Did I get a Lemon?

The dealer cannot refuse to look at the vehicle based on law. I have not did anything wrong at this point, I just wanted to weigh my options and try to work with Toyota directly in getting my vehicle fix in a reasonable time frame. It’s going in for appointment to the service center. I do not need a buy back attorney. I would be happy if they just fix it right, but not if my vehicle is going to be out of service for months and I have to go from dealership to dealership.

I bet if I called or have a few friends call asking for an out of warranty appointment, they would have one immediately

 

Yeah, my truck is mint condition, still brand new. I’m on my second problem. It was in for a previous problem 2 months ago and they did not even want to look at for about 2 months, but magically got it done in a few days after I called Toyota. Cab mount bushing was bad and it was loud. I am going to give Toyota a chance to make it right and fix the issue, but I am not going to play dealership roulette. If they want to do that, then it is on them to handle it, from start to finish.

 

So you already know your dealership's service department are assholes who could care less about your issues, yet instead of finding another dealer who isn't, you'd rather force it down their throats by calling Toyota? Those would be the last people I'd want working on my truck. Kinda like what happens in the kitchen when you send your food back at a restaurant.

This is cutting off your nose to spite your face. Find a dealer with a reasonable service department, let them look at your truck, and deal with a dealership who WANTS to do the right thing instead of having to be FORCED to do the right thing. You're causing yourself double the aggravation and inconvenience by being stubborn and standing on principle.

 

The dealerships in my area are all similar, some are even owned by the same corp, but under different names. It would not be in their best interest to do anything to the vehicle that would negatively effect it, out of spite. Most techs do not even care anyways, they just push vehicles through the repair process. Plus, my vehicle is under warranty and it will most likely be gone before that warranty expires.

 

This is simple to me after reading through this , call a service department at a different nearby dealership and make an appointment to get the issue checked . There is no point in continuing to knock heads with the same dealership. It seems you don't think well of the service department so why take it there? You more than likely burned bridges by mentioning lemon law and they didn't seem to be much help with your first issue. You have already called Toyota on them once to fix the bushing .Just start over fresh at another dealership.The truck is under warranty any dealer will look at it. Life's too short ,make this as simple and smooth as possible for all involved and find out what is going on with your truck. Get the problem resolved and move forward enjoying your Tacoma!

 

You can't lemon law a truck for just a noise. Your truck does not sound bad at all. Go listen to a 4.0 out of a second gen. They all sound like they are about to blow up.

 

I was just explaining to him how the return process works once the vehicle is deemed a lemon.

 

Plan on being without a truck for a long time! Remember the Takata air bag ordeal? People were without their vehicles for A YEAR. Their vehicles just sat at the dealer waiting for replacement air bags to show up. If, in fact, you will need your engine replaced...you will be waiting a while. Here are three different ways things will pan out:

1-Dealer listens to engine and tells you that the master tech and field service rep can't find anything catastrophically wrong with the engine and that your issue has been documented with Toyota. This will give you some power to push for a longer warranty on the engine IF the sound continually gets louder over the next three years. The louder it gets, make an appt to have it looked at a year from now. Keep the documentation chain going but continue to drive your truck.

2-Dealer listens to the engine and tells you that the engine does actually have a problem but the 2.7L engine is on back order due to supply chain issues and may take up to 6 months to get an engine in. They give you your truck back to drive and will call you when the engine comes in. This is the best case scenario.

3-Dealer listens to the engine and tells you that the engine does actually have a problem but the 2.7L engine is on back order due to supply chain issues and may take up to 6 months to get an engine in. They tell you that they are going to KEEP your truck and that you can drive the loaner Yaris until your truck is fully repaired as this is a safety issue. They don't want you to have your engine lock up on you on the interstate causing an unsafe condition. So, you will be paying for a truck while driving a much cheaper rental.

Now I'm not familiar with MA lemon laws but I'd be willing to bet that they will not lemon a truck due to supply chain issues. If they will, then the dealer will most likely give you your truck back and have you drive it while they wait for the engine to come in. That way your 15 day clock doesn't start until they have the engine and an open service bay/master tech.

 

Problem is all documented information is viewable by any dealership in the system. 2nd dealer probably will just look at it and realize whats happened / going on.

 

Please do something literally millions of times and never make a mistake. Get real. Humans still assembly them. Things happen even on the best of the best.

This is a total lack of understanding how businesses operate in 2022. They could have people out for covid, people call off for all kinds of valid reasons, you cant just hire more people in the meantime. Every business just went to a barebones staffing model with uncertainty of the future. Businesses are trying to be around in the next 5 years you know. Make an appointment like everyone else. Stop thinking you are entitled to anything. You are not special.

 

I didn't think they give him any documentation? I may have misunderstood. He pulled in without an appointment was my understanding and they told him to make an appointment which could be a month out and both parties got aggravated. That is why to me it would just seem better for all involved to just start over .

 

This is the best option here. When I had my last truck (non toyota) I used to go to a dealer that was not the closest one to my house. The dealer by my house sucked. The half hour drive was worth it to me.

 

OP is being an IDIOT if he keeps trying to get the same dealership to service his truck.

 

Bad dealers handled it that way. That is not how dealers in my area (DFW) handled it.

Keep in mind the OP has a clock ticking and a deadline. One year or 15k miles from delivery date is the lemon law in his state.

I agree though. There’s no way I’d be using the service department he is messing with.

 

Ok. I talked to a Toyota case manager today, they are working on getting me an earlier appointment.

I took some more videos and the sound only comes when the truck is warmed up and idling drops. I went under the truck and took a video and it looks to be coming from the intake manifold or in the engine. The sound never goes away once the car is warmed up. If I turn the car off and on, sound is gone, then comes back after the idle drops.

also, took video of accessory drive belt system.

 

it is in Toyota’s hands now. I will give Toyota corp a chance to solve this issue.

 

Yes. Only Toyota documented it. The actually dealer did nothing. Toyota had nothing in their system that I was there that day.

 

Pay is the top issue when it comes to staffing issues. Not acting untitled, I bet they are taking appointments for next week this very day, non warranty work.

 

I bet most the vehicles sitting at dealer or in driveways for the airbag recall were not in the lemon law period or the owners just did not care. I bet that were few that get lemoned.

it starts when the vehicle is out of service. 2 and 3 is auto lemon in MA. They are lemoning cars regularly everyday. If the manufacture can make new ones then they can fix them two. What you just wrote is why I want it looked at and fixed. Running out the clock will not hold up in court. An issue with an engine can be a safety concern.

Option 1 is consider 1 attemp, but if I can prove there is an issue and they did not show good effort, then it could be come a legal matter and could be auto lemoned. They cannot just pass the buck. They can’t just say it is normal, with explanation why it is making that sound after 3 months of ownership. Remember, I am documenting everything and have videos.

Also, I do not have to take a loaner vehicle. I went through the air back recall, was giving the ok to drive it or get loaner, I just drove it to the airbags were available.