Alignment Issue

All,

My 2018 Trd OR has 3000 miles on it and constantly veers to the left. You must apply force to the steering wheel to keep the truck going straight.

I have had it in for service 3 times and each time the dealer tells me they can't recreate the problem so there is nothing to fix. I find this odd as it does it every time i drive it.

I have taken videos in different conditions, at different speeds, on different days and the truck always veers to the left. Today in a 2 mile drive on the way to the dealer I took 3 videos and the dealer discounts all of it and told me to take it up with Toyota corporate. I would upload the files but Tacoma world tells me it is unsupported file type.

And ideas what would cause it? What to look for? Most importantly how to get the dealer to fix it. I did not buy the truck at this dealership.

Truck tires, rims, and suspension are all stock though i do have the black vinyl wrap on the wheels. Could the wrap cause this? The first time I had the truck in I did not have the wrap on so don't think that is it.

I like the truck but am losing patience with it. Thanks for any advice.

 

It ain’t the wraps. Not enough weight to even throw off your Balancing let alone alignment.

Did the dealership even put it on a lift to check alignment?? If so or not, take it to 4x4 shop and have them check it. I bet that’s your problem.

 

Take it to a real alignment shop.

Alignment quality is based on a quality tech and the equipment being properly calibrated. I'm guessing your dealer is missing at least one of those.

 

Any expenses you incurr fixing it via 3rd party should be reimbursed by Toyota Corp, but they have to be able document the issue and prove the dealership was wrong. You’ll also need documentation from the dealership stating nothing was wrong.

 

My factory alignment was off. Too much positive camber \ / & tires wearing on the outer edges. I noticed with the factory wheels on once I took the front chin spoiler off. Dealer was booked out over a week so I took it to a guys shop & had I him do it.

Pulling to the left may be do to alignment accounting for a crowned road surface. If your driving on a flat surface you will definitely notice it

 

Next time you take it to the dealer, have them test drive it with you so you can show them what the issue is.

 

If there is one or two handy, I would try a different dealer.

 

I wouldn't rely on ANY dealer to know how to properly diagnose or align your truck. Even if their alignment rack is calibrated, as long as the arrows are in the green zone - the range of the alignment spec, they will say it's fine. Caster settings control whether the vehicle drives straight or pulls. Typically, you set the caster about .5 degree higher on the right (vehicle pulls toward the lower number) to compensate for crowned roads. If you're on a flat road, it might pull very slightly to the left but not much. Camber should be dead neutral or very slightly negative and the same on both sides. Do not let them set it to half a degree or one degree positive like many do. Tire pressures need to be set correctly prior to alignment and ideally, you should be sitting in the driver's seat. I wouldn't worry about trying to be reimbursed for a good alignment. It's about a hundred bucks at even the best shops. Pretty cheap to get it done right. BTW, I had mine aligned within a week of delivery. ALL of the alignment parameters were off. All of them. I just take it in stride and figure that on any new car I'm going to have to do an alignment, tire pressures and headlight aim no matter what.

 

When I got my 2016, it pulled to the right. I thought of crowned road, then crosswind. A very slight pull to the right is normal, but it was off from the transport and fixed by the dealership. Left is definitely alignment issue. Go with service manager on test drive and have him let go of the steering wheel, when it starts to veer into oncoming traffic, I bet it gets fixed!

 

Pulling to the left, huh? That's not a common complaint. You're alignment is definitely off. You need to take it to an alignment shop, not the dealer. Tell them what's going on, and I promise they will show you exactly what's wrong. Anyone claiming they get a pull to the left will catch the attention of the service writer and the alignment tech.

 

Take it to a reputable alignment shop. Not just a firestone and definitely not the dealership. Alignment is something that has to be perfect in order to feel right and not just in the "green" acceptable zone like many places will do. Call around and tell them what you want before giving them your money.

My original tires were absolutely bald on the inside in less than a year because the alignment was so off from factory. I had the same issue with my 2015 Lexus IS.

Like someone said above, when buying a new car, plan on always getting it aligned (by someone who knows what they are doing), tire pressure adjusted, and headlight beams aimed.

 

Thank you all. I picked up the car today and nothing had been fixed. I refused to sign the invoice because it wasn't accurate as to the outcome. They didn't want to give my truck back to me but I finally got the keys and left.

There is another dealer not far from me I will use instead. It's a little out of the way but oh well. I will also look for an independent alignment shop and get it done right. Anyone know of one in the Chicago area?

 

Before you do anything else, try swapping the front tires side to side. If the pull goes away or it starts pulling in the opposite direction, you have a bad tire.

 

That's exactly right. Everyone is screaming at the OP that he needs an alignment when 90% of pulling to one direction is a tire problem.

 

Pulling in one direction could also mean a bad alignment. No reason to not check both.

 

Save us a lot of guessing and post the alignment spec sheet they gave you. It takes all of 5 seconds to determine if your alignment is causing your pull. The only other possibility is the tires as mentioned.

I agree that a pull to the left is odd. Usually it is to the right because of road crown. If you have a left pull, something aint right.

 

Swapping tires is free. Always do the free stuff first.

 

Ummm ride with them

 

I did go for a ride with them. The teck acknowledged the truck drifting to the left but said there was nothing he could do because it measured in spec.

I was not provided an alignment spec. Is that something they are supposed to provide on the invoice? I can call and try and get a copy.

All - thank you for all the comments. I am going to an independent shop on Friday. I will report back.

One of the comments above indicated that I should swap the tires. If it goes away that would indicate a tire issue. Would that mean I need new tires? IE, if the tire swap fixes the alignment Issue does that mean the car is fixed or are the tires unsafe?

Thanks for all the help and comments.

 

I go to Fuccillo Grand Island ny. Every single vehicle that comes in for service is checked for alignment. It is a computerized roll through system.
Drive up, get the wheel mount devices mounted,turn on the system and get a computer printout. If its off it then goes to the alignment rack.