Bent Piston Rod and bad gasket, Dealership won’t warranty with 30k on 2019 Tacoma OR 4x4

Agree 100%

 

I don't understand why people think your not cover off-road. Yes it will vary by state and company but full coverage where I'm at means full coverage. Flood damage is flood damage rather your off-road or in the middle of town and a sink hole opens and swallows your truck

 

So let me tell you my dealer story.

I had a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that I bought brand new in June of 2012. Fast forward exactly 1 year later. It was lifted and on 35s. Wheeled it occasionally but never anything crazy and didn't touch the engine or gearing.
Some of you may remember when the Pentastar 3.6 had an issue with a really bad engine tick. Something that Chrysler acknowledged, but would only fix at dealers discretion. Some time around 11k miles, I got it. I went to 5 different dealers in my area to get it taken care of but was also told the usual "it sounds normal". But I knew it wasn't.
Eventually I found a dealer service that agreed to fix it. Took them 2 weeks but they gave me a rental car so it worked out.
On the pick up. I dropped off the rental. Was excited to get the jeep back. Drove less than ONE BLOCK away and hit the brakes... nothing, wasn't stopping. Brake pedal to the floor with almost no grab. Had to use the hand brake to stop before I hit the car in front of me.

Immediately glide back to the dealer. Tell him I have no brakes, he responds with "well I'm off the clock". I lose my shit, tell them someone could have died. Fix my car, blah blah. Someone comes in and agrees to bleed the brakes. Does that, we take a ride. Slightly better, but not safe enough to drive around. I tell them I'm leaving the jeep there till they can figure it out and fix it.

1 week goes by, they keep telling me they cant figure it out. I contact corporate, they send out a rep. He says, "didn't know your truck was lifted. But because its lifted, you have diminished brake feel". At this point my trucks been lifted for over 7 months with zero issues. So I dont accept that. He then tells me to take my truck. They have closed the case on this and hangs up...

Here's where I get mad. So in my line of work at the time. I had friends that knew friends that knew other friends. I end up getting the direct number and extension for the CEO of Chrysler. I call him. Leave a long detailed voicemail, even mentioned stuff about the media loving to hear about this dealer and manufacturer sending people out with vehicles that almost get them killed (had to make it seem like I was scared). The next morning, I get a call from his second talking about how everything will be take care of. they are replacing the entire brake system. Giving me extended warranty and 3 payments on them.

 

It's not want I think, it's what most policies say. Sweet that you are fully covered off road. And by that I don't mean a dirt or gravel county road (covered) or even private road. I mean OFF the road.

 

Yes if I decide to go across a cow pasture and into a pond I'm covered. I made sure I read the policy and what was covered and not covered

 

What in the royal fuck is going on here?

I have just read through 9 pages of horsecrap. Not on your end OP, but on the dealers endless shitshow parade and I have somehow managed to get really pissed off during that time.

I am speechless, which is hard to do. I really hope you get this resolved man! Rooting for you.

 

I spoke with Dealer B about exactly that. The tech that went for the drive and looked everything over actually got on the phone with me. He said if there aren't any new lights, and the vehicle is driving fine, not to waste my time. We agreed that if there is actually something wrong, the light will come back on. I put 200 miles on the truck today. Nothing. I will put another 300-500 on this week. If there is a problem, I will find out soon. Especially the type where there is a bent rod or broken head gasket. I want to expose the other dealer, I also want to work my ass off and make that money.

 

I can't wait for Auto Nation to finally see this thread. Even better, I can't wait till I get to start vlogging about it. Channel will be up soon. All about my truck and overlanding. Good times.

 

I know right! But take a deep breath and laugh because fortunately I will have the last. It may take some time but my truck is running fine. This was all stupid. They did send me their diagnosis in writing, so I am in no rush. That lie will not age well. Not well at all. LOL.

 

Jesus Christ, we need a Netflix documentary about how shitty dealerships are.

I wonder if Tesla is any better with there no dealership model.

 

Update:

On the phone with Toyota Corporate who has informed me that I can return to the dealership I trust but if nothing is found, I will be responsible to pay the diagnostic.

I insisted to speak with a Supervisor because my truck now has a tainted history because of Autonation of Pinellas Park Toyota saying that the engine is damaged due to water intrusion in writing. The engine light came on on a beautiful sunny day while I was shooting real estate photography, something that requires a sunny day. Something that I have date/time/location stamped pictures of(about a hundred).

Here is where it gets interesting. The first Case Manager insisted that Toyota doesn't attempt to verify or disprove anything that a dealer says or does. When I got the supervisor on the phone and told them that I have documented the entire experience on Tacoma World, filled with guys and gals who love their Toyota Tacomas, who know these trucks, who can't believe what I'm experiencing...
I get told that the regional Toyota Tech will be notified and I will find out what exactly is going on with my truck.

Thanks again Tacoma World. As you can read from the beginning I didn't want to put anyone on blast. Not the shady dealer, not Toyota, not anyone. But it seems that if I hadn't kept this complete record here, I would still be up a creek without a paddle.

 

Case Management Supervisor: "Oh shit, he told TacomaWorld. Execute Plan B."

 

It may sound ridiculous. I explained that this thread and site has thousands of devoted fans who own, or are looking to own this exact truck. Don't mistake, even in a small way, how important or serious these things are to Manufacturers. Not to mention, short of a law suit, it is almost the only recourse or leverage that I have.

 

In 5 days this thread has been viewed more than 6600 times and has 173 posts speaking with one of Toyota's most active community. Yes, I believe they take it seriously. I could be wrong, but don't believe that I am.

 

Well, it never made sense to me that they wouldn't send a Field Tech.

When I had my 2009, it had the melting DRL lenses, before they extended coverage on them. I had 37K miles when I noticed it, so just out of warranty, but it was obvious it had started earlier. I wrote an email to the president of Toyota USA, listing all of the Toyotas I have owned (it's quite a few), few of which ever had a warranty claim. I clearly stated my disappointment in the quality and their lack of standing behind their product. They immediately opened a case and sent me back to the dealer for replacements. They knew it was an issue and had already redesigned the lights, and they eventually extended the warranty for others who had the same problem. It's documented somewhere on these forums, lol. I don't think the forum had much to do with that result, but losing customers is usually taken seriously.

 

Key words, supposed to. My experience with those organizations was they didn't want to get involved after the fiasco I had with GM.

 

They never called. Shocker!

 

call and be persistent. is the truck still at that dealer?

 

No. I took it back, then to another dealer who said the truck is fine.

Got it lifted and put on General Grabber ATX today!

 

well at least you get to enjoy the thing during all this.

looks good with the lift n tires