2016 Tacoma Radiator Issue leads to engine Issue

I feel for you. I feel the same way. I gave up on Ford and GM, and ultimately BMW after having horrible experiences with the brand and the dealer mechanics, and for 10+ years I've felt smugly confident in my choice in going with Toyota. Only to have a Camry start going to crap after 110K of well maintained miles, and my Sienna starting to have issues around the same point. Had I trusted the dealer I'd have $1.4K in new steering and an f'd engine at this point. My '14 Taco is already at 50K, and probably 10% of that is offroad camping and driving is less than ideal conditions. And I don't feel like I can trust the brand. I'm looking at Subaru's for my kid, while they have their issues at least they seem open and honest about them.

At this point I'm glad we don't have the promised flying cars - we'd all be fucked.

 

...or self-driving cars.

 

Subarus are great. They are probably they only car I'd drive at this point.... Unless I win the lottery

 

You are 12k miles past the power train warranty and I bet they offered an extended warranty to you when you bought it. How exactly is one persons radiator going bad Toyota's fault?

 

Have you read any of this thread?

 

I agree after helping my neighbor install a low beam headlight bulb, couldn't believe what the Subaru dealership was asking to do the easy replacement.

 

Yeah shit happens. Buy a new rad and get a new mechanic. Can't expect Toyota to cover you past the industry standard warranty.

 

Radiators don't just develop pinhole leaks on two year old vehicles. If they sold me a vehicle with a defective radiator then they should replace the radiator and all damage it caused. Also, this is a Toyota and supposedly all that implies.

 

Curious, has the dealership even look into a defective radiator? I would think under a microscope it would be clear if the leak came internally (failure) or externally (puncture), but with the pressure of the leaking coolant maybe not, but worth a try.

 

I don't think they want to go there. That is why USAA is sending the adjuster.

 

I would let your insurance adjuster take a look at it before bashing Toyota here. Maybe by some freak of nature, it was a road hazard that caused the hole. Do you have any pics of the radiator?

 

What's an acceptable amount of time?

 

Dude, I feel for you I really do but if there is one thing you take away from this it is that the Toyota name doesn't mean what you or I thought it did. It's a legacy passed down from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s where they were actually making quality product.

 

No, but just visually looked at it. You have to understand the leak is in the part of the radiator in front of the fan shroud. The compressor is in front of the radiator. So, an object did not come through the grill and strike the radiator. For their scenario to work the object had to come up in the middle of the engine compartment,away from the wheels, and somehow move forward through the plastic fan without damaging it and create a hole so small you can hardly see it without damaging anything else. Does this seem plausible or probable to you? Have you ever heard of anything like that? I drive on the streets and haven't run over any objects.

 

For all of our sakes, I hope it's longer than 2 years.

 

I have heard of 20 year old radiators rusting from sitting around with no AF and only water in them but not two year old radiators. Two years isn't certainly acceptable on a vehicle with impeccable service record.

 

well 72k miles is about a 6 year average. Should it last a lot longer than that, sure. I just think op is fighting a losing battle with corp. Even the oem manufacturer only warranties the rad for 1 year.

 

pinhole leak in my dad's 94 p/u rad in less than ten years. too much plastic.

 

A rad is one thing but replacing a rad alone isn't 9 grand. This guy is still making payments on his two year old truck and he gets hit with a $9k repair bill? Brutal.

 

Is that your expectation with your Toyota? Don't you expect more from Toyota? Isn't that why you bought one?