Plastic trim rubbing off paint

Anyone know how to remove this piece off the rear door? Don't know if it's attached with adhesives, clips or screws. I need to remove it and fix the paint being rubbed off

 

Found this on the Internet. It looks fairly involved...I would probably use a touch-up paint.

https://trail4runner.com/2019/02/19/rear-hatch-trim-removal-mod/

 

Thank you!!!

 

Do you push on that plastic trim piece to close the hatch? Just curious how yours has developed . . . from rattling or pushing or whatev

 

It’s a HUGE pian in the ass…..

 

Is that paint rubbed off or residue from polishing compound or wax?

 

Don't think I have done it recently, but maybe I did at one point. It's a 21. bought it at 48,000 miles and put about 5000 miles so far. Pretty sure vibrations when driving, causes the edges to make contact with the paint.

 

I haven't waxed or polished it since ownership. On the other corner, surface rust is starting to appear.

 

Then you probably don't want to look under the license plate

Jokes aside, the guide posted on Trail4Runner looks pretty doable, easier than replacing speakers. While you're there, spray some cosmoline inside the hatch shell at the bottom - the area can collect water and rust away.

 

Lots of steps but yeah exactly what that write up showed step by step very precise and don't let it scare you its very simple to do. It doesn't look like paint coming off but residue of some sort. If you don't want to take the trim off. Get like compound and get a microfiber towel. Put the compound on the microfiber towel and rub that area. If it comes off then with the same towel get polish/wax and do the same thing to get protection on that area from having it happen again. Any questions let me know.

 

As far as what's causing the issue, your second picture shows vertical scratches on the plastic piece. Either somebody's using the plastic to push the hatch closed or something else is up against it on occasion. This could cause the piece to rock back and forth and cause abrasion. Of all of the 4Runners I detailed at the dealership I work at though, I've never seen paint removed where you're seeing it on yours.

Just out of curiosity, was the hatch possibly repainted at any time?

 

Maybe it’s had some rubbing from being opened into a garage door? I could imaging after a while it could shift the trim piece and rub on the paint.

 

Yes, simple job when those self retaining studs dont spin. If they do, have fun. Just went through it last week. I pulled mine off, sprayed inside the door cavity (used Rust Check (red) bit more runny than fluid film) and installed 3M film where the valance sits against the paint. Also, added rubber washes to offset the entire thing a bit off the body to prevent rubbing. Mine started to rub up around the oval where the Toyota embleem is.

Also, a good time to remove the license plate and check behind it, install a silicone plate holder from Amazon $10.

 

Common problem. Mine has done it since new

 

While you are in there, I highly recommend after removing the nuts in step 7 of that link, adding some blue thread locker to them before your reinstall them. They are pretty notorious for coming loose and falling off and rattling around in the lift gate when opening and closing it. I had one that did that (2018 4R) and some of the other ones were loose.

 

If he ever has to take it off again he’s going to break the studs and their going to spin..

 

It's a know issue. I had my 2021 4R repair covered under warranty. The bodyshop that did it has done several of these repairs. Mine was actually starting to rust.




Another area to check is the hood scoop. Paint was rubbing off there too.

 

carwash brush

 

my 2016 on the right side of that garnish is rubbing and I have some rust going UNDER the paint. I have a limited so I was planning on replacing that garnish with a nightshade one. Probably have to address that shit while Im at it.

 

Thank you for this!! I never thought about that. Ordered one.

 

Just had this fixed 2nd time under warranty.
First fix was touch up paint done by the dealer - lasted about 6 months until issue came back.
2nd fix was repaint at the body shop, and they added PPF around the trim piece. Dealer refused to fix it a 2nd time stating that Toyota declined the warranty work.
I had to open a case with Toyota brand engagement team, they pushed the issue and it was approved.

 

God damn it. Another annoying issue to fix

 

Placed my order.

 

People with this issue? What’s the symptom? No gap between the garnish plastic and metal body?,

 

I have rust under the door sill trim I just found on my 2020. It's a CPO and runs until the end of the year. Might take it to the dealer to see if they will fix it under the warranty

 

This is what I use on all of my vehicles with stainless steel hardware.

 

Took a closer look at mine earlier, my hatch plastic bit isn’t rubbing around the edges so paint looks fine. So far only paint issue is edge of hood rock chips and I’m just throwing touch-up paint at that.

 

I have a 2022 and just noticed the paint rubbing off on either side of the garnash. Does anyone know if this is caused by a change in gasket or garnash? I have been looking at every 4runner now and notice some older years that are perfectly fine.

@medium.rare.pepe , @Tooly and others who have had it covered under warranty, does toyota take any measures to make sure it does not happen again like replacing the gasket with updated version or add spacers? There is one person on youtube who had it fixed and the same thing happened a year later and he was out of warranty at that time.

All the best.

 

If you look at the part number history of the gasket for the handle, there have been no part number revisions so no change in the 14 year model run. My sister's 2015 4R does not have this issue but there is a visible gap between the handle and body that mine did not have until it was fixed. Something changed at the factory with how the handles were installed and Toyota just didn't care to fix it or I guess hopes the owner doesn't notice until after the warranty has expired.

 

Planning to remove trim and PPF that area.