Voided warranty for 33" tires and traces of mud?????

Hey fastlane, the dealership, and Toyota corporate, have to PROOVE TO YOU, that the driveshaft angle in relation to the carrier bearing was out of operating specs because of a 2" lift. That's virtually impossible considering the amount of flex the driveshaft and axle have in relation to the carrier bearing. A 2" lift wouldn't change the driveshaft/carrier bearing angle but a few degrees. Look at it this way, if you consistently hauled 1000# and the rear of your truck sagged, and the carrier bearing failed, could they void your warranty then? Politely, but firmly make your case. Include your understanding of the magnusson-moss act, its the LAW. Take a copy with you.I bet you win. Good luck.

 

My ex dealer did the same thing, front end locked up like I was up against the curb, finally realeased with a bang, took it in and they replaced front diff. $3000 said void because I added a leaf spring. Mine had three, pull a boat on rare occasion and had a fiberglass shell. It was to support the weak three springs on the truck. Been fighting erver since. Funny thing is Toyota really has little to do with it, the dealer makes the call. Been giving mine long enough, time to hit Yelp, Face book and all other forms of net. All it takes is two or three car sales to cost them the $3000

 

I think what most are over looking here is that it is NOT an OEM lift.
It is an O.M.E. Lift. And they absolutely can void any warranty REPAIR if an after market part caused the issue.

Can a lift cause the problems you are having YES.
Did it cause your problem? I don't know.
If you did it properly, as you say you did, then I doubt it.

Most likely the dealer is not wanting to do a repair to a lifted truck that MAY be causing the issue. I betting the factory doesn't call for any shims on re-installation. Once they fix it, they pretty much acknowledging there is a problem. If fixed under warranty it's "their problem". So they have to fix it.

Having said all that. I think it would be right of them to fix it.
Many Tacomas are running your set up with out issue.
Call Toyota Corporate and let them know you situation.

 

If you read the reason for the decline, given to the OP was 33" tires. That couldn't do it. They can try to make a case with a 2" lift, but that's really weak. Magnusson-Moss act, which is the law, says the mod must be the direct cause. With the dealer declaring tires as the original cause, thats really weak! I think you've got a good chance OP. Again, good luck.

 

An individual DEALERSHIP cannot void a warranty repair though. They are not the owners of said warranty, they can only file a claim or request through Toyota, and TOYOTA has to make the argument. That is the major point I have been trying to make. And then Toyota is responsible to prove beyond doubt that the lift caused the failure. It would be extremely difficult for them to prove this on such a small lift. Since the OEM lift and the OME lift both do the exact same thing, they would not be able to prove their case and would lose. Granted it would be a long pain in the butt process for court, but Toyota would lose eventually on this particular argument.

 

I agree with you. Was it Toyota or the dealership that voided the warranty repair. I say reapir because that is all they can "void" is the repair. You still have a warranty. I think if you fight them you will win. It's cost more to fight you than they repair itself is worth.

 

you are somewhat right and ALOT WRONG!

this is how i know. i have owned several toyotas and several lexus. they are the same damn vehicles made by the same damn company. the difference is toyota dealerships are INDEPENDENTLY OWNED! to test this, it is really easy, drive up to a toyota dealership other than the one you bought yours from... thats it, that is the test. they will not have any idea who you are and have no clue about anything to do with your truck. toyota CAN NOT force them to do anything! the dealership CAN make their own final decision on ANYTHING! so if you are denied a repair at one dealership, go to another one, then another one, until you get what you want. even if you call toyota corporate THEY CAN NOT force a dealership to do anything, the best they can do in contact them and let them know about the complaint.

NOW, lexus is corporate, calling 1-800-25-lexus is the same as calling the owner of any toyota dealership in the country in person. basically there is 'only one' lexus dealership in the country. meaning, lexus is the 'owner' of all dealerships. IF a dealership does refuse a service you think is justified, you can call lexus corporate and complain and they can and will call that dealership right back in minutes and say "HEY FIX IT NOW!" and they have to, the dealership has no say so! lexus dealerships are also networked, if i drive up to any lexus dealership in the country they instantly know everything about the vehicle, even if the cap on a tire air spout was ever replaced, i mean EVERYTHING!. you get treated like you bought it there yesterday, they even know your name.

what i have learned is that basically, paying the extra $10k or more for a toyota that has an 'L' on it, buys you a longer warranty and nationwide 100% uniform guaranteed customer satisfaction. its a toss up wether its worth the extra $$$. in 1 case it was worth the extra $ for me when i was being stupid and i blew a $14,000 motor on a lexus with 45,000 miles on it, racing it, pushing it to the limit with the limiter removed, they replaced the motor completely, no rebuild, all new, no questions asked. for one thing the toyota warranty would have run out already and even if it hadn't i am pretty sure a toyota dealership would not respond in the same way, pretty sure they would nit pick and find a way out of replacing it.

point being, NO a dealership can not void your warranty, but HELL YES they can deny the warranty work!


i have LOVED both my toyota vehicles and lexus vehicles (honestly this tacoma is my favorite over all) , the vehicles are not in question AT ALL, not bashing either one, just trying to clarify how each 'company' operates. i know these are extreme examples, but i hope you get the point.

 

Subbed for the outcome. Some interesting, somewhat conflicting info here.
Please keep us posted OP, and good luck.

 

Not sure but since I can't figure out how tire size and/or 2" lift would put excessive strain on the drive shaft carrier bearing I think the dealers refusal to do the warranty work was based on the fact that you had mud on the undercarriage. Toyota probably does not allow for mud removal and disposal on warranty work. I find that I am treated better on warranty claims when I consistently present a showroom clean vehicle. It's hard to point to abuse when the vehicle's only sign of being used is the odometer.

Seriously, warranty claims can be somewhat open to the individual service writer or dealerships interpretation and personality. Try a different dealership.

 

I'm curious if anyone has ever had warranty work denied, made a phone call to Toyota, and suddenly had the decision reversed. I doubt that will ever happen. The dealer will stall this for as long as it takes for you to go somehwere else. It sounds like you found a dealer that wont work on trucks not bought from them and thats nothing new. They just used the tires as the reason. I'd ask around in the Houston regional thread for a mod friendly dealer.

 

Good idea... I'll look into it.

 

I agree. You make some good points. The ome lift came with the carrier bearing shims. Also keep in mind there is a TSB from Toyota on my exact driveshaft issue.

 

U are wrong sir. A dealership can very well deny a repair if they feel something installed on the vehicle caused said failure. Toyota corp will inquire with the dealer if the customer calls them but as soon as they tell Toyota why the repair was denied..Toyota will conquer. U can argue the point till your blue in the face....I work as a writer for Toyota and can asure u I have the power to deny claims if I choose to do so.

 

Yes it has happened.... but not bc the dealership is wrong. Alot of the time they will step up and cover the repair anyways as a goodwill to the customer.

 

I guess you told him how the game is really played

TY for the info

 

It would be nice to make a list of friendly dealerships

 

As a service writer TNTramair on what do you base your refusal of a warranty claim? Other than the rather obvious, owner forgot to install lubricant after draining the lubricant. Just for the sake of this thread on what basis is the OP,s. claim for warranty on the carrier bearing being denied? Especially since there is recognition by Toyota in the form of a TSB that the carrier bearing can be problematical.

 

Good question.

 

One of our tacos broke a tie rod arm at 10'000 miles. My dealership didn't warrenty it because of the spacer lift. I called bullshit but it didn't matter. They aren't going to cover it. I got a couple service freebies so I let it go. I don't think the lift caused a tie rod failure. I also wasn't driving the truck. My bone head employee could have been trying to jump the damn thing. Point is, they will blame a lift for anything driveline related and since it is a non factory mod, they kinda have us by the balls. I'll buy a baja next and not mod it.

 

I can only speak for myself.... in regards to the OP situation, I would have repaired the vehicle. When I deal with lifted trucks, its not worth the argument with driveline concerns and typically just get the customer repaired and on their way. I have denied claims for engine repairs for customers that don't take care of oil changes etc. Its a judgment call. The Way I see it.... if its not 100% obvious...i cover it