Sand in the tank, headlights, or electrical issues, the saga continues for the 4th time? (10/9/18)

There's no way I can afford to pay for a lawyers time right now.

 

Well. Got an E-mail from Toyota, they forwarded my complaint to a case manager and will get back to me by tomorrow.


This is the first time they've elevated it to a higher level before contacting me. I laid out ALL the cards on the table in my report.

 

Good, maybe you will get some good progress. You're whole situation is just ridiculous.

 

Thanks for the support and help along the way everyone. It really is sad. In the end, I know that the Toyota community is awesome, in the few meets and 1 over landing trip I've gone on I've ran into some awesome people. I am determined to make this work... I really want a badass Taco with a Stage 5 Icon, full skids, and an overland build... have actually considered trying to build a trailer for a RTT.

It's just... I need the truck to run and be sound first!

 

Have you considered contacting the AFLA or ABA to see what resources are available to you as an active duty Airman?

 

that's easy open the gas filler door, take off the gas cap, start putting sand down the filler neck, that's the only way, and what benefit would Toyota have by doing that? also if the fuel system actually had a leak in it that would throw a check engine code

 

It may even benefit you to mention this thread with 1,100 posts and over 63,000 views. There are a lot of people watching and waiting for Toyota to do the right thing here.

 

Have you written a letter to the CEO? I believe someone posted the email on here awhile back.

 

Have you gone and talked to JAG? They can sometimes give advice and direction on these things. They can sometimes write a letter on your behalf that will show the dealership and toyota and that you are willing to talk to a lawyer even if JAG won't /can't go to court with you.

Also, some lawyers will do free consultations and if they think you have a great case, will take their pay out of the final judgment.

I know it was asked on your 2nd go around, but have you talked to your insurance company? I know with USAA, if I used a referred shop to do repairs they warranty the work for a year (maybe longer) and if it comes back they work with the shop to repair it again at no cost to you.

Until you try every avenue and people tell you they can't help, you don't know for sure. I understand limited time, but get on the phone and get some info from them.

 

haven't gone to Jag here, we were discouraged from asking about civil cases outside of military/divorce/family legal matters. I did call and tell USAA what was happening last time and unfortunately they didn't have any care. They told me to take it up with the shops warranty service.... Well. they keep coming up with new reasons so it's not a defect or a warranty repair

 

You maybe discourage from going to JAG for these matters, but it is exactly the kind of thing they are there for. It says so on their website and the american bar associations website. They specifically say that they are available to assist in preparing for small-claims court too. You are serving and JAG is one of your rights.

Some VA locations have legal help that provide non-VA related legal assistance at no charge.

Are you married? Does your wife work and have EAP? That gives you free legal consults too and discounted rates.

I have no clue if you have a legal case, but you need to talk to a lawyer. You can't afford one, but with what a rental car is costing you, you can't afford not to talk to one.

OK, I said my bit, good luck.

 

I wonder if Mike Sweers knows how hated he is. I hope so.

 

Wow... Just Wow. Just went to the Manager after receiving a call from my service advisor.

They have found "A lot of sand in the fuel system again." They said I can either insurance it, or they will rinse out the tank and try again- no charge.

After going through my typical questioning of how, why, and why no one else on the planet has this issue with Toyota, I got no real answers.

The MANAGER then went on to state that I am costing him money because Toyota is not paying for any of this, and that he could have his employees be working on other vehicles. He also said that I am a liar, by stating that "that's not all your doing with the vehicle. You're doing more than what you say you are."

I asked why he is insulting his customers integrity and that as a paying customer I'm not really concerned that it's costing him money, as it has cost me thousands over the last year. I also thanked him for putting forth effort. He also stated that I am labeled as a "heated" customer due to my last visit with the old manager... even though the old manager raised his voice at me, when I was staying calm, but direct with my questioning. Never once was it heated by any means (unless Californians are really THAT sensitive..)

He also said that I WILL have this issue again, because I opted to not turn it over to insurance. I'm sorry that I don't want to commit INSURANCE FRAUD- AGAIN. I even told him that they are endorsing fraudulent insurance cases and he sorta of nodded his head.

He told me that I need to take it up with Toyota, as they are "not Toyota, we only sell and fix." I told him I've had 4 cases with Toyota, and have opened a 5th. Toyota has denied all my cases and said I need to go back to the dealer. I explained that he is saying I need to go to corp, and they are saying I need to go back to him. I am tired of being jerked around. I brought up the possibility of legal action, and he shrugged it off because it's Toyota corp that'll deal with it, not him or his shop.

So basically, I am continuing to get F'd


I've tried to call my Toyota Corp Case Manager back twice, and left a message, with no replies yet. They tried to reach me initially, however I was sleeping. I told them I am nightshift, don't call me 10-3 pm as I will be sleeping....

Unfortunately today, I am still awake, haven't slept... trying to deal with all of this.


They answer to the port of entry for the sand is the Fuel Neck. I stated that it's a closed system and shouldn't allow sand in, and he agreed. He also then said that its when I open the gas cap... I replied "so opening the gas cap is letting THAT MUCH sand in the tank? Where's the gas filter at? "

He stated that it's very fine/dust... He then brought up the fact the Toyota Field reps have been in to see the truck multiple times. I stated that these are the same reps who claimed the sand in the sample had dissolved. I refuted that sand doesn't dissolve in gas. He stated that we aren't chemists and we can't discuss that, to which I replied I have a bachelors in science (was a bit of a smart ass on this one) so I can speak to it.


All in all... No answers, left feeling distrusted, judged, and brushed off. Same shit. different day.


So now after 21 days, I will hopefully get my truck back tomorrow, which is expected to fail, again.

 

the Service manager is right, the only entry point would be the fuel filler neck, because the rest of the system is a sealed system if it wasn't sealed you would get CEL codes popping up. I would get a locking gas cap and see what happens

 

.. any reason you can't just trade the thing in and be done with it?

Money is money, but you've spent thousands already (on a leased truck) and it's just left you with headaches.

 

Hmm, I can't speak to the whole situation. That being said, if I was in your same situation initially and there was sand in the system, I would have made an insurance claim under other than collision coverage. I'd also get a locking gas cap.

 

They would blame the non factory cap. No one is putting sand in my tank. I was with my truck pretty much 24-7

The last insurance claim had to be made under vandalism, and Insurance took a lot of coercion to cover everything. Insurance states that if particulate is infiltrated into the fuel system, they vehicle should possess adequate filtration to stop the particulate. Therefore they only cover the fuel tank. nothing more. It took the adjuster quite some time to get them to pay everything.

before someone knocks my insurance company, it's USAA. A well known and respected company.

 

I don't know how to trade a lease, if that's even possible

 

So far as I know, you trade it in just like any other vehicle. You can sell a lease, too.

I just remember how much you liked the T4R you had briefly, but this truck is clearly a problem child and if you'd owned it, I'd have to assume you'd be tired of these issues and would have gotten rid of it already or at least contemplated doing so. The lease agreement won't prohibit doing the same.