24 Month Maintenance Plan on New Tacos

Thought I would vent a bit regarding my experience with the 24 Month Maintenance plan that was included with my 11 Tacoma.

Tacoma is a year old this month and went to get my PA inspection at the dealer for "free". I dropped off truck and asked them to perform the required inspection (I was reminded that was free). Also asked them to rotate the tires (again for free) since I really didn't feel like doing it myself this time (just did it 5K miles ago).

Get the call saying my truck was ready and the bill was $45. Emissions is not free with maintenance plan (that's another money maker in my county. The county next to us doesn't need an emission sticker but I do...). I check out the bill and I notice oil change.?? I did not request an oil change.I did not need an oil change. I just changed my oil with AMSoil Synthetic series 2000 and an EAfilter just 2 months ago. I've always used AMSoil, and although it's quite expensive, I feel it's worth it. Keeps my other 2003 V8 4runner (nearing 100K) running like new. So the extra cost is worth it to me, plus I like doing the work my self (l really do not like when the shops torque on the nut/filter at like 90lbs).

I question the bill with the service manager who explains to me that my truck came with a "free" 24 month maintenance plan. Yes...I explained I understand what I purchased and I'm still confused as to why service was done on my truck which I did not ask for. Again, he explained to me it's a "free" service and it came with my truck. WTF..... I then explained to him that he just drained nearly 80 bucks of AMSoil and a tossed out a new AMSoil filter. And that isn't "free"! Silence.... Then more silence... He then (and this is the truth) says he can pull out the filter from the garbage for me. Unreal. So my "free" maintenance plan cost me $45 bucks for the "not covered state emissions in my area" and another $80 bucks to put my AMSoil back in my truck. He assured me he'll "take care of me" when/if I need any service on my vehicles next time.

Done venting. Yes, he thought he was doing me a favor but I didn't ask for an oil change... I wish he would have given me a free tank of gas if he was in a giving mood...

11 D-Cab
Nitto TerraGrapplers
TRD exhaust
toytec lift
JVC KW-NT3HDT
Avid OffRoad tube steps w/Line-X
24 Month Maintenance plan...

 

That's why it's called the STEALERSHIP. I avoid them like the plague and do all my maintenace myself.

My 24 month maintenance plan is: Drive it, wash it, change the oil every 5k miles.

 

I'm actually kind of curious about this maint plan. I
Just got my taco and it's nearing 4k miles so I'll have to go in @ 5k for the first maintenance. I'm just wondering what the free 2 year maint consists of, a quick look in the owners
in the owners manual and there's a list of things to be done, is that included or just oil. & filter change?

 

I didn't read it too closely when I bought the truck either. However after this incident the service manager said these services were included with the maintenance plan:

Oil/filter change 5K miles
tire rotation
in cabin air filter (one per year)
engine air filer (one per year)
state inspections (not including emissions)

Road side assistance too

Then the typical "inspect brakes/battery..." stuff

 

I'm guessing the reason they changed the oil is so that they could invoice Toyota for the service and make some $$ off you. The maintenance plan works kinda like a warranty. The shop does the service - you don't pay for it - but the shop invoices the warranty company for their parts and labor. The dealership doesn't eat the cost, Toyota does (or whoever provides the maintenance plan). Sucks that they didn't ask you first. I'm gonna learn from your experience and make sure they call me before they do anything I didn't ask for.

 

Here is my experience with it so far.....
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/181451-another-toyotacare-issue.html

 

yeah its suposed to be oil,oil filter and tire rotation...sucks that you lost your 80 oil and filter! when the wife took mine in for the first time they were done in less than 30 minutes. wife was happy. didnt take long and she had our daughter with her. well i get a call asking about the service and told them i would look at the truck when i get home.... what do i find... the same damn oil and filter the truck went in with!!! the dealer didnt even do the only service it went in for... so i returned to the dealer told them of their impressive screw up to wich the service advisor looked at me like i was smoking crack... so i told them pull a sample from their oil gun then pull my drain plug if it matches i will pay for it... 5 minutes later everyone and their mom was apoligizing and trying to figure out how that could happen. put it on the survey and waiting to see what toyota does about it.

 

HA, you must be in Allegheny County with me. Same as you, I too just took my truck in for my scheduled 12 month maintenance and Inspection/Emission at the beginning of November.

Cost me the same, But I called them out on NOT rotating my tires after I picked the truck back up, and he pulled out the paper work and said, "Yep, didn't rotated them. Shows right here they all have the same tread depth, so they chose not to rotate them." That didn't 100% fly in my book just cause it was under the list of maintenance items in the 10k mi / 12 month plan.

Other than that, I have no problems with their program, Just make sure to take your service book with you every time and have them check off all that has been done, and get the certified Toyota stamp in the book. Can only help resale if/when the times comes.

FYI, it was North Hills Toyota

 

This is why I never go to the dealership. Had this happened to me, they would have refunded me for the Amsoil...that's bull shit.

 

Yeah, I would have had him give me my $80 back and pay my emissions. If that didn't happen shit would have hit the fan.

 

+1

+1

I would have demanded repayment for the perfectly good oil they drained out of my vehicle. If they refused, I'd raise hell until they gave in.

You'd be surprised how far you can get when you know the right things to say to the right people. If you are confident and calm, but assertive, you can get what is owed to you.

 

man, that blows! you can bet they did it just to charge it off.

 

You brought it in for the Toyotacare service. They performed the service, which includes the oil change. IMO if you didn't want the oil changed you should have told them that...

 

Yeah they shouldn't of drained your oil but you should of told them your running full syn oil and not to touch it either. Every time my wife's car went in for service, they changed the oil, washed it, rotated tires, etc..

I'd still be asking for my money back on my new oil they just wasted. Good luck with that.

It's just like when you put a K&N filter in. Put the sticker on the air box to tell them its a K&N so they don't toss it. Service tech's are idiots for the most part.

 

X2 here also. 1st 5k oil change, they did not change the filter, scratched the hell out of my rims, got grease stains on the interior, did not grease zerks......
and on and on.
At least I had the filter marked so I KNEW for fact they did not change it. Made them re-do the entire service, and repaint my rims. Took me 3 trips to the stealership to get a dam* simple oil change.
I am going to check oil from now on too....but that is a little trickier to check.
Any suggestions on how to make sure the oil itself has been changed?
How do these ass clowns stay in business?

 

as for making sure they change the oil.. when i used to work at honda we had a dye that you added to fluid that would respond under black light to help detect where leaks where coming from.. i was thinking about trying to find some of this but i would imagine that not all of it would make it out and would be hard to prove. so now i am going to torque stripe my drain bolt and my filter. also the color of used oil is way darker than the new.. as i proved to the douchebag that worked at toyota. also i noticed that you are also in NC. anywhere close to Jacksonville? i dont know what would be worse two dealers in the same state doing this or the same dealer that does this more than once.... also did you fill out your toyota survey?

 

I would just do like u said, some kind of torque stripe with a paint marker and maybe initial it or something.

 

Other than that, I have no problems with their program, Just make sure to take your service book with you every time and have them check off all that has been done, and get the certified Toyota stamp in the book. Can only help resale if/when the times comes.

I have traded many,many Toyotas and Fords and have never been asked for the maint. record.I don't think it will make any difference unless you have a private sale.

 

This. You have a mouth- use it. If you don't want your oil changed, tell them.

I do all my own work on my vehicles, but since the oil change and rotation is free, i take my '11 to the dealer. I like it cuz they wash it for free. It's great after a weekend of offraoding, to have someone clean your truck for you

 

Not close to Jacksonville; Western NC, Asheville, Hendersonville area.
I am thinking simple to check oil; check on a paper towel before bringing it in and then again afterwards. The color variation should tell if the oil has actually been changed. Did this with a tans oil change on a Corolla and they did in fact change the trans fluid. Since I had (key word had) been using this dealer for express oil changes for over 8 years, just wondering how many times my oil and filter was not changed as I have just started checking.
Still; it is bullsh*t you have to go through this with a dealer shop.