Dealer forced me to take loaner after airbag recall inspection.

OP, I get where you're coming from. But what if you went to Toyota right now and demanded your truck back? what would the say? what could they say.

is it a lease?

Unless you are OK with them holding your truck, then all is well. You got a loaner which is great.

 

This is where it gets tricky. And also here is where Rock Lobster really starts talking out of his ass. Because I ain't no expert, but I can speculate.

The way I see it, it's not too different than pulling a car out of the shop halfway through a job. It is your right as a consumer to revoke the work authorization, but you're not getting off scott free if you do. The shop is owed work performed to date, possibly including parts already on order and "diagnostic fees." I would imagine that if they were nasty about it they can pull the same thing for incomplete warranty and recall work. Ma Toyota isn't going to pay for a job not done, so costs incurred to date would be on you if they really want to be dicks about it.


...



The whole crux and central argument is to not leave the building if you don't agree with something that the shop says. As soon as you leave, take a loaner, sign the work order, or stand back as the shop begins work, all of those can be interpreted as consent. Some are muddy, some are clear cut, but before any of those four things happen you really should be agreement in what exactly is about to happen. Get it on paper. Never drop off your truck without a written authorization that specifies the work to be done. It's the same thing for a repair - do not rack up expenses beyond what's specified in the authorization, unless you call and get a second authorization from me.

Either get clarity and reach an agreement or say "I am not authorizing this work and I need my car back now," and then refusing to leave until that happens. The whole thing that baffles me is the idea of leaving my car and the premises without liking what they are doing to it. Leaving means you agree, because it means you forfeit your negotiation. Don't like it? Don't let them start work. Once they start and you're not putting up a fight about it, it's theirs until they get paid.

 

That I would really dig my heels in, not so much "give me my truck" but I would demand similar substitute transportation

 

Lucky, they let me drive my Corolla for over 2 years with defective airbags. Could have activated at anytime.

 

I was given the option of driving until the part arrived or getting a loaner. They didn't have any Tacos available, so I was given a choice of some nice vehicles, including the BZ and Sequioa.

Part came in 2 days.

 

The Sequoia sounds nice. I've been wanting to test drive a new one.

 

How long ago was yours in the shop?

 

You are right. And I'm not the type to go in a raise hell to get my truck back when they gave me a loaner.

I bought the truck but it's financed through Toyota.

 

So wait...let me get this straight...

You want him to tell you what law ALLOWS YOU to say "No, I do not consent to you stealing my truck." That's what your asking him to do?

 

No. He keeps saying a dealer can't hold your vehicle. Show me the rules?

 

No. this is really getting silly. You show all of us in the laws where it says that a dealer has a legal right to keep your vehicle for a recall that you didn't authorize. Ask the dealer to show you.

 

He did and it seems like he's waiting to hear


As a spectator here I like the process this is taking, let the dealer talk and talk. I want to see what they say first, personally.

I wonder if T is letting their dealers dig their grave as an angle on direct/alternative distribution

 

At least you had that option mine options were we can give you a loaner but we don't have any or sign a waiver luckily my truck wasn't affected.

 

Toyota Policy is 12000km in Canada or 8000 miles in the US for loaner mileage rules

(also, if you drive it past that number they call you, ask for it back and issue a new one)

 

Just to add some emphasis, I also had the Takata airbag recall on my e46 bmw. They have been sending me letters for at least 6 years about it. The previous owner took care of the driver side, but not the passenger. When I asked BMW about why that was possible (after acknowledging that i ignored their notices for 6 years) they said that it was totally up to the customer if they wanted to do one or both. Likely he didn't carry a passenger, and didn't GAF. I didn't either for the last 5 years, but after their damning notices and the fact that I now regularly drive with my girlfriend who i dont want to die, I recently got the passenger side done because I got those DO NOT DRIVE if you care about your loved ones notices from NHTSA. They have no authority. All they can say is please don't drive your car, or get it fixed.

Point is, they can't keep your truck for a faulty airbag unless you let them. It's your truck. Yes, you're putting yourself and your passengers at risk, but that's your choice.

The dealer won't be able to point to a law and neither can any of us because they don't exist on either side. That's why this argument of show me the law is silly.

 

After decades of airbags as standard equipment in passenger vehicles, and decades of malfunctioning airbag recalls. Airbag manufacturers still can't get it right.

 

I remember before the early 70’s oil embargo when the speed limit was 70, cars had mainly drum brakes ( quite a few without power), and there was a horsepower war among the big 3. Hell, seatbelts we’re an option in the mid 60’s.

 

Read the thread, It's why I reached out to Toyota.

 

Deff can't fault Toyota. They don't make the airbags.

 

There are many. I'm just not interested in spending hours trying to look it up.

different scenario but in CT if you refuse to pay a repair bill, the shop can hold your vehicle and place a mechanics lean on it.

To say there is no law in what a repair shop can and can't do is 100% incorrect.