The grille is so poorly made! - Toyota Yaris Forums

dirtyrottenlove · 06-11-2009, 05:59 PM

Hey, Im new on here!

I bought my 2007 4 door (basic) yaris brand new back at the end of 2006. I am in LOVE with it! However... the quality of the front upper grille is TERRIBLE! If one person backs their car into it, it shatters. And at $125 per piece (excluding bringing it to the body shop to get it installed) it is pretty expensive and annoying to fix.

Just today, it is broken again to the point where you are basically looking at my radiator. I can't take it!!!!! This is the 4th or 5th time this has happened. I called my dealer today and complained, and the only thing they suggested to just get another replacement. IM TIRED OF REPLACING THIS PART! Would a front end mask/bra be any better? Does anyone have any suggestions?

BTW, I live in an urban area of Jersey. I have a private driveway at my house, this usually happens when I come back to my car after parking on the street (especially when someone with a SUV/extra tire on the back parks in front of me) when Im at work.

Im a college student living on my own.. I cant take it!

Brad D · 06-11-2009, 06:04 PM

I have a 07 and never have had this problem.. got to stop people from hitting it :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtyrottenlove

Hey, Im new on here!

I bought my 2007 4 door (basic) yaris brand new back at the end of 2006. I am in LOVE with it! However... the quality of the front upper grille is TERRIBLE! If one person backs their car into it, it shatters. And at $125 per piece (excluding bringing it to the body shop to get it installed) it is pretty expensive and annoying to fix.

Just today, it is broken again to the point where you are basically looking at my radiator. I can't take it!!!!! This is the 4th or 5th time this has happened. I called my dealer today and complained, and the only thing they suggested to just get another replacement. IM TIRED OF REPLACING THIS PART! Would a front end mask/bra be any better? Does anyone have any suggestions?

BTW, I live in an urban area of Jersey. I have a private driveway at my house, this usually happens when I come back to my car after parking on the street (especially when someone with a SUV/extra tire on the back parks in front of me) when Im at work.

Im a college student living on my own.. I cant take it!

id3379 · 06-11-2009, 06:04 PM

Have a custom carbon fiber grill made for you.

doublewam · 06-11-2009, 06:08 PM

That must really stink.

I don't think the problem is with the grill though. The problem is the idiots backing into your car. I don't see making the plastic any harder will prevent this problem. I'm not aware of plastic gear on any car that will not shatter if someone backs into it. It's plastic against the full weight of an automobile. Plastic is always going to lose that battle. If it were metal, then it would still bend if someone backed into it and probably cost a lot more to fix.

These cars being tiny, have bumpers lower to the ground than larger cars...especially SUVs. The fact that the plastic grill is in the 'kill zone' for people backing into your car is probably a good thing. If you look at what is in the same height on the Mini Cooper as the grill on the Yaris, you would be looking at the hood. Ouch! That would be some repair bill.

CompanyXPaladin · 06-11-2009, 07:20 PM

clickety click

Tamago · 06-11-2009, 07:23 PM

hahaahah nice!

The Architect · 06-11-2009, 08:08 PM

park nose out. voila.

IllusionX · 06-11-2009, 11:45 PM

NJ and NY are 2 really bad states for cars. I swear no car look perfect in these 2 states.

Yaris Hilton · 06-12-2009, 12:12 AM

It used to be popular for four-wheelers to bolt a railroad tie on the front for a push bar. You could try that.

Lafiro · 06-12-2009, 12:44 AM

Yeah well people cant drive in these two states.

I swear I get a kick out of watching people try and park when Im sitting outside of school for like 45minutes. I do not understand how hard it is to park a car, I mean why does it take so long/so much effort to park. And WHY hit someone elses car.

I swear to this also, women, and some guys, and most asians can't park for $#*7.
Don't flame me, just honest information that everyone would agree too here in NY/NJ.

jambo101 · 06-12-2009, 08:18 AM

Do a search on nudge bars to protect the front of the car http://images.google.ca/images?gbv=2...mages&aq=f&oq= For the rear install a trailer hitch.

MUSKOKA800 · 06-12-2009, 08:30 AM

An unfortunate sign of the times.
These days far, far too many people show no respect for the property (and rights) of others.

Darb · 06-12-2009, 09:22 AM

CompanyXPaladin · 06-16-2009, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darb

Hmm. I kinda like it

. Throw some wide steelies on it and it'd have a definite Mad Max-ish look to it.. pretty tough look for a Yaris

guiltyparty · 06-12-2009, 05:18 PM

Hm... I used to own a 1997 Saturn (the yaris I am getting next week will be my first car since that - I've been car free for almost 10 years.) The exterior was made almost entirely, if not entirely, of plastic. There seemed to be 2 distinct kinds - a black, matte plastic on the front/rear bumpers, and a shiny plastic for the rest of the car body. It was a much more "bouncy," rubber-like plastic than what's on the Yaris. I bumped into a few things (not other cars!) and had a few cars bump into me, and the front and rear bumper plastic was always fine because it would "boing" back into shape like a Rubbermaid garbage can. In fact, my friends used to LOVE kicking the side of my car to watch it bounce right back and do no damage.

I do wonder why other plastic-body cars aren't made of a similarly flexible material to that Saturn. (I don't know if current Saturns are made of that, or if it was an older model thing.) The Yaris plastic felt way more brittle to me - believe me, I tried to give it a little push at the dealership just to see :)

Yaris Hilton · 06-17-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guiltyparty

I do wonder why other plastic-body cars aren't made of a similarly flexible material to that Saturn. (I don't know if current Saturns are made of that, or if it was an older model thing.) The Yaris plastic felt way more brittle to me - believe me, I tried to give it a little push at the dealership just to see :)

My '98 Mercury Villager minivan got banged on a parking lot once. Looked like the plastic covered front bumper was a total mess. Next morning, it had sprung back into shape and the damage was relatively minor, mostly scraped paint.

06-11-2009, 05:59 PM	#1
dirtyrottenlove I've made a post! Drives: 2007 4 door yaris (flint mica) Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bayonne, NJ Posts: 1	The grille is so poorly made! Hey, Im new on here! I bought my 2007 4 door (basic) yaris brand new back at the end of 2006. I am in LOVE with it! However... the quality of the front upper grille is TERRIBLE! If one person backs their car into it, it shatters. And at $125 per piece (excluding bringing it to the body shop to get it installed) it is pretty expensive and annoying to fix. Just today, it is broken again to the point where you are basically looking at my radiator. I can't take it!!!!! This is the 4th or 5th time this has happened. I called my dealer today and complained, and the only thing they suggested to just get another replacement. IM TIRED OF REPLACING THIS PART! Would a front end mask/bra be any better? Does anyone have any suggestions? BTW, I live in an urban area of Jersey. I have a private driveway at my house, this usually happens when I come back to my car after parking on the street (especially when someone with a SUV/extra tire on the back parks in front of me) when Im at work. Im a college student living on my own.. I cant take it!

06-11-2009, 08:08 PM	#7
The Architect Give Me Resonance View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris HB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: FL Posts: 648	park nose out. voila. __________________ (3) 12" Alpine Type R Subs/Hifonics BXi1208D Hifonics ZXi6.5c / 2006 Kicker ZX350.4 Knu Fleks 1/0 Wiring & In Big 3 Optima Yellow Top Battery/Iraggi HO Alternator Alpine CDA-105, KCA-420i/KCA-121b/KCE-400BT PG TLD22 8V Line Driver

06-12-2009, 08:30 AM	#12
MUSKOKA800 Drives: Scion FRS RS2, ‘21 Crosstrek Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chatham, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,729	An unfortunate sign of the times. These days far, far too many people show no respect for the property (and rights) of others. __________________ TRD Upgrades: 18" Wheels wrapped in 215/35/18 PZero's, Sportivo Shocks/Struts, Lowering Springs, Swaybar, Axle-Back Exhaust, Oil Cap, Rad Cap, Signage. Aftermarket Goodies: Piggies SS, K&N Drop-In, Blitz S/C, DC Header, NST Pulley) Toyota Options/Accessories: Sport Pedal Covers, Sport Shift Knob, Ipod Interface, Summer Mats, Winter Mats, Cruise Control, Auto-Dim Mirror, Echo steelies with winter boots.

06-12-2009, 09:22 AM	#13
Darb Bear Traffic Controller Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,833	Attached Images __________________ Darryl Kids Playing Chase On Freeways Get Smashed.

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06-11-2009, 06:04 PM	#3
id3379 §†ęĄ¶‡Ћ-NCP96 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 727	Have a custom carbon fiber grill made for you.

06-11-2009, 06:08 PM	#4
doublewam Drives: 2009 Yaris Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 19	That must really stink. I don't think the problem is with the grill though. The problem is the idiots backing into your car. I don't see making the plastic any harder will prevent this problem. I'm not aware of plastic gear on any car that will not shatter if someone backs into it. It's plastic against the full weight of an automobile. Plastic is always going to lose that battle. If it were metal, then it would still bend if someone backed into it and probably cost a lot more to fix. These cars being tiny, have bumpers lower to the ground than larger cars...especially SUVs. The fact that the plastic grill is in the 'kill zone' for people backing into your car is probably a good thing. If you look at what is in the same height on the Mini Cooper as the grill on the Yaris, you would be looking at the hood. Ouch! That would be some repair bill.

06-11-2009, 07:20 PM	#5
CompanyXPaladin Drives: 08 Yaris 5-speed Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 212	clickety click

06-11-2009, 11:45 PM	#8
IllusionX It's the illusion you see View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Aero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brossard, QC Posts: 3,888	NJ and NY are 2 really bad states for cars. I swear no car look perfect in these 2 states.

06-12-2009, 12:12 AM	#9
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	It used to be popular for four-wheelers to bolt a railroad tie on the front for a push bar. You could try that.

06-12-2009, 12:44 AM	#10
Lafiro Drives: 06 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 694	Yeah well people cant drive in these two states. I swear I get a kick out of watching people try and park when Im sitting outside of school for like 45minutes. I do not understand how hard it is to park a car, I mean why does it take so long/so much effort to park. And WHY hit someone elses car. I swear to this also, women, and some guys, and most asians can't park for $#*7. Don't flame me, just honest information that everyone would agree too here in NY/NJ.

06-12-2009, 08:18 AM	#11
jambo101 Drives: yaris 08 sedan Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 1,286	Do a search on nudge bars to protect the front of the car http://images.google.ca/images?gbv=2...mages&aq=f&oq= For the rear install a trailer hitch.

06-12-2009, 05:18 PM	#15
guiltyparty Toot Toot Drives: 2009 Black 4 door liftback Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CT Posts: 2	Hm... I used to own a 1997 Saturn (the yaris I am getting next week will be my first car since that - I've been car free for almost 10 years.) The exterior was made almost entirely, if not entirely, of plastic. There seemed to be 2 distinct kinds - a black, matte plastic on the front/rear bumpers, and a shiny plastic for the rest of the car body. It was a much more "bouncy," rubber-like plastic than what's on the Yaris. I bumped into a few things (not other cars!) and had a few cars bump into me, and the front and rear bumper plastic was always fine because it would "boing" back into shape like a Rubbermaid garbage can. In fact, my friends used to LOVE kicking the side of my car to watch it bounce right back and do no damage. I do wonder why other plastic-body cars aren't made of a similarly flexible material to that Saturn. (I don't know if current Saturns are made of that, or if it was an older model thing.) The Yaris plastic felt way more brittle to me - believe me, I tried to give it a little push at the dealership just to see :)