Frame Recall Dealer Visit

Warning, long read ahead... been awhile since I have posted, my 2016 has been rock solid for the last 4.5 years. I scheduled an appointment for the frame recall. I have had minimal free time for maintenance so I scheduled a transfer case fluid change, tire rotation and transmission fluid change I have been putting off. The truck is at 72k. Dealer prices are ridiculous, but I needed those things done and the truck was going to be there anyway. They said they couldn't just drain/refill the transmission fluid but had to do a flush. I wasn't thrilled, but told them to go ahead.

I recently moved to a different state, so I had to go to a new dealership. They gave me a (dirty inside and out) loaner 2020 Tacoma and told me 1-3 days. I called on day 3 and they said a "situation" had the service dept backed up and my truck was not ready. I asked if the "situation" involved my truck. They did not elaborate, but said my truck was fine. They called me on day 4 and said they would have to keep my truck over the weekend and it would be ready Monday (yesterday). They called yesterday morning and tried to sell me new front pads and a brake fluid change for $500.00, I declined. The front pads are close (2mm) but I already have replacements and will change them soon. They called again in the afternoon and said the truck was ready.

I went in as soon as they opened this morning and picked up the truck. I completed a walk around and did not see anything unusual, got in and drove out of the dealership. I got to the main road, noticed my TPMS was on and checked pressures. They were unchanged from being dropped off except the fronts were 2psi lower than they had been, 24 instead of 26 when cold. The rears had been at 30 cold when I dropped the truck off and had not changed. The tires obviously had not been rotated. I turned around, drove back into the service bay, left the truck running and showed the service manager the tire pressures. They did not argue, but pulled the truck back in and did the rotation.

The tech finished the rotation, drove the truck back out and left fresh oil on my front seat (fortunately had a neoprene cover which I planned to be replace anyway), steering wheel and door panel. I was pretty hot at that point, did not have time to deal with them any further, so just covered the seat with paper and left. The transmission shift points felt different on the way to work but I did not go back, I was already late due to the rotation.

I finished work and drove the truck home tonight (25 miles). I had a harsh 2-3 shift and what felt like 5-6 and 6-5 slipping on hills. I have never had shifting issues since having the initial TSB for the transmission done years ago. I got home, put the truck in the garage and looked at the frame. They had not cleaned it at all, just applied the treatment over road grime and salt. After checking the frame, I took the truck out again for a half hour and the transmission feels like it is starting to return to normal.

Obviously, I am not happy. I'm just looking for suggestions at this point. Contact the dealer and firmly but politely complain (I hate conflict)? Just let it go and hope for the best? Other options?

TLDR: Don't go to a dealership

 

As a past service advisor mu suggestion would be as follows.

Contact them. Politely express you are not happy. Give them a chance to fix it. If they don't elevate it to the service manager.

If they are worth anything they will take care of the problem.

Conflict in experience doesn't get the best result just the one that gets the person away faster.

They can't fix if they aren't given the chance.

 

The frame "recall" is just preventive coating applied to the INSIDE of the frame rails and adding some plastic plugs. Outside condition doesn't matter. Also how do you know they didn't rotate the tires and just didn't hit the reset the tpms button to the new locations? I mean they did know the pads were low. I don't really see anything here other than the oil stains, I'd let it go and do my own work as much as possible.

 

I normally do my own work, I've just been short on time over the last couple months. I've never had to use the TPMS reset (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tpms-tire-rotation.586016/) and the fronts looked low. The service manager did not seem surprised, just took the truck back in for rotation. The oils stains were a good excuse to get on the Rough Country seat cover waiting list (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rough-country-neoprene-seat-covers-review.678922/).

I guess I just thought any kind of frame treatment would include cleaning it before application. With that said, Edgecrusher is right, as long as the transmission does not resume the harsh shift and slip, I don't really have anything for them to fix.

Thanks for the replies, guess I just needed to vent a little.

 

I'm pretty sure that they didn't clean my frame either since they did the job in one day. All that really matters is that they did the treatment and as a result, the frame now has the extended warranty.

 

Just an opinion: If your truck was no longer under warranty, take it to an independent garage rather than a dealer. My experience with dealers has been mixed. For example: Lexus dealers are much more careful than Toyota dealers when it comes to keeping the inside of your vehicle clean. People make mistakes, but if those mistakes are not pointed out, there's little impetus to improve their processes. So, I vote to have a conversation--hopefully with the Service Manager--and explain your frustration with the work done to your truck.