Broken Front Diff Mount

You call and log a case. You will also need to request a Regional Toyota Rep inspect the issue. Document all the dates and times of what happened in a simple timeline for the Rep. Don’t be afraid to request to get the truck up on a lift with the tech that repaired it and the Service Manager. At that time ask HOW that bolt was tightened and what the torque specs are on it. It is possible it is still WAY over torqued. Have them check it and document that on audio or video. Additionally take tons of time stamped photos and avoid dragging that location across something that would remotely make it look like it was “impacted”. If that was damaged by say, a rock, it would show. So the only explanation they will counter with is someone else cranked it down, which is not convincing since they actually worked on it. It was not random.

Just stay calm throughout the process and ask good questions while having documented lots of facts. I would wait to spring the torque questions on them until all three of you are there. I caught a tech that way once and was taken care of from that point.

Good luck.

 

update: the head tech just called me to let me know that Toyota will not assist with the repair or replace bc of "modifications" and that "it isn't a know problem for the 2016 models".

Thinking about it, it makes sense that Toyota wouldn't cover it bc its the TECHs fault who installed it. So now I have to go fight with the dealership and try to have them cover it. FML

 

You still have to open a case to document the mistake made by the dealership. Get pressure on them from you and Toyota.

 

I am headed in now to start the fight with the dealership who did the original "fix". I will update after this meeting.

 

Did you do the mods or did the dealer? Or was it done by someone and traded in?

 

The lift and tires were on the truck when I bought it. I wish I could have some way of knowing who installed it. It’s a point of contention for Toyota corporate and the dealership.

Update. They are taking it up the chain at the dealership to the owner. I will know more tomorrow. They are still not taking ownership for the problem.

 

I have but they weren't of much help .

I reached out to them after bringing the truck in for a transmission level inspection in which they told me they did it but on the work order it didn't mention it, then went home and watched my dash cam to see they never brought it into the shop.

They had notes on the order that 'customer complains about hard shifting and searching for gears, inspect trans level'

Techs notes were 'test driven, cannot replicate symptoms'
Then the head manager told me they checked it.

Called Toyota Canada to tell them about how their dealer is lying about performing work they didn't do.
They told me they'll be looking into it but it is a highly rated dealer.

Never heard back from them. Stopped going to the dealer but I know said manager still works there

 

Terrible. Are you saying they're blaming this on some 5100's?

 

Did you buy it from that dealer with the lift?

 

No- I got it from another used car lot, it had the lift on it already

 

UPDATE: truck is still at the dealership. They are unwilling to accept responsibility for the breakage. They keep pushing the blame on me and in their words "if we were the cause of the problem...prove it". Its the time span between the time they fixed the diff and the time when I took it in that is in question. They said that I could have done the damage in the 800 miles in between the 2 fixes. wtf

It does sound like they are willing to pay for a repair and not the real fix that should be a new frame. They have been talking to off road shops to see if someone is willing to weld in a cap or a new diff mount if we can find one.

Lesson Learned: craw under the truck and take pics before you drop it off at a dealershit. TRUST NO ONE

 

So they're saying that 4wheeling is going to tear the frame like that? I haven't ever seen that on anyone's right unless it was highly modified and a lot of torque running through the drivetrain. I don't think these tacomas are capable of that. Looks to me like a failure on the frame from factory, not even the techs at the dealership.

Am I seeing the pic correctly that a part of the frame twisted 90*? In one pic a bolt is vertical and another it's horizontal.

 

Go to local news, make it public how they did work and now shits fucked

 

That part of the frame is very strong due to all the angles. I seriously doubt the 3.5 could do that.
IMO this was a result of the front differential being forced up, maybe by someone that did not know what they were doing. Unfortunately for you, it’s hard to prove that the dealership did it.
I would stick to your guns and bug the shit out of Toyota Corp.

 

Update- the truck is headed to an offroad shop to get repaired. The offroad shop is going to weld in a plate where the mount blew out. Its going to cast around 500$ plus the cost of towing and a new bushing. Toyota dealership said they are willing to split the cost...LUCKY ME!! they acted like they are doing me a favor by splitting the cost, when they are the ones responsible for breaking my truck. Do not ever take your truck to Stevinson east if you live in Denver.

 

Post it all over social media

Twitter, Facebook , Instagram etc.

I had an issue with the natural gas provider here.
They dug up my front lawn for something then left a 2ft hole. Complete half ass back fill job where it was still 2ft deep and no barriers or anything .

I called they said they will get to it within 3-7 business days this was on a friday. Me having neighbours with little kids, took a picture and tagged them on Twitter for it including a tag to two local news stations.

They were there the next day

 

New Update! So we had the truck taken to the local crawlershop for the repair. Toyota took out the diff and towed it over to the shop. Once the crawler shop got their hand they found new damage to the crossmember that holds the diff. when the driveshaft spun and broke it ripped a bunch of holes in the crossmember. Yay! more money down the tubes. FML

 

Good to hear it’s at least getting fixed. Stay away from the dealer, except for a recall they’ll just charge a lot more for work you can do yourself or elsewhere.

 

It might be time to talk with a lawyer? An initial consultation with someone familiar with this type of trouble might be able to help you.

I hate the direction that jalopnik.com has gone in the past couple years with weaksauce, clickbait writing, but there was a lawyer from Michigan who used to post really good articles there and would give the best advice that he could. His name is Steve Lehto (http://lehtoslaw.com/). You might reach out to him. This seems to be right in his ballpark?