Dealer won't diagnose noise issue with aftermarket wheels

I haven’t had any claims on my modded truck. But after extensive chats with my dealers service dept I’m not concerned. They seem pretty down to earth. I guess time will tell. Every time I go in there someone that works there makes a comment about how much they love my truck. Could be a salesperson or a customer or a service tech but theres always someone. I do most of my own maintenance too but I keep records and all receipts for parts and fluids.

I used to own a motorcycle shop. As far as MM, the burden of proof is absolutely on the dealer/manufacturer but that’s moot because you’ll go broke trying to get them to comply in court. Even though it’s their obligation, you can’t force them to comply. They’re banking on the fact that people can’t afford to fight it.

Vance and Hines recently sued Harley Davidson over MM and won, which totally changed the way Harley dealers handle warranty claims on tuned motorcycles.

 

The last sentence is definitely the approach that simplifies everything.

From a legal standpoint in regard to Magnuson-Moss, the OP has it right. The dealer can’t deny warranty coverage unless it shows fault by the owner, i.e. modification caused the issue. But from a how this works in reality standpoint, you’re accurately describing the practicality of a process where an owner would have to go battle it out in court, expensively, to force the dealer to prove that the mod caused the defect. If there is even a defect.

But, to say this is a valid warranty denied case is presumptive. The info to draw the conclusion doesn’t exist yet. The OP may go to another dealer and get assistance with identifying the issue, perhaps even warranty coverage, even without reverting to stock first. Then again he may not. Depends on a lot of factors including what the specific mechanical issue is, and the type of customer service standard at that dealer, translates to how hard they will work to get a warranty claim approved by Toyota.

 

Even if OP puts stock wheels/ tires on, surely they have to be lifted too? In order to fit 285/70/17? Driveline claim could easily be denied for a lift by the same reasoning.

 

Update: Went to another dealer today and they took care of it no questions asked. The rear brakes were cleaned and adjusted. I find it absolutely ridiculous to not touch a car because of aftermarket wheels. Every single source I've read even before purchasing this truck said that mods are fine as long as it's not the cause of whatever issue you are having. But clearly, your mileage may vary.

 

I agree but it’s a business, can choose your clients.

 

right or wrong, this is true!
Some business have realized they can make more with less.
Just having aftermarket wheels might be a little over the top, but still their choice.
Now, to look at it from a different perspective, folks at the dealer may very well tell you; we are busy, modified vehicles suck more time, create more unhappy results, so when we see the wheels or anything else, we assume it's not the only modification, so we decline.
I have a Honda tech buddy, and they only work on modified vehicles for recalls and established customers. I had a Mazda tech buddy (retired 5-6 or so years ago) and while they would take modified vehicles, the owner was informed they would only do diagnosis and repairs at an hourly rate, not "book time". Both for the same reasons; the customers and/ or the vehicles were just too hard to deal with, most often resulting in one, two, or both parties being unhappy.
This isn't anything new. Call a carpenter (or any skilled labor) to make a quote to fix what the other guy F'd up.

 

I just want to point out that there is a big difference between wheels and tires.

 

wait so no lawyers, litigation, fines, 5k repairs, asteroid strikes???

junkyarddogg 1
forum know it alls 0

 

Fixed.