Got screwed on rear brake light TSB PLEASE HELP

I would talk to Toyota Corp and request all the previous service records before your ownership. It could have been serviced previously and warrantied referencing the TSB but done wrongly (not surprising). Then you can fight for the rest of cash back.

People do try to fix their own stuff but the headliner isn't something most would tackle especially being a new truck. I can see a DIYer globbing silicone on the outside.

 

This is all valid. My bigger concern is that OP claimed that the dealer held the truck hostage for a repair charge. If that's true, it's illegal- I'd be blasting that dealer on every review site and the local news, id be as loud as possible, on principle.

It happened to me once, except it was a small mom/pop transmission shop and not a dealer that should know better. I had my car towed in for a diagnostic and estimate. (It was going to be a brutally expensive repair so I was willing to toss out 100 bucks on the estimate if it meant I could save several hundred via multiple quotes.)

I'm guessing the shop had a miscommunication because they were already halfway through the rebuild by the time I got my estimate back. I told them that I didn't like their price and put the car back together, I'm coming to pick it up. Since they were about to lose money over their mistake they chose to go the tough-guy route and bully me into paying the bill. I replied that I'm stopping by in the morning and I have requested the sherriffs office for an officer to accompany me. Either they produce the car or I file a criminal complaint.

The car was produced, completely fixed, free of charge.

 

Yeah I was pretty concerned when I heard about them not releasing the truck. Hopefully he can get some resolution and maybe some money back. I get so discouraged with these dealerships. Seems like it’s harder to find a good one than a shitty one.

 

Ill start posting my experience on review sites. Yelp, BBB, google, any others? also is it worth going to news stations? how would i go about that?

 

hate to break it to you but...your local news isn't going to give a crap. Review sites can get their attention since service managers are often judged by their superiors on how their dealership's service departments are rated, and bad online reviews can and do have a big effect on business.

 

Make a billboard mount it in the bed of your truck and park in front of dealer on public street. That will get their attention...lol

 

They can't deny you your truck because you won't pay for work you never authorized. I would sure as hell get my full $400 back, in addition to putting a bad review on every place you can find.

I know it too late now, but in the future don't pay them a dime and demand your truck back. Threaten to call law enforcement and definitely call corporate.

 

They normally have an area on their website for business related bend over screwings! Where I live NBC loves uncovering and exposing juicy stories of people being wronged. I say give it a shot. The worse thing the news station can say is no.

 

Of course make sure you have all the facts and timeline laid out first. Better to get things organized so they look like the ass and not you.

 

Definitely making them look like a bunch of dong gobblers is essential!

 

Dong gobblers! That's a new one for me.

OP, what was corporates reasoning for refunding $200 and not the full amount? Is the service dealer the same dealer you bought the truck from? If so, I would send an email to the GM and let him know whats going on, in good faith he may make the better judgement. I would be on the phone again explaining to them this is something that should have been covered, if previous owner fugged with it, thats on the dealership not you. I know its hard to prove since they could ultimately say you messed with it, but until you put your foot down with force, they will continue to step all over you.

 

so i originally reached out to toyota corp and then they reached out to the dealership and then the dealership reached out to me to see if they could solve it. i didn't buy it from that same dealership.

 

Sounds like you didn’t receive the benefit of your bargain the very contract thought to raise and limit your actions. The warranty is a performance contract between the owner of the vehicle and Toyota...the dealership has no authority to deny the claim as they are not a party to that contract...they can only provide the evidence to Toyota...you now have recourse against the dealership for denying you the very contract thought to raise and limit your actions.

 

Dude not trying to be rude, but what the hell are you actually saying? I’m a little confused. I’m sure it’s a positive for the OP’s chances but the wording has me befuddled.

 

He’s trying to sound smart and say that the dealer doesn’t make the call on warranty issues, only Toyota can make that decision on what’s covered or not. But he’s not smart.

 

When it comes to exercising rights under a contract words have meaning...I’m sure the paperwork from the dealership says something along the lines of “customer concern is this...” or customer complaint is this....” rather than the word “claim” they can’t deny a claim but they can deny a complaint or concern...the fact that silicone or missing nut is all conjecture on the dealerships part unless the OP admits to it then it would be fact...either way they denied him the benefit of his bargain...the bargain being the warranty and the benefit being the repair free of charge.

 

Got ya. It’s shitty he has to go through all of this. Hopefully it is all fixed and he can get some money back at least. I just wish more dealers were willing to be good business models of customer care.

 

I took my Honda Accord into a dealer a long while back. I got a parts changer mechanic who just kept throwing new parts on the vehicle until something worked. Then they charged me for ALL the newly installed parts, including those I didn’t need. I fought the dealer and lost. Then I did a BBB complaint and was promptly refunded.

 

I did a BBB complaint and then responded back saying they didn’t owe me so I went further in depth saying how I never authorized any work that would cost me money. We will see what they respond. Thanks for the input.