Mudflap Problem Solved ?

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Yowie,

"and Toyota won't change it"

That's a big call given that Toyota have and are fitting an improved version, admittedly it's a prototype but it exists and Toyota appear to have manufactured it.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get your comment.

I think he's trying to show that he's spent 10gran on his car and that another $400 is pocket change. Either that or it's buyers remorse :lol: :lol:

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi guys

Have a look at thread "Petition Setup for Mudflap Issue - Please Sign" under the 150 General Discussion area. It's near the top of the threads

There is also a link to the petition website with pics on the latest design.

It seems things are starting to move on the Mudflaps - some PP 150 owners are getting calls from dealers to get the Mudflaps changed although it appears that only those who have logged a complaint will get the new ones- at least that's the advice on one post.

I am chasing my dealer on getting new ones as I made a complaint direct to Toyota and received a reply from Toyota confirming my complaint.

Cheers
Woody50

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi guys

Have a look at thread "Petition Setup for Mudflap Issue - Please Sign" under the 150 General Discussion area. It's near the top of the threads

There is also a link to the petition website with pics on the latest design.

It seems things are starting to move on the Mudflaps - some PP 150 owners are getting calls from dealers to get the Mudflaps changed although it appears that only those who have logged a complaint will get the new ones- at least that's the advice on one post.

I am chasing my dealer on getting new ones as I made a complaint direct to Toyota and received a reply from Toyota confirming my complaint.

Cheers
Woody50

I booked in for the complimentary first service / inspection today and the guys at Toyota told me they were confident they would have a set of the Toyota trial flaps here to fit next Friday. Petition signed and complaint lodged before the vehicle was picked up.

Roadblock

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Yowie,

"and Toyota won't change it"

That's a big call given that Toyota have and are fitting an improved version, admittedly it's a prototype but it exists and Toyota appear to have manufactured it.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't get your comment.

What I am saying is, Toyota produces a vehicle to suit the majority of owners. In the case of a 150 Prado, the majority of them do not venture off road, so Toyota builds them to suit the owners who want a vehicle with 4WD ability should they need it. (Toyota as well as other vehicle manufacturers, for road vehicles and 4WD vehicles, are building tiny mud flaps, because it is the new design. some new vehicles do not have any mud flaps at all.)

For owners like me who want to drive on roads that a lot of people don't (and I don't mean snatching and driving in mud baths, deep water, etc) I modified my vehicle to take me where I want to drive, and also to be able to tow a caravan.

That means spending some money to modify my vehicle, and I spent $10,000- on suspension, drawer system, 2nd battery, rust proofing, tow bar, better tyres, etc, so another $400 for mud flaps is another modification that I want for my 150. I drove to Victoria and back last week, including a couple of roads with mud and stones, and there is no mud or stone chips behind the mud flaps, only some dust and water marks from rain.

Yowie.

[bushwacked Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bushwacked]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

An update on the field performance of the new Toyota trial mudflaps.

Took the vehicle back to the dealer yesterday after fitting the new flaps then completing a 10,000km trip which included about 1000km of dirt/mud. They took new photos and we did a damage before/after comparison. Conclusion we both reached is there was very little new damage.

Toyota also offered to repair the existing damage when it suits me (which I will probably delay as I am heading back to Alice Springs/Harts Range next week), so I am fairly comfortable with the outcome.

Bushwacked

[an000 Member Find all posts View Profile Close an000]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I am bringing the Prado to Airport Toyota (Melbourne) tomorrow for them to take photos before getting the mudflaps from Toyota for a field trial.
Will let you all know how I go.
Regards
Andy

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Had mine installed yesterday. Seem to be a huge improvement over the originals.

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Had some interesting emails from Toyota complaints, basically saying the same as they have to everyone else, that they won't acknowledge a problem and damage caused by their inferior mudflaps is not a warranty item.
They haven't replied after I advised them that I was aware of replacement mudflaps being trialled.
Will definitely be mentioning it when I get the 10K service done in a couple of months.
I ended up getting a set of the gravel rush mudflaps - I'm not convinced of $400 value there but they definitely provide better protection than the originals and are more flexible than some alternatives.
I think the shape and mounting could also be improved but overall I'm happier with them than those provided by Toyota and I've been promoting them to all I know who own Prado's (they're a bit like Bums out here - everyone has one)

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Kev

Frank from Gravel Rush would love any feedback as to improvements, like you I'm happy with mine and last weekend went driving with 120 owners who commented how good they protected the car.

Regards, Richo.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Had some interesting emails from Toyota complaints, basically saying the same as they have to everyone else, that they won't acknowledge a problem and damage caused by their inferior mudflaps is not a warranty item.

When did you send your emails? I gather since you've gone out and bought Gravel Rush flaps, not in they last few weeks? Toyota Australia has definitely acknowledged there's a problem. Why else would they design a new mudflap? I have them fitted (under warranty) from my dealer who also offered to repair any stone chips on the rear bumper as a result of the inferior original mudflaps. I'm not the only one on this forum who has the new flaps either.

So what you've been told is not actually "the same as they have said to everybody else". I think it's a bit rough to say that they're unwilling to acknowledge there's a problem or supply a fix when clearly they have.

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Went to see my dealer and my service dept. Both of them only recently received the bulletin about it and were not sure what to do. They didn't even know if it was a warranty claim. They haven't got any of them either. All they told me was that it was "under development" and only a select few have been asked to trial them. I asked if I could be one of those select few since I lodged a DPR at the 1000km service and was bluntly told "no" from the service guy. Heck, he even said (in a smart ass tone) "what do you want them for anyway?", clueless bastard probably didn't even read the bulletin. So I left my details and got him to call me if anything came up. So I've emailed Toyota 3 days ago, no response yet. I'll be returning soon to enquire about the fjcruiser so I'll ask about it again. Otherwise, it seems I'll have to wait for the real thing to come out.

[Kev7762 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kev7762]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Had some interesting emails from Toyota complaints, basically saying the same as they have to everyone else, that they won't acknowledge a problem and damage caused by their inferior mudflaps is not a warranty item.

When did you send your emails? I gather since you've gone out and bought Gravel Rush flaps, not in they last few weeks? Toyota Australia has definitely acknowledged there's a problem. Why else would they design a new mudflap? I have them fitted (under warranty) from my dealer who also offered to repair any stone chips on the rear bumper as a result of the inferior original mudflaps. I'm not the only one on this forum who has the new flaps either.

So what you've been told is not actually "the same as they have said to everybody else". I think it's a bit rough to say that they're unwilling to acknowledge there's a problem or supply a fix when clearly they have.

Last correspondence with Toyota was around 3 weeks ago, 3 times they sent me the same reply that it wasn't an issue and would not be covered under warranty.
As I stated after I replied to them that i was aware that Toyota were testing new style mudflaps they have not replied back to me. Whilst I appreciate that some of you have been offered a solution, in my dealings with the Toyota complaints people, they have consistently denied it is an issue. That said it will be due for its first (10,000K) service in the next month and I will be bringing it to the attention of whoever does the service (not sure where I'll be for that).
However I am still happy with the protection offered by the gravelrush mudflaps and will certainly be extolling the virtues to all who ask. As with most here I identified an issue and bought after market to solve it - the same reason it now has a steel bar not the original plastic bumper - I don't plan on hitting anything but feel confident that if I do I will be better protected.

[1stPrado-White150GXL Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1stPrado-White150GXL]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Folks,

A few weeks back I had my new Toyota mudflaps fitted.
In an earlier post I mentioned that I had to take the car to my local dealer for them to take some photos and send to their regional office. Apparently the guys (or gals) on the receiving end of the photos couldn’t differentiate between the dirt and road grime on the rear bumper and the gravel rash and they rejected the warranty claim.

So, return a few weeks later with a clean Prado after the dealer advises of failed warranty attempt. Dealer takes more photos and sends them to the Toyota Regional Office in Brisbane. Once again the warranty claim is knocked back. Dealer states that regional office is playing politics and he is confident that the rear bumper will eventually get resprayed. He also states that any warranty claim dealing with the fabric – be it vinyl, leather etc and/or paint sees the owner and dealer having to jump through a series of hoops. The owners of the 120 series with the cracked dashboards will attest to this!

On another point, when the mudflaps were being fitted, they organised for the horizontal wedge part of the rear of the flap (that attaches to the underside of bumper bar) to be colour coded to the vehicle.

[Hubble80 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hubble80]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

FYI I notice a Thai mob on eBay selling Hilux SR5 Mudflaps ... about $80 a pair delivered to Aus.

Cheaper than the genuine item and look the same to me!!!

[Stephen77 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stephen77]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I had confirmation from my dealer that when they get stock of the new mudflaps (May?) it will be a warrenty job on request and will include a respray of the bumper.

They have had lots of complaints and Toyota acknowledges it is a big problem!