2023 Tacoma Fuel System Failure (Low Mileage)

Hello all, first post here. I am looking for some independent validation (or invalidation) of my concerns:

I recently bought a brand new 2023 Toyota Tacoma. It has ~3300 miles on it. As I was commuting into work on when my check engine light came on and the vehicle went into "limp mode". I stopped the vehicle and restarted it, the check engine light turned off. At the time I was not in a location that was easily accessible by a tow truck, so I started to drive the vehicle ~20 miles on paved roads to a more accessible location. Approximately 15 miles into that drive, the vehicle lost all power and I smelled burning gas. I was unable to get the vehicle to restart, and called for a Tow Truck and thankfully was able to have the vehicle towed to a dealership.

At the dealership, they read the codes, preformed some tests, and told me it was bad fuel. They stated it would not be covered under warranty. However, the current tank of fuel, and the previous 2 I had purchased, were all purchased from a reputable, nationwide, members-only company that sees 1000+ vehicles a day. In the time between filling up the tank and the issues occurring (~1.5 days and 100 miles of driving) the vehicle was only kept in environments where vandalism was extremely unlikely (gated secure facilities and my garage). Continuing on, at the dealership I authorized them to clean the fuel system and see if anything else was broken. Additionally, I asked for a sample of the fuel (and they gave it to me). Codes/estimate from the dealership are attached. The dealership also said that since they would not cover bad fuel under warranty, that I should open an insurance claim (and I did).

The next day, I got some time to sit down and research the codes the vehicle had given and try to workout what happened. After finding the 3rd generation Tacoma fuel system schematic posted in another thread on this website, I came up with a prediction that the low pressure fuel pump had failed, which does not seem likely to be caused by bad fuel. Today, I called the dealership and they told me the low pressure fuel pump had indeed failed. Their only reasoning provided was that when commanded to provide 77 psi the fuel pump produced 3 psi. I asked them to elaborate on what portion of the pump was broken and they could not. Because I didn't really have much choice at this point, I authorized them to replace the fuel pump as well.

I am not necessarily concerned about whether or not the vehicle had bad fuel, but whether or not any one has heard of (or experienced) bad fuel breaking a fuel pump before?

Apparently I forgot the list of codes at work so here are the ones I remember off the top of my head. I will upload the proper list tomorrow.

Codes List:
P08700 - Fuel Rail System Pressure, Too Low
P0300 - Random Misfires, All Cylinders
P03002(?) - Misfires on Cylinder 2
P03004(?) - Misfires on Cylinder 4
P03006(?) - Misfires on Cylinder 6
P0175 - Fuel Trim System Too Rich, Bank 2
Rough Idling, and a couple about misfire rates

Additionally the original estimate stated "heavy deposit contamination", which the dealership was unable to provide me proof of, and a density of .738 at 70 F as reasoning for the bad fuel diagnosis.

 

You were given a fuel sample what did it look like

 

Was it idling rough from the day you bought the truck?

 

Two things, found a copy of the original estimate (edited for obvious reasons) and here is a picture of the fuel sample. I haven't done anything with it yet, but intend to have it tested.

 

It was rough compared to my previous vehicle (ford escape), but not enough to cause concern

 

They put a gasoline sample in a plastic water bottle?

WTF? Should've been a clean glass jar.
Did you see the sample taken?
Can you/they swear the bottle was free of water?
Even a drop of water in a sample that size would indicate massive contamination.

They're trying to justify you paying for a fuel system clean.


I'd fight them over the repair cost. Pump failed. Period. Wet fuel will not cause a pump to fail. It's a liquid, the pump knows no difference.
Simply a mechanical failure, not due to contaminated fuel or deposits, of which they couldn't prove.

How did they determine density? I'd ask for a demonstration.

Open a claim with Toyota.

They're trying to blow smoke up your ass.

Surely you have receipts for the gas station for the previous fill ups.

 

Yeah, I thought the same with the glass jar. I asked for one and thats what I was given. I did not see any of the samples taken. They stated that they had just poured the water out, and let it dry for a bit, so there is no guarantee it is even clean.
regarding the density testing- as much of a pain as they have been so far to work with, I doubt I will get a demonstration.

Im gonna open a claim.
I don't have all the receipts, but I do have the most recent one as well as the charges on my card.

 

Fight the dealer tooth & nail on this.

It ain't bad gas, it's shitty mechanics & shady service writer.

They can't prove it's wet gas or deposits, admittedly gave you a questionable sample.

They can prove it's a bad pump, can't prove bad fuel broke it tho.

Talk to Toyota directly. Be nice, but go over their heads on this for sure.

Find another dealership to work with after it's repaired.

Didja get a loaner while yours is in the shop?

 

Service manager refused to give me a loaner, even though I am entitled to one as a part of my warranty contract. Currently have a rental through insurance.

 

Talk to his general manager.

Demand to open a claim with Toyota for warranty repair. They can not prove it was bad fuel.

Be nice, but take no shit. Everybody has a boss above them. Everybody.

Who suggested you file an insurance claim??

 

One guess, his title starts with service and ends with manager

 

It doesn't sound right, i agree with what was said above, be nice but cross your T's and dot your i's and make them do the same.

 

He has a boss.... ask for the general manager.

Explain to him the issue. Argue, calmly, that there is no way contaminated fuel caused the issue, that his service team couldn't show proof and then provided an inadequate sample in a water bottle that, as you said, was drained and left to dry for a bit. Even if tested it would possibly show as wet since it was not a properly proven clean glass sample bottle. Ask if they ever send oil sample to an independent lab for testing. Ask to see the sample kit the lab should provide. Should be a CLEAN & sealed glass or plastic bottle.

They then stated on the work order cleaning is needed and POSSIBLY more work done to fix the issue. All of which is at your expense.

They're setting you up.

I'd ask for the pump to be replaced under warranty. That's all. No fuel drain & system clean. They'd need to pull the tank & open it with me there so I could see contamination in a tank with 3300 miles on it. What's that 8-10 tank fulls at most?

Total bullshit or you have SUCKER written across your forehead.

 

Where is this dealership?

 

It may take a while, but hold them accountable, you came to them in good faith as a customer, bought a Toyota for the reliability, and now the dealer is stonewalling a warranty claim on unproven claims just so as to make more money in the long run stretching out the diagnosis & repair.

That is what your argument to Toyota corporate should be.

Don't volunteer to be a victim of their bullshit!

 

What’s this reputable members only situation ?
Costco ? Why the secrecy ?

Did you contact them? They may provide you with a Gasoline sample as well if they are “reputable “ or cover your bill if they had others complaints.
Situation seems really suspicious

 

Fully agree with @bubbaearle. Bad gas is so rare these days. Get this truck to a different dealer and/or get Toyota corporate involved.

I would not trust the dealer where your truck is. They should have covered this under warranty, and kept it pushin'. Instead they are blaming you, the guy that just spent $40k+ on their product, 3,300 miles ago.

Hope you fight for your truck to be fixed under warranty! Toyota needs to cover this repair.

Turd gen strikes again.

 

Your truck is fine man.

 

I know it is

 

Can we get an update on this???