfield - 03 GXL
12) Grinch - 03 GXL
13) Chippy - 03 GXL
14) Russ - 03 GXL
15) GKHarding - 03 GXL
16) Geoffo - 04 GXL
17) Silverbarra - 03 GXL
18) Lowndsey - 04 GXL
19) daznmeg - 03 GXL
20) Spag - 03 GXL
21) Galvo - 03 GXL
22) Paul16 - 03 GXL
23) Pauly - 06 GXL
24) pearlie - 04 VX (replaced under extended warranty)
25) Fredster - 03 GXL (replaced by Toyota after contacting TMCA)
26) Palko - 05 VX (still under warranty)
27) Awesome - 04 GXL
28) vincentstokes - 03 GXL
29) WATTSY - 03 GXL
30) wannawodka - 03 Grande
31) Bevo74 - 04 Grande
32) cardinal28 - 03 GXL
33) kythan06 - 03 Grande
34) horsepeople - 03 Grande
35) bilo33prado's mate - 03 GXL
36) DDGX03 - 03
37) Kraal J – 03 GXL
38) nozman – 03 GXL
39) Hassro – Model TBC

Overseas Members:

1) neuro (Brunei)
2) TexGX (United States) – 2004 Lexus GX470
3) johnnie (Bangkok) - 04 TX
4) IMm29 (Manila) – Model TBC

[Darin Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Darin]

Re: Cracked dashboard

yeh add me to the list, Overseas (ARUBA) '04 VX TD Cracked everywere and pealing off!!
And I know of 9 more Prado's out of 11 here with the same problem.

[Kraal J Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Kraal J]

Re: Cracked dashboard

I have had confirmation from the Toyota Dealer in Labrador that my claim has been rejected. Reason being that it is outside the warranty period. No surprise here and its now to the next stage.

[wannawodka2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wannawodka2]

Re: Cracked dashboard

That sucks... but not unexpected.

Dont forget to lodge a defect notification via http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... fects.aspx

As I mentioned above, even if you don't have cracking around the airbag area yet, there is clear evidence this will worsen may become a more serious problem (ie air bag issue). I'm advised that a safety defect can be reported even if a recognised fault has been identified and it is expected to develop into a safety concern.

Your case, as in many others from what has been reported in this thread, it is important to mention the known cracking in the airbag area problem and indicate that your dashboard is failing and there is a high expectation this will extend to the air bag area the same way others are.

[Kraal J Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Kraal J]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Its also important to contact the state auto clubs. I contacted the RACQ Tech support and they are aware of the problem,mainly cracking around the passenger air bag, and are in the process of collating a lemon file ( their words ).I am waiting for the office to make contact to arrange a vehicle inspection .

[kythan06 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kythan06]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Afternoon All,

Went back to my Toyaota Dealer Today and spoke to the service dept manager. He has inspected the vehicle and will be sending an out of warranty claim to Toyota. I asked him if he would like to be sitting in the seat when the bag inflates - or doesn't inflate. Either way he advised that it is a concern and he will be speaking directly to the waranty dept. I advised that I had spoken to RACQ and to the ACCC and he genuinely appeared to want to prevent this from going further. Apparantly he will get back to me by the end of the week.

See what happens hey.

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Hi kythan06

Dont hold your breath mate!!. Toyota stubbenly (and sadly) have taken the stance to ignore this obvious safety issue. Sadly in the fact that cracking around the airbag area WILL effect in some way the deployment of the airbag. Wether that it is bits of the dash become missiles in a incident or the cracked dash punctures the airbag on deployment, it effects family or friends that are travelling in the affected vehicle. VERY sad as this could be a potential fatality (in my and many other opinions) and in this state the vehicle is un-roadworthy (admitted by Toyota). But not their problem.
Around in circles we go - Toyota wont admit if it is a problem and say 'take it to your local dealer for an inspection' and the local dealer also does not know and say 'Ring Toyota'.
To me just because a vehicle is out of warranty, does not nullify a major manufacturing problem and safety issue.
Keep up the fight!!

Cheers

Cardinal28

[Palko Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Palko]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Had my 80k service yesterday (Monday) at Peter Kittle Toyota in Alice Springs costing over a thousand bucks. I had put in a warranty claim the Friday before on my cracked dash. Kittles were good and tried two avenues to get the claim approved but to no avail. This is what was said and on-the-record.
"Check dash panel cracked above glove box, customer is seeking waranty assistance. Please submit prior approval. Material failure/poor manufacture. Submitted prior approval to Toyota #.... denied, warranty entitlements exceeded. Extended warranty police does not cover this item. Customer to seek advice from selling agent".

The selling agent was Bridge Toyota in Darwin who sold me an Extended Vehicle Warranty (MTA insurance). $1600. Won't be doing that again. Word from MTA on its Warranty Exclusion: "The warranty does not cover: No.13 normal deterioration to paint work, metal finish and trim." If you ask me, what the hell is 'normal deterioration' when your dash starts breaking out with cracks?

I said to the service department: If I was to go next door to the sales department to trade my car in on a new one. How much less would they give me now my dash is buggered. Seriously thinking of changing the make of car I next purchase. I love my Prado though so I might just hang onto it until there's no petrol left to buy.

I also asked the service dept what happens if the air bag deploys and bits of dashboard go flying off in all directions. He said that if the bag deploys, bits of flying dash debris will be the least of your problems.

My next step it to write to Mr Max Yasuda and Mr Akio Toyoda but I'm not holding my breath.
Bring on the media.
Cheers

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

Re: Cracked dashboard

G'day all,
My 09 GXL V6 in going in on Monday to have the dashboard replaced ( lifting ),the low range box repaired or replaced ( won't shift into low range from neutral ), and find out why it's killing the engine and switching off all electrics at speed, randomly.
Interesting thing ... I heard from a young bloke in the service dept. that there are 3 other late model 120's booked in for dashboard replacements.
'" Oh what a feeling!"

Bazza.

[wannawodka2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wannawodka2]

Re: Cracked dashboard

I receive a reply to my letter to Mr Max Yasuda today.

Basically,

We understand the expectations customers have
We strive to deliver vehicles of the highest quality in design, performance and safety at all times
We regret your disappointment
We are sympathetic

but..........

we must remind you that your vehicle is well outside the New Vehicle Warranty period... so.......... too bad.

I don't know if my letter was even given to the President but the reply came from the Customer Experience Centre. Keep the letters of complaint to Max Yasuda coming in.

I'm not sure which is greater... the shit fight that is about to start or the depth and breadth of Toyota's absolute stupidity when it comes to this matter.

Next stop, phone calls and documentation to:

:x Key television media
:x Key print media
:x ACCC
:x Every state motoring body
:x Every major 4wd club
:x Every significant internet forum (ExplorOz, LCOOL etc)
:x Facebook!
:x Office of Fair Trading/Consumer Affairs

Anyone I've forgotten?

Wow, think of all that free publicity... no need to thank me. Toyota... I feel your love and that is enough. :evil: