Poll: Lemon Law, Buyback or Platinum Waranty Thread

What would I vote?

Had a rear diff replaced for the howl and the new diff is even worse?

I'm going to meet with the Toyota engineer when I bring my truck back into the dealer... So maybe I should hold off on voting.

The noise is driving me crazy as well.

 

I voted 125k and 8yr warranty......this was from the 2 quarts low transmission fluid and the headache I endured with that issue. I fixed my howling diff and other problems permanently......I traded for my 4runner.

 

Vote the last one.

When was your diff replaced?

Did you open a claim?

We stand with you brother.

 

Yeah. Diff was replaced in early July.

Got a call/email from the Western regional rep last week about it but I couldn't call back until today. Left a message and now I'm waiting... I'm curious as to what the update she called me about.

I set up a claim with corporate awhile ago and they offered to have the regional toyota engineer meet up with me (again..) next time I bring the truck in. He said the howling was normal last time he came out after the master mechanic at the dealer replaced the first one due to a "bad pinion bearing". Second diff is even louder.

I live over 60 miles away from the dealer so I'm kinda stalling so that I can get my 10k service done too.

Couple of weeks or so I'll hopefully get some answers.


Voted*

 

Region FTS based out of Denver came out to look and ride along in my truck twice after they replaced my first diff. I don't recall the exact month or the old posts I made about it. On the last ride-along he broke out his iPhone and was trying to record the audio of my 2nd howling rear diff. Essentially he said it was a known issue, Toyota was working on an approved engineering fix and that a TSB would be coming in a few months (this was well over 8 months ago now)... I think he just fed me a line of BS to get me to quiet down. The dealer Auto Group director for service (Auto Group big shot) met with us as well, went on the same ride along. He essentially was asking me what I wanted. I told him I wanted it fixed. He tried to tell me that it was normal and not likely something they were going to fix. He then graduated the discussion into trying to sell me on another vehicle. Ultimately he seemed to fear that I was going to pursue lemon law or buy back and this would hurt the dealership... so he was saying "look we know you're not happy with the truck, we don't have a good answer for you, so what can we put you in that will make you happy" ... My answer was "sure buy it back for every penny I spent including taxes and fees, then I'll buy something else from you at or below invoice" to which he did not reply.... Because they weren't going to do it and I knew it.

 

Yikes.

I'm not expecting much more that your experience.

After the bad pinion diagnosis I did make it very clear to the regional rep that I was getting very conflicting information between the Toyota Mechanic and the Toyota Engineer.

I also made it clear to the rep that if the Toyota Engineer wants to say its normal I want his name all over the documentation saying its normal; so that if/when the pinion bearing fails with my family in the car I know who to sue. (I was getting worked up... had to reroute myself and the conversation before I pissed her off too much).

My father ran an auto repair shop for 30 some odd years and I tend to trust that mechanics (good ones) know what they're talking about.

 

Hmmmm. Seems like customer service may have had some severe limits there

 

Yeah, see if that Engineer will give you a document that it is normal. Have it signed by him. If he won't do that, then it must not be normal, either by mass perception or reality.

 

That is a good move trying to hold the Engineers feet to the fire.

 

I am an engineer. I would never sign something like that. However, that fact could used to make a solid point.

 

I feel like emphasizing safety is a good bet...

At a very minimum I'd like in it writing on Toyota letterhead.

(I'm also an Engineer.)

 

AC blower failed. Parts are on back order and the dealership will "put me on the list" for a loaner.... no loaner for no AC in the Texas heat? How about no way to de-fog the windshield or windows...... making it unsafe to operate the vehicle?

Just filed a claim with corporate for a loaner from wherever they can find one.

 

They may provide that. I think it will end up on dealer service department letter head.

 

How does the buyback process work, I was told it was what I paid for the vehicle minus mileage? At what dollar amount do they calculate mileage? The case manager I am dealing with is a real "B". She will not provide me any information. My truck has been at the dealer for 72 days and no one can tell me when it will be fixed. They offered to refund the months that it has been out of service, which is coming up on 2 and 1/2. I asked if they were going to pro-rate if it isnt a full month and she said no. She said if I pursued the buyback, they would withdraw the offer to refund the payments. My truck is leased through Toyota. She told me the buyback process can take 6 weeks and they could deny my claim.

 

Don't let her fool you because you will fare well on a buyback and most manufacturers are more than willing to waive mileage so long as they don't have to classify it as a Lemon. Basically, they deny everything and do a good will buyback. You take their money or do an MSRP to MSRP trade assist, sign on the dotted line, get your new truck, and they have a clean late model truck to sell to some poor sucker. You need to, just to cover your bases, get familiar with you state's Lemon Law. They don't have to tell you a thing or help you with it. They will lie to you. You should have already gotten a buyback, trade assist, to LL'd this thing.
http://www.dmv.org/automotive-law/lemon-law.php