RUDE AWAKENING- Dealership sold me wrecked truck with clean title?

I will say it one more time....diminished value.....if you are really serious, find out what the "repair sublets" really mean....

Also pay for a complete frame inspection at a shop that does this for a living, it will cost a bit out of pocket, they can rack and laser the frame rather quickly...

I am concerned about the 'repair sublets'....strange stuffs...

Good Luck...

 

Still doesn't prove that the vehicle was that way when it left the lot. I've told the dealership I've taken it to other places. That was their response. Gave them a bad review. Manager apologized that my experience wasn't what I was expecting and if I had any concerns contact him. I replied make my experience better by doing something and contact me. 2 days later no response. I'll contact toyota Monday and might just give him the link to this thread.

 

Alex-
May I/we ask?...
What is your ultimate goal here?
TIA.

 

A couple random points.

-You have had the truck for a year, a 100% refund is unlikely.
-As others have said, a year later, you could have done it.
-Lawyers are $250/per hour, in court goes way higher. They care about billing hours, not you or your truck.

When I was looking at a used Volvo I took it to the dealer for an inspection. They told me right up front, "we are not responsable for accident damage. Some shops are so good today you can't even tell if it's been in a wreck"

I have 3 used Toyotas, I always check all body parts for matching numbers.

 

Well originally when I made this thread and was under the impression the frame was a lot worse than what it actually is I wanted a different truck because I was made to believe this one was junk. Learning that the frame doesn't seem to be that bad I would like some compensation for diminished value. Few thousand, longer warranty, etc. Am I going to take legal action? no. If I do share the whole ordeal with toyota and they unlikely offer a buyback or trade in to a truck that hasn't been wrecked, I would take it. Whatever happens, happens. Not going to be upset about anything. Love my truck and in the end if this thread is only more proof not to trust carfax or a certified vehicle history report then that's what it is.

 

I'm curious what accessories you got from the dealer? Did you get a TC?

** Edit. I don't think TCs are available for the PreRunner.

 

Thanks.
I wish you good luck.

 

I'm sketched out that my truck is a salvage vehicle too....

 

I was amazed to find out that my truck was assembled from parts coming from around the world, assembled by actual humans...

Howard

 

The OPs is not. It's a vehicle that's been damaged and repaired, and this was not revealed during the purchase process. Which really isn't unusual.

So you have an actual salvage title? That's a very different case.

 

it sucks that a truck you think is clean is not. I read this whole thread this morning because I just bought a used Tacoma from a Toyota dealership. This thread gives me an uneasy feeling, I have a clean carfax in my glove compartment that apparently does not mean much.

Here are some things I got from posts:

1) you need to register your car with carfax within 90 days to be eligible for buyback??? did not know that. don't know how to do it.
2) buyback from carfax is for totaled, not damaged... did know that
3) good luck getting carfax to buyback. Knew that too, that would be like squeezing water from a rock.
4) carfax is good as a reference. it will tell you if your auto has been in an accident but it will not tell you your auto HAS NOT been in an accident.
5) inspect your auto before buying it. I look for paint over spray, gaps that look off, out of alignment or balance in the drive. I also look for parts that look different... new control arms and such.
6) everyone who buys a used auto should assume they could be hit with diminished value when they trade it in. this tread is a great example as to why. Dealerships smack you in the face with carfax when you trade it in, then try to make you pay for a clean car when you buy... the moral here is take them to the cleaners when you buy the auto then don't worry about diminished value. I have traded in a car with a reported accident and I get fair (as in fair, good, like new) value trade value (usually KBB). I have traded in a car with a clean carfax and usually get fair value trade anyway.

If I were the OP, I would take a deep breath, think to myself "I like my truck"... then I would go to the dealer and set my sights lower. I would tell them... "look, you told me the frame is off and a shop told me they could not align it. How about you give me free lifetime alignments. Oh, and since I have lost faith in my truck due to the accident that you did or did not know about... how about free lifetime replacement tires". this way I am asking for compensation, specific compensation directly related to the initial issue with the truck. They can write off the alignment and that is easier then dealing with grumpy customers. The tires might be more difficult but if you show you will be a pain in their rear end they just might do it.

if you can get something out of them do it and enjoy the truck you have enjoyed for a year.


now I am off to the toyota site so I can see what was done to my truck.


Carl

 

A truly crappy situation, and I hope the dealership will work with you. Keep the updates coming. Make sure you document everything and don't be afraid to record conversations. If someone offers to "make it right", stop them, ask if you can record their statements and get it on tape. Salesmen love to make verbal offers and later deny everything. Ask for a written statement or pull out a recorder.

I've been in your situation. 2001 Ford Ranger, purchased brand new at a Dealership in Plant City FL. 3 years later I was in an accident and my bodyshop asked about the previous wreck. "Previous wreck? I bought it brand new". Nope, there was Bondo on the driver's side B pillar and the bed was misaligned. I pulled out the pictures from the day I purchased the truck, and sure as heck the bed was off kilter. I was so excited to get a new truck that I completely missed it. So, 3 years later what was I going to do? Nothing.
The dealership or Ford had obviously fixed whatever happened (too quickly apparently), but never reported this on the title. So, it's a case of buyer beware and I wasn't aware.

If nothing else, let this thread and all the posts here serve as an example. We call them "stealerships" for a reason. Never let your guard down and make sure everything is 100% to your satisfaction. Don't be afraid to walk away and come back another day.

 

I was looking on craigslist the other day and saw a beautiful 2012 Tacoma DCLB 4x4 with 30,000 for only $22,5. I read the ad just for giggles and it read like an awesome truck. The ad clearly stated the truck was in great shape and they were only getting rid of it because blah blah. It wasn't till I got to the end where they put in that it had a salvage title. I give them credit for putting it in the ad but they probably should have called it out more. That truck would be more than a great buy at $22,5 if it were clean but with a salvage I think it is a rip.

SilverJack, when you say your car was wrecked do you mean totaled/salvaged or do you mean it was damaged? I see different terminology for salvage... we call it totaled and wrecked means it was just in an accident... I have seen other places where wrecked means salvage.

 

Damaged, but I'll never know the extent of it. There was significant body filler on the B pillar and the roof looked as if it had been repainted. The bed was misaligned but the frame was straight. I purchased the truck brand new, so this should have been reported.

 

Op, any update?

 

BUMP for original poster

 

I bit late to the party but I've owned a vehicle that had been in 2 major accidents before I bought it and still has a clean CarFax.

The information provided by CarFax is for informative purposes only, buyer beware

 

I have a similar story but I knew that I was buying mine with a orange title. My truck was in a roll over and the seller was kind of vague about the details but produced a few small grainy pictures on his flip phone of the truck. Before I bought it I took it straight to Page toyota by Dearborn MI and they were a huge help in finding out eveything that was wrong with it. They came up with a short list that I used to increase my leverage on getting the truck for the right price and not what they were asking for it.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you dont. So far this has been working out for me.
Oh... and nothing on the CARFAX for the past year before I bought it.

 

Most likely he got nothing. No alignments, no free tires, no $2500 rebate check, just some dealer platitudes.

Larry is right. Just move on. Trade the truck if it bothers you and enjoy life.

 

A salvage title either says so or shows zero miles. Other than that is a clean title.