Need your help! Regrets me to have to post this :/

Hey guys,

I own a 2011 Tacoma that i bought brand new in February of this year. I have been experiencing nothing but problems. Ive only owned the vehicle for a little over 8 months now and been to the dealership about 13 times not including my current blown transmission. I really need your advise on what to do and how to find some sort of quality resolve and what kind of resolve is acceptable

I posted this on Toyota USA's facebook. This should sum up where i am right now...

I just want to say how much of a regretful Toyota owner I am. I purchased a brand new 2011 Toyota Tacoma this February and it was the biggest mistake I have ever made. I got a good deal on it but I wish I spent more money on a more quality built vehicle like the Chevy Silverado or Ford F-150 Eco-boost. I always used to think about Toyota being synonymous with quality build and quality comfort. You couldn’t have failed more! I should have identified the whole “accelerator failing” issues in the news in the past few years as a red flag about their quality but I overlooked it and expected Toyota to make it right by their customers. Boy was I wrong! My devotion to the Toyota brand goes back many years from owning my first two vehicles passed down from my parents. And of course that concept was applied when I purchased my first Toyota vehicle. That this vehicle will meet my needs and someday be passed down to my kids. This couldn’t be farthest from the truth. Shame on you Toyota, what a mistake!

I have been having ongoing issues with my truck since the day I drove it off the lot. Literally since it rolled off the lot! You’d think after buying a $30,000 truck, that the dealership you’d bought it from would practically hold your hand and express their apologies as you they fix your vehicle. Not true! I was met with backlash and much resistance. The Atlanta Toyota dealership told me that I signed a document indicating that they owe me nothing else after the deal had been finalized. I couldn’t agree more, they didn’t owe me additional floor mats, extra fancy key chains, pink dice hanging from the rear view mirror, but they do owe me a fully functioning quality vehicle. Since then, including the original visit, I have been to the dealership a total of 13 times in the last 8 months. That’s over 1.5 times per month that I’ve owned this vehicle. Is that acceptable behavior and quality? Absolutely not! Furthermore this is not the premise that I purchased this vehicle upon.

I decided I would not lash out on my previous experiences and that I would overlook all the problems I’ve had ranging from having to replace the whole rear window due to improper installation, leaf springs due to grinding, the air conditioning blower, and all of the defective tires that came with the truck, and more. But now, even worse, I sit here with a blown transmission and AGAIN my truck in the shop. This is unacceptable and the furthest thing from the experience I was looking for. I’ve been on the phone with Toyota Customer Care 3 times, 3 different days, and while they are sincere about my needs and very polite, nothing continues to be done on their behalf.

With all that I have already been through and being very polite through the whole process I would have expected someone from Toyota to be courteous, attentive, and prompt in addressing my needs. None of which has happened. I am about to lose it, come unglued, and come uncorked! The build quality of this vehicle is outrageously poor. I expect and deserve some sort of above and beyond resolve and experience! And most importantly to talk with someone who for once has the power to make things right!!!


Also below is an account for everytime ive been to the dealership, not including the blown transmission i current have my truck in the shop for:

Problem #1: Tire Issue: At speeds of 65MPH – 75MPH the car would start to shake rapidly. This started the day of purchase. Occurred leaving dealership the day it was purchased.

1st Trip: Identified that there was a problem with vibration.
Resolve Attempt: Balance tires.
Problem Status: Failed. Car still shook all over in fact the major vibration shifted from around 65MPH to 75MPH.

2nd Trip: Identified there was a problem and that it did not resolve the issue.
Resolve Attempt: Road Force Balance Tires.
Problem Status: Failed. Car still shook all over. When no one was in the passenger seat it would shake frantically.

3rd Trip: Refused to admit there was a problem until I demanded the service manager ride with me in the car to see the front seat shaking. I asked if he thought they were flat spotted tires since the car had sat on the lot with only 13 miles on it for a year. He refused to replace the tires. Finally after no other possible resolve he agreed to order 2 new tires. Not 4 but 2. If the tires are flat spotted, wouldn’t they need to order 4 new ones? Not 2?
Resolve Attempt. None. Tires ordered.
Problem Status: Still existed.

4th Trip: Parts came in. Went to get new tires put on and balanced.
Resolve Attempt: New tires installed and balanced.
Problem Status: Failed. New tires resolved about 90% of the issue. Still existed but I could not justify wasting anymore time. Nor sit through any more of their ill customer service.

Problem #2: Vibration Under Passenger Side Dash while accelerating, etc.

1st Trip: Could not replicate.
Resolve Attempt: Denied.
Problem Status: Existing

2nd Trip: Problem acknowledged.
Resolve Attempt: None. Parts ordered.
Problem Status: Existing

3rd Trip: Parts were received. Went to have parts installed.
Resolve Attempt: Install box or other part behind dash/under dash.
Problem Status: Resolved.

Problem #3: Squeaking leaf spring. When stopping, accelerating, turning, or getting in and out of vehicle leaf springs would squeak uncontrollably. Almost if grinding against each other.

1st Trip: Could not diagnose in the rain.
Resolve Attempt: Denied
Problem Status: Still existing.

2nd Trip: Problem Acknowledged.
Resolve Attempt: None. Parts ordered.
Problem Status: Existing.

3rd Trip: Parts received. Going to have parts installed.
Resolve Attempt: Pads/spacers installed between each leaf.
Problem Status: Resolved.

Problem #4: Window and Air Conditioning Problem. Every time I turn on the A/C the vehicle produces a loud whistling noise.

1st Trip: Problem Acknowledged. Defective/improperly installed rear window and seal.
Resolve Attempt: None. Parts ordered. Complete new rear window and seal. Rental vehicle issued.
Problem Status: Existing

2nd Trip: Parts received. Going to pick up car.
Resolve Attempt: Replacing rear window and seals.
Problem Status: Resolved.
Note: Outstanding customer service – Brian Pak!

Problem #5: Transmission Issue. When casually accelerating getting on the highway or on surface streets, vehicle will slam in and out of gear. Thus causing a sudden decrease in speed or jolt forward. Then vehicle will not shift down into 4th gear causing the engine to overly rev/redline. Additionally, when decelerating, the vehicle will slow when the break is applied and slam into gear every time it downshifts along the way. Each time it shifts down it causes the truck to lunge forward. Very dangerous.

1st Trip: To be determined
Resolve Attempt: To be determined
Problem Status: To be determined.


Thanks for all input. I'm just really disappointed in this experience and purchase

 

OMG man...

 

Lemon Law?

 

That is my thought on the subject, too. You got ahold of a bad apple (or lemon, as it were).

 

Damn. Call the BBB, do arbitration to get the vehicle bought back from the dealer. Only thing I can say. That is way too many issues to be an 8 month old vehicle.

 

You could politely ask the dealer to buy it back, they will straight up tell you to F off, ask me how I know. Call the BBB, fill out some paperwork and a few short weeks later, the dealer called me to bring back the truck (chevy silverado).

 

I dunno. I guess i need to do my due diligence on that one...i simply dont know enough about lemon laws...

With that being said, i think that it has to have had 3 or more repairs that impede vehicle safety or functionality. As of right now, the only two i can justify in that category are going to be the tranny issue and a far stretch at the leafs...

If anyone has more info or knows about lemon laws, a penny for your thoughts

B

 

Read my 2 posts

 

I know at my work, you would of never got that kind of service. You shoulda bought a Ram lol.... just kidding.

Good luck with Toyota. Its too bad yours is a lemon, maybe not that you've stirred the pot abit, things will start to go your way.

 

ok, i know a few of these. i have the vibrating steering wheel, BUT it’s after i had good all terrain tires and one size bigger. and only really happens in the rain.

2 squeaking leafs. i think most of us have that. mine started when i started taking if on service roads and dirt roads. it’s just the leafs rubbing on each other. few cheap DIY fixes for that, don’t think it’s really anything they the dealer can do.


also i’m pretty sure the A/C prob is the fan. idk if their is any fix other than replacing.

edit: i see you fix a few of those.

 

This is sad to hear but I'd be pushing the lemon law hard on this one. Good luck OP. This will be a tough battle that is for sure..

 

Sounds like you need to go to a different dealer. There will always be 1 in a million total failures in any product. Sorry that this ruined your thoughts on toyota.

BTW you compared a tacoma to two full sized trucks. Should be ranger and colorado (do they still make those?)

 

if it comes to it

http://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-services/lemon-law-complaint-process/georgia-lemon-law

 

Issues since it rolled of the lot? Did you not test drive the vehicle before you bought it?

 

x2. i would bush HARD on the lemon law!

 

Ok, I cannot speak to the tranny or AC issue, but those tires could certainly flat spot and cause a huge vibration issue, mine did the same thing (Dunlop AT20's), untill I replaced the tires, there simply was no way to balance them to not shake.
As for the leafs, it is well known that the leaf set up in these trucks is not a strong point of the vehicle's construction, that you experienced said squeaking leads me to believe that something wasn't assembled correctly or a incorrectly torqued U-bolt. That this happened to a new truck is not good.
Best of luck to you.

 

Wow, hate to hear that and know how much of a pain it can be. I had issues with my rear leaf TSB and radio. Ended up getting them resolved, but it was a headache and required me to be very persistent.

On the transmission issue, I just had my 25K mile oil change and my transmission would shift often and unnecessarily at lower speeds. (20-40 mph). It also didn't seem right when shifting from 1-2 or 2-1 if I was stopping and going quickly (stop sign). I have a 2011 as well that I bought with 20K miles. There was an ECU reflash TSB for 2010, but not 2011. I mentioned the issues I was having and they did an ECU RESET that, so far, seems to have completely resolved the issues I was having. Might want to give that a try. Hopefully it is nothing more than that, but your issues do sound more severe than mine. You can reset the ECU yourself by unhooking the battery for a period of time (I believe). I'd give that a shot at least. Good luck.

 

What i was getting at was that i regret not spending the money on a full-size sierra or ford eco boost.

Yea i'm going to get on it. I am concerned they will give me my money back and i will be forced to spend more money on a new truck since i got a really good deal on it. Plus, i have a bunch of mods, lights, avid bar and step sides. Concerned they wont fit on a new taco.

Yea, im going to look into it. I know im gonna need to press it hard. Im just so exhausted and distraught going through this...i just need to muster up the energy and see it through.

 

You don't necessarily have to buy another Tacoma, although the dealer will try to let you drive off the lot with another one. Tell them nicely to shove the Taco up their ass and give you a check. Go test drive something else, it won't hurt to look at your options.

 

That's actually a funny situation...

I test drove it never leaving the dealership...my fault.

My best friend has the same exact truck, literally same exact truck.
So i walked on the lot, pointed at the truck and said i want this truck and i want to pay XXX for it. Drove it out of the parking lot, around the lot, and up to the showroom floor, and processed the paperwork then and there.

To my defense, the tire issues were only on the highway and none of the other issues occurred until later. I figured, my best friend has this vehicle and i loved it. I expected them to be the same.