LEASING MODIFICATIONS

Are you currently in a lease agreement with a dealership?

If so... what modifications have you done to your 3rd Gen Tacoma?

I am interested in making a few modifications to my truck. Put a decent amount of money down, and fully intend on buying out my lease when it comes that time. Although, I'm hesitant about what/ if modifications might void my warranty. I was thinking about installing a TRD Pro grille, plasti-dipping my stock "fender flares" and installing a LED light bar. Thoughts, comments, concerns, questions... let's hear it!

 

As long as you have the ability to reverse the modifications should you decide to turn it back in at lease end then the mods are fine.
And as for voiding warranty, it's rather hard to void it on major things. The parts have to have a direct relation to the failed part in order to have the dealer deny warranty for general malfunctions.

 

I'm pretty sure none of those would void any real warranties... if you do lift etc... those would void warranty but then you get the lifetime warranty (usually) from the company that sold you the lift.

I am leasing right now and plan to buy at the end (not sure) but if I don't buy at the end I will just remove my level kit plus and other mods and just return it.

 

The light bar might depending on how it is installed. If you are putting it inline with the fogs and using a jumper of sorts you should be fine but if you cut anything to install you may be shooting yourself in the foot.

 

I wouldn't even worry about it on those mods. I think you should start to think about it if you plan on replacing fenders with glass or permanently altering parts of the truck not easily undone. Everything you said can be undone in a couple of hours. I leased a 4runner and I turned it in with a OEM skid plate that was bent to hell, they looked at it, and really just didnt care. I kept the truck clean inside and out, and it was waxed/claybarred regularly. All they care about is how clean the vehicle is at the end. I leased my taco too to start but I already cut some of the plastic valences behind the grill to install a light bar, I will see if they say anything when I bring it in for service. I doubt it though. If they do, I will spend a hundred bucks on the plastic pieces, IF and only IF I turn it back in.

 

You'll be fine

 

My 2014 that I was leasing had plastidipped rims, painted calipers, tinted windows, bull bar, bed cover, seat covers, and front end leveling spacers. They just value it like a regular trade in. I got $25,500 when I traded it for my 2016 (my lease was for 36 months and not complete) and my lease payoff was $22,800. My payment was $375/month and the lease payment on my 2016 is $376/month. I have more mods done to my 2016 and I'm not worried at all about it being a lease.

 

Hey Guys, I too have a 2017 DC TRD Sport 4x4
I really want to install a 3"level but the dealer wants $1200 and my local, well known 4x4 shop will do it for $600.
My concern is they hold the warranty bs over your head saying they won't cover any issues caused by the leveling kit.

Any opinions as to dealer install vs private shop?

 

Has the dealership said they won't cover issues if they don't do the install?

 

Well, sort of.
They have said that any problems that arise from the leveling kit install will not be covered if I have it done anywhere other than the dealership.
So, it's a $600 gamble.
Given the problems I keep hearing about with the 3rd gen tacos, I'm hesitating to do anything to it.
Also, they gave me a 20yr, 200k mile powertrain warranty.
I know I won't have the truck that long but they sure use that to there advantage when selling aftermarket parts.
The accessory guy even had the balls to tell me it's a genuine Toyota leveling kit, which I'm certain is not even an option.

 

The only genuine Toyota "leveling kit" is the TRD Pro Suspension which adds 1" lift.

What kind of warrenty is it, bumper to bumper? That 200k warrenty may only be powertrain.

In my experience 4x4 shops offer some kind of 1-2 year labor warranty and the suspension manufactures offer usually 2-3 or whatever for their parts. I can't confirm if that 200k warranty applies to the suspension.

 

Yes, it's a 20yr 200k mile powertrain warranty that covers everything the manufacturer covers.
Really doesn't matter because I won't keep the truck that long and it's not transferable to the next owner.
I guess the real question would be for another thread,
Has anyone had any suspension problems after adding a 3" leveling kit?

 

When you lease a vehicle don't you leave with a documented set of rules on what you can and can not do to the vehicle ?

 

Most require prior approval for any modifications. Hell, SETF even prohibits tinting the windows without approval in their contracts. Suspect most don't really follow those rules since it only really matters if you're just turning it back in and not either trading it or buying it outright.

 

Exactly.
Sun Toyota actually wants you to do mods assuming they will get the truck back and it'll be worth more money for them.

 

mod away. As long as it increases the value, they won't care.

I wouldn't go cutting the frame for a drop bracket lift, but minor bolt-on's won't matter.
Trust me, they don't go over the vehicle very well when it's time to trade in.

 

I'm in a lease with an option to pay more into my lease once I have extra cash at any time. My plan is to do that, mod my truck with lift/rims/tires/bumpers and after my lease is up, buy it out. I could of financed but the lease worked out better for me. I've actually already put in $8000 CDN in extra payments so when my buyout comes around in 4 years it's going to be super cheap. To each their own.