Need help to prove loss of value 2016 DCSB TRDOR

Hi Tacoma world, I'm looking for some assistance.

I have had some pretty major issues with my 2016 Tacoma TRDOR DCSB. At about 6000 miles I broke down on the highway and had the truck towed to the dealership where I purchased it. It was in the shop for 10 days (5 short of Massachusetts lemon law limit). The vehicle needed new fuel injectors and apparently had been leaking engine oil. They replaced a cylinder head gasket on the vehicle which the dealer documented in the service write up but DID NOT tell me about in person.

I have also had the highway crosswind whistle that many have talked about which the dealership had not been able to completely mitigate.

I wrote into to the local Toyota corporate office and they aren't willing to replace the truck or do anything at all. I believe I have lost more than 10% of the resale value due to the repairs on the trucks permanent service record and the fact that it sounds like a whistling clown at 65+ mph. I'm seeking a replacement truck or some type of compensation from Toyota. It's been a rough first experience owning this truck, my first truck and my first Toyota.

How can I go about proving this loss of value? Do you agree? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

You're going to get a lot of peanut galley comments here, some with you and some against you, but no real help. Start by finding a lawyer that both deals with lemon laws in your state and is willing to take up your case without it actually qualifying as a lemon law issue yet. Personally, I think you're pissing into the wind here but I'm also a part of the aforementioned peanut gallery.

 

The following TW member lost 17% value ($6000) in 5 months :

Just traded my 2016 sport after 5 months.

 

I'm neither a lawyer, mechanic, or troll. But here are my thoughts.

Did your service guy have a theory as to what caused this?

The first thing one would have to prove, was that it's Toyota (or the dealer's) fault. Which brings me to this: What causes fuel injectors to go out in 6,000 miles? Bad fuel? (again, I'm no mechanic) And then there's the head gasket. What could have caused that?

So find an unbiased long-term mechanic and get his opinion on what caused this issue. And ask him if Toyota could argue it was bad fuel or whatever.

Find a used-car seller that has been doing it for twenty years or so and have been very successful. Find one and ask their opinion. How much has this event devalued your vehicle? What's the bottom line in three years with and without this issue?

Once you've figured out how much your projected loss is, then you can start thinking about how fast an attorney at $200 an hour would eat it up. My gut feeling says that in 2020, the fact that you're truck had warranty repair 80,000 miles ago isn't going to devalue it much if any. (I'm not a used-care salesman by trade though.)

Sucks, doesn't it?

SB

 

Wait wait wait, ok I have a couple real issues with my Tacoma, but this is over the fence.

I understand you are upset, but to expect Toyota to compensate you for potential resale loss is absurd. You bought the truck and in the price of the truck you paid for a warranty which they honored and fixed your problem at no cost to you (besides time without your truck). Did the dealer give you a loaner in the mean time? Even if they didn't they aren't obligated to.

A vehicle that your purchase from the manufacturer is guaranteed to be free of manufacturing defects and if it has a defect it is on them to fix it. No auto company guarantees resale value on their vehicles and they shouldn't ever have to. The market and consumers makes tacomas have an absurd resale value, and just like any other market, the value can change. Toyota lives on a reputation built in the past and resale values are high because of previous reliability and performance. If you bought a vehicle based largely on historical resale value, then you simply just took a gamble. Tacomas just happen to have better odds....

Edit: IF though you continue to have major failures, then yes you should be entitled to a different truck.

 

For a rough estimate as to how much you have lost, ask the dealer what they would be willing to give you in trade (get it in writing). Take that number and multiply it by 1.085 (this is a ratio I generated using identical tacoma trucks with 5000 miles on KBB trade vs private party -- it should be fairly valid for this method). Now take that new number and compare it to the KBB private party sale value for your actual truck - use excellent condition. The amount that your value is less than the KBB value could be argued to be the lost value. I don't think it will be as much as you think.

In this way, you are using an actual "offer" from the dealer to estimate loss in private party value, not just speculation. The 1.085 number could be refined by looking at several model configurations and dividing private party value by trade value and getting an average, but it should be valid for a quick comparison.

 

Is the dealership where you purchased it willing to take it in on a trade?

Getting a replacement truck from Toyota sounds like a long shot. Personally I would get rid of it even if I took a loss. I couldnt trust a vehicle with that many major problems at 6000 miles.

RJM

 

I don't see how you are owed anything, they did their part and are fixing the issues.

 

Let me clarify here...I believe the truck is worth less than an identical truck, all other things being equal, WITHOUT the same repairs and whistling issue. At least 10% less. To have a strong case for lemon law I need proof that it's resale value has been reduced.

There are plenty of tacomas out there that don't whistle and didn't have a head gasket repair within the first 3 months.

Take this example: two identical used tacomas for sale tomorrow, one has a clean service record, one has my issues (head gasket, fuel injectors, and whistles at highway speed)

What's the difference in what you as the buyer are willing to pay for one vs the other? Say the price is $40k for sake of argument. Do you pay the same price for either truck? Or is one worth less than the other?

 

Do you have a 2016 that whistles and Toyota has told you it's a normal driving condition?

 

Replacement truck?

They did what they are supposed to do, fix it in a timely manner. If they dropped it off a lift that would be new truck worthy or the cylinder needs replacement 3 times.

Get your truck back and enjoy, no value was lost.

Tyler

 

I have a 2015 that had squeaky weatherstripping just like every other 2005 to 2015. I have shitty leaf springs just like every other 2005 to 2016 Tacoma. My passenger seat rattles like crazy like every other 2005 to 2015 Tacoma. I have a passenger side headrest that rattles just like every other 2005 to 2015 Tacoma. All known issues to Toyota that they won't do shit about, next time use this as a lesson to never ever ever buy a first run of any new model year vehicle. Shit they still haven't worked out the kinks from the 2nd Gen 2005 to 2015 Tacoma. So I am sure they will not be in a rush to fix the 3rd Gen issues quickly.

 

They are worth the same, that is not something that drives down the cost. If anything having a mechanical or key item being new is better as it has less wear, this is especially true with higher mileage vehicles. If you have two 100k vehicles and one has the original motor and the other has a new factory replacement crate motor with 12k on it, which would you choose? With dealer documentation it would be the latter.

Tyler

 

The dealer gave me a loaner because I paid $2500 for the extended warranty. It was covered under the warranty I purchased. What issues do you have with your Tacoma?

I'm interested in resale value for the lemon law case, I'm not trying to profit off a the shitty job Toyota did putting this particular truck together.

 

$2,50.000 for an extended warranty??? Boy did they see you coming, how many miles and years is that good for?

 

No, but there are 2015 2nd gens that had issues that were never worked out after the model was out for 10 years. Also, it's a first year of the 3rd generation, problems are almost guaranteed.

 

8 yr 125k and its seeming like I'll need ever last mile

 

I got a 100,000 for 7 years for 900.00

 

Good job