Dealer problems, Electrical problems

Long story short, I have been chasing an electrical gremlin in my 2012 Taco for almost two years now. I have had it to the dealer many many times, they gave up and told me that now it it out of warrantee, they no longer can look at it. One call to Toyota customer Care rectified that, but they still can not fix the problem.
The back up camera is intermittent, like one in ten times it will not come on, and the radio will blank out, stop working freeze up, or as it did on one occasion, turn full volume and freeze up. We had to pull over to the side of the road, shut the truck off and restart it to make it recover.
They have put two "new" they were not new, because the XM IDs had already been registered to someone else, radios in so far and that is all they have done.
I keep telling them that the radio problem is a symptom of a deeper electrical issue but I get no where with them. I ask them what they do to diagnose the problems and they say they drive it around the parking lot. I would think there is more they can do...
Anyone have anything similar happen?

 

The stereo issue is an internal issue with the stereo. The only good solution IMO is an aftermarket stereo. That is what I have in mine, looks like it came in the truck and plays 100% better.

Is the backup camera on the stereo or the rear view mirror? I'm thinking stereo.

 

Wait, so you had the issues while in warranty, documented and "fixed" and now that you're out of warranty and the problem persists, they won't help? Yeah, I'd be calling Toyota Corporate.

 

He already did...

 

A 2012 would be in the mirror. Stereo back up cameras were introduced in 2014

 

What I meant was call and tell them what is going on regarding the vehicle, not the warranty. Perhaps they can recommend a specific dealership/shop or make the dealership look deeper into fixing the issue, since it was under warranty when he located the issue.

OP, don't give up on Toyota fixing this issue. It was found while you were in warranty, they are required to fix it.

 

Are you sure?? I think I've seen them the first year of 2012...... stereo and mirrors for that year

 

I'm 99% certain the 2013 was the last year for the mirror camera. There's a pretty easy mod to make it show on the stereo which is what you might have seen.

 

Thomas is correct
My 2013 is in the mirror

 

More details would be nice, such as:
- Basic system or JBL?
- Is the backup camera image in the rear view mirror or in the stereo?

There are a few things the dealer technician can do, like making sure the ground connections are solid. Difficult for people on forums to troubleshoot without knowing your truck's specific configuration and access to 2012 wiring diagrams.

It is possible the stereo is bad though, and the replacement units are all refurbished ones that weren't rigorously tested. Very common problem in aerospace.

 

I have a 2012 and it's on the stereo dispay

 

That's right

 

I have a sneaking feeling this is all stereo related...

 

Do you have a picture of your aftermarket head unit? Just curious

 

Bought it in 2004 and transferred it when I sold my 2004 Matrix and bought the 2012 Tacoma.

 

OK, The back up camera is in the mirror. It is the basic radio, single CD with XM.
I got it back and after 45 mins on the phone with XM, we got the subscription switched.
It is a "used" radio, they had to do a transfer, blah blah blah.
The bluetooth pairing is a PIA also.

 

Interesting, mines entune/jbl and backup cam is in the mirror

 

On my 2012 JBL/Entune the camera is displayed on the stereo.

 

Wonder if yours was modded for that then. You can even buy the necessary wiring with correct plugs. Does yours show the distance lines? My money is on no.

 

My 2011 entune and 2013 entune have the camera display in the mirror. You must have the mod.