Cracked dashboard

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Hi amts,
Your Prado is the 2003 like mine. I got the message "...no more Out of Warranty claims for vehicles over 7 years old ... . If they try that on, Appeal through the Dealer first and then contact the Customer Relations people (phone number in the Service Book). Ask them to appeal for you (they contact the dealer but it is another appeal).
Let me know what happens because that was my experience. The next step is a bit messy but you will get a result.

Bill

Same here - Had to make a fair bit of noise about mine (03 gxl) and it took 12 months, but got a favourable result.

Graeme K

[grande1810 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grande1810]

I too have just joined the cracked dash club, will be talking to Toyota in Mackay very soon, I am not able to drive at moment following major surgery, will contact by phone first.
Will keep you posted
Jeff.

[sleeky5 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sleeky5]

Sleepy what sort of life has your car had ie always in the sun etc?

Always had a dash mat, undercover at home, only damp chamois or sometimes Vuplex spray used for cleaning. I have always been very careful with it. It is however generally parked in the sun during a working day and I do have a screen but usually don't use it because I am often in and out during the day.

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

I had my dash repaired this year by the dealer I bought the vehicle off, charged $400 for fitting, 2005 model, had nothing but excellent service from them.

[grande1810 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grande1810]

Hi all,

This seems to be an ongoing problem with toyotas, I remember replacing three dash boards
in Celica I once owned over the years.

Is it only Toyota that have this issue or have others got other makes of cars of similar age
with a similar problem?

Cheers
LeighW

I know that Nissan are replacing Patrol Dash pads on 03 & later models due to bubbling on top of dash

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

I was in the last of the mitsi 380 (took over from magna) the other day and noticed the airbag part of the dash lifting on the outer edges, I think alot of cars do it, some depends on how there treated some just seem to do it like the 120's.........Cheers Steve

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

You didn't say how old your 120 is. They all seem to be cracking the dash, 4 to 6 years after being built. If you could see the photos that are on this site, you wouldn't put the problem down to ... 'well lots of cars do it...'
Toyota have stuffed up big time with the dash and it looks like the problem won't go away as the 2006 models are coming on line now. I predict that all 120 models will eventually suffer some degree of cracking.

bill

[grande1810 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grande1810]

Took mine to Toyota in Mackay today for assessing, they submitted warranty claim but it got rejected.
I rang Toyota customer 1800 number and got told decision would not be reversed.
Guess I will have to write a couple of letters and see what the outcome is.

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Took mine to Toyota in Mackay today for assessing, they submitted warranty claim but it got rejected.
I rang Toyota customer 1800 number and got told decision would not be reversed.
Guess I will have to write a couple of letters and see what the outcome is.

'In Warranty' or 'Out of Warranty' claim?. Seems a bit harsh if its a 'In Warranty' claim.

[grande1810 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grande1810]

'In Warranty' or 'Out of Warranty' claim?. Seems a bit harsh if its a 'In Warranty' claim.

Out of Warranty , unfortunately

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Sounds like TMC are stating to play hardball with this issue. Not a good publicity campain for an obvious manufacturing fault.
I still to this day have never had a definate 'yes' or 'no' (from TMC or Qld Dept of Transport) to the question - "Is the vehicle with a cracked dashboard unroadworthy?". All Dept of tport will say is "The vehicle is unroadworthy if it affects the deployment of the airbag". How the hell does anybody know how it affects the airbag untill the airbag is deployed????. Could be too late then. Somebody could be seriously injured or deceased.
TMC's attitude on this issue makes my blood boil!!!!!

Graeme K

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Suprise suprise, it was in the daily telegraph here in Sydney today in the cars guide section, a lady complaining about it, I doubt she knows about PP I have been trying to get in touch with her today, so far no luck. This is about time it was taken to today tonight or current affairs as there is enough of the problem around and yes, whos going to answer when some one has a frontal collision and the airbag doesnt deploy ?? Im lucky so far as mine is 05 model and still ok at the moment but I can tell you if it happens to mine I wont hesitate taking to one of the current affair programmes with out fail, can be guaranteed of that 100%.......Toyota need to pull there finger out there arse and warrant the issue they know its a major issue, my mate worked for toyota for over 20 years and had a brand new dash pad in grey for a 120 stuck in his shed, got it from when he was working there laying around the workshop brand new in box, no one claimed where the hell it come so he borrowed it (thats his story) funny he had a 120 at the time so he new of the issue and that was 4 years ago and he tried selling on ebay as he sold the prado, no one bidded on it so he put a saw through it and put in the bin in pieces, couldnt believe it no one wanted it at the time obviously the problem wasnt extreme at the time.Cheers Steve

[Guest Close Guest]

Must be the same lady (Nicole ...) that wrote in to the Carsguide section in Adelaide's Advertiser on 31/12/11.

[You guys are way behind the times ]

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Yes Nicole Holzheimer was the first lady to complain (obviously the one you read) and then todays one, not sure of the ladys name that has put it in todays paper as I only just ripped the top of it off to see if I could track down this Nicole lady and lead her to PP so she can see whats going on. I think going by her comment in todays paper she must think there is only the two of them, she didnt sound happy thats for sure like the rest of the people who have the same issue............. I sent an email off to this smithy guy and see wether he can do anything.Cheers Steve

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

Dashboard replaced

Finally!
Toyota actually followed through on their promise and I have the dashboard replaced. The price was the same as quoted but I did have to sit through the usual -
...you need to have a service record with Toyota ...
...how can you expect a vehicle to have a blemish free dashboard, this old with this many kms.
...things are tough in the marketplace and all manufacturers have to tighten their belts...
...you obviously didn't look after your vehicle...
... Armorall does this to dashboards ...
etc etc

A word of warning to all, the statutory warranty has been increased from 7 years to 10, so if you are going down the legal road (aka Tribunal or Fair Trading), get in quick.
TMC are basically refusing all 2003 and soon 2004 models making you go down this legal road. I think the Tribunal will decide in your favour but you need to go through the steps.

Good luck to all. Fight the good fight!

Bill