Should this be covered under warranty?

[khanh007]

I was looking at my SE 07 trunk tonight, and I noticed that the upper portion of the rear bumper that meets the foamy cushion for the trunk is not lined up correctly (see photos).

For the sake of showing you the exact spot...I've over-exposed the photos on purpose. Green box indicating correct spacing. Red box indicating the area I believe is defective or was installed incorrectly.










Here is a youtube video showing the problem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXs-_sV29E0

The area in the red box almost has zero spacing between the rear bumper and the foamy strip.

The green box has somewhere around1/4 to 1/2 an inch of spacing. It is even throughout, except for the area in the red box.

I have never gotten into an accident. Nor has my wife. There is absolutely no evidence of a hit and run situation. No scrapes, No bumps, No dents of any kind on the bumper.

The only two things that I could think of as to why the upper rear bumper is misaligned is:

1. Heat? It's been REALLY hot in Norcal the last couple of weeks, and maybe this is a defective part that somehow buckled under extreme heat?

2. It was installed incorrectly at the factory.

I cannot believe that I have not noticed up until now (32K miles)...

I am taking it to the dealer's tomrrow, but I'd like some opnions from those who have had warranty situations like this before.

Should this be covered under warranty?

Thanks

Khanh

[lammydi]

I think it should be. Fight for it. Be polite but firm. Let us know.

[leinadneon]

Originally Posted by lammydi

I think it should be. Fight for it. Be polite but firm. Let us know.

yeah what he said, don't let them so no i had a problem with the paint on my rear bumper at first they were like i dunno but i said its a NEW CAR!!! so they fixed it

[khanh007]

Originally Posted by lammydi

I think it should be. Fight for it. Be polite but firm. Let us know.

Lammydi,

Could you (or anyone else who is reading this) check the spacing between the trunk edge and the bumper in the CLOSED position?

When I have my trunk closed, the green areas in the photos provided in my OP have a gap of about a quarter inch between the trunk lid and the bumper

The area in the red box in the photos has spacing of about 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch.



The reason why I ask is because I was looking at other Camrys on the way to work today to see how thieir spacing was in these two areas. I couldn't tell from the speed I was driving so I just wanna make sure I know which part is defective or installed incorrectly...befoire I head to the dealer.

Thanks

Khanh

[khanh007]

Originally Posted by leinadneon

yeah what he said, don't let them so no i had a problem with the paint on my rear bumper at first they were like i dunno but i said its a NEW CAR!!! so they fixed it

Yeah...the "New Car" angle is not gonna work for me, since I purchased it over a year ago (March 07).

However, I've never been hit and there is no evidence of abuse or hit and run on the bumper...so I am hoping that they honor this under warranty.

Regards,

Khanh

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by khanh007

Lammydi,

Could you (or anyone else who is reading this) check the spacing between the trunk edge and the bumper in the CLOSED position?

When I have my trunk closed, the green areas in the photos provided in my OP have a gap of about a quarter inch between the trunk lid and the bumper

The area in the red box in the photos has spacing of about 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch.



The reason why I ask is because I was looking at other Camrys on the way to work today to see how thieir spacing was in these two areas. I couldn't tell from the speed I was driving so I just wanna make sure I know which part is defective or installed incorrectly...befoire I head to the dealer.

Thanks

Khanh

I just looked at my trunk. When it closed it is even at about 1/16th of an inch. When you get to the dealer, if they insist this is normal then just ask them to open up the trunk of the new Camry they have in the lot. Then you insist that your new Camry should look like that...the rubber should be even and the trunk gap should be even when it closed.
Good luck.

[khanh007]

Originally Posted by lammydi

I just looked at my trunk. When it closed it is even at about 1/16th of an inch. When you get to the dealer, if they insist this is normal then just ask them to open up the trunk of the new Camry they have in the lot. Then you insist that your new Camry should look like that...the rubber should be even and the trunk gap should be even when it closed.
Good luck.

So by the photos that I provided and your measurement...the area in the red box is actually the correct spacing and the area in the green is actually the "defective" areas (?).

This is exactly what I needed to know... Thanks man.

Khanh

[khanh007]

All fixed!!

SO i went to the dealer and spoke with one of their service reps.

She was nice and all, but she told me that i would need to leave my car with them for at least a week to have the bumper inspected and replaced under warranty ** IF **it is found to be defective.

If that was the case, I would have just lived with it and declined, since this is the only car I can use to drive/pickup my daughter from daycare.

However, I insisted that it was not normal, and even told her that i checked out 3 other Camrys on the lot, and they all had correct spacing.

So she ended up getting the Service Manager... Kent (the service manager) was very nice and professional.

He opened the trunk and looked at it. Then he pulled the upper portion of the bumper where it meets the foamy weather sealing strip. He pulled the lip of the bumper right out of the tabs underneath that keep it locked in.

Apparently, the portion that bulbs was sitting OVER the locking tab rather than under the tab.

Kent made sure the whole upper bumper was placed UNDER the locking tabs, and now it looks normal.

Piercey Toyota Rocks!!

Thanks to those who replied!

Regards,

Khanh