CarComplaints.com Notes: Although it has a stellar record in terms of vehicle problems, initially the 4th generation (2003 - 2009) 4Runner didn't earn our top "Seal of Awesome" rating because it received poor crash test ratings for rear impacts. However it's proven to have one of the lowest driver death rates out of all vehicles (not just SUVs), so we've bumped it back up to our top award.
6.6
fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
90,900 miles
Total Complaints:
33 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
not sure (20 reports)
replace dashboard (11 reports)
toyota will recall and replace dashes on 2003-2005 4runner (2 reports)
I take very good care of my 4Runner. I bought it off the showroom floor and have enjoyed it immensely. For the most part it is stored in the garage unless I am traveling. I get the oil changed every 5000 miles and the tires rotated. I've gone through 3 sets of tires, so I am on the go. I change the filters regularly and it has been a fantastic car. I don't want to buy a new one because they don't come in V8s and nothing really has changed on them otherwise. However, even though I use the reflective window shade, my dashboard is splitting down the seams in 5 different places. I even have a split near the front middle car speaker. It looks horrible. This car in one month seems like it is having issues. From sensors going bad, windshield leaking and now dashboard splitting.
I really would like help with the dashboard. Not sure if I trust the local dealership. In my hometown, they wouldn't even give me the time of day when I called about the dashboard splitting last year. They blew me off. Even my follow up calls.
I bought the car in 2019 with the dash cracked and read about the recall. I called the dealer to schedule the repair and the service rep says that I missed the cutoff by 3 days and that Toyota wouldn't honor it. He said to try the corporate office, which I did, but got the same door slam in the face. Since then three more cracks have appeared.
The car has been garaged since new. I'm retired and the car rarely gets driven or parked outdoors. I haven't looked into doing the repair myself. I have done a lot of automotive repairs but I have never replaced the dash on a 4runner and have no idea how $$$ the dash is or if it's available aftermarket. It's sad because the rest of the interior is really nice.
I would like to pursue the Toyota Warranty Enhancement for cracked/sticky/melted dashboards. My vehicle is a 2004 Toyota 4 Runner. SR5 V6. The dash is cracking along with minor sticky surface as indicated in the Warranty Enhancement ZE6. Please respond with detailed instructions on how to begin to initiate a repair / replace under this Warranty Enhancement.
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We appreciate the opportunity to address your concern regarding your 2004 4Runner SR5.
Your vehicle is beyond the time frame and parameters of the Warranty Enhancement Program ZE6 Extension of Warranty Coverage for Cracked and/or Sticky/Melting Dashboards (Instrument Panels) as a Result of Heat or Humidity. Once the vehicle is outside of the timeframe or parameters of the Warranty Enhancement Program, the cost of repairs becomes the owner’s responsibility.
Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file # xxxxxxxxx. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.
I recently inquired about Toyota extended warranty ZE6 through customer relations.
( Toyota Dash Problem Melting Cracking Warranty Extension LSC ZE6 ). Apparently the window has closed on this extended warranty. Unfortunately my vehicles dash board failure was not in sync with Toyota’s time line ZE6. My dashboard is cracking and Toyota Motor refuses to repair / replace or even look at it. This dash board is a failure from poor engineering.
I am very disappointed in the way TOYOTA is responding to this issue. I have contacted customer relations multiple times and in short Toyota‘s position…. oh well ..too bad , were not going to help you out. We don’t have too so were not going to ! Your dash should have failed and cracked and melted before the extended warranty expired.
It would be nice if Toyota cared about their most important asset “ THE CUSTOMER†and stood behind their product to FIX or REPAIR a DEFECT in TOYOTA ENGINEERING.
Let this letter severe as notice this Toyota dashboard defect is still an issue for customers.
I have received NO help from Toyota , they have not responded back to my letter above. My dash is still cracking and I have to look at it every day. If Toyota won't fix it and NHTSA won't make them maybe they can suggest a good pair of Polarized sunglasses to provide superior glare protection against Toyota's melting cracking dashboard.
Toyota sent me a letter in January 2015 saying they would replace cracked dashboard at to cost to me. The projected replacement in May 2015. It is now August 2016 and I can't even get an estimated date for repair. Sounds like Toyota made promises to do repairs to avoid a law suit. They could have built an entire new factory by this time.
IT HAS BEEN 7 MONTHS SINCE I BROUGHT MY 4 RUNNER IN TO GET THE DASHBOARD REPLACED
ALWAYS GET THE SAME ANSWER " NOT IN YET " IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LIVE UP TO THEIR WORD TO FIX IT , THEN WHY SEND A LETTER OUT THAT THEY WILL MAKE GOOD . AFTER ALL MY MONEY WAS GOOD AS THERE WAS NO FAULT WITH IT. AS THE SAYING GOES THE HELL WITH YOU ! WE GOT YOUR MONEY!!
I was told today by my auto mechanic that he thinks Toyota has 1 recall for the cracked dash on my vehicle. I found this site and discovered that many others have the same issue and that Toyota is doing nothing to fix them at no cost, which would be the right thing to do. I will take my vehicle into the Toyota Dealership and try to get them to fix it at no cost to me (I will carefully document the entire exchange) If they fix it, great, if they do not, I will contact Corporate and discuss with them. If I still receive no help, I will try to determine if there is an existing class action suit, and if there is not a current class action- I will consul with an attorney to determine if a lawsuit is the best action to take? If so, then this site looks to me as a great place to find others interested in a lawsuit.
In summary--- I plan to methodically--- step by step---- resolve this issue.
Apparently this is a common problem - got my recall notice in the mail. Have not taken the vehicle in yet as I didn't know the crack on my passenger side dash was included, but based on pictures I have seen from other posts on this site, I am going to take in and see. Definitely annoying this happened. Car is always garaged, never abused so very frustrating. Read that Lexus is also doing repairs/replacement - not sure if I can have a Lexus dealer do the repair on my Toyota - gotta find that answer out yet.
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ALL OVER. CALLED TOYOTA, TOLD ME DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR AND NOT COVERED. TOLD THEM IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. REFUSED TO COVER THE COST OF FIXING IT. SOMEONE PLEASE START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. RANT ABOUT THE BAD CUSTOMER CARE FROM TOYOTA. THE COMPANY IS MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING PROFITS THAN PROTECTING ITS REPUTATION.
Crack on dashboard appeared out of nowhere, car has been garaged all the time (at work & home). Noticed it when it's about 4 inches, now it's 11 inches long. From other owners experience, the gap will probably open up and look worse. My other car (Accord) is even older and dash is fine, plus I apply more Armor All to this 4Runner's dashboard.
After reading online comments, it sounds like the manufacturer used inferior materials. I'm partial to Japanese cars, just because of my experience with them, but, this is my last Toyota vehicle... Mechanically I have no problem with the vehicle.
My 2004 Toyota 4Runner has a lot of Cracks on the Dash board extending from left to right.
Small ones, big ones, I am afraid of the big Crack across the passages side because of the Air-bag.
I did call Toyota in California, went through the whole process, case number but NO HELP AT ALL.
Also had ABS problems, all lights on, no brakes, peddle is hard, Truck will not stop!
Call Toyota again, will NOT help, someone needs to die before they do something!!
I had to spend $1500.00 to get this fixed at the dealer, Brand new ABS Pump Assy.
Thanks Toyota for all your help, I am now getting a good Lawyer !!
Regards
Daniel Dharrie
Update from Feb 9, 2015: Hi everyone, Good news, Got a letter from Toyota today they will extend warranty to replace and repair
Cracked Dash Board, and or sticky/melting Dashboard (Instrument panel) as a result of heat,
2003-2005 4Runner, 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2011 Camry, 2004-2010 Sienna, 2004-2008 Solara Vehicles.
After seeing a large number of complaints from fellow owners of early 4th Gen Toyota 4Runners ('03-'05), it seems to me as though this issue is more than a mere coincidence. At the very least, I would like to see Toyota acknowledge this problem in these vehicles. I couldn't be happier with my Toyota from a mechanical standpoint, but it bothers me that with as much attention to detail that goes into building these vehicles, something like this can't be rectified in relatively short order. I bought my 4Runner because it was "built to last". I have babied this vehicle and kept it in a garage for nearly all of the time I've owned it. I think the right thing to do is to acknowledge the problem and offer a reasonable solution.
We purchased this vehicle in May of 2004, only owner and has low miles, garage kept and the dash has cracks all over it, a very ugly sight, I take pride in my vehicles and take good care of them, this is a Limited Edition and paid good money for this SUV. Took it to Courtesy Toyota in Brandon Fl. and was told that the SUV looked new but the end result was that Toyota would not help me due to the age of the vehicle. Needless to say this is the first and last Toyota I will purchase. I'm in the market for a new vehicle and I'm going back to a American made vehicle. I am VERY DISSAPPOINTED in Toyota due to the fact that they know about this problem and will not do anything to help.
I contacted Toyota and they apologized but never went any further than that. This is unsatisfactory. I have a 1992 Honda Accord that I have owned since 1993. It sits in the sun everyday in Gainesville Florida. It looks like new. My 4runner dash looks like sh*t. I am embarrassed when people ride in my car. Other than the dash the car is in excellent condition. A friend of mine purchase a Kia Suv not too long ago. She had a 2003 4runner and all of a sudden she bought the Kia. I asked her why she bought a new vehicle. She said that the 4runner was falling apart. I said it shouldn't if you take care of it. She told me that the dash was cracking and she thought it was a sign to get rid of the 4runner before it costs too much to keep.
I told her that it was a common issue and that mine was cracking also. Now she regrets getting rid of it.
I know that Lexus SUV's are having the same issue.
One owner took his in and the dealer (Stealership) said that they would put a new one in and they would partially pay for it. Now that is the high end dealership. I haven't heard of a regular Toyota dealership doing it.
It comes down to no service after the sale. No backing their product. Piss poor management. It all about the buck and we mean nothing to them. I am done with Toyota after the 4runner dies. Admit that you are wrong and fix the problem. It will never happen.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I take very good care of my 4Runner. I bought it off the showroom floor and have enjoyed it immensely. For the most part it is stored in the garage unless I am traveling. I get the oil changed every 5000 miles and the tires rotated. I've gone through 3 sets of tires, so I am on the go. I change the filters regularly and it has been a fantastic car. I don't want to buy a new one because they don't come in V8s and nothing really has changed on them otherwise. However, even though I use the reflective window shade, my dashboard is splitting down the seams in 5 different places. I even have a split near the front middle car speaker. It looks horrible. This car in one month seems like it is having issues. From sensors going bad, windshield leaking and now dashboard splitting.
I really would like help with the dashboard. Not sure if I trust the local dealership. In my hometown, they wouldn't even give me the time of day when I called about the dashboard splitting last year. They blew me off. Even my follow up calls.
- cindyisme, Raleigh, US