Did I get a Lemon?

So for the last few days my 2022 Tacoma SR5 3rd 2.7 with 1700 miles has been making a knocking noise. It appears to be getting worse (Louder). The truck is about 3 - 4 months old. It is coming from the bottom of the truck and it is really loud on the drivers side and can be heard in the cab. I have a video and it is super easy to hear in the video but much louder in person.

Note: I know what injectors sound like and had few mechanics confirm it is mechanical and most likely internal engine noise. I am also mechanically inclined...

Today, I went to the dealer, pulled in the bay, and they sent a tech/mechanic out to look at it, and of course they acted like they could not really hear it, until I said "You are telling me you cannot hear that?" I could hear from the rear of the truck, walking up to the front. He then went under the truck and he did hear, but still played dumb. Then they said I have to make an appointment and they will take it now and will not be able to get to it for a few weeks to a month, maybe longer. Basically, I think they are trying buy as much time as they can, so it does not get lemon-ed.

I mentioned the 15 business day lemon law in my state and they got all angry/disgruntle, tech threw his hands up and said he does not want to deal with it and walks off, then the service advisor manager did the same and told me to go trade it in or sell it. I cannot trade the car and or sell with the knock.

I purchased the Toyota Tacoma because I wanted reliability and service, but it looks like I got neither. I know these 2.7 are usually pretty rock solid from what I have been reading. I'm pretty sure I may have got a lemon, it happens but how Toyota deals with it, is what matters. Yes, this is Toyota's problem because Toyota chose to do business with this dealership and I purchased from this dealership.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P60SYy2xj28

OK. Here is a video with no knocking sound, under the truck.

https://youtube.com/shorts/tRwy6XNCd7k

Here is a video with knocking sound, under the truck.

https://youtube.com/shorts/G2UqZ8rlP74

Here is video of drive belt system.

https://youtube.com/shorts/M2ziuq4i0AI


Sorry for any grammar errors

 

I have no clue, but it sounds like you might have gone full Karen on them a bit too soon. Good luck!

 

Don't need to lemon it, you still have the warranty and in this climate its better to have it fixed then to find a new truck that fits your needs. Go to a different dealer and try again is my advice.

 

Id say park it in front of the dealership and light it on fire like so many Lincoln owners did in the 70s, but there's a county burn ban at the minute.


... Maybe find a dealer that will fix it.

 

Nope. No Karen. I am not waiting and driving a truck with a knock sound that is getting louder every day and I am not waiting months for it to be fix, it is brand new. If it is something basic I will be happy, but from what I have been told and can hear, it is most-likely an engine or transmission issue. The transmission does hard shift into reverse from drive some times sometimes and shutters at 2.5 RPMs once in a while. But the knock sound is there no matter if it is in drive or park with the truck at a stand still. I went to drop it off, but they played dumb at first. I was actually respectful and nice to them even at the end after they blew me off. I purchases the truck from them and expect them to fix it. I only mention lemon law because they did not want to even look at for about a month even after hearing the sound. I am already talking with Toyota about the issue. I cannot be driving a vehicle with this type of issue, it could lock-up and stall and I could end up in an accident, and if I continue driving the truck, it could just cause more damage.

This the second time going in for warranty work, first time at about 1000 miles my truck was making a really, really loud creaking noise. I mean really loud! Turn out to be a cab mount bushing (front radiator drivers side), it was metal too metal pretty much. They played dumb, to I dragged them all out then to hear and confirm the sound. Everyone look at me when I mover the cab and it made the sound.

Funny thing is all these dealership would scream if manufacture went full Tesla, they would claim great service and the customer needs us

I am going to upload video.

 

Buyers remorse = Lemon

 

My 3.5l had a knock up till the end.. sounded like a 20 year old power stoke, but it got cute eventually and I called her Chitty chitty bang bang

 

Nah, he got blown off and neither the ''mechanic'' or the service ''advisor'' wanted to do anything but the absolute least they could do. A couple of weeks for a new ride to sit around for them to ''look'' at it. Poppycock. IF that is needed then a vehicle needs to loaned out.

OP needs to call toyota and politely raise a stink until he is taken care of properly.

I GUARANTEE you if he continues to drive it and the motor is wiped, the dealer will absolutely try to walk away and claim it's the customer fault and it is no longer a warranty claim.

 

I purchased the truck from them. They did acknowledge they heard the sound after my comment, but they just seem to not care. The tech, after he went under the car, had a look on his face, like I do not want to do this one. They really just blew me off after hearing lemon law

 

Your vehicle won't lock up while driving unless you physically throw the shifter into park while driving. You have a warranty. There a ton of Toyota dealers, if this dealer is telling you that you have to wait a month, try another dealer. Call around to see who has the soonest appointment. There is tons of 2.7L Tacoma's on the dealer lots, ask to test drive one of them or listen to one. Problem solved.

 

Call whatever consumer department at your State dealing with the "Lemon Law" that applies. Take notes of every phone call and in person conversation with the Dealership. Additionally, you may want to call Toyota Directly. Good Luck

 

What motivation does the dealership have to hide any problem you are having with your truck?

 

From what you say, the dealership is wrong in their actions. I too work at a dealership and can understand that an appointment slot for them is a couple weeks out but with new cars the service advisors always find a way to sneak them back to us mechanics. As far as a lemon I don't think so but for sure a warranty claim.

 

Could you upload a video of what you are hearing?

 

The money is not the problem. I only drive about 400 miles a month. Work from home (IT). I wanted the truck for out doors stuff mostly. No off road, it is only 2 wheel drive. Mountain biking, Kayaking, etc...

 

Yes, going to few minutes.

 

Also, want to note I have visited this site and other doing research for about 3 plus month before buying the truck.

 

so you showed up randomly at a dealership, demanded that they take a look at a specific issue on your new vehicle immediately, and when you felt ignored, started yelling about lemon law state requirements?

how would you feel if someone showed up to your place of work, blatantly saying that you intentionally sold them a bad widget, and they DESERVE a replacement widget immediately?



my brother was a lead tech at a dealership for a number of years. through his troubleshooting skills, the dealer ended up becoming the regional headquarters to send buyback/lemon vehicles to be repaired. in all of those cases, for a vehicle to be bought back, it needed to have a history of repeated attempts of a dealer trying to fix the issue. at least 4 separate repair orders most times.

just because you choose not to drive the vehicle for any amount of time doesn't automatically make it a lemon either. there's a process for it. time to submit to the process.

 

Good luck! Get that extended warranty.

The End:

 

Since they mentioned trade it in or sell it would they be willing to take it?