Arbitration didn't go well..........

"This went on for another 5 minutes or so ... day light was beginning to break .... now I am "looking" for the cause ... ta-da ... an oak leaf stuck in the wiper arm ... if they were all that easy. "

It was an attempt to instill a little humor in this ongoing saga ...

 

Make a huge sign and offer rides in your truck to show them what Toyota is claiming to be a normal characteristic.

 

After reading so many complaints on the Tacoma vibrations over the years, I wish I could get my EVA connected up to a Tacoma with this issue and find the REAL cause. I do not understand why Toyota is having such a hard time locating the problem. And EVA tester will pinpoint the location, amplitude, order, and harmonic frequency of any vibration. Why have they never used one?

 

Thanks Ray.. good idea

 

That would be fun!

 

Because if they find a problem, they will be responsible to fix the problem.

 

I don't buy that kind of thinking. Companies do this all the time, and deal with bulletins and such all the time. More to it than that.

 

Yeah, I wish they had addressed the problem and fixed it, or replaced the tacoma with one that doesn't vibrate.

Maybe they already know what the cause is and the fix is cost prohibitive?

Denying the problem exists and losing a few or few hundred customers is prob a fraction of a fraction of their annual earnings... doesn't even register.

 

Read this thread. Seems like the dealer has been very patient and has tried working with you to get to the bottom of your issue.

Shame on Toyota for claiming your issue as a characteristic.

Other than the irritating ping my truck drives smooth.

Maybe ask nice and round up some TW area members and show force to the dealer. I don't really recommend this because it seems like it is Toyota Corp not wanting to play ball.

 

Yeah, it's all been a big waste of time, toyota isn't going to make things right and the truck just sits because neither of us enjoy driving it due to the vibration. We are preparing to take this to small claims court as soon as we receive the rest of the letters and documentation from the transmission shop and another ASE certified mechanic.

 

If you can get back what you've invested in tying to fix this problem than you really haven't wasted much other than time. Good luck OP.

 

Does TN have a lemon law(s)?

 

Very true.. that's the best we can hope for at this point. From what I understand, TN small claims limit is $25K so potentially we could recoup
all of the money (incl fuel costs, time off work etc) spent trying to resolve this issue so far and enough to "fix" the problem or cover our losses at trade in time.

Thanks.. Ken

 

my 2002 has no problems with vibrations. And it stinks that you have to go through this. Hope it goes well.

 

Yes, but TN is one worst states in the country for a consumer to file a LL claim. I tried more than 40 law firms, including the online ones that claim to have won thousands of claims for consumers. A few of them reviewed our documents and stated that everything looked good, we have a justifiable case, but at this time they do not pursue LL cases in TN or against toyota. Tennessee is pro business, not pro consumer. The other issue, toyota pushes the proceedings out for as long as possible, sometimes years. Most people want to move on before it's over, so the attorneys get nothing. The law firms have decided not to take these cases anymore. I can't blame them, nobody should work for free. The system is not here to protect or assist the consumer.


As far as arbitration goes..

" (3) forces consumers to resort to mandatory arbitration through biased auto company arbitration before they can exert their legal lemon rights and (4) does not provide a civil penalty for auto manufacturers who willfully violate the lemon law."


This is an interesting read.. It was written in 2002, but things have only gotten worse (for consumer protection) in TN as many car manufactures are located here now.

http://www.autosafety.org/tennessee-lemon-law-state-ranking

 

Thank you.. so do we.

With so many people saying their Tacoma's DO NOT vibrate at highway speeds, I don't understand how toyota can continue to call it a characteristic.

 

Nailed it!

 

Awesome Charger! '66?

 

So, you haven't opened a file with the State AG? Do it.

 

Try getting your story in the local media. Maybe that and the sign idea can create enough negative press that the dealership starts losing business. The fastest way to get a company to get a conscience is through diminished sales.