Dust collecting on rear door seal

[meg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close meg]

I purchased a 150 Series Prado Kakadu in October 2010 and am very disappointed with a number of issues but by far the worst is the dust that sits on the rear door seal. I live in country SA and a lot of my driving is done on dirt roads – something that you would think a 4wd was built for!! Dust collects around the rear door on the rubber seal and when opening the rear door that dust drops down and covers the person opening the door and the rest blows through the car covering everything in it.

This is not an issue with dust getting into the car while driving – it is only when you open the rear door that the dust enters the car. It is a problem with the design of the rear seal which allows the dust to collect on the seal. It is different design from previous Prado’s.

I have contacted my local dealer who has sent a report to Toyota and I have followed up with a phone call to the Toyota Customer Experience Centre. Their response is that there is not a problem with the design of the seal!! They also said that they don’t have any other reports of problems with the seal.

I find it very hard to believe that no-one else is experiencing the same problem or does no-one else take their Prado off-road!! I would love to hear from anyone who has experienced the same problem and urge them to report it to Toyota.

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

Re: Dust collecting on rear door seal

Hi Meg

We have an early 150 and have done around 15000 kms off road and touring and have noticed exactly the same thing. Another thing to check is that the dust that collects under the seal then turns into mud when wet and a massive potential rust spot as we are on the coast in Sth East Qld.

I go to the point of once a month actually pulling the seal off and cleaning the door edge and the seal. In reality I don't think that there is much that can now be done about the design.

Regards, Richo.

[meg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close meg]

Re: Dust collecting on rear door seal

Thank Richo for your reply and the hint re taking the seal off. At this stage, I am not prepared to just accept that nothing can be done. My local dealer is pursuing some options for me to try and reduce the amount of dust that sits there but I don't think it should be up to him. I want Toyota to admit responsibility. I have got to the stage that I don't want to open the back door because I know that I am going to be covered in dust and so is the rest of the interior of the car. I am pretty fussy about my car especially as it is only a few month's old plus it is the first brand new car I have had for sometime. We have had Toyota Landcruisers before but not a Prado and never had this big a problem.

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Dust collecting on rear door seal

...Dust collects around the rear door on the rubber seal and when opening the rear door that dust drops down and covers the person opening the door and the rest blows through the car covering everything in it....

I have been thinking about this ever since reading it and can imagine being turned instantly red from outback dust. I just thought of what to carry and use before you open the rear door - a RAMSET Hole Cleaning Pump (blower). Blow around the top of the door before you open it.

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Dust collecting on rear door seal

I noticed this as well, opening of rear door during stops after going on dusty roads will send dust everywhere, inside and outside, over food, water.
The dust then becomes mud after rain and stay trapped around the seal.

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

Re: Dust collecting on rear door seal

Great I had this problem in my 120 and now looks like it is the same in my new car

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

Yep, I reckon this is another 150 design fault similar to the mudflaps issue. Maybe someone should start a 'fixmypradodoorseals.com'. I know several new Prado owners (including myself) who are really p..... off with this and other issues. A friend of mine who works in the bush and has always had Prado's is selling his for that very reason.

[simon150vx Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close simon150vx]

Dust collecting on rear door seal

Yep same problem, but mine also lets a lot of dust in, just returned from the Grampians camping and found alot of dust inside on the back door, and that after very little dirt road driving (less than 100klm) and now also hard to open and close rear door, will get that looked at as well next service, my 1999 Prado let less dust in on the entire Gibb River Rd.

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

Hi Folks

Not sure what you expect from a 4WD that is designed to meet everything from Soccer Mums to the best medium size independant front end off roader available. We have had 4WD's for over 25 years and this is definately the best we have had, none are perfect that is why off roaders modify their vehicles to meet their needs and harden up on the things that can't be changed.

Regards, Richo.

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

I cannot see how it WOULDN'T be an issue, the rear doors are, after all, flat across the top, so is my 120.
Meg, on your LC, did you have the split rear door (flip up) or the same style as the Prado?

I tend to agree with Richoson, some things cannot be changed. The mudflaps, however, was a different kettle of barramundi....

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

I don't get a major problem with dust, but do give the car a quick once over each morning before moving out.

Regards, Richo.

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

I just recently returned from a trip to the bungle bungles, gibb river rd, and the outskirts of halls creek. I must say the amount of dust that gathered on the rear door seal was unbelieveable, not only that it clearly was coming into the car and the fridge and the container we had in the boot was getting a little mound of dust on the very top and this continued to happen the whole trip. Even when we tried cleaning all the dust away it would just happen again. The definatly has to be a design fault here that is just a stupid way to seal a door. My 80 series held less dust than that on the rear doors (barn doors)

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

Also just found now after giving it a good wash down it leaks water in through the top too NOT HAPPY!!