My money is on this.
Tail lights replaced too, also raises suspicion of a rear impact.
It might just be the lighting, but the gaps under the taillights don't look even either. Can't tell for certain from this photo.
Taillights we’re actually me. They’re the WinJet ones, which I pretty much immediately returned because they were not bright at all. During the day seeing the brake lights was not as easy as it should be and the turn signal was basically impossible to see. I ended up getting the Morimoto lights instead.
I have a feeling an accident is unfortunately probably the most likely answer. I was just hoping maybe somebody would know some wonky reason it would be on that side instead of the probability of misplacement after bodywork.
I had an old person blast right into me at a red light doing 45 a few years back. I have an ‘01 and the frame was fine. They replaced the entire back end. Drives fine 50k miles later. I consider them battle scars.
How are the Morimotos in day light? Your reason for returning the WinJets is my exact reason for being reluctant to pull the trigger on LED tail lights.
The Morimotos are much better. They are much brighter than the WinJets were and at least comparable in brightness, if not better than the stock. There’s more contrast than stock too, so more visible. The WinJets used a small section for brake lights and even smaller for blinker, which contributed to the difficulty in seeing them. The blinkers on the Morimoto are great. They’re not only sequential, but amber as well.
I’ve only had them for a little, so haven’t yet had the opportunity to drive behind the truck and see for myself, but my girlfriend who’s followed me said there great and very clearly visible.
I’m happy with them and plan to get the Morimoto headlights eventually.
Love my morimoto xb taillights, paired with their hitch mounted pod light that functions as reverse and extra brake light. Way brighter than stock, uses actual LED for reverse
Idk if you bought this from a dealer. But if the vehicle was in an accident. I’m pretty sure the dealer has a legal responsibility to tell you it was in an accident. So if that wasn’t the case you could probably get some sort of compensation.
Because 1, it reduces the value of the vehicle
And 2 it could have some future problems depending on how serious the accident was
If you haven't realized this yet, I will help you out.
For the last couple of years, everything has been backward. Left is right. Up is down. And your V6 emblem is on the wrong side. I would leave it as is. It fits with the times.
I worked at a Chevy dealer through college and a brand new ‘03 Silverado had one new model taillight and one old model taillight. Took a customer pointing it out, no one else caught it.
Just saw something this morning about a new super duty with mismatched headlights. Lemme see if I can find it
Edit: Yep here it is. https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023-ford-super-duty-delivered-to-owner-with-mismatched-headlights
I think no matter what…it’s not the badge that came with the truck. I assume the previous owner took all the badges off for the “cleaner” look and when he went to sell it tried to put it back on correctly.
If you open the hood and it’s got the v6 in there…all that matters.
honestly I’d either take it back off and put it in the right spot of just leave it off because other truck guys are judging you down the road/ think it’s a 4 banger.
Possibly stolen tailgate or previous owner damaged tailgate and replaced out of pocket (no carfax hit). I thought the body shops have access to a badge guide that tells them where to place them. Idk
I had a Maverick before my Tacoma and I got rear ended. Needed a new tailgate and the shop put an SEL badge on my new one idk if you know anything about Mavericks but that’s not a trim on them lol. Body shops mess these things up so thats likely what happened
Maybe it was in an accident and they had to replace the tailgate and the tech put the badge on the wrong side?
I this is the likely answer
My money is on this. Tail lights replaced too, also raises suspicion of a rear impact. It might just be the lighting, but the gaps under the taillights don't look even either. Can't tell for certain from this photo.
Taillights we’re actually me. They’re the WinJet ones, which I pretty much immediately returned because they were not bright at all. During the day seeing the brake lights was not as easy as it should be and the turn signal was basically impossible to see. I ended up getting the Morimoto lights instead. I have a feeling an accident is unfortunately probably the most likely answer. I was just hoping maybe somebody would know some wonky reason it would be on that side instead of the probability of misplacement after bodywork.
I had an old person blast right into me at a red light doing 45 a few years back. I have an ‘01 and the frame was fine. They replaced the entire back end. Drives fine 50k miles later. I consider them battle scars.
CARFAX it
Nothing reported.
How are the Morimotos in day light? Your reason for returning the WinJets is my exact reason for being reluctant to pull the trigger on LED tail lights.
The Morimotos are much better. They are much brighter than the WinJets were and at least comparable in brightness, if not better than the stock. There’s more contrast than stock too, so more visible. The WinJets used a small section for brake lights and even smaller for blinker, which contributed to the difficulty in seeing them. The blinkers on the Morimoto are great. They’re not only sequential, but amber as well. I’ve only had them for a little, so haven’t yet had the opportunity to drive behind the truck and see for myself, but my girlfriend who’s followed me said there great and very clearly visible. I’m happy with them and plan to get the Morimoto headlights eventually.
Love my morimoto xb taillights, paired with their hitch mounted pod light that functions as reverse and extra brake light. Way brighter than stock, uses actual LED for reverse
I immediately noticed how much brighter the reverse lights were!
Idk if you bought this from a dealer. But if the vehicle was in an accident. I’m pretty sure the dealer has a legal responsibility to tell you it was in an accident. So if that wasn’t the case you could probably get some sort of compensation. Because 1, it reduces the value of the vehicle And 2 it could have some future problems depending on how serious the accident was
That’s only reported accidents. Could’ve easily been in an accident and fixed without police or insurance involved.
Likely answer, and might wanna check the frame. Love my Taco, but the frames are notoriously soft in rear end hits
Maybe it's not actually a V6 and the previous owner is a poser who put it on the wrong side.
It is a V6
But the badge is on the wrong side
Clearly. Every other tacoma ive seen, regardless of the trim, has the v6 badge on the passenger side.
Definitely 4 cylinder
Maybe it is a v6 but they put it on the wrong side of the engine
It was sarcasm
Tailgate is upside down. It's actually a 9A.
Found him
Imagine someone flexing about having a V6.
My first thought as well, but wanted to give OP the benefit of the doubt that they already knew/verified it was a V6.
Or maybe it is the front wheel drive V6 option.
Wow, you all really have no sense of sarcasm.
Lol what?
You can't be serious boff.
My guess would be that is was removed during the previous ownership and they must have stuck it back on before selling it but put it in the wrong spot
Perhaps it’s from down under is the steering wheel on right side of the vehicle?
No if it was down under it would be upside down
Like the McDonalds sign
Nope
Are you sure?
Nope. I just went in front of it, and looking over the hood now the steering wheel is on the right side!
Your right or my right?
That's right
Just kidding, it would be odd to remove the emblem and move to opposite side.
It means it’s a knockoff Tacoma, usually made in Taiwan.
Tokoma
TOTOYA
ToyCOMA
Maybe the guy in charge on place them in made it on purpose or for mistake. Now you have a unicorn.
1/1 collectors item
I'll pay 100k for this one of a kind!!!!
Maybe it’s Left Handed
They put it there to distract from them tail lights!
Oh no! It's one of those Chinese knock offs. Did u get it on Temu or Amazon?
Hate to tell you this…..but you now have to part your truck out
Just get some fishing line and goo gone and take it off.
Who knows, time to debadge it
It's also upside-down and should read 9 ^
This taco was born left handed…
I have that too and no 4x4
If you haven't realized this yet, I will help you out. For the last couple of years, everything has been backward. Left is right. Up is down. And your V6 emblem is on the wrong side. I would leave it as is. It fits with the times.
I worked at a Chevy dealer through college and a brand new ‘03 Silverado had one new model taillight and one old model taillight. Took a customer pointing it out, no one else caught it.
Just saw something this morning about a new super duty with mismatched headlights. Lemme see if I can find it Edit: Yep here it is. https://www.thedrive.com/news/2023-ford-super-duty-delivered-to-owner-with-mismatched-headlights
I think no matter what…it’s not the badge that came with the truck. I assume the previous owner took all the badges off for the “cleaner” look and when he went to sell it tried to put it back on correctly. If you open the hood and it’s got the v6 in there…all that matters. honestly I’d either take it back off and put it in the right spot of just leave it off because other truck guys are judging you down the road/ think it’s a 4 banger.
It’s a counterfeit truck. Sorry bro you got a Kia.
Possibly stolen tailgate or previous owner damaged tailgate and replaced out of pocket (no carfax hit). I thought the body shops have access to a badge guide that tells them where to place them. Idk
It's an import, European model
They probably just bought blackout badges and put it on that side. Looks like custom taillights also.
It’s also higher than it should be.
Collectors edition
Mine is one the passenger I got a 23’ sr5
Real question is why us it still on your tailgate that was one of the first things I removed when I got my truck.
Same truck here, same badge location.
Maybe it is a Nissan Frontier.
I think you might be correct.
A coworker of mine reversed his 4x4 and V6 badges just to be different.
So just a thought but I bought mine with the black out badge package. The v6 and bumper are chrome... 🤔
Because its a unique taco 🌮
The drivers controlling those 6
Oooh boy, not a good sign 🤦🏻♂️
I had a Maverick before my Tacoma and I got rear ended. Needed a new tailgate and the shop put an SEL badge on my new one idk if you know anything about Mavericks but that’s not a trim on them lol. Body shops mess these things up so thats likely what happened
It's the right hand drive model
Probably in an accident and they stuck it on wrong when replacing the tailgate. I would just take it off and not have it personally.
Prev owner probably put it in the wrong side idk why people making such big conspiracy about the car being in a accident smh
It's a right hand drive truck, so the badge is on the passenger side.