Cracked dashboard

[wannawodka2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wannawodka2]

Re: Cracked dashboard

I had a thought... every time I talk to prospective new Prado buyers I'll no doubt be showing them my dash, filling them in on my experiences etc. Every time I do I'm also going to send a short letter to Toyota (addressed to the CEO) letting them know about another potential buyer who just bit the dust and why! :lol:

[Pelagicus Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Pelagicus]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Add me to the list as well. :cry: Have been following this site for a couple of years, but decided that I would finally register and add to this subject, my 03 Prado Grande has 16000km on the speedo and was sitting in the garage for the last 5 years and is in pretty much the same condition as it was when it came out of the showroom. Just recently, it was used and left in the sun for a full workday a couple months ago in the hot weather and according to the wife as with previous comments in this thread "the crack" appeared over the speedo console behind the steering wheel. It went from about 10cm and has travelled to approximately 30cm.The car has been garaged and has a dash mat and yes having heard the armourall stories decided to take the advice of the upholsterer and use Mr Sheen but obviously not much use.

Have bought two jars of the loctite but have decided against using it. Im guessing if I stop the crack where it is, it will only just start somewhere else.

I also have a 2000 hilux which sits in the sun all day long and is perfectly fine. Im onto my 2 toyota kluger and have never had any problems so i really dont know what Toyota's go is?

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Re: Cracked dashboard

This would have to be one of the most amazing experiences I ever encountered with any motor company EVER!!!. Toyota tell you what fantastic vehicles they sell with build quality etc etc bull$hit bull$hit, and once you buy their 'fantastic' product, too bad if anything goes wrong!!. Things like dashboards should last for years. I have owned many old falcons (XW to XA) and the dashboards in those vehicles were still like new after 40 years!!. So some crap about fair wear and tear after 6 to 7 years does not cut it with me.
Mr Toyota's reply to 'wannwodka2' about striving for quality garbage etc etc, is as far as I'm concerned a huge cover up and denial and has the implications to affect the safety of YOUR family.
All I can say is get behind 'wannawodka2' and everybody else trying to get some satisfaction out of Toyota and contact your local automative association (RACQ,RACV, NRMA etc) and voice your disapproval and unprofessional behavior by Toyota in this matter. We wont resolve this matter by having a whinge on this forum and not doing anything about it!!!
And yes Toyota, I know you monitor this web site, so please foward this post to your Aust General Manager and lets see his reply to the very unsatisfied and frustrated Toyota Prado owners out there.

Keep up the fight
Cardinal28

[bolo125 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bolo125]

Re: Cracked dashboard

As I said before, my 09 model prado is my first toyota ever...and will be my last if this issue does not get resolved. Six years out of a dash is a disgrace and especially if it's to do with airbag section of a car.

I have already converted my father in law and he's bought a patrol instead.

[vincentstokes Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close vincentstokes]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Well i have had no success from Toyota, they have no intension of helping now or into the future with any problem that may occur outside of the specified warranty period, full stop!. Suffice to say that i will remember that when I purchase a new vehicle in the near future.

SO, outside of replacing the dash I have mended mine and stopped its progression, I had approached a vinyl repair firm and had them visit my vehicle to see what if anything they could do to fix the problem, they advised that as it was on the curve (above the instrument cluster, through to RHS vent) that the finished product would not be "much chop"... and they would also require about $200 for this, i thanked him for his honesty and told them to be on their way.

My fix may be a bit radical for some but I had no intension of allowing the crack to spread any further through the dashboard and I'm kicking myself that I did not think to do this when the crack was smaller. I tried initially to mend the crack (tested a small section) with chemical adhesion, checking for discoloration etc, but this was futile as anything strong enough to hold it in place would have looked worse that the crack itself. So what to do?, weld it of course! - I dusted off my $10 soldering iron from dicksmith and fitted a needle point solder tip that I had for small do it yourself jobs, and away i went - the crack was there but had not expanded to reveal any of the internal structure so i applied some pressure as the fully heated soldering iron tip passed through the crack and to my delight it fused together perfectly, the plastic molding is quiet thick and there was a small burr where the plastic fused which i trimmed with a Stanley knife. The molding did not discolor but you can see the fusion line as it get a slight sheen. I live in WA and it gets quiet hot here, I welded this a weeks ago and it has fully fused and stopped it dead in its tracks. Visually you would not know that the crack was ever there if you were not looking for it (will trade back to a Toyota dealer shortly and see if he notices, might keep him busy on the passenger side!)

I know this is not the answer to the problems we have encountered but it stopped the problem escalating and for me provided a fix, It was driving me mad watching the crack spread - I wish I had of done earlier.

[Russ WA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Russ WA]

Re: Cracked dashboard

vincentstokes,
Well done ,it is great to see you had the courage to attempt this.
I will be interested to see if it's still good after a few months.
Can you post some pitures as I may try this method as well?
Maybe we could do A techo day .Solidering dashboards in Prados.

Cheers Russ

[dennis Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dennis]

Re: Cracked dashboard

good idea to solder the crack!

However, will doing this affect the deployment of the airbag?

I too have a 14-inch crack on front passenger side - above the glove compartment (am already included in the overseas count).

Out of curiousity - could the cracks be due to any "inherent" weaknesses designed into the dash to ensure the airbag deploy in the appropriate direction? Could this be similar to "fault lines" designed to allow deformation on car body parts? Does anyone has cracks NOT running parallel to the windshield?

Dennis

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

Re: Cracked dashboard

So an interesting alternative question is:

Who has an 03 or 04 Prado which does NOT have cracking - and from which state are you?

This would help indicate whether the problem truly is age (and prolonged heat exposure)related... ie are there heaps of 03 Prados from Tassie that have no problems?

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

Re: Cracked dashboard

G'day,
I just sold a 03 Prado. Had it from new, and Armorall'ed it nearly every weekend. No cracks, perfect. I wonder if there are two types of dashboards, my 03 had a plan black/very back grey, non-textured finish. My current new 09 model has a textured dark gey finish. It's currently in the dealers getting a replacement dashboard because it's "lifting" all over the place. Are there two finishes, and is one or both effected?
Regards,
Bazza.

[IMm29 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IMm29]

Re: Cracked dashboard

Overseas Members:

1) neuro (Brunei)
2) TexGX (United States) – 2004 Lexus GX470
3) johnnie (Bangkok) - 04 TX
4) IMm29 (Manila) – Model TBC
5) Darin +9 mates (Aruba) – 2004 VX
6) dennis (Singapore) – 05 TX

By Year

2003 - 29
2004 - 13
2005 - 2
2006 - 1
TBC - 1 ...IMm29, can you confirm what year & type

Mine is a 2004 VX model. Which just sprung a long horizontal crack in the middle of the passenger dash.

[wannawodka2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wannawodka2]

Re: Cracked dashboard

As I said before, my 09 model prado is my first toyota ever...and will be my last if this issue does not get resolved. Six years out of a dash is a disgrace and especially if it's to do with airbag section of a car. I have already converted my father in law and he's bought a patrol instead.

I plan to field 4 new commercials this year as well as a new passenger vehicle. Up to now I would have bought all from Toyota however either Mitsubishi or Mazda will get my business now. My brother's refrigeration company is up for a new fleet (including 16 all factory fitted Toyotas) and after years of Toyota sales and service has now ruled them out 100% on this matter alone.

Reputation in the motor industry is a big thing and whilst Toyota are feeling somewhat smart in their dealings with (soon to be ex) customers regarding this disgusting dashboard debacle it will cost Toyota dearly in the long run. The best business is done when ego and misguided fear is absent - can't be said on Toyota's part in this case. Wow... save a few hundred $ running away from the issue and cost yourself Thousands as a consequence....... :roll:

Three examples above mean approximately $550,000 - $600,000 gross turnover lost! Cut down to nett profit... still a lot of coin! And that just the flow on effect of three people!

If I had a suitably responsible role at Toyota I'd be ripping some new arseholes over this issue and shutting it down quick smart by dealing with it positively and proactively (especially from from the customer's perspective which, let's face it, is what Toyota's business depends on). I've had significant experience in corporate risk and mitigation and can say I've never seen such stupidity as this! This WILL bite you on the arse, Toyota and whatever misguided advice those at the 'Customer Experience Centre' are giving their CEO it will have consequences. In the end the CEO, Mr Yasuda will have to take responsibility for this issue even though it's more than and Australian issue. Like I've always said - IF YOU STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND YOUR ARSE IS EXPOSED AND WILL BE DUTIFULLY POUNDED!

I will be going out of my way to 'educate' as many potential Toyota customers as I can find as to the demonstrable quality of Toyota motor vehicles. Not just now, but for many many years to come!... or at least until Toyota rectify this. :x Even if Toyota have no moral conscience or respect for their consumers they'd have to be completely stupid to overlook the exponential cost this (combined with the many hundreds of equally insulted customers) will have on their bottom line.

I love my Prado and will not be getting rid of it... not just because I'm attached to it and believe it offers great 4wd ability, but who'd buy it with such offensive cracks across the dashboard! :cry:

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Re: Cracked dashboard

To Vincentstokes
I'm glad you found a solution to your problem, but myself, I would not even consider to running a hot soldering iron across in front of the airbag area. The mind boggles as to what could happen!!. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this area is designed to let go in a certain way in the case of deployment and welding the area of deployment, to me, is absolutely crazy and putting family and friends in a huge risk of injury. Anything could happen. Who knows, Toyota haven't got the guts to tell anybody what will happen and maybe they don't know themselves and is waiting for it to happen to some poor ba$tard before they find out. But its your call and is a cheap way of taking the heat off Toyota for a manufacturing problem they are stupidely trying to ignore. You have to admit, a dashboard should last longer than 6 years!! (Toyota Tuff) (not). Myself, personally, I would not be happy or satisfied with that sort of fix. Maybe your dash has not cracked in the airbag area yet, but as in other cases, time will tell and is almost certain it will happen. Good Luck mate.
To wannawodka2
I'm with you, and I have the last Toyota I will ever purchase and will try to convince anybody I know away from this manufacturer. The product itself is not too bad, but the treatment from their 'Customer Experience Centre' and 'Warranty Dept' leaves more than a hell of a lot to be desired. A hassle in life like this I can do without. I have been seriously looking at an upgrade but Toyota are definately out of the question. I guess I'll have to wait and see what the new Nissan Patrol has to offer.
O what a $hitty feeling!!!

Cardinal28

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Re: Cracked dashboard

I may have said this before but I sold my 98 GXL back in January. I had owned it since new and it has been to every mainland state in Australia including several trips through the centre, up the north, Cape York, etc. It spent 5 of it's 11 years in the Goldfields and 6 down south in Albany so it has seen the best and worst of the climate in WA.

No cracks in the dash. No tears in the door skins. No rips in the roof lining or carpets. All door and window seals still like new. No leaks and no squeaks save for the usual back door drop. NO RUST.

So, what has happened to the quality of build that Toyota has always prided itself in? When I bought the 09 GXL I said to the manager at the dealer that I hoped that I would get 10 years out of this car. She just smiled.

[cardinal28 Member Find all posts View Profile Close cardinal28]

Re: Cracked dashboard

bushbasher
Mate I hope for your sake it was a smile of confidence!!!. I would not wish this hassle and frustration on anybody and hope you have no problems at all.
Cheers
Cardinal28

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

Re: Cracked dashboard

Hi everyone, I just spoke to the RACQ and it seems that only 4 people have called them out of the 30+ on here who have the problem. Out of those 4 people only a couple have followed up on the phone call.
To get anything done there needs to be lots of people calling RACQ and following up on the call.
The person to call is Vito Musumeci on 1800 623 456.
Come on guys, together we can slay the dragon :-)