Bent Piston Rod and bad gasket, Dealership won’t warranty with 30k on 2019 Tacoma OR 4x4

I have to think their first inclination is to see whether you fold or not and delay making the right call. It’s in warrantee and not water damaged. These days nobody volunteers to do the right thing immediately but seem to try weaseling first.

 

T'wer me....new motor installed with full factory warranty and not just the motor, everything under the hood and drive train too. By a reputable dealer. Ya pull a motor, all the bells and whistles are disturbed as well.

 

I don’t understand why they would hesitate to repair under the warranty. The dealer doesn’t bare the cost , Toyota Corp. the manufacturer bares the cost. Unless the shady dealer screwed something up during their routine service so that the failure was their fault.
Time to contact the regional Toyota rep. And if no satisfaction go to the national rep. . And then since engine replacement is big $$$$ as a last resort contact an attorney. Be absolutely sure you get every thing in writing. Get a copy of your complete service history and everything else they have. When you talk to service managers, general managers and who ever have them put something in writing regarding the conversation. Good luck.

 

UPDATE:

I went to the dealership today, which was a complete waste of time because there was never any Toyota rep coming. They told me that I would have to call Toyota to get one to come out. So that is what I have done.

I spoke with the Mechanic who is currently making the determination that mud got in the engine and caused hydro-lock. I took out the air filter in front of him and showed him that it was clean. He said it looks like there may have been water on it in one spot at one time. The engine light came on on Tuesday of last week and I immediately took it to this dealership to get it checked out the same day. They weren't able to do a full diagnostic that day, just read the codes and did the oil change. I brought the car back in on Friday(yesterday) to see what was causing the engine light to go on. They didn't replace this air filter that they are telling me allowed mud to get in the engine. They put me back on the road on Tuesday with the same air filter that they are saying I damaged that got water/mud in the engine.

I determined that the mechanic and dealership is only protecting their own ass in not making the call to do the warranty work and leaving it to the regional Toyota Rep to come out so they don't get stuck with the bill. I didn't take it to another dealer because I really just don't want to move or drive it and am concerned I will only have to wait longer for Toyota, who is ultimately the party who is making the final decision.

The GM of service called Toyota and started a complaint ticket on my behalf in an attempt to show me he was on my team in getting Toyota to come through, and I appreciate that.

I called Toyota myself after I left the dealership to be certain that they received all the details, and understand I am not going anywhere till this is fixed properly.

I am a positive individual and I will continue to believe that Toyota will come through and do the right thing.

I am however baffled, that they let me on back on the road after an engine service with an air filter they believed was good that day, but by friday determined that water/mud came through it prior causing the piston rod to bend, head gasket to be blown, and apparently it was my fault.

They said that driving it through a small puddle could have caused it.

I said we are going to have a really troubled Tacoma community that can't drive their Toyota Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD 4X4's through puddles with out mud causing Hydro-lock.

Is there anything else I should do or anyone I should contact?

Thank you community for all your support.

 

Just a couple more things for clarity,

About the service manager from yesterday who told me they may put a used engine for a replacement - The GM said that the service manager who told me that was wrong and that it would be replaced with new factory parts once the warranty kicked in.

I believe in giving people and organizations the opportunity to do the right thing. I believe that the GM isn't able to make the call without Toyota. I will allow the time it takes for Toyota to come - with me there - to make that call and will take appropriate steps if necessary from that point.

Have a great rest of your weekend.

 

I hope you didn’t tell them that you ever drive off of paved roads. Don’t give them a reason to deny you.

 

It might be time to have the truck towed to a different dealer. Did they hand you any paperwork or notes yet?

 

Don't admit to anything, document everything with photos and what they said in an email to yourself. I would take a witness with you too. Good luck!

 

They have not yet given me any paperwork or notes. Their Customer Service Relations manager is supposed to call me on Monday and I will let them know they are needed.

 

There is nothing to admit to. I haven't been able to drive the vehicle off road yet. I work too damn much paying for this expensive ass truck lol.

 

You sir are being too understanding in this.

I COMPLETELY understand giving people and businesses a chance to do the right thing. But that moment has long passed and they had that opportunity. Even the GM, after hearing about it, didn't do you justice by simply calling Toyota in front of you. Its CLEAR that they are doing something wrong here, clear that they know this isnt a water/mud issue. These people work on Toyota vehicles ALL DAY and know pretty quickly what happened to an engine. So for them to even make the accusation that it could have happened by driving through a puddle is them completely insulting your common sense and intelligence. At this point I would have had it towed to another toyota dealer and had them assess it.

 

Very good point in bold, good sir

 

If it was me, I'd let Toyota upper tier make the call.

If they determine it's warranty, I'd then state that I would like another Toyota dealer to perform the work and get in writing that that's acceptable.

 

Did that 'mechanic' take a bore scope and show the inside of the bore in front of you? I mean if the intake, throttle body, intake manifold, etc look clean then id be really impressed on how you compressed mud. Imo I would not be taking any of this and you are being too nice. However that is your battle so ultimately your call on how you proceed, but would say it needs to be escalated up.

 

This would be different if the truck was 10 years old and had 100k+ mileage. But 2019 with 30k. Nooooooo buddy

 

No, he didn't take the bore scope. He just told me his position more or less that he can't make the final call and that is up to Toyota and for some reason, I am the one that has to get Toyota to come out. So I have been in touch with Toyota to start that process.

 

The dealer does partially bare the cost in that they make a fraction of their normal rate for warranty work. This certainly incentivizes them to deny warranty claims, particularly big ones. They might do a couple of small things to pick up a new customer that they can later bill $700 for a spark plug change or fluid top offs after 36k miles, but an engine swap right off the bat?

 

I would be tempted to lawyer up and pay extra just to fuck with them...

 

True..I had a GM dealer flat out tell me he isn't going to do the secret warranty work on my Colorado unless I pay cash and get GM to take care of me later, despite having been already approved for the work under the warranty by the same dealer.

 

AutoNation has quota's in their Service Department for non warranty work as a part of their bonus structure and non-warrantied work is paid a higher commission percentage. The dealership also doesn't earn the same money on the parts sales for the repair. They love to say they make the same money on the warranty repair. It is not true. I told them that today and to stop saying it.