I'm not quite sure what the problem is. The dealer says it is a manufacturing defect and you say the vehicle is under warranty. If the dealer won't fix it properly you should contact Toyota directly. If they ask about car washes your answer should be, "does it matter?"

 

I have a 2025 Crown Platinum Max and have had wind noise on the drivers side window. Took it to the dealer 4 times filed a complaint with Toyota corporate. Been through arbitration and my claim was denied. No remedy to fix the noise. I feel disappointed in Toyota because it is not a safety hazard they aren’t going to fix it. I paid a lot for the vehicle and I am stuck with a flawed vehicle.

 

Stop being a drama queen and get it fixed under warranty. It’s a defect and Toyota will fix it. Simple as that.

 

I agree Ms Dee. Since the Toyota Crown "costs way more" than typical sedans, they should be held to a "higher quality standard". If you buy a 24,000 Nissan Kicks, then you probably should understand you will have to put up with air noise. But, the Crown is about double that, and we should be able to expect "Lexus" quality. The crown is often compared to the Lexus, and, as a former Lexus owner, and Crown owner, I do see and agree with the comparison.

I will mention, that the "air noise" can probably be cheaply fixed with some additional foam type seals in the door probably for less than $100 even if you had it done by a professional body shop. But that is just a guess.

In a similar way, I could likely hire a body shop to repair the plastic which falls off, with a more permanent fix, such as screws, because there are already holes in the door every 3-4 inches where the defective plastic pieces break and it causes the plastic on the door bottom to fall off.

Toyota seems to be willing to order a new bottom of the door plastic, but I think they want to put it back using the same plastic fasteners that failed before and will fail again, with a little vibration, rain or car wash. I did notice on my Crown there were areas on the door seal "where I could tell that water could leak up there" so air could also leak there. No, I have not had leaks, but I can tell the sprayed water from underneath went under the door seal, so that is probably the cause of your air noise..its where the rubber/foam door seal meets the plastic door bottom.

Toyota Crown is supposed to be "Toyota's flagship model", not a 23k Corolla on the cheap. It also should be better than the Camry hybrid, because it's not much bigger, and the Camry costs much less. Yet, the Camry hybrid I owned did not have this problem.

I am disappointed Toyota basically flips us the finger when we complain about the air noise and plastic falling off, which are probably likely the same problem. Cheap plastic and cheap plastic fasteners. I will say I love my Crown, but I agree we deserve it to be fixed and fixed right..not just replaced for the same issue to occur again.

But Toyota has much bigger problems than door seals, I get that. Perhaps the biggest is they messed up and don't have "cars", they sell "allocations", especially with popular models like RAV 4 hybrid, Camry hybrid, etc. I have never driven an allocation, I insist on driving cars. I don't like being sold an allocation..I can't see and drive the car, to know if I want it. They expect us to commit to buying an allocation, usually at MSRP or above, and then we have to look like a jerk if we say, "Naw, Im not gonna keep my commitment..you sell your allocation to someone else".
Then they call someone else, and they buy it, basically because they have "bought into" Toyotas "self generated" new car shortage on popular models. "Oh, we have an allocation..it's not the color or trim you want but you better buy it anyway before it's gone".

That is treating me like a fish. Fish respond to the fisherman "taking away" the spinner, so the fish grabs it "before it gets away", basically a false shortage, just like Toyota's. It's their own fault they have parts shortages, most other car companies have plenty of cars. Other companies sell cars, Toyota sells allocations. Im never buying an allocation again. I will walk or take the bus first.

 

The dealership replaced the rubber seal around the door two times and replaced a gasket, but the wind noise is worse. I said that in arbitration but to no avail. If I were to trade or sell my Crown and they requested service records they would see the on going issue. They can choose to buy the vehicle at a diminished value.

 

I never take my car to a car wash because I absolutely detest having swirls. I have all the supplies to properly detail my car and not knock off moldy or emblems and I don't have a single swirl. Stop griping about something that is incredibly easy to repair.

 

If it's "so easy to repair", why is it that the dealer was apparently not able to repair either "MsDee's" Crown nor mine, even after escalating it to arbitration?

I buy new cars, and don't keep them more than a couple years, because I like driving newer cars without problems, that I don't have to work on. I have worked on cars for the last 60 years or so, and Im done working on them, and spend the money so I don't have to work on them. If I wanted to work on cars, I don't need to spend $47,000 on a car to work on, those can be had for a couple thousand or less.

Im very surprised you seem to be worried about "swirls" from a car wash, yet you apparently don't have a problem with wind noise or parts of the car falling off. To each his own, but I don't give a rip about swirls, I want a quiet comfortable ride..that I don't have to work on. And, Im willing to pay for it. Indeed I did pay for it,(47,000) but instead got wind noise and parts that fall off. If you want to pay 47 grand for a car that parts fall off it, why don't you buy mine and fix it yourself, since it's so "easy to fix"? I will let you have it for about 37 grand..it has 18,000 miles and is immaculate..one owner car.

 

If it's "so easy to repair", why is it that the dealer was apparently not able to repair either "MsDee's" Crown nor mine, even after escalating it to arbitration?

I buy new cars, and don't keep them more than a couple years, because I like driving newer cars without problems, that I don't have to work on. I have worked on cars for the last 60 years or so, and Im done working on them, and spend the money so I don't have to work on them. If I wanted to work on cars, I don't need to spend $47,000 on a car to work on, those can be had for a couple thousand or less.

Im very surprised you seem to be worried about "swirls" from a car wash, yet you apparently don't have a problem with wind noise or parts of the car falling off. To each his own, but I don't give a rip about swirls, I want a quiet comfortable ride..that I don't have to work on. And, Im willing to pay for it. Indeed I did pay for it,(47,000) but instead got wind noise and parts that fall off. If you want to pay 47 grand for a car that parts fall off it, why don't you buy mine and fix it yourself, since it's so "easy to fix"? I will let you have it for about 37 grand..it has 18,000 miles and is immaculate..one owner car.

You worked on cars for 60 years. You should know they don’t make them like they use to. Not even close. They are made fast to sell and warranty later. Get rid of it and don’t buy Toyota again is all I would suggest. You will find running out of options with every new vehicle purchase with issues. Good luck. I have the wind noise in my brand new 25 Crown Platinum if it makes you feel any better. Toyota doesn’t think it’s a defect since the car has been out. They are not going to fix it. Or since it’s not a high volume seller, they do not care. Maybe not enough complaints either to be on their radar as well. 🤷🏼‍♂️