Alignment issue opinion

So after purchasing my 2019 sport 4X4 from a dealership 2 1/2 hours away I soon realized the truck pulled to the right. It wasn't really bad but definitely was not correct. I took the truck into a more local dealer, 1 hour away, and had them look at it and also the right fender flare was separating from the fender.

After almost 3 hours I was told the alignment was "in spec" and parts were ordered for the fender flare issue. I was told the crown of the road causes the truck to pull to the right slightly. I let them know I was taking a trip in the next week and really wanted to make sure it was ok.

Well we are on our summer vacation and drove 600 miles to get here. Out on the interstate the truck pulled to the right the entire time. Its not really bad but definitely noticeable and kind of tiring driving that far. I took the truck to an alignment shop yesterday and told them the problem. They gave me a printout of the before and after specs. They said it was out of spec on a couple measurements. The truck tracks straight now and drives better than ever.

It cost me $90 which I feel the dealer should have taken care of. I take the truck back in for the fender flare repair on the 17th and wondered what would you guys do? Should I raise hell with the dealer or would you just let the issue go? Both the sales dealership and the servicing dealership have both been disappointments so far. Love the truck though!

 

It's $90. Not sure how much that means to you. Yes, the dealer should have found the issue and corrected it, but they didn't (for whatever reason... probably didn't bother even looking at it). If you are determined to get resolution, take the alignment printout back to the dealer and tell them you expect to be reimbursed since they were given the opportunity to correct it and didn't. If that fails, open a case with corporate. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn't. I don't think there's much more you can do.

 

I wouldn’t even mention it directly to the dealers. I’d open a report with Toyota Corporate, sending them copies any paperwork you have from from the dealers along with the copies from the alignment shop, and your statement of events. Ask for them to reimburse your $90 at a minimum, without expectation of getting a dime in return. At the very least, the dealership(s) in question, will get some attention from the mothership to possibly straighten out their issues.

 

When you go back in I would complain and show them the $90 you had to spend to get it corrected. They may help you out with the cost but don't expect much. Based on the experiences you have had so far, if there is another dealer in your area I would try them next time.

I'm a Toyota dealer tech by trade that specializes in front end and alignment. The last thing the tech does is drive the vehicle and confirm there is no pull and the steering wheel is dead center.

 

I had the exact same thing happen to me - the dealer swore up and down the alignment was correct yet my truck pulled to the left. Had someone else look at it and it was wrong. Filed a complaint with Toyota and got nowhere.

 

You need to post the print out of the alignment before anyone can really comment one way or the other. Hopefully the dealer also gave you a print out so you need to post that as well. It is quite possible that it was within spec and it pulled. Specs are pretty broad and created by the manufacturer just for that reason. Also pertinent to the discussion is air pressure and if the tires were rotated. Those two factors also can contribute to pulling.

Even if all the information points to the dealer doing wrong, the chances are slim that at this point they do anything more than apologize. I would seriously doubt they would refund your expense or compensate you at all for your troubles. Dealers just don't care. Now if you are looking for confirmation, share the details and there are enough people here that know how to read a spec sheet to tell you what your truck was doing and should be doing now.

 

Eh. You didn't like the free service so you paid somewhere else. For something basic like this, just chalk it up as a learning experience -- your dealership can't do alignments so avoid them for that.