warranty not covering front axle

So I bought my 2012 tacoma back in April and the first time i actually needed my 4 wheel drive I heard that it was popping bad in the front end. Took it to the toyota place and they said that the cv boot had been punctured and damaged my front axle and warranty wasn't going to cover it. Now I'm out $800 fixing a brand new truck with a warranty!!!! Not a happy camper!!!! I thought it was pretty crappy they wouldn't help me out at all on this.

 

They should cover it. Can they prove it was off-roading that killed your cv boot? I would get a phone call into toyota corporate with your problems.

 

If they won't cover it, buy a reboot kit and reboot the axle yourself for about $50 and a couple hours of your time.

 

I took my truck to 2 different dealerships and they both told me the warranty wouldn't cover it because the boot had been punctured and that goes under wear and tear and not malfunction. They also said that the whole assembly would have to be replaced that's why I can't just replace the boot. It sucks all the way around!!!!!!

 

How did you puncture it?

 

Good question. They don't puncture themselves. Is it possible you hit or snagged something?

 

You can replace the boot. Stop listening to what the dealership is saying. They are lazy and always replace assemblies because its much easier to train techs to do that than rebuild parts. Half the time they are flat out wrong in what they tell people anyway..

Unless the birfield or triball is shot, the half shaft is easily rebuilt with a boot kit, hand tools, and a couple hours of your time.

 

That's the thing. I don't think I hit anything to puncutre it. I was just on a muddy road and whenever i put it in four wheel drive it was popping loud. Idk if something did puncture it or what I just know that I thought it was pretty crappy that I have to pay to get a whole new axle assembly on a brand new truck with a warranty. That's just nuts to me!!!!!

 

Again, call toyota corporate. All this stuff is covered. Go to a different dealer and tell them you hear a popping and grinding and so on. Don't tell them you went off-roading.

 

Listen. There's what's on paper, and then there's the real world.

On paper, your vehicle has a warranty. In the real world, the dealership is going to jump every hoop they can to make it as hard as possible for you to get the warranty honored.

So, you can:

- bang your head against the wall with the dealership, call corporate, spend days to weeks arguing, and likely eventually get the repair warrantied. Or maybe not. Maybe you'll get to end up in arbitration and prolong things even more. No monetary cost, massive time investment.

- Buy a replacement axle at a cost of $75 (piece of shit auto parts store axles, but they will be fine on road) to $200ish (Reman'd OEM axles purchased private party online) and replace your problem part. It takes less than an hour to swap a CV axle. Moderate cost, minor time investment.

- Look into rebuilding the axle you have now, assuming the mechanical bits are still sound, with a boot kit (~$50 on fleabay). It takes about two hours to rebuild a CV axle and less than an hour to swap it into the truck. Say a full Saturday afternoon. Minor cost, moderate time investment.



Fucking pick. Complaining on the internet isn't putting you any closer to any of these three events. I don't care which you pick - if you want to chase having it warrantied because of principle, fine, go for it. I myself would've solved the problem by now and gotten on with my life.

 

Buy a reman axle, sell your stock one here, swap it in yourself. I don't think the dealer should cover it, at all.

 

Hard to say. On the off chance it was damaged in transit to the lot, then sure, but there's no way to prove that.

More likely, OP probably got unlucky with a puncture, which I agree is wear, which I agree is not a defect in materials or craftsmanship and therefore not subject to warranty.

Remember people: Having your vehicle damaged is not the same as it breaking.

 

my father's 09 had a boot rip less than 40k miles into ownership. i dont know why.

DO NOT just buy a re-boot kit and call it good. your axle is popping because the joints are compromised, not because the boot is ripped. the axle is toast. buy an oem one, and put it in yourself. it doesn't sound very difficult.

dont count on toyota to warranty it because, your boot ripped, which is a wear and tear item, and left your joint open to the elements and able to throw all its lubrication long enough to destroy it. sorry but from a corporate point of view, your screwed.

if it makes you feel any better i would warranty it in a heartbeat. . . . maybe thats why i would never be a successful business man

 

On my last Mazda sedan, the CV boot failed after about 11 years and 100,000 mi. The joint was mechanically damaged and I could hear noises in turns. The dealer took out the halfshaft assy and rebuilt it off-site for $400 parts and labor. You should've gone this route.

 

First things first. I didn't post this to sound like I was complaining I was just trying to get everyone's point of view. I have already got the parts ordered and should all be here and done by the 7th. Thanks for everyone's comments except for Andrews. I'm not dwelling on anything just simply asking peoples input to see if anyone had any type of the same problem. No reason for you to be a prick with your comments!!!!

 

he was trying to explain to you how to fix your problem rather than be raped by the dealership

 

No worries. I'm used to irrational silliness on here by now.

 

That sucks! $800 down the drain at the stealership.

 

I think Mr. andrews gave solid advice.

 

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