Arbitration didn't go well..........

Thanks.. I agree, it does suck. We have gone through the motions for a lemon law claim, multiple visits tho the dealer, problem unresolved, arbitration and then get a lawyer. If the 1 piece AL DS works, fantastic.. I'll start sending Toyota documents showing what we've done and request reimbursement. If it doesn't work, I'm out another $400, we re install the 2 piece and lawyer up.

The real kicker, my wife liked the Forester and wanted to test drive it again.. she didn't think it was a good idea to buy the Tacoma without going on a longer test drive the next day, especially since we had already been to 5 dealers that day. She has been gracious about the whole thing, but wants it to be over with.

 

That really sucks.. Is your Tacoma a 4x4 or PreRunner?

Our Regional VP's husband had an engine/trans related issue with their 2012 Tundra. Whenever he would accelerate from a dead stop or accelerate to pass, the truck downshifted and as the rpms climbed the whole truck shuddered/shake horribly, towing anything was out of the question too. He battled with Toyota for over a year before the engine was replaced. The truck still has the same problem, now they pushing for a buyback.

Are you moving forward with a lemon law claim on the Tacoma?

 

I am curious about something. Has anyone tried to install a vibration dampener on the driveline at either the transmission/t-case output shaft area, or the rear differential area? I know at GM we used to have several driveline vibration issues that were totally eliminated by the dampener. Perhaps something like that would be a faster, less costly fix than a new driveshaft, or extensive work.

 

I am very sorry to hear that Toyota is still treating their loyal customers so badly.

I bought a 96 4Runner that shook like crazy at 70 MPH. Toyota could not diagnose and fix the truck. I went to arbitration and won. In the end I fixed the truck myself and got reimbursed for my expenses, but beating Toyota is a super rare event.

They will put so much time and energy in trying to convince you there is nothing wrong instead of just fixing the truck. It is the nuttiest thing I have ever seen.

Anyway, before you move forward, you may want to call me or search the Net for my arbitration story. It might give you some ideas on how to proceed.

Of course the easiest thing is to just trade the truck in on one that does not shake and dump the problem back on Toyota where it belongs. I can tell you that Toyota is very nasty when it comes to getting your truck fixed.

G

 

that is the splinter burning at the back of brain..

 

pm sent

 

My next door neighbor (aerospace engineer) made that suggestion too.. I am researching it. Do you have more knowledge about them?

Thanks,
Ken

 

Basically from what I have dealt with in the past, you take a EVA (Electronic Vibration Analyzer) and drive the truck, getting a written recording of the amplitude, frequency, order, and the closest location to the severest location for the vibration. Then a dampener can be manufactured that can take that vibration and counteract it. I don't know the scientific process, but we had a couple made at the GM dealership when we had some bad vibrations in some 90s model Camaro cars. Eventually GM built a whole bunch of them.

 

Very interesting.. You know, the field service tech from toyota used that device on our truck and 2 others on the lot. He stated the vibrations were the same on all three trucks at the same speeds. He also stated that the complete report with all the details would be sent to us.. we never received a thing. Time to get a hold of John Holton from Toyota and get our paperwork.

 

Thanks for pushing that point, it helped my old brain remember that I never received a complete report form the field service tech after that test was completed, only a sheet a paper stating they all vibrate the same. I just made the call to try and track it down.

 

Installing a vibration dampener is part of the latest TSB if your truck was built before Oct 2013 I think is the date.

Isn't your driveshaft coming in tomorrow?

 

Sales Manager JB Strahley Carver Toyota Taylorsville Indiana says on the first working day after I bought it " well, you have lots of options, you can always sue us "
Cliff notes are
Aug 1.. Fri. noonish, truck looks great, drive home, 10 pm garage visit...Paint horrible. Air tires from 31 to 46 psi which is min cold psi
Aug 4.. Mon. Dealership will not unwind, treated with contempt, I am still polite. I am told the car wash additive they used had evaporated from noon when I picked up, by 10 pm at night. Lovely.
Aug 5.. Tree Sap paint, simonized. Paint mostly "appears" better, vibrates, shimmies, wobbles. Spend tons hrs on this forum. Read arbitration. Next day dealership tells me it is inherent to vehicle. Repeatedly explain rough is fine, vibration not acceptable.
Oh, enough detail, 10 trips to dealership, started case Toyota, get jammed, forced to explore all options. Bottom line.. dealership chose to let it out the door with known tree sap problem, rotated, balanced, 4 wheel align, replaced 2 tires and trim ring. Tell me to take it home, or after 3 days, pay 30$ per day storage, offer me 5k less than purchase price (at 200 miles) now has 350 miles Aug 26. Initial "good" case guy says we will send to case manager for replacement. Next day "bad" real case manager says "so you are the guy who wants a replacement.. your options are lemon law or arbitration. Ind LL does not address replacement. SO, I have become highly motivated, although have trouble sleeping. It is not about the money anymore. May be a long slog, but I am in. My experience vibration that may help is..
Tire psi is critical if you want to track straight. Today at 52 psi was best yet.
Get the road force balance results, yellow or red really ought to be replaced.
Put it in neutral at problem speed, vibration go away ? Driveline and or trans.
Drive a different vehicle on the lot with a witness in passenger seat.
Take pictures (my case) tree sap.
Finally. Go public. Only the truth. My latest truth is first time in night rain Sat, I have to drive 35 mph cause I can't see because of tree sap on windshield... someone forgot to address that. I'm done. Getting council. Not right to send it off the lot like that, treat me in a contempible manner. So thanks to JB Strahley for the motivation.
I wonder how many times he has gotten away with it before. Let's play.

 

From what I can tell, the build date on ours was 12/2013 I'll pull the paperwork and double check that though.

Yes, I'm tracking the DS and it should be delivered this afternoon.

 

Crap.. sounds like a big job.

 

Legally you are still allowed to file a lemon law case no matter WHERE you live because the LL case is against CORPORATE, not the dealer (even though they get involved) Now if you CHOOSE to not go LL because your friend is the dealer's Service Manager, then I can respect that as your choice.

It would be interesting to see how well a transmission recondition turns out. Sonnax and Transgo are two VERY good companies and they know their Sh!t. Of course once you do that then you may be done with any change of arbitration or LL filings, since you had an outside shop do work with aftermarket parts. Most LL rules are pretty tight.

 

Sub'd because I'm interested. This sounds like a headache and a half. I'm thanking my lucky stars between my lift and my year I'm not having these issues.

Maybe I am and I'm used to it, I have drove trucks with mud in the rims since I was 14 .

 

With all of Toyotas problems & their reluctance to address them is going to do nothing but ruin the high resale Toyota has enjoyed for years, a sad situation

I agree!!! have be driving & buying vehicles a lot longer than that, & never have had this happen, again a sign of Toyota relaying on it's reputation to save the day.

I agree. Well said!!


I have been following this post with interest & a little sadness, what an ordeal a person has to be put through just to make thing right. I am not sure what is happing to Toyota, it would seem that ever since they "got into bed with GM" their mode of operation has taken a drastic turn for the worse, I purchased my Tacoma strickly on Toyota's reputation,,, Well,, I should have done my homework, although, overall I like the truck, Toyota is letting is shortcoming redefine the Tacoma, & customer service is almost a thing of the past with them, they have almost become "Rude" when trying to deal with them. I along with many others paid cash for my truck, there was absolutely nothing wrong with my money, had I paid with counterfeit money I don't think Toyota would be happy & would want it made right!!! Well the OP only wants what he paid for, a road ready vehicle, I fully understand things are not always perfect, but in this case Toyota should one of the following,, recall that truck & not return it until it is FIXED!!!,, supply the op with a new truck, or return the purchase price!!, IMOP the action by Toyota is just unacceptable, Wishing you Best & hope you win your case!!!