It's time for a 2018 Tundra Recall...

No Chevy shake on the T1s.

 

I have a service at Toyota coming up later this week, and I'm going to reference the bent left axle shaft, and hopefully they can figure it out. It's almost embarrassing in my parking garage how much it squeaks.

 

Any update on the bed issues? They replaced a bolt and new bushings on my right rear. Didn’t help much.

 

I thought this was my cap squeaking

 

I have to record this too and bring it to the dealer

 

That sounds like a pack of hyenas trapped under the bed cover

 

So with my 2019 I've run into major issues with the bed creaking. It's been at Toyota for a week. They refused to look at it because of my "aftermarket parts"-- then I canceled my prepaid maintenance, and caused a stir by citing the Magnuson Act etc. Toyota removed all aftermarket parts, put on 2020 stock tundra wheels/tires, shocks, shackles and test drove it, with me in the truck.... guess what.. still creaked from the bed area.

Well, Dolan Toyota then told me they would get new leaf springs under warranty because they thought it was a leaf spring bushing deal.

I get back from a trip yesterday and call this morning. They told me Toyota balked and said it was my problem because of the shackles. I could pay 3k for shackles with install. I said: kick dirt.

I opened a case with Toyota. Unbelievable I have to go through this, and will no matter what be selling the truck and going with a different brand. I've had enough.

Also have to note that the truck has 5k miles, and have owned it for less than six months.

 

I don't have bed bounce. 'Cept when the wife and I are feeling frisKy.

 

To any of you considering filing a case with Toyota, which you are required to do because signed an arbitration agreement just be prepared to lose. Toyota wins 80% of the arbitration cases, guess who pays the arbitration company? Toyota, hell they even answer the the phone as Toyota. Your going to have to file a state lemon law case to stand a chance of getting a replacement, compensation or your money back.
Its not a fast process, expect a 6-12 month ordeal but if your complaints are legit and you have everything documented you will win.

When I lost my aribitration the arbitrator stated I verified the complaints, but still found in favor of Toyota!?! Crazy huh? You have to be prepared for a Marathon, they will fight you every step of the way.
I ended up trading my Tundra for a Raptor, which was just as shitty as my Tundra... so I dumped that and got a 4Runner... the quality difference in the 4runner over the Tundra is staggering. That said, the Raptor is the shittest built vehicle I ever owned. Ive never built a truck but I know for a fact I can build one with better quality then Ford does.

 

oh but the tundra is made here so it has to be great right? I dealt with this steering wheel shake soon as I pulled off the lot. Balanced a few times, still had it. It wasn’t until I took a road trip that I noticed my backseat was violently shaking. I ended up ditching the KO2’s for some continental tires. Seems to have cleared up about 90% of it but has vibration that shouldn’t be happening with a new truck. 50-70MPH that was the sweet spot for my shaking/vibration

 

Ever consider it might be the bed cover is outta square?

 

Funny thing is, I’m interested in the raptor. I know I have to leave Toyota. The quality on their trucks is terrible. American made... no thanks.

I don’t expect to take this to arbitration, I only want them to replace what they think is wrong under warranty. Of course it’s supposed to be a neutral arbitrator, but as you said, everyone has a horse in the race.

my wife had a 4Runner before her q5 and it was stellar. How bad was the raptor?

 

As someone who's really struggling with which truck to buy, any ideas which brand you'll go with next?

 

Chevy/GMC. Solid trucks. Or if I get a good deal on a raptor, that.

 

I was a Chevy guy my entire life (except this one time back in 06 when I experimented with a Dodge 2500..worst decision I ever made.) and my last Chevrolet drove me (literally) to Toyota. I’d be hard pressed to go back to Chevrolet.

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Which year/gen and what issue(s) did you have?

 

I was strongly leaning towards a 2020 Elevation but MSRP is about $15k CAD more than an SR5 SX and I'm worried about the issues folks have had with brakes failing, infotainment system glitches and a few others.

Tundra has its own issues including poor fuel economy, lower payload than GM and Ford, TSS is obnoxious and doesn't always work correctly, potential for leaks from both ends and no external transmission cooler as of 2019 but it still seems more likely to serve me well for 15 years and 100k miles than a T1 or even a K2.

 

I dont think there is anything lemon law will cover for bed creek. Lemon Law focuses on 3 specific items and you have to prove all 3 to have a legitimate case.

Use
Value
Safety

Use - I would think your bed and truck are still usable
Value - May detract a buyer on the used car market.
Safety - I dont think you will be stranded on the side of the road.

You could hire a lawyer and push it from that end.

 

I have successfully litigated 6 buy backs over my life. So I have a bit of background in this area.

 

Was a 2010 Z71 Crew 5.3 bought new. Cheap feeling rattling plastic interior, and low power motor. I have a 4,000lb travel trailer and whenever I hooked it onto the Chevrolet it was like a spark plug fell out..low power.

It was in and out of the shop with oil consumption issues. It left me stranded on the side of the road a few times with TPS and ECU issues that required a “reflash” at the dealership. The rings burned up at 120,00 miles and every shop I called said it was a common problem with the motors that have an “eco” mode that switches between 4 and 8 cyl mode.

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Sounds like beautiful dolphins. I'd pay for this feature

 

Incorrect, Ive seen lemon buybacks for stupid stuff like "radio pop", "exhaust noise", all kinds of things that you wouldn't think would qualify.

Reason why people give up, is its a LOOOONG process. Most get frustrated and trade the lemon in or just keep it
Start the process by contacting Toyota, file the claim and go through the motions. After you lose, get an attorney... it wont cost you a dime.
Just understand the process may take over a year to come to a resolution.

I would have easily won a state lemon case, reason I didnt pursue it is when you factor the useage deduction id lose money over trading it in.
Based on Florida law my useage deduction would have been about 5k and even more if it took a year to settle . I got 45,500 in trade, paid $48900 for my truck so I came out ahead had I pursued a full refund.
Now if you are going for replacement then you will get MSRP for MSRP, and depending on your discount you can come out ahead.

 

I got 8500 off a 2019 Raptor, they are giving them away.. just be prepared for major difference in qaulity over Toyota. Fords fit and finish is shit... Raptor transmission is funky when its cold, shifts are erratic. Thats said, its fun as hell to drive... but if my choice was GM or Ford, Id pick GM.

 

I heard GM did a better job with the 10 speed that they developed in conjunction with Ford, particularly around the shift points.

My dad would disown me if I bought a Ford.

 

Paint was garbage, you can see primer in the door jams. The seams were the windshield meets the A pillar are all bent and wavy (looked a multiple Raptors, all are like this) Ford used to cover this seem with trim. Drivers seat cushion would come off the frame, happened multiple times.
Drivers fender either had mold defect or a paint run ( see pic). ALL the door jams had paint runs... Passenger headlight was peeling..
Transmission sucked... shifts were all over the place. Once it warmed up it got better but when it was cold it would lurch forward, scared the crap out of me several times.
I knew I was gonna live at the dealership, cut my losses and moved on.

 

Ha, when my dad came over and saw the Raptor the first thing he said was "whos piece of shit is that?" Old man will probably be buried in his CK1500.. lol


My dad would disown me if I bought a Ford.[/QUOTE]

 

Thats good to know.

Well Toyota came back and said they refuse to help me, and believe that the creaking noise from the bed has to do with my "aftermarket shackles" and the bushings used.

Now deciding what I want to do. Since I'm a lawyer, I'll likely file suit on my own after the BS arbitration. OR, I'll just sell the truck and never get another Toyota for the rest of my life.

 

WOW!

 

I've never had to pay a usage deduction in any of my 6 buy backs.

 

I still think Tundras are the overall best made trucks. I’ve had four. Yet, as I await their full remodel (2021?), I chose to try out other brands.

Earlier this year, I compared the 2019 RAM 1500 and GMC AT4. The RAM 1500 didn’t feel enough like a truck to me though it was really nice and I didn’t like the dial shifter or the stories about manifold bolts failure. So, I went with an AT4. Got a great deal at $12k off MSRP. Two weeks in to ownership, the rattles started. First, one under left side of the steering wheel. Dealer trip. Bolts that were not tightened properly. A week and a half later, both side mirrors rattling at highways speeds on smooth interstate with the HUD (which is a sweet feature) doing the same... and the rattles came back. Dealer trip. Torn apart, tightened bolts and adjusted fitments, etc. Two more weeks, and everything returned. The truly cool rear view camera “mirror” and multi function tailgate and 6.2 V8 were still great though. The 10 speed transmission? Mostly good. Some lurches from 1st gear. Great on the highway: 20 mpg.

A friend recommended I reconsider a RAM, but a 2500 (I pull a heavier mission tool trailer sometimes and do a lot of interstate driving). I considered Lemon Law and a buyback as well. Yet, I thought I’d shop a few RAM dealers and see what I thought of a new RAM 2500. There were no 2500 Power Wagons nearby (but they certainly seem like amazing trucks if you are more of an off-roader), but a 2019 2500 Mega cab with the 6.7 Cummins was and had been on the lot for 3.5 months.

Long story short, after three weeks of back and forth (and the new November RAM Black Friday Employee Pricing for All Event kickoff), I lost only $2,000 on my AT4, yet got the 2500 for $17k off MSRP. It’s my first diesel and the fit and finish are solid. It only has the 8.4 inch Uconnect screen (I prefer it to the tablet screen). Uconnect is good (I actually think OnStar is the best voice system). 18 mpg combined. Very comfortable on longer (or shorter) drives. Smooth driving, but is definitely still a truck.

I guess what I’m saying is this: Whether it has a diesel with the 6 speed or the HEMI with the 8 speed, don’t count out a RAM 2500. The deals are incredible right now and they are built better, more solidly (from what people I trust told me) than the 1500’s. Until Toyota comes out with their remodel, I believe this RAM will serve me well.