Is this normal?

[Potatohead]

I was washing this bad-boy when I noticed the weld-seams by the drip channels seem awfully warped. Did I get just get unlucky or are they all this wobbly?

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[Sner]

I’ve had a. ‘24 and now a ‘26. I don’t disagree with you, but yes totally normal.

 

[Potatohead]

I’ve had a. ‘24 and now a ‘26. I don’t disagree with you, but yes totally normal.

ok, phew! Thanks for the reply! I’ve had plenty of cars/rides in the past , and none of them looked like this. Was a little worried there.

 

[CharlieLed]

Seam sealer

 

[BIGPZA]

Same issue on my '24 OR.

 

[ColoradoBoo]

Hey is that the Bronze Oxide color? I debated for a month over what color to order my new Taco Limited.....Bronze Oxide, Supersonic Red, or Heritage Blue. Since the Limited has chrome wheels and front grill, I went with Bronze Oxide but, boy, good luck finding ANY model at the dealership with that color....folks buy them faster than a fat kid grabs a cupcake!!

 

[Potatohead]

Hey is that the Bronze Oxide color? I debated for a month over what color to order my new Taco Limited.....Bronze Oxide, Supersonic Red, or Heritage Blue. Since the Limited has chrome wheels and front grill, I went with Bronze Oxide but, boy, good luck finding ANY model at the dealership with that color....folks buy them faster than a fat kid grabs a cupcake!!

yup! It’s bronze oxide! It’s actually the color that caught my attention and made me look closer into tacos (I was originally planning on going 4Runner)

 

[IDontWorkForTheWaterCo]

That is sealer material that has been smoothed out and painted over. It's definitely an odd detail on Toyota's part.

 

[Bluznvice]

As previously stated. Totally normal. I read somewhere that the uneven surface help to keep water from staying there. Maybe BS, but I'll believe it.

 

[Potatohead]

That is sealer material that has been smoothed out and painted over. It's definitely an odd detail on Toyota's part.

I see..has this been the norm on previous Tacomas and other Toyota products? This is my first Toyota, so wasn’t sure if this was SOP for the company.

 

[IDontWorkForTheWaterCo]

I see..has this been the norm on previous Tacomas and other Toyota products? This is my first Toyota, so wasn’t sure if this was SOP for the company.

There has always been a sealer seam between the side members and roof member. But in previous vehicles that sealer bead was smaller and only brushed-finished to prevent water leaks and covered completely with a trim piece. For whatever reason Toyota chose to leave some of that seam exposed. They widened the sealer bead to completely fill the weld seam (sometimes called the drip rail) and flattened it out it give it at least some look of a finished product.

 

[MJB4450]

I see..has this been the norm on previous Tacomas and other Toyota products? This is my first Toyota, so wasn’t sure if this was SOP for the company.

This is the norm on all brands. They extensively use seam sealer in various areas. A machine lays a wide ribbon in places like the roof and brushes on in areas that are not seen. Pop the trunk of a car and you'll see the same wide layer on the sides in that valley around the outside of the trunk and before the quarter panels. The floorboard also has lots of seam sealer. Should be some under the vehicle where the floor meets the rocker panels and lots of other places. The odd part is that this Tacoma has just a couple sections of molding rather than going full length as I've seen on all my other vehicles. If it bothers you there are aftermarket roof moldings you can put on to hide it. But as is it's not doing any harm so unless you're a bird or a semi driver, no one will see it anyway.

 

[Potatohead]

This is the norm on all brands. They extensively use seam sealer in various areas. A machine lays a wide ribbon in places like the roof and brushes on in areas that are not seen. Pop the trunk of a car and you'll see the same wide layer on the sides in that valley around the outside of the trunk and before the quarter panels. The floorboard also has lots of seam sealer. Should be some under the vehicle where the floor meets the rocker panels and lots of other places. The odd part is that this Tacoma has just a couple sections of molding rather than going full length as I've seen on all my other vehicles. If it bothers you there are aftermarket roof moldings you can put on to hide it. But as is it's not doing any harm so unless you're a bird or a semi driver, no one will see it anyway.

Thanks, MJB4450. I guess that’s what I’m used too seeing. A longer plastic/rubber trim that covers the seam sealer. It doesn’t bother me much. Just want to make sure it’s not a defect. Good to know they all look like this

 

[MJB4450]

Thanks, MJB4450. I guess that’s what I’m used too seeing. A longer plastic/rubber trim that covers the seam sealer. It doesn’t bother me much. Just want to make sure it’s not a defect. Good to know they all look like this

Yeah I had a WTF moment the first time I washed the truck and looked on top. New one on me.

 

[395North]

Yep, looks like some type of defect at first glance, but sadly it's normal.

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