Replace Undercarriage & Repair Bumper Tab

Pics would help to understand the extent of the damage. When you say undercarriage, I assume you are only talking about the underside of the bumper and/or plastic shields under the car?

If it's the bumper, I would look at some videos on youtube of bumper repair. I'm not sure how handy or equipped you and your father are, but you can buy an inexpensive plastic welder from harbor freight. I have no experience with it though so YMMV. Best to show pics and maybe we can get you a good solution.

 

I'm curious on what caused everything to come off in the first place. Unless you hit something, wind should not have done anything. What miles are on the car, what service has been done and by whom? Seeing that your car is a 2013, this could be a dealer/service warranty issue.

 

I'm interested in this thread as I feel this problem is more prevalent than the media or service departments would care to explore. This based on personal experience with my 2010 Prius. The access panel located on the engine splash shield passenger side has similar to cmartin 5970, come open for no apparent reason and rubbed off a fair amount of the front edge. The service department indicated it would not be a warranty covered repair and they take NO responsibility for poor refastening by the mechanic after the last oil change. Their version is that I must have either hit something in the road of the elements such as wind, rain or snow caused it to come loose and as such I should pursue a claim with my insurance company of pay for it myself. The estimate to repair would be $260 for the part and an hour of labor at $80 per hour.
In getting under the car an exploring the splash shield and access panel that is utilzed to drain engine oil it is apparent that the plastic button fasteners are not sturdy enough to be reused more than once after initial removal for an oil change. The remaining button fasteners all showed signs of being fractured due to removal and reinstallation. Several button fasteners were missing, either omitted by the service tech or broken and fallen out. I believe the panel itself is sturdy enough but lacks a good method of attachment. Short term remedy; replace the fasteners with new ones at every oil change! Long term fix; improve the fastener or use some kind of screw type fastener.
In answering the Service Writer/Manager accusation that either my wife or I damaged the Splash Shield on a low curb or hazard or someone else, ( valet parking attendant) did it. I said that neither my wife or I have hit anything and the only other person(s) to drive it were the service writer and service tech!
Bottom line: who else has had the same problem and has there been any resolution offered by dealer or warranty?
Thanks for letting me vent!!

 

Yes, I had the problem on my 2010. Solved it with duck tape. Then my wife totaled the car before the next Oil change. Clearly this is a Toyota design flaw. Everyone that is told No by the dealer needs to escalate to Toyota and eventually Toyota will take care of it.

 

Thanks Dan21....I see a TSB covering some issues relating to the splash shield but not exactly what has occurred with mine and I assume with others. Now that I have read further through the different threads here I can see it is more prevalent than most people think. It is easy to have this piece drag on the road while at highway speed and not notice it untill it is ground down to a nub! I will give the dealer/ owner a shot at responding to this issue and then contact Toyota.