Mudflap Problem Solved ?

[lissted Member Find all posts View Profile Close lissted]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

My car is in on Thursday for service. I showed the service manager a few weeks ago and ask for the answer when I took my car in for the 10k. My defence was Toyota marketed these cars as tested over 100,000km (or something like that) through the outback and over rugged terrain before they were launched. My guess if this is the case they would have got a destroyed rear bumper as well, or they didn't even take it off road as they advertised. Will post an answer after the service.
Peter

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Peter,
Looking forward to the response you get.
Cheers
Gunar

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Here's the reply to my latest email to customer service (see above). Better put some money away each year for a replacement rear bumper and front door respray after each trip. :evil:

Dear Sam

Thank you for your additional email.

Accordingly, we have referred the matter to Toyota Technical Operations for investigation and response and can confirm the following:

The operation of a vehicle on roads such as those found typically in the Australian environment, will subject vehicles to stone chipping through normal operation, this can be exacerbated by various factors some of which are:

• Distance travelled on unsealed road conditions.
• Type of tyre and tread selection (some are more aggressive than standard fit)
• Speed of operation of vehicle especially on unsealed surfaces.
• Impact of road debris from other vehicles.

The usage conditions of individual vehicles can be extremely varied and are well outside of the control of any automotive manufacturer. Your vehicle is fitted with mudflaps which provide for a measure of protection for most owners, however, Toyota do not accept responsibility for stone chipping – this is considered to be fair wear and tear.

We thank you for providing us with your valuable feedback on this aspect of your vehicle’s operation, thereby allowing us to record this information for consideration when developing any changes in future model vehicles.

Alisha Smith
Customer Experience Advisor

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Aint it just typical.........it stinks!!

[karrathaprado2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karrathaprado2]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I would not let up on this...just because they shoot you down once. I would look at other owners that have not driven them OFF road yet and get them to do the same thing. Write in and complain about it with photo's. Unsealed roads are a part of life here but if the coverage is not cutting it then it is a design issue. I would ask them to provide conditions they have tested theirs to, to compare against. DO NOT GIVE Up. They are like insurance companys...the more you say NO the less they have to pay out. Only persistance will pay off in the end. Yes we buy our toys for a good time but all cannot afford to have to respray after a trip or two to keep flash looking. NEVER GIVE UP~!!!

[lissted Member Find all posts View Profile Close lissted]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

That's like saying you wore out top gear in your gearbox, "You still have a gearbox, just use the other gears you still have!!!!!"

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Guys,
Can someone please give me the email address at Toyota as I can not find the correct one.
Cheers
PS We can win this if we all start writing in!!!

[kavibaba Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kavibaba]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Guys,
Can someone please give me the email address at Toyota as I can not find the correct one.
Cheers
PS We can win this if we all start writing in!!!

[email protected]

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I have written to Toyota this morning and will let you know the outcome.....guess it wont be hard to know what that will be.
Cheers

[Lazie Frog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Lazie Frog]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi Guys below is my e-mails to toyota customer service Re mudflaps.

13/7/2010 To Toyota
Hi, I have a Toyota Prado GXL 150
I have just had the 10,000 km service done
I reported that my mud flaps were too short and I am getting stone chips
on rear bumper bar. I would like to know if there are longer mud flaps
available?
Thankyou

22/7/2010 From
Thank you for your email .

Currently there is only one size mud flap available for the Prado. However
we have taken this opportunity to forward your feedback on to our Parts
and Accessories Division for future consideration.

Thank you for contacting Toyota Australia.

Kind regards Nicole



4/8/2010 To Nicole, ( copied from hookedon4wding )

Can you tell me then if severe stone chipping to the rear quarter panels and
the lower sections of the front doors suffered after driving on normal dirt
roads and caused by the insufficient mud flaps is covered by warranty? Or am
I unable to take my new Prado, with all of its offroad features and
capability off the bitumen without suffering stone damage?

This is a definite design fault that needs to be rectified by Toyota. Even a
very short drive over any sort of gravel or dirt road causes a huge amount
of mud and dirt to be plastered all over the above mentioned areas of the
vehicle.

Thanks Gary


5/8/2010
Thank you for your response .

The Toyota New Vehicle Warranty does not extend to cover damage to the paint caused by stone chips.

Please be assured your feedback regarding the mud flaps has been forwarded to the appropriate departments within Toyota. You may also wish to register this complaint with your local Toyota Dealership, who can physically confirm the condition and report this to Toyota Australia accordingly.

Kind regards

Nicole

Have gone back to local toyota Dealership and ask them to register a report to toyota .

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

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Have gone back to local toyota Dealership and ask them to register a report to toyota .

as we should all do, but even if they do consider a replacement, say the likes of the hilux flaps given - that still won't provide full protection.

the rear mudflap is a large moulded piece of plastic, not just a bolt on flap, so i can't see toyota making a proper solution that replaces the existing flap at all for the customers who get stone damage - we are in the minority for sure.

EDIT: i should say, the rear flap is bolt on, but it extends a piece of it under the bumper which, when unbolted, leaves gaping hole.

[530jac Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close 530jac]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I have bolted on some insertion rubber extensions to the mudflaps which I bought from Clark Robber.
Have not tested them yet but I think they will offer sufficient protection.As for the damage done to my brand new prado after 10kms of dirt road I have been quoted $500+ to get the bumper repainted.I have asked the dealer to file a report to Toyota .Suggest everyone does same. This is ridiculous.
Sooner Toyota accepts responsibility for this design fault the better.This way they may get back some credibility.

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I totally agree with you. I have emailed Toyota last week, but no reply as yet. We should all do our bit and complain direct, as our car hasnt been off road yet and already has heaps of chips!!.
Could you post some pics of your modification?
Cheers

[lissted Member Find all posts View Profile Close lissted]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

Hi
I had the service on my car during the week and got an update with how it was going. I saw the service manager again and he informed me that all the paperwork and photos had been sent to toyota and they had seen and reported this from quite a few Prados. He will be following it up again and calling me. I asked who we all needed to complain to and he said to your local dealer as they have to write up a report and then send it off to head office as they have done. Sit and wait I guess.
Peter

[karrathaprado2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close karrathaprado2]

Re: Mudflap Problem Solved ?

I hate to play the other side of the fence...but how do we know they are really submitting these? Do they have a file number they can quote to you? I can see them doing one maybe two. But I would ask for a copy of the report sent in.