Is cometic defect a red flag when buying Tundra?

Hi all,

I have been looking for a replacement Tundra about a month or so (it took me about 3 months for my current Tundra) and found this 2019 Platinum which is about 4 hours away.

It has about 33k miles and toyota golden certified with oil changes done about every 10k miles.

Based on the wear on the driving wheel and amount of scratches in the truck bed, I wonder if that reflects how previous owner have treated the truck.

my wife doesn't feel right about this truck and want me to move on but it seem like a good deal to me if that's only a cosmetic issue as I can use driving wheel cover and bed liner but I would like to get other people's opinion on this one as well..

your opinion will be highly appreciated!

 

What they asking

 

43k but I know they are willing to go down

 

The bed scratches easy, no worries there. The wear on the steering wheel is odd. Almost looks dirty vs worn

 

How's the brake pedal wear look? At 33k, all that stuff should look brand new. My truck at 120k looks better than that.

 

The steering wheel almost looks like there was a chemical put on it…..maybe the guy used a lot of hand sanitizer. That stuff breaks down leather / vinyl pretty quickly. If that’s all that there is I would not be concerned. The bed scratches can be fixed by having a bed liner prepped and sprayed on…..the guy used the bed like a truck should be used apparently. Just a shame he didn’t have a liner in it already.

 

its a good idea to check the brake pedal! which I haven't done.. I will probably check that as well when I ask salesman for another video walkthrough

my trunk at 189k has better looking driving wheels than one from the picture as well...

 

That steering wheel is rough.
Maybe the over use of hand sanitizer in the last 4 years..

The bed, not so much, it just looks like he used it.
A Bedrug bed and tailgate mat will fix that...

 

I've looked at low mileage trucks with obvious wear like that, did a carfax and they were rolled back miles. I'm not saying this one is, but it's always fishy to me. I don't fall in love with anything and walk if there's something I don't like. There's always another one. 43k is a lot of dough to not get what makes you happy. You'll be annoyed touching steering wheel every day.

 

Walk, no, run away and please give me the seller’s info so I may contact and reprimand him for such a terrible misrepresentation.

 

How does one roll back miles on a digital display?

 

Looks to me like a fisherman who uses his truck like a truck. Overpriced IMO, but might be a great truck if you can talk him down some.

 

1st thing: my opinion and i cant prove it, i just FEEL its true.
So, just based on yr & miles, the wheel condition and bed scratches wouldnt be most pivotal for me. Looks like PO was not 100 'interior hygenics aware' Lots of guys like that especially self-employed contractors and cant really blame them since, to them, its a tool to make a living.
I'd rely more on reading code history, Carfax [if they can be trusted] and trans oil inspection and testing coolant quality, as well as most important: drive quality [vs another of same yr/config]. I bet im not saying anything that hasnt gone thru your mind on this.
Anyways, Ive been shopping for a well kept Gen1 AC-2WD and Ive seen some real slobs out there, but Toyota trucks can survive the worst, right down to little to no maintenance. Ive always said if you can break or disable a Toyota [outside of collision] you are a dangerous human. Trouble is generally peeps interpret the word 'truck' to mean "..it can take it, no worry..". [yeah, except for resale.]
BTW: Is this truck fr/a Toyota Dealer? I ask b/c lately [interest rates] are making peeps loan shy and my presumption is Toyota dealerships
may be less negotiable on used since they have a Lot full of New and market hi loan rates are eating up Used supply. If I'm wrong, somebody bring me up on game.

 

You can swap out the whole cluster. Is it kept on the ECU or stored in the cluster? I'd hope the newer ones are stored in the ECU.

 

yes the truck is being offered by a toyota dealership as a CPO which I kind of love about after what I am going through with my current truck as it had bad chain tensioner when I picked it up (I wish I knew it was a common issue!!!!)

salesperson I have been working with was willing to take some really low number to his manager and that was like two weeks ago and the truck is still available so I think there is a room for negotiation for sure...

 

I just swapped my ECU and definitely think the mileage is only in the cluster which is interesting. You could likely swap clusters from a junk yard model to “roll back”. There is a vin check (to start the vehicle) outside of the ECU but I don’t believe it’s part of the cluster at all.

 

You had me at CPO.

This is an opportunity for a fantastic deal IMO

 

Asked the salesman to put the truck on a lift so you can do a close inspection of everything. If everything is good, steering wheel and truck bed will be minor to fix.

 

Check the safety chain loops on the hitch for excessive wear. Could have towed everyday and possibly cheated the mileage.What does the paint on the door sills look like? Should be pretty good if in fact 33k. Basically common sense stuff, like hood chips, factory spare wear, etc.

 

That negative battery terminal looks odd. Is that normal is some area? My 2018 with over 130k doesn't look like that but it's a southern truck.

 

As batteries vibrate from travel, the lead to plastic housing seals begin to leak gas and that causes corrosion.

 

That may be anti-corrosive spray... I've seen it in weird colors lately including an orangy-yellow mashup of sorts; which this may be.

OP... bottom line is to trust your instincts If something feels off, move on as you'll find another if you're patient.

I know a lot of folks went hyper crazy w/sanitizer, bleach and such (spraying that shit everywhere) for a year or two; if those chemicals were sprayed directly on the steering wheel and allowed to sit for any time it could definitely mess w/the plastic/faux leatherish steering wheel materials.

Bed wear is non-problematic as it appears PO used to truck for either work (fishing) or hobby (fishing). The rod holder mounted in the bed would indicate that he/she probably had coolers and other related gear in the bed on a regular basis that slid around causing the marks; spray in bed liner will resolve that...

You will never be able to accurately asses a vehicle through pics or video. You're gonna have to see it in person w/the expectation that you're going to find issues and will probably walk away from it. CARFAX, registration, accident and service histories can give you info that may steer you away before you even plan to look at it.

Also, take the VIN to your local dealer and have them run a check on it. They'll be able to tell you if any recalls have been addressed, major/minor repairs and service history performed by Toyota.

Finally, I'd make sure you have documented proof that the 30k service has been completed, and if not have the dealer take care of that as part of the transaction during negotiations.

 

To me a 3.5 yr old w/33k miles suggest avg to low mileage; off the bat i dont see anything suspicious on that note.
OTOH, Im a bit surprised Toyota dealer didnt get a serious detailer on the wheel, but assuming thats the only cosmetic low point [b/c scratches happen immediately w/out the liner] I would request a compression check [inyour presence] as a conditon of sale. If they negotiate to your price point, make that an immediate condition.
Also, if you intend to finance thru Toyota, I'd insist on all of above since I doubt you be getting better rates fr/them vs a CreditUnion or even your own bank. Even if you can cash it out, I'd still get financed if for no other reason than having another [more influential] party in the deal that if for some reason an issue comes up regarding any Toyota warranty they include, you have a potential advocate. Of course, you didnt ask about that in your post but Im just guessing at some of the sales issues you might end up seeing.
Also, I do agree w/whoever above posted "..walk b/c another Tundra will come along soon enough.." or something to that effect..but not for his reasons. Otherwise, if this is the 'perfect config' and [and youre getting truck market fatigue] your negotiation w/dealer goes no where, just be polite and state that your bottomline still stands and if they have a change of mind, ask them to give you a call. I will bet you get a call, text or email w/in 5 days; regardless of the current 'Used market demand' these business's rely on one thing: 'a warm body to sign on the line that is dotted'. So even if not using their financing, or especially if you're cashing out, make your conditions clear and in same moment you arrive at 'that' price. Make them work for it.
To borrow a line fr/ 'GlenGary-GlennRoss', 'a man does not walk on to the lot unless he's willing to buy', or something like that.
ok, i'll relinquish the podium now.

 

Agree w/above....use this link [if u have a current google acct, no need to populate ID, etc; just click "continue w/google"

[https://account.toyota.com/XUI/?rea...pY2F0aW9uLw%3D%3D&response_mode=query#login/]

for VIN chk; straight fr/Toyota, as it left factory.
It also states what date of sale fr/dealer; which should agree w/Carfax. I have called the Carfax listed Toyota Dealerships and queried about a subject vehicle, giving them the VIN and stating I may purchase vehicle, then asking what was done on given date to see if it chk w/Carfax data. So far havnt come across any misses in the 2 times I queried.

 

it is possible to (some cases one or other) trick / reprogram the computer.

Here is a reprogram example Camry / Lexus example from 2011... It has been being done for a long time. The dip socket to board soldering is optional, it was so this dude could play with it... In and out...
https://www.toyotanation.com/threads/diy-odometer-reprogramming.782562/

 

The owner was a dumbass redneck who didn't give a sh*t about that truck.

 

Wow that's a little extreme. Do you feel better now?

@yeo3th
Anyways. Have you received any pictures of underneath? It looks like the truck was used as a truck (a tool) rather than a daily driver to and from work/grocery store. Sure the maintenance was done up to 30k but what about actual taking care of the vehicle. When mechanical systems are used heavily (even as designed), they tend to not last as long. I think at minimum, you need to see the truck and person to really get a true feel. Videos and photos are/can be very deceiving.

 

My 09 steering wheel had some minor fade not as bad as that, but after 13 years. Could be chemicals on the hands or letting the wheel slide through hands in turns. I think mine faded from abrasion over the years.

The bed?

It's a truck. Someone used it as such and did not line it. Oh well. Put a liner in it. I'd be happy to see an un covered bed that could be inspected for major rust before I lined it.

I'm not dismissing concerns but those two things would not be an automatic deal killer for me.

Not everybody upkeeps vehicles to trailer queen level, especially half tons. There are people who are mechanically meticulous but don't stress about cosmetics the way Tundra devotees on a forum do. Doesn't make them dumbass rednecks.

 

It's a CPO so...have them add new steering wheel and Rhino-line the bed.