Dealer screw up or just coincidence?

Greetings fellow tacoma owners! This afternoon I finally found some time to give my 2020 Tacoma Double Cab TRD Sport a much needed bath after a long dirty winter. As I was cleaning the front end I noted something peculiar. My OEM Skid Plate is dangling and hanging on by ONE bolt. Interestingly I had the vehicle serviced at a local Toyota dealer a little over 3 weeks ago, so give me some opinions. Was this coincidental or did these clowns take it down during service and forget to put the remainder of the bolts in?

 

Sure sounds like the dealer forgot some bolts, or didn't fully tighten them, and they fell out. It pays to do an oil change yourself.

 

I vote for "it was the dealership." My place is okay, but I was just commenting in another thread that they have overtorqued my skid plate and striped the bolts. SO my experience says blame them

 

Give them a call. Give them a chance to make it right. Then you can

 

My 2 free oil changes resulted in a bent skid and stripped screw. including them claiming that the tires were worn down, when I had just put 4 new tires on.
Oh and front brakes being called at 24k miles, when they were perfectly fine. I just did brakes for the first time at 57k.


I have no respect for that kind of BS at this point. I only took it to them, because of the free oil changes. Driveway oil, diff, transmission fluid changes and brakes for me.

 

I'd vote dealer didn't tighten or flat forgot. My first free oil change (on my last Tacoma, 2nd Gen) the dealer left an empty quart bottle in my engine bay, and I found it after my AC stopped working because the bottle dropped down was rubbing on the pulley. I drove straight to the dealer guns blazin. I forgot what they gave me or credited but ended things on a good note. On my 3rd gen they definitely put a couple scratches up front (like the tech was leaning over and buttons/belt/keys or whatever scratched, I didn't even try, I just abandoned the rest of the "free" services and took over from there.

When it comes to "low level services" like oil changes, tire rotations, etc - you're often getting a "low level" tech to match. They f*ck up, it happens, and it's part of any tech learning process. It just sucks when your vehicle is the proverbial frog being dissected in class.

 

probably a result of the oil change.

3 times,,, yes 3 times, did a quick lube place not properly hang and fasten covers (they are some fabric backed composite) on my work F150. One time resulted in it coming down from rear to front, so it was scraping and get caught on bumps. I had to stop by a Home Depot, buy a moving blanket and tools, and remove what was left in the parking lot. I had to hound them to call back, and then they offered a "free oil change",,, no no booshit, you are paying for the new parts, and my HD bill. Of course only when my folks got their corporate folks involved did they start answering the phone. I stopped by, got the parts, and told them I will get it installed by someone competent and same goes for their "free oil change".
I know I know,,, a quick lube place, but don't think the dealer is paying master techs to change your oil,, unless it is in his hands for other work.

 

It is sad to hear this stories…. I’m an immigrant and I thought this country was PERFECT, it was the FIRST WORLD. Everything had to be perfect…

I emigrate to this BEAUTIFUL AN FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES country to realize that everywhere is the same thing…

I didn’t take my cars to dealer in Venezuela and now here in the first world I also don’t..

sorry if it is too intense but I guess this stuff shows that everywhere there is people that just go through life like nothing…

I would not even waste my time calling dealer… from now on do your own wrenching and enjoy it or start looking for a trusted mechanic among your friends or family..

 

i am going to echo what has been said, this is not a coincidence.

i had one and only one oil change done at the dealership. i removed my skid plate before because i did not trust them and wanted to verify the work.

besides an oil leak at the canister that i re-did myself, they forgot to put the clips back on and secure the air filter cover and, put the red cover back on the battery terminal.

certainly, my fault for not checking before i left the dealership. i do the oil changes myself now, like i have always done.

 

After my first ToyotaCare Service, I learned to get into a habit of inspecting my Sport before leaving the dealership.

Taking the truck back to the dealership after-the-fact (with photos of crooked air dam bolts put in at angle) did not create a sense of urgency.

I took my Sport to a different dealership and made sure to:

1. Open the hood and inspect all fluid caps are secure and any tools aren't present.
2. Walk around the truck to inspect lug bolts are secure and any scratches on the paint.
3. Get under the truck and inspect for leaks and loose bolts.

If you don't have a service personnel approach you and ask if everything is ok (happened to me) then I'd question their awareness.

I went to the same dealership for visits 2 thru 5 for scheduled MX and they were aware of my concerns after service was complete.

I've got a great relationship with this dealership and I thank them for the care they take in servicing my truck.

 

One more vote for dealer stupidity. My first oil change after putting on the TRD skid plate I noticed something off when I got home. When I took a look under the truck I noticed they'd reinstalled the oil change access door on the skid plate upside down so the front of it was actually pointing down away from the skid plate towards the road. I took it back and made them put it on the right way, and when I got their survey request I let them have it.

 

If it had been serviced prior to this most recent work, I would assume that it was properly installed at the factory and this time the tech simply rushed it through without checking his work. As @JasonLee said, bring it up with the service manager or shop manager and give them a chance to make it right. If you don't, you won't be helping to weed out a sloppy tech who shouldn't be working there.

 

Skid plate removal is needed to access the oil filter cap, so they did touch it. Probably lost or broke the other 3 bolts. They might have lost or broken one bolt on each of your previous visits, and now it's down to one.

The lube tech is probably paid 15 minutes worth of labor to do the whole job, so a vehicle that requires skid removal (vs. say a Camry that doesn't) gets extra disdain.

 

It's not all about "making it right". The manager needs to know one of the techs is leaving stuff loose. What's next, a wheel or a drain plug?

 

Brought my truck in for a squealing clutch release bearing. Apparently the tech couldn't detect it even though it's worse when cold. And detected "massive clutch slip". When I rode with him it wasn't doing it because it was worse when cold...

Anyway they wanted 2800 to do the clutch. When I replaced the clutch it was about half worn, and the throwout bearing had been munching the pressure plate fingers... Fuck dealers.

 

Toyota TRD skid plate has access points for oil plug and oil filter. My RCI engine skid does as well. Default "skid plate" which is more splash plate than skid has no access points.

I have RCI skid plate and will do oil changes myself if I have the opportunity (I just MAY be in a place I cannot sometimes).

 

lowest paid tech or employee does the oil changes.

Put the bolts in finger tight was called away completely forgot .

It happens far to often be nice they should help you out.

 

well take this a lesson learned dont trust them, do a pre and post inspection of your vehicle . Also cars dont take bathes they get washed

 

Agreed. I do not look for the opportunity to make waves at any business, BUT I feel this could have been catastrophic. Either tore up the underside of my truck, body damage for worse yet hit the car behind me or caused a collision.

 

Noted your location. Avoid Kelly Toyota if you can!