Unreasonable 10K service @Toyota

Dropped off my 22 Ltd in for the 10K service yesterday, had a few small warrantee thing I needed looked at as well.
1... Vented seats wont keep venting for more than 30-40 minutes
2.... Drivers side mirror rattles at freeway speeds
3.... Intermittently hesitates from a standing start
When I was talking to the service advisor he said I would need to sign an agreement to pay $185 in case they found out that any of the repairs I wanted addressed Toyota was not going to cover. I told him this is BS. But I did have to sigh as they wouldn't check it out period unless I sign. What do you think of this policy? I asked if this was just this dealership policy or was it all dealers & he said all!
The service writer told me in his words these new Tundras are the worst trucks they have ever built.
I called in this morning to add a 4 th complaint
4.... Self leveling headlights are not leveling
Now they want another $185 signed agreement to check out if they really arn't leveling. He said that cover $185 pr hr. service charge to drive around & inspect. I said so how are you going to duplicate the rear of the truck sagging & check the aim of the headlights during the daytime. He said he didn't know as they have never had to check this. I told him I'm not paying $185 again I would go to corporate.

 

Yeah...that's some BS. I know that I've seen another post like this before. Someone else mentioned that their dealership wanted them to pay a fee to diagnose an issue, in case it wasn't going to be a covered repair under warranty.

I've never had my dealership ask me to prepay (or even "pre agree") to pay a fee to look at something while my truck is still under warranty. ESPECIALLY at my first service appointment.

Sounds like you've got a service department likes to nickel & dime their customers. Plus, the service writer bad mouthing the truck to you is another major red flag. Oof. BIG oof.

 

grpweld, I am really surprised that the service writer would tell you that the new Tundra's are the worst trucks they have ever built. That doesn't instil confidence that they will make things better for you. Then asking you to pay on top sounds like the service department people don't like their jobs!

Your list doesn't sound like the end of the world is coming! It sounds more like adjustments in software and mirror that needs some attention. I haven't had to deal with my local service yet so I don't know if this is a systemic issue and just some bad apples??

I hope you can get the truck fixed to your satisfaction.

 

Gotta love capitalism

 

Yea, it is what it is. Toyota's hands aren't entirely clean as well.

A lot of dealers, especially really shady ones, will try to claim something isn't a warranty item because they would rather have the customer pay for it. Last time I checked, Toyota's reimbursement rate for labor performed on a warranty repair is like 60% of customer rate.

Toyota does that so they can offer "competitive" warranties, but it does tend to push dealers into treating customers like garbage.

 

I owned a dozen Toyota's and currently have a Rav4 Hybrid for the wife and I drive a 2019 Tundra. I'm just curious what is the point where the people on these forums can actually admit the 3rd Gen is unmitigated disaster. The constant defenses of it being a new model have worn thin. The insane unreliability is one thing, but the overall build quality and cheapness is beyond anything Toyota has ever built. And now with 6000 units sold in January of this year its painfully obvious the public is showing their disgust.

 

Only 6000 trucks sold in January?

Ouch.

 

Context is everything here. Tundra sales figures for the last 4 Januarys:

• Jan 2020 - 6,655
• Jan 2021 - 6,334
• Jan 2022 - 4,952
• Jan 2023 - 6,473

Source? Likely the same source that @737fixer is trying to sensationalize. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDf3zi8Tokw

 

So it’s selling slightly worse than the 2.5 Gen in January of 2020 did, and only slightly better than January of 2021. Tracking slightly below average of Jan 2020 and 2021 sales when combined.

Not exactly what we call gaining market share…. New models are supposed to sell better than the previous model. That’s usually a sign the design and marketing are successful.

 

a lot of people that have the truck really like it and say it is a noticeable improvement from the previous generation. Some independent engineers say that it will still be more reliable than the trucks from Toyota’s competitors. I was looking at the new RAM 1500, but switched my focus back to Toyota after understanding the engineering decisions a little more. The interior is not as solid as some of the other trucks and lower quality, but there is a video that focuses on the changes made mechanically and it is pretty impressive. I will try to find it.

 

Not to jack the thread, but...

Statistically, the Jan figures exhibit a similar sales trend that Tundra sales follow just about every year. January has been the weakest sales month for the Tundra 9 out of the last 11 years. Since 2005, January averages 25% lower sales volume than the monthly average. The Jan numbers look like fairly normal sales behavior for the Tundra.

 

that and they are selling all they build which isn't full production yet so Im not sure how sales tell you anything, there is hardly any tundras around and most dealers have a waiting list.

we'll see when mine comes if its shitty or not

 

Perspective is everything. A full picture would also include comparison against other manufacturers sales and market share. I'd have to find it, but I swear I just saw something that claimed only Ford and Toyota have gained market share in the 1/2 ton segment.

 

Very true. This is the most important data point for Toyota. They manage things by keeping an eye on "aged inventory." If they sell more than 95% of their production within 30 days of it hitting the lot (or whatever their specific #'s are) then they'll consider it a success....despite what forum jockeys like us think. hahaha

The sales tables just allow us to look at trend and get "directional" answers to questions like, "Is this January performing similar to past years?" To your point, it doesn't answer the # of trucks sold as a % of their production, which is real indicator of model health.

 

yup, I just read yesterday toyota has by far the lowest days supply, I also wonder if they fact that they are building all the trucks with all the features and not cutting a bunch of shit out just to move models like the others is making production this low.

like I mentioned, with all the supply chain BS etc, concluding anything about this new gen from the sales number just doesn't hold water at this particular moment like it has in the past, most people are just trying to even find one and not pay market adjustment and there are long lines to get one. So it's not like toyota has them all over the lots and nobody wants one.

that said, I will determine how good the 3rd gen is when I get mine, HA. if its shit, I have no problem saying it.

 

it still doesn't tell you anything with this jacked ass market right now. The others are moving more units since they build more and move them with features missing, etc so they aren't quite as impacted by the supply problems at the moment.

traditional indications feed off sales just isn't reliable at the moment

 

I understand your frustration and can agree that it is some BS to ask to prepay a diagnostic fee BUT I can give you insight from experience. They WILL charge that diagnostic fee if they find that you have altered anything (like replaced the headlights with LED's for example or put a supercharger on your truck). These are just examples that wouldn't necessarily void your warranty but they would "protect" the dealership from not making repairs that weren't manufacturer defect or fault. Some of the shadier dealerships will charge this and claim "we could not reproduce the complaint" as a way to collect a portion of revenue until you bring it in again and miraculously it is discovered as a warranty. Just a suggestion, tell them you are happy to put down the diagnostic fee, but when they reproduce the issues that you claim, you expect to be refunded that amount. It always helps to offer to take the tech for a ride to reproduce the problems before they intake the truck. I have done that many times.

 

That is bullshit, my dealer doesn't make me sign anything like that, or any dealer I have ever interacted with, Toyota or otherwise. I would find another Toyota dealership, and Call Toyota corporate and let them know how that dealership is representing their brand. Most likely they won't do anything about it, but they might.

 

. You don't even have a new Tundra, so your statement is wrong. I do drive a 22 Limited with almost 7000 miles and it has not had a problem yet. My Toyota dealership did the recalls on it, and it's been trouble free.

 

The fact there weren't any to buy is one reason why 22 was such a low volume year. I've got 10,000 miles on my 22 Tundra and I haven't had any problems. I had to take it in for the rear axle torque recall and when they do the oil changes they updated the software TSB's. I've pulled our toyhauler across country with it, hauled firewood, dirt bikes, I've had it buried in the snow and it climbed it's way out, I've driven on the local mountain passes in torrential downpours and blizzards without so much as a burp or a skid. My dog has thrown up in it a few times, daughter has dumped her milk in it, I even hit a deer with it last week (surprisingly no damage to it) so my truck gets used, it's not a mall truck. I get some folks have had issues with theirs and some dealers suck but my dealer has been awesome as has my truck.

 

Tesla does something similar...they give you an estimate but since it's covered by warranty, it means nothing

 

So they didn't fix the mirror rattle or seat venting system, stating that that's normal! And to top off the incompetence at Toyota of Escondido they performed the wrong (22TA11) update, instead of the one my complaint addresses (22TA22)

 

this is not against the poster of the sales chart ...

someone explain to me why put totals at the bottom instead of on the end of year side? what numb nuts bean counter thinks monthly totals across x years serves any purpose.

 

Next time tell them to get bent and call corporate Toyota. If it's still under factory warranty, there wouldn't be any reason for you to pay a damn thing. WTF does Bumper to Bumper mean???

 

I can't say it's just your dealer, but it certainly isn't the norm, at least in TN. I've used three dealers near me, seeing how my great Tundra has spent 55 days in the shop so far, I figured I'd see who I liked best. The truck is supposed to have a bumper to bumper warranty for 3 years / 36,000 miles. Were they looking at something wrong that wasn't between the bumpers? It makes no sense.

 

Forgive me for stating the obvious but bumper to bumper 3/36 means Toyota pays for all warranty repairs. If we do something like drive it through a river and suck water in the motor than we eat it. I agree with others who suggested find another dealer.

 

Yes I would never go to that dealer again that's for sure. That's why there is warranty I have 23k miles on my truck and very happy with it. My dealer took care of a few recalls when I took truck in for oil changes that's all there is, I have not paid anything out of my pocket yet for any service or warranty.

 

I've had shady dealers always ask me to sign for the diagnostic fee in the past, but usually they don't charge me for it as it's not my fault... It was ram and Nissan dealers

Toyota dealer nearby is very nice and doesn't ask me for any diagnostic fee... They want me to keep coming back and to buy my next Toyota from them

 

Sorry to hear that OP. Did you get charged the $185?

 

They still have to work the kinks out. Fucking $1800 mirrors falling off and ruining paint on a 70k truck
Service history since 2002 my tundra shows needing 2 O2 sensors. And currently have a weeping high pressure line for power steering, and needs a thermostat housing gasket.. At 321k miles
Enough of the defending the third gen, seriously