Dealer is clueless for recalls

I am really getting sick of my dealer. I called to make an appointment for the fuel line interim fix and the other pending recalls and "service campaigns", and they are giving me the line that they "need to look at it first". I went through this last time with the stupid tonneau cover. All the tonneau covers needed the new bolt kit but they had to "look at" mine first. LOL. So, I had to make 2 trips, the first for them to "look at it" and decide that it needed the recall and THEN they ordered the parts. This is getting absurd. It needs the fuel line recall as all Tundras of my vintage do. I told them that I really didn't want to bring it in twice for this and still couldn't get a commitment from the service manager. Good lord. Are they really that dumb???

 

If I was a service manager anywhere I would make it my job to browse forums to see what was going on with the vehicles I serviced. There's no way I would play dumb in today's world of information. Sure the information isn't always valid but I could certainly get a good idea of what is happening and topping the complaints. Instead they will say "Oh, we don't base anything on what is in forums."

 

Exactly. But the real problem is that they don't base anything on Toyota's own VIN-specific recall information. I mean, WTF? I guess they can pretend that there is some non-zero chance that my VIN, in the middle of the bad VIN range, somehow got the new fuel line early. Yeah, right.

 

They are blowing you off. They know the more hurdles they put for you to do the less likely they have to do anything. Some dealers know their costs to do recalls and warranty work exceeds the OEM rates. They are too dense to realize that not doing the warranty work lessens their future volume of work at screw you rates

Bad dealers exist for every brand. After consolidation and sell outs, so many dealer groups that represent umpteen different brands. That rotate their crooked sales and service managers constantly to make sure they poison every dealership they own.

Why cheapest bottom line when you buy is not always the best option if it involves Slimy Sammy as the dealer

 

Might be worth trying another dealer? If possible at all.

 

I had similar issue with my dealer that I bought my truck from. Wanted me to make an appointment just to "check" for the seat panel on driver side that was cracked and then they can order part for warranty. Then they forgot to call me when the part came in. When they did call me, it had to be an appointment 2 weeks out even for a drop off. They are across the street from my job and is only 10 min drive from home, it was the one of reason I went to them. When I asked about the fuel line recall temp fix, they told me I had to bring it in for them to check again before they can order the part. An appointment was a week out.

I decided to try a different dealer that's 20 min away two towns over since I was having bad experience with the closest dealer. The new dealer ordered the fuel line recall part for me over the phone and they texted me when part came in to make appointment to install all within a week. I had the passenger seat panel warrantied by them and they told me to bring it in anytime just to take the picture and they can order the part. No need for appointment to "check" before ordering.

It was nice to be able to drop off anytime and walk across to work, but wasn't worth the headache to deal with bad service. Not to mention they left oil mess after doing my free oil change. I still have oil coming out of the frame 15k miles later on to my TRD skid plate.

 

This is so ass backwards. Back when I had my Tacoma, I had it in for a warranty repair at this same dealership and they also flagged an active recall in real time and took care of it that day. No checking, no second appointment and no second service visit. I am retired, but I don't have infinite time to be visiting the dealer and waiting for them to "check" a known recall. LOL.

 

That repair visit for the Tacoma was like in 2011 or so. Ancient history!

 

Alright, I am checking google maps to see how long it will take me to get from MD to your dealer in the Great White North! ;-)

 

Getting tougher to find a decent dealer. I quit using one after they damaged a bumper and for some reason that damage somehow was noted through the carbon on their copy but not on my original? Manager was nowhere to be found.
I used the next closest dealer for 20 years, bought another truck from them in 2021 and by 2022 it was sold.
New outfit broke my BACK camper shell window/door and then told me it would take 3 months to fix.
I no longer go to any dealer-free oil changes got expensive.

If I had the new truck with the fuel leak I would verify they have the repair parts/kit and MAKE ONE TRIP.
2 trips is BS, everyone's time is money.

 

But with something like this the interim parts are trivial so there is no real inventory carrying cost. IMO, with a whole years production of Tundras affected they should just be pushing these kits to dealers and not waiting for us to bring them in to be inspected first before ordering. This is not a new engine or transmission. It's a clamp, some shielding, some zip ties and some labor. Mostly labor.

 

I feel for anyone that doesn't have an easy going SA/dealership. All I have to do is email my SA and I've got an appointment lined up the following week. I never have to verify anything, and I don't get pushback on things like fuel line recall with too much gas in the tank.

 

What is there to check on the fuel line? It needs to be done on all vehicles, not just ones that are showing wear. Tell them you are happy to let them have it twice...they just need to come pick it up (not that this approach will get you anywhere).

 

There has been an interim fix for a while now.

 

The interim fix is in. My store always has a couple kits available or if a truck comes in and needs it and we have one set for an appointment next week we pull that kit and reorder for the appointment that's set a few days out so everyone is happy and my techs don't mind dropping the tank on these as the recall pays like 3.5 hours. We run the VIN on every car and if a recall pops up and parts are in we always take care of if right then and there no return trip needed.

 

I have the transmission and e-brake recalls, my second FOB, and my 10K service all due. I called my service manager, Jordan, and she was familiar with all of them. She even knew they needed to order the FOB before my visit, so we scheduled a date 2 weeks out. She also offered me a rental car while they have my truck without me requesting one.

I received a confirmation text of my appointment about 3 seconds after I hung up the phone.

So far, I'm very pleased with my dealership's service. Hopefully I'll feel the same way after the work is complete.

 

So, it looks like they may be able to get my truck recalls done today. Maybe. The service manager said they "should" have the parts or can get them, but they want to keep the truck today and gave me a free loaner. That's when things got really funny... the lady drove up with my loaner small Jeep SUV and the tire pressure warning was going off. The display showed the passenger rear tire low at 26 psi and the passenger front tire way high at 51 psi. I had them get me another car as I wasn't going to take a chance that the low rear tire had a slow leak which would strand me. LOL. First, I asked them to simply correct the air pressures and make sure there wasn't a nail in the right rear. But they said they'd need to pull a service ticket to do that. LOL again. Dealers... sheesh.

 

My software update recall came with black finger prints all over my seats... This is why I try to do everything myself but with four vehicles, work, wife and three kids it gets really hard finding the time.

 

Same here. The service writer tried to "sell" me the free periodic maintenance. I said NO! I just changed the oil 2 days ago. Unfortunately, the fuel line recall is not really a DIY thing, nor are these manual software updates.

 

Well, apparently the real service writers and techs are better than the clowns that answer the phones to schedule the appointment. My service writer said that those folks don't even have access to VINs or anything. Seems silly. They had my truck finished by 12:30 so I returned the loaner and picked it up. No gas leaks... yet. I just filled it so that will be the real test.

I am going to hang onto the receipt that has the writer's card stapled to it and I'll try calling him directly next time... which should be when they get the final fuel line fix available.