Airbag light and the Sneaky Stealership

This thread title sounds like a Hardy Boys book.

Anyways, my airbag light went on. Took it into my local stealership because I thought it would be covered under warranty (bought the truck used and it has just under 5yrs and 60k). Stealership proceeded to tell me that they "couldn't find my warranty information in the database". I told them to go ahead with the work and I'll find my paperwork.

I call them 4 hrs later and they tell me that I need a new spiral cable. It'll cost $600 and it won't be covered under warranty. WTF? I got on the horn with Toyota corporate and they tell me that IT IS COVERED (strangely though, the airbag itself is only 3 yrs/36k).

I call the stealership back and insist that it is covered. I hear the service writer mumble to his buddy "Hey is the spiral cable covered under warranty? Oh it is?". Then he gets back on the phone with me and says "Ok you're good". I say "that's it?" and he says "That's it." WHAT THE F. That DB was going to screw me and he didn't even care. I am NEVER GOING BACK TO THE STEALERSHIP.

 

I would talk to the service manager about that. When/if you do, don't be rude or pissed, just let him know what happened and see what he has to say about it. Find a new dealership or at least a new service writer. I go to the same one every time I go to the stealership and he treats me right. Better luck next time, glad you caught the screw up and didnt come out of pocket $600.

 

dealers are slick when it comes to money, next scam will be the TRD bug deflector.

Theyll tell you that they cant let the truck leave w/o one.......a small fee of $600.....and heavy metal disposal fee of $50 ( yea old bolts) wind tunnel alignment calibration ...$250.

 

I dont get it. Did you buy an extended warranty or did it come with 1?

The bumper to bumper warranty is only 3yrs or 36K miles.

Drivetrain is 5 yrs or 60K miles.


So unless you had something else worked out, that should be out of warranty, no?

 

No extended warranty. The drivetrain includes parts of the SRS (e.g. the spiral cable but not the airbag itself).

 

The spiral cable failure causes the air bag light to come on... there is nothing wrong with the air bag (if yours is the same problem I had on my 2005 Tacoma after the warantee expired)... It was the only Tacoma 'failure' I actually had to pay for... about $300 then (2008 I think).

 

Not even sure the airbag itself is not covered under the powertrain.

According to toyota it just says "Air bags"

http://www.toyota.com/owners/warranty/


Powertrain Coverage: 60 months/60,000 miles (engine, transmission/transaxle, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, seatbelts and air bags).

 

Stealerships are slicker then owl shit on a pump handle. They only care about $$$$$. Look for a new one but guess what they will suck too. Some where down the road toyota will start taking over dealerships or watch the new sales go flat. I dont know how long it will be but it will be. Jim

 

Thats a shame, I wish people could just be honest. Dicks.

 

Nowadays you have to go in knowing what is covered under warranty. Dealer service advisor is a high turnover position. It sounds like you got a newbie.

 

If you want warranty to pay for service you will...

FWIW... unlike everyone else I don't see this as a scam on the dealers part. Just incompetence.

But then... is it really covered under the 6/60? if not supposed to be and they do anyway, then I'm sure you pay them. Right?

 

What Stealership did you take it to in sonoma county?

 

Buddywh1, see my post above. Airbag/system clearly covered under the powertrain warranty period.

 

Including the clock spring? that's good to know... everyone should keep this in mind since the clock spring seems to be a trouble spot and is very expensive to replace!

 

I had my clock spring replaced under powertrain warranty. No questions asked.

 

If anyone with this issue is out of warranty and can find an independent mechanic that is willing to do it I highly recommend that route. Mine just went bad and I found a local shop that charged me $60 to read the code, $275 for the OEM Toyota spiral cable and $69 flat rate 1 hour for labor. Total of $404, not too bad IMO considering the stealership wanted me to bend over for them. I'd suggest doing some research around town and see what you can come up with.

 

I had spiral cable go bad on my 08,air bag light came on with 47660 miles on truck. Dealer repaired under the safety restraint warranty that is longer mileage and # of months, not sure what the exact time frame is. Those coverages are in the manual , I didn't look but know its there. Other wise the dealer would have charged me $342.08 to do the repair.

 

Again, in the site i posted, the airbag system is covered under the powertrain warranty. 60,000 miles or 100,000 km.

Glad you got it replaced though, some seem to get hassled.

 

Whoops, your right about the safety restraint warranty being covered by the 6/60. I was thinking of the emission warranty, some of those parts are covered for 8/80, my mistake.

 

The Stealerships make more $/hr when you're paying cash than they get when something is under warranty. Thus they will try and screw you every chance they get.