Less than 6 months and 7500 miles and hitch is already rusting

I have this too!

 

Have one too. Plus this does not move no matter what pressure washer I use. Has these ridges on all sides. One of my first'mods' actually.

 

Yes, or get one with Arctic Trucks branding for more overland points: https://arctictrucks.shop/collections/toyota-land-cruiser/products/receiver-hitch-cover

 

Rust Never Sleeps, eh?

 

They live on an island surrounded by an ocean of saltwater! The plant in on a man made island to load the xport ships right from factory.

 

^They don't understand rust any more than folks in Los Angeles do (also a coastal city at similar latitude)

 

I think SlvrSlug was pulling your leg a bit because this is somewhat silly to be concerned over. This would not be a warranty claim, its normal as everyone has stated, but the dealer may spray some paint on it for you.

Paint on hitches chip, even if you don't use them because of its location. If you use it it will rust a lot more, but take 30 years for it to be an issue due to the gauge of the steel.

 

Still have mine from my 2008 FJ, lasted on the 2012, on the 2015 Tacoma & the 2018 TRD OR. I did switch for a carbon fiber look W/Red TRD on it, this one is plastic & has hole to put locking pin through. I put some black RTV on the 4 ridges to make the rubber Cap fit snug.

 

Dealer will probably profit by selling you a touchup paint pen and telling you to come back only if rust hole has occurred (which is what the corrosion warranty covers).

You're selling your 4Runner? What are you replacing it with?

 

Wait. Isnt the hitch receiver itself held on by a few bolts? Or is it integrated (welded) into the frame somehow and not easily replaceable?

Because if its removable with a few bolts, why not just remove it and either a.) paint it with some heavy duty rust resistant coating, or b.) replace it if you are concerned about the rust?

 

^Yes, 6 bolts.

I'm not the one creating a Friday thread on a Sunday.

 

This thread sounds a lot like with the one(s) about the seat belt mounting bolt threads showing in the wheel wells. Some view this type of thing as a warranty claim, others view it as a challenge to improve upon what the factory deems acceptable, and make their 4R better than the way they got it.

 

no salt on road?

 

Yep I was one of those guys complaining about that bolt also.

I was raised and taught if you’re going to do something give it 110 percent or don’t bother doing it at all. I don’t believe in doing things half ass. Having said that I recognize Toyota is in the business to make money and make shareholders happy. However, as a consumer and accountant I believe that sometimes the incremental cost to improve something can add to consumer satisfaction as well as consumer loyalty. There are others though that view the costs as savings and well the product is “good enough”.

To me rectifying that bolt issue seems like could be an easy fix and covered with insulation.

I also am confident that something could be done in the factory to the frames and trailer hitches etc to mitigate the rusting process. Imagine how much more praise this vehicle would have in this forum alone should that issue be resolved and turn into more sales. Many of us would gladly even pay more to not have these concerns.

That is just my opinion though and we are entitled those and I respect those who disagree.

 

3 years of Buffalo winters. Hitch gets used for a bike rack so it takes a beating. I also use the plug. Pre and post treatment pics. Frame had surface rust and buzzed it off easily before touch up and fluid film.

 

Yeah looks good Antmart.

Can I ask prior to your touch up did you treat the frame when new with fluid film or something similar. Or is this year 3 and you touched up now?

 

@mac1usa I've fluid filmed annually since I bought it so 3x. However, (and no good reason except I'm an idiot) I never took the hitch off to buzz the rust, paint and FF. So thats a first time correct.

 

Nice
Clear or Black FF?

 

Got rust proofing done at time of purchase.

 

Sorry, but I don’t agree with simply shrugging my shoulders when Toyota has failed to meet a standard that even the Italians manage to hit.

I get that people like Toyota, but you see the same thing with VWs and Subarus where people will accept something less than the duty to provide the quality they paid for.

The part in question retails for over $300.

I have yet to see an explanation as to why anything that is failing under the BUMPER TO F***ING BUMPER warranty shouldn’t be replaced under warranty.

If your bumper cover started warping in under six months because you parked your car outside once in August, would you shrug your shoulders?

 

I’m not selling my vehicle. I’m responding to the notion that I should sell it to absolve Toyota from its obligation.

The car is still under the bumper to bumper warranty, and paint failure isn’t acceptable.

 

It’s three or four bolts.

I shouldn’t have to spend the time, effort, or money to fix something defective.

 

Yup, my Volvo is 6 years older than my 4Runner, and has never had any additional care towards preventing rust, and still looks so much better than the 4R. It's an 07 and the Volvo corrosion warranty was 12 years/144k miles. You'll never see Toyota stand behind a vehicle like that.

IMO you should absolutely be able to "neglect" a modern vehicle without worrying about excess corrosion.

 

Agree. I'd be upset if I paid the ridiculous money they're asking for these things only to have peeling paint shortly after.

Whatever the coating is, it was probably thin on the sharp edge, and started lifting from there. You don't need snow or brine for that, just bare metal and humidity.

It IS crazy that Toyota seemingly gets a pass for corrosion issues, year after year. They're not alone in having them, but the fact that the known Achilles heel of these is rust should not sit well with them.

What good is reliability if It's inevitably going to be a rusty POS?

 

Not saying shrug your shoulders and not try to get a resolution. Just that your issue is not a failure, is cosmetic and is subjective, which does not require replacement, at best maybe some touch up.

If you get a chip on you hood would it be a failure and covered under that bumper to bumper warranty getting you a new painted hood?

Ether way dealers have some extra $$$ to fix issues and hopefully they will touch it up for you or even replace the whole hitch. You don't get if you don't ask, as i always say.

I look forward to hearing how it goes.

 

Funny you mentioned that.

I actually got a fender, hood and part of the body of my last vehicle repainted under warranty.

Fender: apparently I’m the only person on the planet who buys an Italian vehicle where the tolerances are tighter than factory spec, which meant that every bump I hit was causing the headlight to come into contact with fender, resulting in paint chipping.

Hood: trailing edge of the hood (facing the windshield) had a few paint defects, one of which was poorly covered up.

Body: inside the tailgate area, up near the lifting mechanism, there were paint chips.


The kicker was that this had the coolest paint I’ve ever had on a car…it was an optional paint that was a $3k option.

Took some fighting, and had to go to executive customer service because the regional guy wouldn’t approve the claim without seeing it, but also kept refusing to come out to see it. At the end of the day, I got it done.

I really need to figure out a way to earn a living helping people get things resolved for themselves. It’s certainly proved a talent over the years, and it’s come in handy as the trend is now to screw customers over.

 

Yeah you really have to go to the top, as they say. Takes some effort and communication skills but you can get things done.

I had an Expedition that an overhead bulb melted the lense and dealer said it was not covered and would cost $800 to replace to whole overhead assembly. Totally ridiculous.

After fighting with the dealer i sent a letter to the VP and president of Ford and followed up with a call. Long story short, the VP's secretary took care of getting it covered.

I would love to have a business helping people get things resolved!

 

My mom's Caddy had an issue with the nav system years ago. My dad had done some research, found it was a common issue with the 2010s, GM had warrantied it.They had bought it used from a Cadillac dealer, the dealer wanted to charge them 2k because they claimed it was not covered.

My dad finally got in touch with Cadillac corporate and explained the situation, shortly after he got a call from that dealer to make an appointment, they were going to cover it.

 

Black FF.

 

Rustoleum then FF.