1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

2022 4Runner fuel door hinge rivet rusty?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by nodents2017, Jan 22, 2022.

  1. Jan 22, 2022 at 2:40 PM
    #1
    nodents2017

    nodents2017 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2021
    Member:
    #24462
    Messages:
    76
    I have a brand new 4Runner and discovered some rust on the lower river that holds the gas door hing to the body. Anyone else have this issue? Wondering how I could fix it or if I should just take it to the dealer. I attached an image of the rusty river head.

    BAA40F30-2FE1-43B3-9183-A84BD6F49CF1.jpg
     
  2. Jan 22, 2022 at 2:48 PM
    #2
    Will

    Will New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2021
    Member:
    #24476
    Messages:
    120
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2022 4 Runner TRD Sport
    That’s funny because my brand new 4Runner has exact same condition. Keep us posted.
     
  3. Jan 22, 2022 at 2:49 PM
    #3
    Mtbpsych

    Mtbpsych New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2018
    Member:
    #7922
    Messages:
    1,887
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 SR5
    You could take it out and replace it with a new one if it bothers you that much. Or you could use a wire brush to clean to. I’d ignore it personally, but that’s just my opinion. The gas cap door let’s water run in, so I would think the dealer will say it’s normal wear and tear.
     
  4. Jan 22, 2022 at 2:57 PM
    #4
    MI-FL off roader

    MI-FL off roader T4R Hobby/Addict

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2015
    Member:
    #878
    Messages:
    1,190
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brett
    Merritt Island, FL
    Vehicle:
    03' SR5 Sport - 12' Limited
    Too many mods and too much money
    These trucks get exposed to a little bit of salt air in their early life. Combine that with the water that gets behind the fuel door and you can get a little rust. Wire brush it and put some dielectric grease on it.
     
  5. Jan 22, 2022 at 4:06 PM
    #5
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Mine is the same, as is my 18 Highlander. I’m not totally convinced it’s rust, but it probably is. I’d just hit it with a drop of rust converter, and another drop of paint.
     
    j cat likes this.
  6. Jan 22, 2022 at 4:11 PM
    #6
    Spare Parts

    Spare Parts New Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2020
    Member:
    #14274
    Messages:
    2,317
    Gender:
    Male
    Southern Maine
    Vehicle:
    22 LR ORP
    Sherpa Crestone. 4X Innovations Sliders
    Don’t wait on it, my 2017 taco fuel door rusted and now is all screwed up. By the time a realized what was going on, it was past my 3 years.

    research has told me I should have used some lithium grease.
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  7. Jan 22, 2022 at 5:16 PM
    #7
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2020
    Member:
    #17452
    Messages:
    2,030
    My buddy has the same issue on his. It’s a bunch of bs is what it is. He and I both got ours in June.

    I put fluid film on my rivets just in case. But mine is not an everyday vehicle
     
    Toy4X4 likes this.
  8. Jan 22, 2022 at 5:27 PM
    #8
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2021
    Member:
    #20410
    Messages:
    179
    That would be me, yep same condition. For those who say accept it that's just ridiculous, they should not be rusting like that at such an early point in the vehicles life. Here's how I fixed Toyotas issue.

    I took a touch up brush and applied Ospho into the area. I let that sit the appropriate amount of time and then sprayed some eastwood chassis black into a cup and applied it with a small brush.


    Do other year 5th gens have this issue? Maybe they changed the supplier of the rivets for the newest trucks if not.
     
    Chucklehead, Toy4X4 and mrmike7189 like this.
  9. Jan 22, 2022 at 9:22 PM
    #9
    matoolie

    matoolie Taking it a day at a time

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2021
    Member:
    #19314
    Messages:
    206
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Michael
    Vehicle:
    2021 Lunar Pro
    My ‘14 has had this for some time and no issues.
     
  10. Jan 22, 2022 at 9:27 PM
    #10
    YetiMtnBkr

    YetiMtnBkr New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2021
    Member:
    #18893
    Messages:
    940
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Frederick, MD
    Vehicle:
    2021 LR Pro
    None
    I noticed the same little rust spots the 1st or 2nd time I put gas in the tank. I was surprised, but have not done anything about it!
     
  11. Jan 22, 2022 at 10:48 PM
    #11
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2021
    Member:
    #20965
    Messages:
    1,526
    Gender:
    Male
    East Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    5th Gen OG TE
    Mine’s been like that for over 8 years now.
     
    regius123, DRobs and suaveflooder like this.
  12. Jan 22, 2022 at 11:22 PM
    #12
    Bald Michelins

    Bald Michelins New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2021
    Member:
    #20503
    Messages:
    106
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    21' SR5P
    I looked at mine just now (21' SR5P got it in July). It still has the paint in there. I'm in the rust belt but I'm a low mileage driver. Do you keep it outdoors?
     
  13. Jan 23, 2022 at 4:18 AM
    #13
    Matt83

    Matt83 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2019
    Member:
    #10511
    Messages:
    750
    Northeast
    First world problems.
     
    negusm, DRobs, suaveflooder and 2 others like this.
  14. Jan 23, 2022 at 4:46 AM
    #14
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2020
    Member:
    #17452
    Messages:
    2,030
    Yes indeed a first world problem but when you’re paying the money we pay for the so called quality and reputation of a 4Runner I think it’s ok to have high expectations of the vehicle.

    But perhaps like everything else we are being groomed to lower our expectations and expect less. We should expect to get less for our money and also expect to wait a long time to get it.
     
    2Toys and Spare Parts like this.
  15. Jan 23, 2022 at 5:56 AM
    #15
    BimmerChop

    BimmerChop Rich

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2020
    Member:
    #14794
    Messages:
    88
    Gender:
    Male
    CT
    Vehicle:
    '17 Super White TRD Pro
    Literally every 5th gen I've looked at has had rust on that little fuel door rivet.
     
    regius123 and Mtbpsych like this.
  16. Jan 23, 2022 at 6:25 AM
    #16
    Normantaco

    Normantaco New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2019
    Member:
    #8566
    Messages:
    100
    Gender:
    Male
    Same. '16 here. Had it since I got it and hasn't gotten any worse.
     
    7th District likes this.
  17. Jan 23, 2022 at 6:56 AM
    #17
    Firefly21

    Firefly21 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2018
    Member:
    #7073
    Messages:
    337
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Duane Frazier
    Vehicle:
    18 off road premium trd
    Hid lows 3500 drl / high Led interior Led reverse Led oem fogs Sequential blinker Trd intake Unifilter pump mod Apex recover points BF Goodrich KO2 (matching trd spare) Kicker front tweeters Tvd overlays S2 yellow wide fogs Apex black sequential rear tails Cartrim home blue convex mirriors
    18 orp had it day 1 hit it with a glob of touch up paint & holding up great
     
    7th District likes this.
  18. Jan 23, 2022 at 9:12 AM
    #18
    Trail Runnah

    Trail Runnah New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2020
    Member:
    #14189
    Messages:
    2,620
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2013 T4R Trail Edition
    Stock
    It's a Toyota. Prepare yourself now for finding rusty bits and pieces all over.
     
    j cat, Mtbpsych and LandCruiser like this.
  19. Jan 23, 2022 at 9:31 AM
    #19
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2019
    Member:
    #10964
    Messages:
    5,536
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gary
    Albuquerque, NM
    Vehicle:
    2019 OR, KDSS, RSG sliders, Eibach shocks, 265/70 Falken Wildpeaks
    This is totally unacceptable! Given the newly discovered yet widespread issue of rust-dotted fuel door hinge rivets, I fully expect Toyota Corp. to come to their corporate senses and issue a nationwide recall of all affected vehicles, with new, rust-free hinge rivets to be delivered to dealerships for installation as soon as possible. Letters will be mailed, emails sent, and owners can check their VIN against the list of all affected vehicles that will be posted on the Toyota website in the days and months to come. Although, due to the proliferance of this unexplainably overlooked issue by the factory in Japan, I would expect they will just tell every 5th gen 4R owner to just bring theirs in at their convenience to have this fuel door rivet replaced, at no cost to the owners.

    Look for the announcement in the days to come. If they did something as minor as rusty Tacoma frame replacements and trimming accelerator pedals to mitigate unintended acceleration, why should something as critical to the truck's performance as a rusty fuel door hinge rivet go unfixed?
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2022
  20. Jan 23, 2022 at 9:46 AM
    #20
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    Repair procedures are being disseminated to dealers to ensure all service dept are prepared to complete the work quickly and efficiently. The procedure time is 8 minutes.

    This repair procedure requires two special tools, that should be ordered by service dept before attempting repair procedure:

    -Ice pick: PN 736527-3836

    -Flap disc, 7in, 40grit: PN 37737-837

    Other tools required should be commonly available to service departments. These include:

    -Framing hammer, 32oz wood handle
    -Flat bladed screwdriver
    -Angle grinder

    consumables:
    -axle grease
     
  21. Jan 23, 2022 at 5:26 PM
    #21
    Low Blow

    Low Blow TRD PRO

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2020
    Member:
    #16580
    Messages:
    61
    Gender:
    Male
    Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 4Runner TRD PRO Lunar Rock
    Have the same rusty bottom rivet. Got mine in August.
     
    LandCruiser likes this.
  22. Jan 23, 2022 at 6:15 PM
    #22
    08TXRunner

    08TXRunner New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2020
    Member:
    #13179
    Messages:
    929
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    '20 SR5P
    Good lord - go buy yourself a rivet gun from Home Depot, learn how to use it and replace the rivet. The gun is $20 and a box of aluminum rivets is $5.
     
  23. Jan 23, 2022 at 6:29 PM
    #23
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2021
    Member:
    #19810
    Messages:
    4,612
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2021 4runner OR
    Dobinson IMS Warn Bumper CaliRaised Sliders 285/70 K02s
    On my Higlander, the orange center of rivet almost looks like orange paint, that is why Im not even sure it’s rust were looking at. After 3 years, it looks exactly the same. I bet it’s a high-tech nano coating developed at the japanese space agency.
     
    Buck-L-Up! likes this.
  24. Jan 23, 2022 at 6:33 PM
    #24
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2021
    Member:
    #20965
    Messages:
    1,526
    Gender:
    Male
    East Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    5th Gen OG TE
    D58D32F1-A130-46E6-8467-A190BCAEA845.jpg

    Bolter, brother.
     
    2Toys and McSpazatron like this.
  25. Jan 23, 2022 at 6:40 PM
    #25
    Will

    Will New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2021
    Member:
    #24476
    Messages:
    120
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2022 4 Runner TRD Sport

    Lol. I will
    Never understand responses like these.

    If you buy a vehicle and there is a problem and it has a bumper to bumper warranty why shouldn’t a person ask questions and expect the manufacture to make it right if it is deemed flawed?

    Some of you must have all the time and money in the world. Some of us “lazy morons” dont want to work on a car that has less than 1,000 miles on it.
     
    Buck-L-Up! and SlvrSlug like this.
  26. Jan 23, 2022 at 7:31 PM
    #26
    LandCruiser

    LandCruiser I have Toyotas

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2021
    Member:
    #20965
    Messages:
    1,526
    Gender:
    Male
    East Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    5th Gen OG TE
    You can go to your dealer, all they will do is scrape it and put some touchup paint on it.

    This is not a warranty issue, this is not covered by the corrosion warranty, and the dealer doesn’t have to do anything about it.
     
    suaveflooder, 08TXRunner and Mtbpsych like this.
  27. Jan 23, 2022 at 8:52 PM
    #27
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2020
    Member:
    #17452
    Messages:
    2,030
    I get in the grand scheme of life a rusty rivet is not important. Clearly any of us on this site who own one are fortunate and blessed enough to have the financial means to own one.

    To me it’s about doing something the wrong way knowingly and taking the easy way out. I was raised and taught if you are going to do something do it to the best of your ability and do not try to take the easy way out.

    Sadly Toyota is letting this and who knows what else slip through the cracks and taking the easy way out.

    As for me and my conscience I’ll give it 110 percent everyday in what I do. Sadly much of the world is ok with taking the easy way out as we see not only with vehicles, or their work but many other facets of life.
     
  28. Jan 23, 2022 at 10:58 PM
    #28
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Member:
    #7255
    Messages:
    2,552
    New Mexico
    Same rust on my 2018. Hasn’t gotten any worse. I think I’m gonna put a dab of Vaseline in the hole and call it good.
     
  29. Jan 24, 2022 at 1:24 AM
    #29
    suaveflooder

    suaveflooder New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2021
    Member:
    #23264
    Messages:
    568
    :rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
    ElectroBoy and LandCruiser like this.
  30. Jan 24, 2022 at 1:26 AM
    #30
    suaveflooder

    suaveflooder New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2021
    Member:
    #23264
    Messages:
    568
    Good lord, William!! Why are you so dramatic!!! It’s a rivet!!! Someone mentioned that it’s been the same rusty piece for 8 years. I promise….you will be okay…..and so will your vehicle you spent so much money on.
     
    2Toys, LandCruiser and Trail Runnah like this.

Products Discussed in

To Top