Did I Buy a Lemon?

If so, they can use a 3rd party if they have to and get you into something to drive meantime.

 

Thank you for the response!

I will definitely be taking it to another mechanic or dealer if I need to. I figured Toyota corporate would be more helpful than the dealers if it got to that point

 

Yes, I think this is what I'll be firm on

 

A little different b/c mine was in 3 months (just got it back yesterday, 2010) but I had something through Enterprise for the duration

 

The lemon laws there aren’t the best for the consumer. Bone up on https://www.atg.wa.gov/general-lemon-law

At least you have a number of dealers to try there.

If you are a MSFT employee and thinking of using your legal perk, make damn sure you keep precise documentation from here on out. You absolutely need to give the dealer service departments a chance to fix this.

Hopefully topping off the transmission fluid is all it needs. Even if the transmission grenades, that can be fixed easily.

It’s going to be a personal time suck but in the end, I think you’ll be happy. True lemon Tacomas are rare. There have been a few cases reported here, but not very often.

Good luck.

 

able to get it on video?

 

You need to request that an employee of the dealer ride with you in the truck to verify the noise. I would start with your salesman who should care about your customer satisfaction. Make sure it is an obvious discrepancy (not just you). If he/she verifies an unusual condition, then get the shop to write it up as a warranty claim. Insist that a mechanic/tech also drive the vehicle and acknowledge the noise/issue. Then, be prepared to leave it so they can diagnose/hopefully fix. By them writing a ticket, you start the documentation if it turns out to be a lemon. Depending on your state, they may have to give you your money back. Unfortunately, it may take time. In California, it’s 3 visits to dealer (all documented) with no corrective action.

Any machinery can develop gremlins and sometimes it takes some history before finding root cause. So patience is helpful. I recommend trusting the dealer and Toyota, but be ready to go for refund if it is not corrected to your satisfaction in a reasonable timeframe. Be polite but firm is my recommendation. You deserve attention and satisfaction. It’s not unusual for Toyota to send a factory engineer to troubleshoot in unusual cases. They should provide you with a loaner and do everything possible to keep you happy.

The alternative is to suck it up and live with it. You have 3 years of regular warranty and much more on the drive line. If it drives ok, maybe see if it goes away on its own? If it’s really bad, the dealer should fix it. If it’s just an annoying but otherwise normal condition for a pickup truck, you need to decide how bad it really is for you, and act accordingly.

I’m sure everyone sympathizes with a disappointment like this since most of us own newer trucks, but if it’s really bothering you, take care of business. Good luck.

 

Video and Audio the problem and post it here and take that to the dealer ... for your record.

Every time I take my vehicle to a dealer for service ... I do a walk around to show them no dings with the service advisor ... they tend to be more careful when you do that too.

 

I appreciate the info!

Hopefully the dealer will be able to fix this without an issue, and like you said, thankfully I do have a few different dealers

 

Don't bitch, go find something to drive and let the service advisor drive the new one and yours. You gotta help them sometimes.

 

I really appreciate the reply! I will try to work it out with the dealer, and hopefully not have to involve Toyota. I've been a loyal Toyota customer with my vehicles, so I do believe they would try to make it right.

I was hoping it was something that would go away on its own, but it doesn't seem like it is. Just a shame since I was planning on keeping this truck for a decade plus, but this is starting to make me rethink

 

Really? Giving your bona fides? Figure it out yourself then.

 

Yes the next step is to get audio/video.

You highlighted my main concern of techs driving my brand new truck. I do not really trust others driving my vehicle, so it is a shame I'll probably have to leave it with them

 

I will be trying to record a video next time I drive the truck

 

If the dealer test drives, you should go too. That is a reasonable request and it should allay your concerns about letting a tech drive it alone. Not to mention avoiding that tech coming back and claiming he/she heard nothing.

 

lemons...you're not driving one.

 

Just maybe, needle bearing. Try engaging 4hi, just for a moment. Do this on a straight road, keep steering wheel straight. If the noise/sensation goes away then likely needle bearing.

 

Drove about 50 miles and had the noise only happen 2-3 times and wasn't able to record it.

Put the truck into 4hi and didn't hear the noise, but felt a pulsing vibration under my feet. It was rythmic and very noticeable. It happened around 1900RPM while on the highway. If I gave it more gas or let off then it would go away. This did not help ease my concerns at all haha

 

Most of us feel the same way about the 3rd gen. It's like the red headed step child.

 

Ya I think I'll be using this till electric trucks become more mainstream and then I'll be moving on. Was really hoping this vehicle could last me 10-20 years, but the quality is obviously not what it used to be.