2017 Tacoma Blown Rear Diff...

I bought this truck on December 4th with 64,000km (Canadian ,eh...). It's just under 70,000km now. Over the weekend, the rear diff grenaded and the rear wheels locked up (after being parked, luckily it didn't blow up on the highway). Now, we all read those recall articles a while ago about the rear wheels on Tacoma's just locking up. We all rolled our eyes because the problem was a gear oil leak which eventually ran the diff dry. I did not have this outstanding recall on my truck, nor did the truck ever have it according to both dealers. I did not have any leaks. I also wasn't doing anything crazy. Just driving in the snow in 4WD, parked and had a fire for a couple hours. When we went to leave, I was stuck. I opened the door to see that the rear wheels wouldn't turn. It smelled a little like gear oil but not burnt gear oil. No leaks! Yes, the e-brake was off. I'd thought the drum brakes may have frozen up while sitting but the truck moved a little and I could hear some crunching.

Toyota Roadside Assistance sent a tow truck and took it to the Toyota dealer in Kamloops, BC. The dealer has sent the warranty claim off for approval. The dealership says that as far as they can see, it's warranty BUT Toyota may deny it because it has a leveling kit in it. It's actually a 2" front spacer and 1" (or 1.5"?) block in the rear that the dealer installed for the previous owner in Salmon Arm when the truck was new. That's what the salesman told me and he assured me that it would not void any warranty. I know it shouldn't change anything, especially a diff blowing up and especially with the stock tire size on the truck!

Waiting for Toyota Canada to get back to the dealer so they can let me know what's going on... I can't really find much on people blowing differentials in these things. Does anyone have any experience with this or how to deal with Toyota Canada IF they deny the claim? Do they read this forum? Lol...

STAY TUNED!

 

Just to clarify, the dealer did discover a destroyed rear diff after pulling the rear diff cover?

 

The diff assembly bolts to the front of the housing. But yes, they confirmed that it was the diff.

 

There have been blown rear diffs from ring bolt that was loose (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-differential-major-damage.596261/page-19#post-22728290)...

Curious to see what failure mode on the rear diff that allows it to work just fine and fail while sitting still?

 

In the past, we'd change diffs in an afterrnoon. Take this opportunity to upgrade with a better ratio and/or locker.

 

Me too! It must have popped right as I parked it? I also have to wonder if the salesman's claims of the truck being "lady driven to and from work" are true?

I have considered that and IF it's not covered, I'll probably do that. I've never changed one in a truck like mine. But I changed many of the much bigger ones at the Peterbilt dealership when I worked there. I understand that they're fairly easy to do, so I'd probably do it myself if it comes to not being covered. OR, I can always do it down the road.

 

Declined by Toyota Canada. The vehicle has been “modified”. Doesn’t the TRD Pro Tacoma come with a lift of some sort, stock?

 

I'd go back and nicely make your case again... It makes no sense that the Mods had an impact...

I had an Old, old Rear wheel drive Fiat which used to lock the rears randomly. - it did it to me a couple of times... fortunately while going slow... It was not fun...

 

I’ll be going back to the dealer where I bought it. Toyota Canada has been absolutely no help. Even though a very high percentage of these trucks running around have the same kit as my truck or something similar.

 

Yes it is approx 1" higher than the other trims.

Toyota also now sells a "lift kit" that features rear spacers, like what you probably have in your truck.

PTR13-35210

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/toyota-trd-oem-lift-kit.695620/

Although this was written in the states you'll see further down where they tell you how it also applies to Canada;

Good quick read...

https://blog.tdotperformance.ca/guides/warranty-battles-oem-vs-aftermarket/

And you don't need a lawyer or even a paralegal to get the ball rolling...

CANADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE ARBITRATION PLAN

Then go here...

https://www.camvap.ca/

The burden of proof is on Toyota to prove that your dealer installed lift caused the differential to fail. ...

Or

They claim you abused the vehicle...

How would they do that you ask...

Vehicle Information History

Even on the '17, the Vehicle stores information each time you stomp on the gas or stomp on the brakes, VSC/Trac activates, get a fault code, etc etc etc...
each "event" stores 5 seconds before and after data like,
Throttle position,
Brake pressure,
If the brake pedal was pushed,
Vehicle speed,
Individual Wheel Speed,
Gear position
Etc etc etc.....

A member in the states had an issue a year or two ago, where they go stuck in the snow and was gunning it back and forth trying to rock it out of the rut. Rear end blew up, he said the dealer hooked the truck upto their computer and denied warranty. They said the truck was abused. It was the VIH

Sounds like you weren't trying to 'gun 'er outa there.... if you have any video (Dash Cam) of the trip, keep it for proof...

Search around here for the info and notices on the rear end recall and how they said they may seize up, etc etc etc (helps create doubt with the Arbitrator)

So it sounds like they would have no case if it went to Arbitration...

 

This is great info! Thanks for that...

Long story short, the dealer I bought the truck from, Hilltop Toyota in Salmon Arm, BC is going to take care of me.

Sun Country Toyota in Kamloops, as everyone told me while I was shopping for a truck, is terrible. Not one person I know in town has given them a good review and I work in the industry. My contacts at work including Multiple automotive shops, other manufacturer dealers, Kal Tire, Lordco Auto Parts and the list goes on... The service manager’s people skills are about a 2/10 and I don’t think he’s ever touched a wrench. Ultimately, it was Toyota Canada’s decision to deny warranty... BUT, if your service manager can’t explain HOW the leveling kit could cause the failure, I’d say you need a new service manager.

I paid the hour labour for them to pull the drain plug and confirm the diff was broken. I then told them I wouldn’t buy so much as a drain plug gasket from them and that nobody I know will ever shop there if I have anything to do it. I got a “Well, thanks” and he walked away. Lol.

I called a local towing company to come an get my truck and tow it to my work. The tow truck driver insisted he tow it for free due to the shitty experiences he’d also had at the same dealer. I threw him the only $40 I had in my wallet for his 20 minute call and promised him a bunch of beer at the office once my personal truck is back up and running.

Good customer service goes a long way in a small town. Whether the warranty was covered or not, it pays not to be a dickhead to your customers. ‍♂️

Thanks once again for everyone’s input on this forum. Over the last 10 or so years, it’s been greatly appreciated. Well, 95% of it anyways! Haha.