Service Advice (Timing Cover Oil Leak, and Drive Shaft Drop while Driving)

Aloha all long time reader,

Took in my 2016 OR Tacoma for regular servicing, Oil Change. They discovered oil leak at the Timing Cover, so they had to remove the engine. Took 3 weeks and an extra radiator hose, which was damaged when the engine was being reinstalled.

Get the truck back I pop the hood. I keep it clean, they did not clean the engine after, white spots (guessing coolant stains) all over, and super dirty and dusty. They were missing a bolt for a bracket by the battery which they brought out and installed when I pointed it out as missing. Drove it home I noticed the steering is very heavy, and window controls on the driver side don't work aside for the drivers window, so called to make an appointment to bring it back on Monday.

Cut to a few days later; I'm driving through a forest area, it's paved roads switchbacks going <20mph and hear a loud clunk after a speed bump on the road, and it is as the truck moves so I stop, get out (not much traffic on this road) and I see the drive shaft has come off, walk back to before the speed bump and I see one of the bolts on the road. Pulled off to the side luckily there was a shoulder but it's rotating out of position and sounds terrible.

Was able to call a friend, and get bolts after looking up on Tacoma World the bolt sizes used in the transmission sections (Big Mahalo to everyone who posts details on TW about the fastener sizes used) and had him pick up a couple of each and we were able to match it up and was able to get it mounted back up. The bolts went in tight so it's not as if it was stripped at the frame and came loose (Guessing it wasn't tightened correctly while it was in the shop?)

Going to take the truck back on Monday now, but there is damage to the fuel tank (photo attached) from the drive shaft rotating out of position, I'm worried about the 4x4, and the drive shaft as well. Wondering what advice people have dealing with dealership servicing departments, and also any other things I should have them look for and things I should be checking out myself?

Kinda shook up from the experience as I had my family with me in the truck; if I had been on the highway and that had come loose could have been way worse, I'm thinking.

Mahalo!




[EDIT] Grammer mistakes

 

Wow that sucks, My off-road had a plastic skid plate on the gas tank (replaced with steel) that looked like that so perhaps you are all good with the tank. I even had some deep scrapes that looked like those from off-roading. Good luck with the dealer, I truly hope the best for you.

 

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I'd head straight to the Service Manager with photos in hand. NOT cool. If he/she doesn't offer to make good (at no cost to you), there's a customer satisfaction number for Toyota Corporate - probably in your owner's manual or you may find it here on TW.
Sorry to hear about your experience. I hope it gets resolved correctly.
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Mahalo! Good to know that I can just chalk that up as normal wear and not be worried about the tank!

 

Unfortunately I'm in Hawaii and it all runs through Servco, I posted on the Hawaii forum to try and get some info on how to deal with that aspect as Toyota Corporate can't help out here I think.

 

The dealer should replace your tank assuming they had to remove the driveline and carrier bearing to remove your transmission and engine. The damage occurred through no fault of your own.

I would call a Toyota corporate office if the dealer is unwilling to resolve your issues. Here is a link to all of the corporate office phone numbers.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/toyota-corporate-contact.406344/

You should start with the Portland and California (SF and LA) office as Hawaii is likely to fall into those regions. Hopefully these numbers still work

 

Is it unreasonable to request / demand a new transmission or drive shaft? I can see some nicks on the u bolts and I'd want them to clean it all up and take a thorough look at the entire assembly. Small nick on this side there are larger scratches on the other sides when I rotate it.