Cracked dashboard

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

The number of kilometres a vehicle has on it shouldn't make any difference to cracks appearing in areas like the dash. The longer they are exposed to hot and cold, direct sun with UV, etc, is what will affect it. An upholsterer friend also mentioned that excessive use of cleaning products followed by baking sun can also affect the dash pad. Australian built cars had the intense sun catered for in the use of extra UV protection in the material used.

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

The number of kilometres a vehicle has on it shouldn't make any difference to cracks appearing in areas like the dash. The longer they are exposed to hot and cold, direct sun with UV, etc, is what will affect it. An upholsterer friend also mentioned that excessive use of cleaning products followed by baking sun can also affect the dash pad. Australian built cars had the intense sun catered for in the use of extra UV protection in the material used.

My Prado spends 5-6 days a week in the garage and some weeks doesn;t come out as i have a ute for work. It has had a dash mat fitted since new, and never had anything other than a wet chamois to clean it. It has multiple cracks in it now, I think it is just crap material used on the dash,, I would hate to see the dash that suffers from the effects of as suggested above,

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

Cracked dashboard is just starting on my Toyota Prado TZ.

Parked in the shade. Never used chemicals.

This is obviously a manufacturing defect.

Concerned about Air-bag deployment.

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

Looks like i made the club 2004 GXL, just ticked over 260k and i got cracks in every direction.

If i Don't look at the dash too closely it won't bother me to much :P

[jcsmsmith Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jcsmsmith]

It is so strange my 2004 has no cracks,mines covered in a garage most of the time and whenever I take it out I always look and see if anything has changed with the dash.i must be lucky as it doesn't look like it will ever crack fingers crossed.

[MorrieD Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MorrieD]

My 2007 GXL has also developed 2 cracks from the top of the glove box to the left air vent. I've owned it since 2008 and it's always garaged or if outside has a sunshade on. It's only done 88000 klm. I originally blamed the missus and kids for occasionally putting their feet up there until I read this post!

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

I wonder if they use the same vinyl to line the carpet? My rear cargo space carpet has been neatly stored flat under a mattress in the spare room for about 4 years since I installed the outback drawers. The fluffy insulation that was stuck to it has long been thrown out but, when packing the carpet for my big move, I've found the vinyl is all cracked. The carpet is still perfect.

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

It is so strange my 2004 has no cracks,mines covered in a garage most of the time and whenever I take it out I always look and see if anything has changed with the dash.i must be lucky as it doesn't look like it will ever crack fingers crossed.

They're coming , no doubt about it. It is just how long before they come.

[rally1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rally1]

I bit the bullet and stumped the cash and replaced my dash every time I took it out it cracked more . Very easy job it besides it allowed a good clean up vents
and trim parts .

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

I bit the bullet and stumped the cash and replaced my dash every time I took it out it cracked more . Very easy job it besides it allowed a good clean up vents
and trim parts .

How much did it cost for the replacement dash and do you think it would be possible to get the other one refurbished ?

Cheers Russ

[Jeff.C Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff.C]

Our Prado is the 'Gold Shimmer"exterior colour and the Dash comes in what I think they call is Buckskin and it is a 2005 Model There no signs of cracks at all .
Yes we do use Armourall regularly .
Just wondered if the cracks were just on the Black Vinyl ??

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

^ I don't think so. Mine appears to be the same colour as yours, Gold with a 'Buckskin' interior. Anyway there were loads of cracks when I bought it. They would have all been for the same factory using the same compound mixture....You've got lucky so far...FWIW I was always told to avoid Armourall like the plague....just a bit of mild soap now suffices.

[Jeff.C Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeff.C]

Oh well seemed like a good idea ! thanks for the other info but after 8 1/2 years and no cracks I am reluctant to stop the Armourall after all this time

^ I don't think so. Mine appears to be the same colour as yours, Gold with a 'Buckskin' interior. Anyway there were loads of cracks when I bought it. They would have all been for the same factory using the same compound mixture....You've got lucky so far...FWIW I was always told to avoid Armourall like the plague....just a bit of mild soap now suffices.

[Just*Managing Member Find all posts View Profile Close Just*Managing]

My 04 also spends most of it's life under cover either at home or work. I only noticed the cracks last month after it had been to a Car Detailer. I wondered whether it was the stuff they used that might have been the straw that broke the camels back.

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

I've never paid attention to my dash until now that I've read this thread. It's never been cleaned, just sits under the dash mat every day parked outside at the wife's work. Guess I'll be checking it out in the morning to see what state it's in.