Dealer Service Issues - Need Opinions Please - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

MikeMiami · 10-07-2009, 07:37 PM

Hi all - I wrote not to long ago, letting you guys know i have a 98 Avalon XL 90K miles. The check enging light was on and it was bucking around 60mph. I brought it in 3 weeks ago and they said it was one of 2 things...tune up/spark plugs...or exhaust system/o2 sensor causing misfires. The tune up was cheaper so i did that first. didnt solve the problem so i then fixed the rest...after spending a total of $2,350 i picked up the car today and within driving 7miles, the car started bucking again and on came the check engine light. needless to say im P!SSED! Do i have any recourse? i feel like taking it back and saying "i brought this to you for the check engine, YOU told me it was one of 2 things, i fixed them both and the problem still occurs, i want it fixed and im NOT paying anything else"...do these dealers stand behind their work or do you ave to get toyota USA involved? ive never dealt with TOYOTA before so not to familiar with them. Any help or advise would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!

mmejia · 10-09-2009, 01:08 PM

I would say that if that one of the two would fix the problem and you did both, they should go ahead and keep on working out to figure out the problem. They should have least done a thorough test and made sure it didn't have the problem anymore. I would say you shouldn't have to pay anymore for it as well, as they basically replaced parts that didn't need to be.

As far as them standing behind their work, it all depends on the dealership. You can try getting Toyota USA involved. If you can't do that/that doesn't work, take it to a good repair shop that will diagnose it (maybe fix it?) and then have them pay it or reimburse all the money you paid on something that wasn't wrong. I just know it will be a pain either way.

EDIT: By the way, you might want to look at seeing if it might be ECU that's causing the issue. They're pretty cheap on Ebay, so it wouldn't be a big deal if it doesn't fix the problem. Just a few bolts and connectors to switch it...shouldn't be too bad.

Param · 10-09-2009, 11:37 PM

" I wrote not to long ago, letting you guys know i have a 98 Avalon XL 90K miles. The check enging light was on and it was bucking around 60mph. I brought it in 3 weeks ago and they said it was one of 2 things...tune up/spark plugs...or exhaust system/o2 sensor causing misfires. "

How incompetent can they get!! Plain Vanila ODB II Scanner spit out the codes. If it is O2 sensor, it will tell you which one.

It is easy to clear the light with scanner or battery disconnect. Then, while the scanner is connected to ODB II port, they should take the car for a drive to get the engine light to show up. Scanner would pick up the error message.

I feel that they took you for a ride, if they did not run ODB II scanner to figureout the problem. NOT only get that fixed, find out what is the real problem. Ask them to reimburse for unnecessary repairs they made. Find any legal recourse.

artbuc · 10-10-2009, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMiami

Hi all - I wrote not to long ago, letting you guys know i have a 98 Avalon XL 90K miles. The check enging light was on and it was bucking around 60mph. I brought it in 3 weeks ago and they said it was one of 2 things...tune up/spark plugs...or exhaust system/o2 sensor causing misfires. The tune up was cheaper so i did that first. didnt solve the problem so i then fixed the rest...after spending a total of $2,350 i picked up the car today and within driving 7miles, the car started bucking again and on came the check engine light. needless to say im P!SSED! Do i have any recourse? i feel like taking it back and saying "i brought this to you for the check engine, YOU told me it was one of 2 things, i fixed them both and the problem still occurs, i want it fixed and im NOT paying anything else"...do these dealers stand behind their work or do you ave to get toyota USA involved? ive never dealt with TOYOTA before so not to familiar with them. Any help or advise would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!

I have experienced first-hand and read about many frauds perpetrated by stealerships (Lexus and Toyota) but this is one of the very worst! What were the freaking codes? Unless you have an extremely unusual situation, the codes will lead you right to the problem. Sorry to say it but you got totally abused on this one.

Param · 10-10-2009, 12:05 PM

Why don't you contact media? ask help from any and all media..CNN, etc... Once this is picked up by media Toyota Corp highly likely look into it. Dealer has to explain to the media. Embarrassing them is the best way.

I bet you that you won't go far without embarrassing them or taking legal action. If you feel that they scammed you, they did it will fully. Without pounding them with law or media, very little will happen.

Param · 10-11-2009, 12:26 PM

There are so many things you can do. The link I found is for Florida. There has to be a consumer protection law for the state(I don't know hether this a for Feds)

http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/co...n/automobiles/

Hit them hard. Get them to repent. Most of all get your money returned.

I am in Toronto, Ontario. I have seen a 1999 Toyota Avalon for dale for $2000! few weeks ago in craigslist.

***TrailDust*** · 10-11-2009, 01:39 PM

The best place to contact is your State Attorney General's office. Most states attorneys general accept consumer complaints, and in California they have a sub-office called the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR, for short). Trust me, the last thing in the world these guys want is government on their ass, and you get action fast. Long story short, about ten years ago I had an Acura dealership royally screw me over with an $800 bill that should have been $250. They would not give my money back, but as soon as I threatened to contact the BAR...Pow!!!...$500 of my money was returned. I had another incident with a local tire company who screwed me over, wasn't fazed by my BAR threat, so I contacted the BAR. End result: the BAR found they were operating with many legal violations, and they shut the business down...for good. Talk about satisfaction from this consumer.....