my scion just had a major breakdown...and its only been 2 weeks! HELP!!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ssa787 · 05-26-2005, 12:04 AM

so basically what happened was i came out of my driveway to go to work.
i was driving down my street around...10-15? mph

and i was totally going straight...

and my car spazzes...it steers rightward....and i crash into a parked car...

so im sitting ther wondering what just happened...
i get out...and the 5 spectators that were watching me said that my right tired buckled and it shot to the right....leading my car in the same direction...
so my tires basically looked like this :

|| //

and so now i cant drive my car....my front right is jacked...that car i hit is jacked...
i filed a lemon law to toyota...and they are saying that itll take them at least a month for them to send a representative out to chcek out my car...

and im pissed...cause thats just unacceptable...

what should i do?
can you guys help me please?
thanks!

91MR2quickNA · 05-26-2005, 09:38 AM

This is where the little black box that records all of your relevant data comes in handy ...

***cam2Xrunner*** · 05-26-2005, 09:42 AM

Take that into the dealer, have them give you a rental car. That's unacceptable. And make sure they give you a nice car to drive around, when I took my truck in to get the fenders repainted I made them give me their nicest SUV they had

robit · 05-26-2005, 10:01 AM

Which model Scion do you have?

ssa787 · 05-26-2005, 04:04 PM

its a Tc
here are the photos of hte accident if it helps...
http://community.webshots.com/user/ssa787

and my insurance company told me not to take it in so that they can inspect it first
and so that they can see the car as it was after the accident...

alreadyblue · 05-26-2005, 05:03 PM

Yeah, let your insurance company inspect it first. They are the ones who are going to pay for the repair to your Fender, and for the other car as well. Do you have coverage for a rental car on your insurance?

Also, the buckling of the wheel should be covered under your factory warranty. They won't repair the sheet metal, but they will repair what ever part failed on the vehicle. If Toyota starts giving you problems, just let them know that they can deal with you or your insurance agency. They would much rather deal with you.

Mo79 · 05-31-2005, 05:45 PM

Honestly, GET A LAWYER you don’t want to deal with their BS it may cost you some money but if you file a claim with your insurance company your rates will go up and probably double for 3 to 5 years. If this was caused by a defect Scion/Toyota is liable for the damage. You may want to report it to NHTSA www.NHTSA.gov . My friend had a Mitsubishi Galant and lost steering on the freeway going 65 mph she hit the center and had about 4k in damage. Mitsubishi ended up having to cover it because the problem was caused by a faulty part that was part of a recall.

Then again litigation is a pain and will take a while so if you can’t wait to fight it out or be without a car then you should file a claim and at least try to get Scion/Toyota to reimburse your insurance company. Make sure you keep all the detailed pictures and document time lost from work and time you spend dealing with their BS. The names of people you talked to etc. Documentation is key.

Good Luck

upgraded · 06-21-2005, 08:18 PM

Did it have lowering springs installed on it? It sounds as if the nut on your upper control arm fell off if the wheels looks like you are describing.

rtrimyer · 06-22-2005, 11:14 PM

Insist on a brand new car because this wreck automatically lowers the value when you go to resell it. Don't take no for an answer. Call your local news channel too if they give you any crap....they'll probably be glad to go down to the dealership with you (w/cameras) and talk to the owner about selling defective cars and it taking a month to get the problem resolved....hopefully the dealership would will be happy to help you out instead of hurting thier image and sales.

Don't get the nicest SUV to drive around in....you'll pay double for the gas you would've spent if you were fillling up your car.

What state are you in....I'll see if there are any laws in your state addressing this issue.

upgraded · 06-23-2005, 04:56 PM

rtrimyer , You sound like the type of person whos would sue the state of Florida for getting a sunburn. Find out the whole story and be cool before you go off yelling about who owes whom what. I agree its a messed up situation, but give someone a chance to do the right thing before you start screaming demands. You'll get much better results in the long run.

rtrimyer · 06-25-2005, 10:22 AM

downgraded,

that sunburn thing hurt my feelings

............(11th Amendment denies a citizens right to sue any of the states)

Q: Was there a defect in the car?
A : Obviously.......from what we know so far
Q: Who was the manufacturer?
A: Toyota / Scion
Q: Who was the retailer?
A: the Toyota dealer he bought it from.
Q: Who is liable to the buyer?
A: Sometimes both....though sometimes the manufacturer will not be liable unless the defect was willful or the item was inherently dangerous, for example see Cadillac Motor Car Co. v. Johnson, 221 F. 801 (2nd Cir. 1915).
Q: Does a car lose its value upon being wrecked?
A: Duh
Q: Would you rather have defective, repaired, 2 week old car w/non original paint or a new one?
A: new one
Q: If you bought a defective car that caused it to wreck, now is unable to be driven, and you have to wait at LEAST A MONTH before a Scion rep is going to look at it, would you love to wait that long?
A: not if your human......unless your Jay Leno who has over a 100 cars
Q: What will the manufacturer prefer to do, Pay a little bit of money for a repair or a lose a couple thousand by giving him a new car?
A: no need to respond.

They told him it would be over a month and obviously that is too long...unless he wants to wait........plus he needs to make it clear that that car is unacceptable ....unless he wants a wrecked car.

SSA787 said, "and im pissed...cause thats just unacceptable...

"

So to summarize, if he would like to own a previously wrecked car, which will have a lower resale value, that will take at least a month for it to get looked at, then of course time afterwards to do what ever the rep is going to do.....then yes....he should do nothing (while in the mean time, paying more in gas for the rental vehicle he is driving...unless they give him an Echo or another Scion).

upgraded · 06-26-2005, 08:59 AM

All I was suggesting is that the situation be dealt with while keeping a level head and not flying off the hanlde like some crazed sue-happy freak. I have found that being calm and dealing with ppl respecfully always seems to have a better outcome.

captainzib · 06-29-2005, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upgraded

Did it have lowering springs installed on it? It sounds as if the nut on your upper control arm fell off if the wheels looks like you are describing.

This is a valid question, and Toyota, and the dealer in question will deny responsibility, and pin it on the person or persons who installed the springs.

locoman · 07-03-2005, 02:42 PM

I bought a 2005 Scion tC for my son two months ago. We really liked the car. However, last week he was in a serious accident and the tC was totalled. He was driving at about 35 mph and the car become 'uncontrollable' and veered left into the on-coming traffic lane. He collided with another vehicle and his Scion flipped over. He was wearing his seat belt and the airbags deployed and thankfully he is OK.

Tire skid marks on the road show that the car veered sharply to the left. After reading your post, I'm concerned that a mechanical problem with the Scion tC may have contributed to the accident. Our tC was completely stock - no suspension modifications. I plan to go to the yard where the car is now stored and look it over very carefully. The impact to the car was on the right side behind the passenger door. Therefore, the front suspension is intact.

***84Cressida*** · 07-03-2005, 05:52 PM

You should've bought a Celica.