Slightly bent tow hitch

Picked up a 4Runner last weekend and I noticed the tow hitch receiver was slightly bent at the top and the paint was chipping. Is this going to be an issue for any towing down the line? Vehicle only had 159 miles when I picked it up so I find it odd how the paint is already chipping. Anyone else have similar experiences?

thanks in advance

 

Someone probably backed it into a wall.

 

Yeah somebody definitely damaged that somehow. It does not look square to me where you could insert a hitch of any sort into that receiver. If you plan to use a hitch I would have that inspected. Somebody must have really hit something hard and the hitch could be comprimised. Maybe someone tried to tow something grossly overloaded also to cause that damage. What a shame with that low of miles

 

Would not trust for towing. If it's bent there, where else is stressed or bent?

 

I see more than superficial marking on both sides of the weld beadline. I would at the very least have an experienced welder take a good look at it…determine if the tubing is cracked or if the weld line is compromised.
Either way I’m with the others, don’t use it until you’ve had it inspected.

My guess is the receiver tube was used as a lift/recovery point.

 

Instead of having a welder fix it. Just replace it. Very easy to do and you can get one for 200.00.

 

I see. I'm taking it to the dealer for the first oil change. If I have to replace the hitch I'll do that I guess.

 

Can I just replace it at the dealership or is there a better place to find it?

thanks

 

This.

Get the dealer to do it. I'm assuming it's new if only 159 miles. It shouldn't come with a damaged hitch.

 

Get a new hitch if you plan on towing. Also even the new hitch will be rusty real soon. The paint is terrible.

 

Yeah did you buy it from dealer with 159 miles? They should know what the heck happened with that. That had to be a ton of force to cause that. I would not think the frame is damaged but I’d have a good inspection for sure on the whole thing.

Towing is serious business and people can get hurt. Don’t mess with this get it inspected at dealer let them deal with it and it’s their liability then if they correct

 

So, is this the same 4R you posted about in the statement above (from your introduction thread and asking about moon roofs)? Which, I assume, you meant you are now a proud owner, not not a proud owner, and we can surmise that you bought this new. Or is it another 4R that you "picked up last weekend"? Whichever this is, taking that in now would be advisable. If it's the one you got back in September, with the time elapsed since then the dealer could pull all kind of shenanigans and say YOU damaged this...we all know how eager dealers are to help out with warranty issues. That never should have left the dealership with the tow receiver in that condition, and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

 

This is not the same 4Runner believe it or not. That one got hail damage and was totaled. This is a newer one that I got with 150 miles

 

have dealership remove and bolt on a new one

 

Wow. That one didn't last long...as others have stated, I'd have that in to the dealer asap to replace that receiver hitch.

 

Sounds to me like someone was being deceitful about what happened to this vehicle. Someone knows

 

I have a brand new one I ordered from mcgeorge Toyota sitting in my garage you can have for cheap if you want

 

Holy cripes. That steel is not easy to bend like that. Especially since it’s there’s so much reinforcement there and it’s such a short lip of material. But yeah, that deformed the metal all the way to the weld. It’s actually kind of hard to imagine how that happened, but it probably involved substantial force, a sharp hard object, and plenty of forces on the vertical axis. As in the vehicle and inside upper wall of the receiver fell onto the object or something was pushed up into it. For sure it made a pretty loud bang when it happened, so that means somebody didn’t talk.

The hitch is easy to replace, just 6 bolts if I recall. But it’s hard-mounted to the frame crossmember, which cannot be replaced (at least not without frame work involving cutting and welding). So I’d make sure the new replacement mounts up flat/flush to the crossmember, and that the face of receiver opening is square and plumb.

Hopefully the dealer won’t blame you for it. If they replace the hitch, look it over carefully before leaving the dealer. If it looks at all out of whack where it bolts up, or if its not plumb, it could suggest the frame is damaged. If that’s the case I’d make sure to show them before leaving, and leave only after they document and book you for a frame inspection. Good luck.

 

I’d go one step further and call toyota corp and have this all documented prior to going to the dealer. This is really something. I would be slightly concerned about the frame.

Like McSpazatron said above, it takes a lot of force to make that happen.

Is it possible the vehicle was damaged in an accident and maybe a bumper or other panels repaired just prior to the sale (and they left the hitch screwed up) Was it a demo vehicle with 149 miles on it or did someone else own it, screw it up in an accident and trade it in only for you to be the next victim? I am just surmising here but I would investigate

 

My guess is a forklift at the dealership hit it. Or one of the salesmen backed it into the base of a parking lot light pole.

 

But if either of those happened there would most likely be damage to the bumper or hatch etc. If that was corrected it should have been disclosed to you. Pull a car fax for kicks on your VIN but repairs might still not be in there since it might not have been reported. Regardless I would let Toyota Corporation document this on the phone and also inquire with your BBB if the dealer is on there or not.

 

The dealer isn’t going to file an insurance claim on themselves.

 

Did you tow anything?

 

That should be on the dealers dime

 

The hitch receiver is further out than the bumper cover. I’ve already backed into another car (yes, I’m an idiot) and the receiver was the only thing that touched. I’ve also dragged it over solid granite on steep climbs off-road without it contacting the plastic (or deforming the hitch receiver).

If what you hit doesn’t deform, then its possible to hit something very hard without touching the plastic.

If they caused the problem, they should fix it. Doesn’t matter if they file an insurance claim or write it as a loss in their books.

That said, if something isn’t noticed when you take delivery, and you accept it, the dealer is probably going to pin it on the customer.

 

Unfortunately you are probably right. It doesn't hurt to take it to the dealer and see what they say.

 

My comment was in regards to checking the car fax.

 

Sometimes dealers send new vehicles to a 3rd party body shop prior to sale if they are damaged in shipment or alternatively damaged by a porter etc. A reputable 3rd party shop might and I emphasize might report it.

Even if it says nothing and someone at the dealer knows what happened it’s deceitful.


OP why did dealer have this unit with 149 miles. Did you ask? Seems a weird amount of miles. Most 4Rs sell off the lot and not demo vehicles to put a few miles on. I am sure it’s a not a dealer trade either to get those miles. No dealer would trade a 2024 model year 4R. There are many missing parts to the story.

I agreee no dealer would report their own damage. But maybe a 3rd party would.

Bottom line is that someone is bs ing you around and I was trying to help you corroborate that.

This is yet another reason as so many other threads state to very carefully inspect new vehicle prior to signing. I took a buddy with me to go over mine thanks to this forum and reading of issues. Others documented small scratches, paint chips, dings on these on arrival. It’s a long way from Japan stateside and then a train ride usually etc so lots of room for things to happen

 

We may over-analyzing at this point. Replace, and enjoy your truck.

All I do know is a 4Runner returned with just 150mi and a bent hitch has to have an interesting story behind it. Keep us posted if you find out.

 

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