2014 SR5 hood scoop - front hood molding

Anyone else have issue with the front hood molding aka hood scoop (depending on where you look the terms change). i.e. At the front of the hood, the plastic (color matched on some, chrome - well chrome look, plastic on others like mine). About 1.5 years ago I met a transport truck on the highway and the wind buffeted my truck and it broke off my truck, landing on the road and was destroyed. So I bought a new one from Toyota (online as I now live a fair distance from a dealer). I installed it...just plastic push pin clips and 3 bolts...with the bolts going through a mount that is attached to the hood scoop/molding at a point with maybe one inch long, 1/16 inch thick plastic.
So, about a 2 weeks ago, again on the highway the whole molding on one side came loose and was at risk of breaking off and flying into traffic...this time on a busy 6 lane highway. Stopped 3 times to pop it back into place and slowly get to the next exit where there was a toyota dealership. The service manager was too busy to look, told to make an appointment and when I persisted their parts guy came out, had some personal tools out of his car so we took the last bolt off so it wouldn't fly off into traffic...his advice, take it to a body shop and have them basically glue it on so I didn't have to spend another bunch of money on yet another.

Spoke with Toyota today...the opened up a case file...very friendly but seemed more concerned about lawyers, injuries, accidents etc even though I told them there was no accident...luckily.

Just can't believe this happened twice to me....when I installed the hood scoop about 1.5 years ago, I was sure to not overtighten the bolts because of the plastic mounts. I just don't get it.

Right now, driving around with a big gaping wide hole at the front of my hood.

 

Hey youngknight,

I have a 2014 SR5 as well and this happened to me recently although I haven't had mine detach completely.

I'm going to try new plastic pop rivets (not sure that's the technical term or not) when the weather warms up a bit. I don't have a garage and don't like playing with plastic in the cold temps.

Have you found a way to solve your issue?

 

I had this happen with my '14 . Plastic crap has absolutely no function other than cosmetics.I drilled throgh the plastic and attached it with stainless steel nuts and bolts. You can't tell unless you're right on top of it. I couldn't bring myself to spend $350 for a piece of plastic.