Poor customer service from Toyota.

Auto Nation Toyota or Toyota replaced 3 of my rims that they damaged when re-balancing my wheels and removing to the outer rim weights with 600 miles on the truck.....

 

Toofish, please explain what happened. Thanks.

 

You do realize that NASA also looked at the programming and found no issues. They have also programmed in a new software nanny that if you press the brake and the gas at the same time the fuel will be cut off. So it wasn't Just Cutting off the pedal.

I really think you need to go and buy some General Motors Products and remove that stick from your butt.

 

Jimmy are you talking about this:

When NASA software engineers evaluated parts of Toyota’s source code during their NHTSA contracted review in 2010, they checked 35 of the MISRA-C rules against the parts of the Toyota source to which they had access and found 7,134 violations. Barr checked the source code against MISRA’s 2004 edition and found 81,514 violations.

http://www.safetyresearch.net/blog/...ed-acceleration-and-big-bowl-“spaghetti”-code

Nevertheless, thanks for your response.

 

Tell them you have Heart issues and anxiety. So when you get all bend out of shape from someone being rude your heart goes into a irregular beat... TRUST me anytime i have any problems at any store i say this and they will do anything to help. My father actually has this problem and he had to get taken from the store to an ambulance because they wouldn't exchange something for him..... Employee got fired.

so i use this tactic when their being stubborn. last thing they want is a customer having a heart attack because of poor customer service.

Well thats my 0.2

 

Update:

1. Sent in the Dispute Settlement papers since this has to be done before filing suit in Small Claims Court.

2. Sent a letter to James Lentz, Toyota, NA.

A couple of concerns. As mentioned, it appears the clearcoat on the aluminum rims could be defective, as well as installing the weights on the outer lip being poor workmanship. We will meet with a few experts in the field of automotive finishes as well as balancing of rims and tires. So far the general opinion of those that have viewed the damage is that Toyota should not be doing this on the production line as it introduces damage as well as compromises the finish on the exterior of the rim.

Naturally, Toyota doesn't want to admit there is a problem and that is why they disclaim the issue as cosmetic. The issue is there are thousands of trucks out there like mine. We believe Toyota should take the concerns presented and review them.

I also viewed the aluminum rims on my 2003 Tacoma which are Enkies. The weights are installed on the outer lip and there is little to no damage after 14 years. So again we are left with the opinion of poor workmanship on the rims.

I also still have:

1. Excessive pinging with the motor unless 93 is used. I can still here it a little with the 93 octane.
2. Excessive noise from wind at drivers side door. It appears that the door seal at body is not correct.
3. Misaligned drivers door or latch mechanism.
4. Vibration from front end at certain speeds. Again we are not sure this is from rims, tires, driveshaft or all the parts listed.
5. Holes in the sidewall of Dunlop Tires. These holes appear to be filled with a sealant to disguise the holes.

 

MISRA-C is a set of Guidelines for the writing of software code using C Programming Language. Used to make the software more universal. Or to say it in their words " facilitate code safety, portability and reliability".

Just due to the fact that the Toyota code did not meet the MISRA-C Guidelines doesn't make it unsafe. If that were the case why didn't they have to recode all the vehicles? All they did was add another safety when gas and brakes are both applied the fuel gets cut.

MISRA-C does contain what they call rules that are required to be met in order to "claim" MISRA-C Compliance. As long as they are not claiming MISRA Compliance the MISRA-C can be completely disregarded.

No actually I was not. I was talking about NASA's investigation into the unintended acceleration bullshit and their findings:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/nasalife/features/nesc-toyota-study.html

NASA's Toyota Study Released by Dept. of Transportation
02.08.11

WASHINGTON -- The results of a ten-month study by 30 NASA engineers of possible electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles was released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

"NASA found no evidence that a malfunction in electronics caused large unintended accelerations," said Michael Kirsch, principal engineer and team lead of the study from the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) based at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

For more information:
› NASA Engineering and Safety Center
› DOT release
› NASA Report, Exec. Summary (PDF)
› NASA Report (PDF)
› NHTSA Report, Exec. Summary (PDF)
› NHTSA Report (PDF)


At the request of Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began the study in March 2010 and asked NASA engineers with expertise in electronic and software systems to look into consumer claims that electronic systems may have played a role in reports of unintended acceleration.

I work with software all the time. ALL Software and Firmware has thousands of coding errors.

 

IMO there's a real easy explanation; virtually all vehicles have cruise control accelerate function programmed into the ECU(s), whether or not the vehicle was sold with one. Toyota would do this to enable hands-only mods for those not able to use their feet. (My old 02 taco had the throttle cable interface for the cruise bolted to the engine)
If the ECU code erroneously decides that the driver is requesting acceleration thru the cruise switch, and 'drives' a signal to the throttle control, the vehicle will accelerate unintentionally-no pedal action required. As noted there are lots of errors in code. Coding to prevent a single point of failure (e.g. verifying in the code that the cruise mechanical switch actually was being operated before accelerating the vehicle) along with a secondary brake switch to specifically defeat the acceleration function, would cut out most of this issue. Have to believe T is diligently working this.

 

I think this thread is going off the rails, similar to this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/339224-arbitration-didnt-go-well.html

As mentioned here:

The OP isn't happy with some cosmetic damage to his rims as well as a few other somewhat common issues to the Tacoma. The rim damage should be addressed at the dealership level. I can't see how Toyota is going to command there dealerships to change all of there rims out for new ones for something cosmetic... especially since, after a quick walk by all of our Dodge, Ford, and Chevy trucks at my work place, they ALL have the weights on the outside... is OP thinking class action lawsuit? That being said the OP is entitled to think what he wants and act how he/she wants.

As an aside, at least you have aluminum rims. Half of the truck rims now adays are that plastic coated chrome crap. I had those on my ex-wifes 2009 Ford Escape and they scratched on dry grass .

Here's some quick fixes for your issues. I recommend you find another local dealer and have them performed considering your relationship with your dealership of purchase could be considered as "strained":

1. Whistling noise from drivers side window at above 45 MPH.
There are 3 different types of window moldings used on Tacomas. Most dealerships have experienced this issue and will switch your molding over to one of the other types. I had this done, problem solved.
2. Pinging/Knocking unless I run premium. Toyota should have disclosed that these vehicles will not run properly unless using premium.
A ton of new age high compression engines do this. The Hemi 5.7 is notoriously bad for it. I agree there's no excuse for it but there is a fix. TSB # (T-SB-0044-14). Any dealer will do it if you ask. This fixes the pinging completely around 75% of the time.
3. Windshield wipers don't set back all the way after you shut them off. You have to keep turning them on and off to get it to set down all the way.
Happens on my Tacoma too. Happens on my Ram 2500 too. I've never thought it was an issue. Pretty simple to flick the wipers back on and off to fix it. Maybe this issue is more noticeable because of everything else going on with you a Toyota?
4. Passenger front tire has three small holes on sidewall that look like they were filled with a black sealant to conceal them.
I'd call this you're only "real" issue since it effects the safety of driving your vehicle rather than cosmetic issues that should be fixed but can wait. Did you buy any road hazard or receive any road hazard warranty on your Tacoma? Use it to get a new Dunflop tire. Better yet get rid of those Dunflops on your own money for a good tire. The Dunflops are terrible and since yours are fairly new you may be able to get some trade in on them at a reputable local tire shop. If you're going to sue, which I think is a bit silly, you could always have all the work done at a tire shop then sue in small claims court for the money back.

Good luck OP. As others have said I think you're issue is with your dealer and not Toyota. Worry less about Toyota's customer service and more about your local dealer if you don't want to develop a heart murmur.

 

Inflation ???

 

Do you stamp your feet , hold your breath and refuse to eat your broccoli too ?

 

Sgtnewundies will need some new undies when the litigation is done.

Lol!

 

woohooo!

maybe sell the truck, buy a dodge or a chev.


that's my penny of thought.

 

Update: They are reviewing the concerns with the rims at the executive level.

There are a number of reasons why this has been brought up. The most important is the need to find a better alternative to balancing the rims, or a rim that doesn't require as many weights to balance. One of my rims had two weights that were about 3.5 inches in length. To explain the problem as "cosmetic" or "all the trucks have it" is a poor excuse. Again, if I install trim inside your home with 16 penny nails the board will hold but is it proper, or good workmanship? Balancing tires should not leave behind rim damage on $2000.00 rims should it?

I believe Toyota will address the concerns properly as they should.

 

Here is a article:

http://tires.about.com/od/Tire_Safety_Maintenance/a/The-What-Why-And-How-Of-Wheel-Balancing.htm

"But yea verily did steel wheels beget alloy wheels, and verily did these weights break the clearcoat on expensive painted aluminum wheels when smacked onto the cosmetic face. And verily did they hold water nicely up against that break in the clearcoat, allowing the demon Corrosion to have it's foul way with the unprotected aluminum surface beneath. And yea, did wheel owners everywhere fill the air with various four-letter lamentations."


Seems to me if I was a professional tire shop I would not be installing weights on the outer lip of fairly expensive rims.

 

No one is arguing that the dealer shouldn't try to refinish your rims or do something else to try and make things right. People are saying Toyota, the corporation, won't change over one upset customer. I can see they may cut the cheque for your new rims, but they aren't going to change the entire way they balance tires at the factory.

I've seen extremely long lead weights used at many shops. They use whatever weight is necessary to balance the rim. As others have said Toyota is using rim weights in the name of speed and efficiency. So does Dodge, Ford, and GM on the same type of rim. Toyota also recommends that weights be placed on the outside of the rim for the best balancing with there rims, as also mentioned by others.

If you installed a board with those nails here you'd be in violation of building code. There is no code so to speak for aluminum rims and weights. A better comparison might be saying you used standard paint instead of bathroom/kitchen paint in a bathroom. It'll pass code and work but eventually it'll damage quickly versus doing it a better way the first time. If you want to go to court to try to force Toyota, and every other truck maker, to make a change that's your choice... I somehow doubt any sane person would.

How many rims do you think Toyota sells at $2000 . There's a reason no one buys OEM rims if their rims end up damaged and look like crapola.

That article sounds like it was written by a twelve year old. Sure I get why shops should use sticky weights over tack on weights, but if you know anything about aluminum you should know it doesn't rust as iron does. Instead its "rust" forms a binding coat that prevents the rest of the aluminum from being exposed to oxygen, preventing the rust from intruding into the metal itself. That's why it's so easy to refinish aluminum rims. Your dealership should of offered to "fix" your rims when they noticed the damage by outsourcing them out for refinishing or offered you a credit for the balance of the damage.

Also, if I was you I'd take the advice that many have given you and try to get some of your other issues fixed at the dealership level with the knowledge you've gained on TacomaWorld rather than attempt to litigate your truck into shape .

 

Many years ago when I changed tires at a local Gas station part time, If the weights were excessive we'd un mount it an rotate it 90 deg or so and try it again. IF this did not work after a few tries (it did not take that long ...) we'd inform the Owner THEN puts the weights on. If it was our tire, we swap it out.

 

A lot of the time it is the tire and not the rim. If it is the rim then it might be bent.

 

Update:

We go to Arbitration this week. It is sad that some manufacturers make their consumers fight them in order to save a few dollars.