Tailgate hinge bushing failure

I am beyond frustrated at Toyota (Fred Anderson Toyota in Raleigh NC). This plastic bushing cracked and fell apart causing my tailgate to misalign bending the bottom corner of the gate itself. They stated they do not know if the bushing can be replaced. I have had several Tacoma's and this has never happened before. The service manager stated they changed the design because people complained they rattled in the previous generations. I never noticed it. They stated it was user error in opening and closing the tailgate or a "forced" effect. I only carry hockey bags so I am not certain how it could be "forced". Dealer refused to give me the regional Toyota directors number.

This is not traditional Toyota quality or service.

Anyone else either see or resolve this issue?

Thanks,

Dave

 

@tacitos has a great write up thread on the very problem you are having:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-tacoma-tailgate-replacment-bushing-66143-04020.452351/

 

huh. That’s new on me. Sorry OP. hope they make it right.

 

I've never seen that before, and I never noticed they rattled in previous gens either. I hope your dealer can make it right. "User error" for closing a tailgate?? Come on.

 

Hey op what your truck on of the early builds? Mid 2015 to feb 2016???

 

i say screw that dealer and go to another one.

 

WOW. I am having the same issue; my Tacoma is a 2016. I hope it's under warranty and will call dealership tomorrow! Thanks for posting. I thought it was me but I don't put anything in there to be damaging it with force and am not abusing my tailgate! :0)

 

Was it covered?

 

Unfortunately no. I’m sure a 3rd part would be cheaper route but they might not warrant buying and fixing correct item.

Toyota is charging me $220 for parts and labor. My 2016 Tacoma is a 11/2015 build and unfortunately is out of warranty.


Update 6/7/19: Called Toyota Corporate. Since it seems to be a design flaw, they will cover it if more people call in about it. So far, not a lot of people called in about it. Here is the number in case y’all want to call in and in the future if they deem it as such, they would reach back out to us for reimbursement.
+1 (800) 331-4331

 

A bit late, but I found a quick and cheap fix from my Toyota Dealer thanks to a parts guy who took the time to dig into the issue and what I needed.

Part Number #66143-04021

I have a 2016 Tacoma with the new hinge setup (see https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-tacoma-tailgate-replacment-bushing-66143-04020.452351/). After discussion, diagram mapping, and actually showing them a repair video and my tailgate, they found the specific piece that I needed for the assembly at a very cheap cost. It was hidden within the hinge and bushing assembly for their parts list in the computer in the hinge dampener assembly itself. My receipt cuts off the description after "HINGE, SIDE" so I don't have the full name but the part number should find you what you need and costs less than $10. I ended up buying a couple of extra just in case.

Hope that helps future folks and gives you a couple of options to order the re-manufactured piece from the other thread or head to the dealership with the part number listed above.

UPDATE WITH PARTS!
See the photo for the part name and number.

 

I have a Tacoma 2019 TRD Sport. I have had the same problem with the tailgate bushing cracking and breaking and causing bending of the corner of my tailgate. My 3rd Tacoma. Never had an issue before this. Thanks for the post.

 

I have the exact same issue with tailgate bushing breaking on closing and bending corner of tailgate. Same happened as I put in my hockey bag!!

 

This is nothing new. That bushing is a wear item that dies every 16months or so especially in cold climates. For early 3rd gen it's totally replaceable and takes 10 seconds and no tools, you can do it one handed.

I changed mine out yesterday.

For later 3rd gen its an updated part number that is not compatible with early 3rd gen tailgates.

 

For my 2016 I just buy like half a dozen at a time from some dude that 3D prints them.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/CKKSK9SWQ/tailgate-bushing-66143-04020-for-toyota-tacoma

 

My 2021 SR5 had this same problem, bent tailgate corner, while under warranty. Toyota of Canandaigua NY said they'd never seen it before but would honor warrranty and repair it for free. They then dicked me around for 5 months with no progress on ordered parts, lost the photos they took, then eventually told me I'd have to take it to a third-party body shop over an hour away, but never scheduled me and would not return calls. Toyota corporate told me to eat shit and that they don't police the dealerships. I got tired of following up constantly and warranty eventually expired.

 

Yikers.

 

Just had this happen to my ‘20 Pro, bent the corner to shit. I’ll be calling the dealer and Corporate tomorrow

 

Same here. Just happened to my '23. It was the first dent/scratch on her. That hurt a bit. Its happened twice now. Shitty design. I'm gonna check out the fix above and see how that works.

 

Anyone have part numbers for newer models (18 and up) for both parts, bushing and the other part?

 

I had this same thing happen to my 2022 Toyota Tacoma. I've own older Tacoma's before and this has never happened. I am bringing it to the dealership. Sounds like from reading other forums this has happened sadly. I'm bummed my corner tailgate is bent also now from this failure.