[Kaykay]

Here's the story of my vibration/unbalanced tire feeling. It was initially at various speeds (just shy of being severe), then just highway (+70 light/just shy of moderate) and now back to various speeds (light/moderate depending speed and increasing intensity as time goes on) with a whooping feeling/sound @19-25 mph (this to me this is severe).

10/07/10 (milage 16) - purchased

10/08/10 (milage 49) - Test drove on a not so perfect road and misconstrued the vibration for the road conditions. The unbalanced feeling was all over the spectrum so I brought it back. Per the dealer there were flat spots on the tires due to the car sitting to long. Solution was to overinflate and drive. Also, disc were out of round causing vibration when braking

10/11/10 (milage 89) - vibration still present but the dealer said they couldn't feel what I was experiencing. The rotors were cut.

11/15/10- (milage 975)- acknowledgment of the vibrations so Dealer put new set of tires on it. But the vibration still present at highway speeds

2/19/11 (milage 5160 ) - vibrations still present, car pulling left when braking and accelerating- Dealer said they couldn't feel anything and I quote "It drives like a Camry"

2/21/11- car hit in the rear driver side tire - entire wheel assembly replaced, new rim, only body work needed was a rear bumper: vibration at HW speed still present

7/12/11 (milage 10127) - vibration at HW speed still present, dealer still not able to validate my concern

11/04/11 (milage 15355) - vibration at HW speed still present, dealer still not able to validate my concern

3/22/12 (milage 19973) -vibration at HW speed still present, now severe pulsation when braking- rotors resurface, road rest noted no vibrations, brakes smooth

06/08/12 (milage 24949) -vibration can now be felt at lower speeds 50+ with increasing intensity with speed and from 19-25 am intermittent whoop whoop feeling/sound. This happens every time I'm going this speed but not constantly. might do it at 19 maybe 23 then subside but come back. Per the dealer they were unable to validate only noting that they found very slight pulsation at highway speeds. The dealer agrees to have the car access by a Toyota factory rep.

6/10/12- The dealer called to advise me that they went over the history of the care with the rep and there was nothing they could do further as now the tires are to warn for proper evaluation. (left front is outside warn, almost bald, inside some tread; other 3 tires inspection passable) I will need to purchase tires in order for Toyota to address my concern

6/12/12- (milage 25087) filed a complaint with Toyota

6/13/12- Toyota rep called to tell me that they did snot warranty tires and I have to understand the Factory reps position that he can not properly assess a problem with defective equipment on the car. But was going to call the dealer to see if they can put new temp tires on for the factory rep to assess the car. And if they won't ? Told to wait and see as there isn't much Toyota can do if the issue is tires, I will need to either buy tires or contact Bridgestone.. (who will no doubly say there is something wrong with the car and isn't their responsibility)

Now waiting to see what the dealer/Toyota come up with.... any thoughts ?

Thanks
Kay
:headbang:

 

[Realdamage]

2/19/11 (milage 5160 ) - vibrations still present, car pulling left when braking and accelerating- Dealer said they couldn't feel anything and I quote "It drives like a Camry"


I figured by now, you should've traded the car back in or returned it to the dealer/whoever sold it to you. How could you be driving a car that is confirmed to be vibrating for a whole year? beats me. My only advice would've been wheel balancing/control arm/suspension checks, but it seems you've been through all that, i would've refused to drive the car right there and then. Best of lucks

 

[Kaykay]

Good question !! Because naivety, brainwashed into believing it was in my head there's a whole host of reasons and it may be too late for me to finally get a backbone ... In a way its my fault for not standing up for myself from the beginning but I am now !

Thanks, I'm prob gonna need it to fight with them. Or, just go the easier route and unload the car for a lose (due to the accident); since my accident claim is still open try I can try to recoup the dealers accident deduction that way.. My attorney is already aware of what is going on..

 

[Luna2]

Were there any checks done on the axles for an abnormal condition? Testing without the tires installed.

 

[blooper]

yea, not sure why youre still driving a car that irritates you that much. i get annoyed whenever i hear the passenger seat belt tap the column. are you still under warranty?

when you complain about the issue, do you give them some things that youre suspicious of? from what i can tell from the dealers i have been to, if its not an "apparent" issue that they can solve easily, theyll play dumb and hope you would too. so when you see another service rep, just mention the wheels could use balancing or a realignment. sad to say that you might have to just guide them into the direction you want them to go.

hope you get it straightened out. i would kill someone if i had to deal with something like that. :headbang:

 

[hardtopte72]

If they installed new tires already and that didn't fix it I would say you have a major problem like a transmission bearing, axle, or structural issue.

Have you taken it to another dealer? Have you looked into lemon laws in your state?

 

[Kaykay]

Luna: I have no idea how they access if something is wrong or not... This is a question I will ask them.

Blooper: Cause I have no choice.. I have a 45 minute commute to work/car payment/ no funds to just buy another... Yes it is still under warrenty except Toyota doesn't warranty the tires, your on your on in that department. And I can not be more black/white right down to the MPH and what roads that are the smooths in this state to take it on.. AND I'M READY TOO !

Hardtopte72: right now I'm been dealing with the dealer in which I bought the car, and waiting to see what Toyota and the dealer come back with.. As far as Lemon Laws, I have not looked into it yet but My husband works in legislation for the state and closely with the Dealer Hearing Board, DMV, DOT..etc, so we are just waiting to hear from Toyota. We most certainly will file a complaint with the State of RI Dealer Board if we do not get help.

Thank you for your input all.. I will be speaking with the dealer prob tomorrow so suggestions on how to handle this situation is greatly appreciated !

 

[Kaykay]

RI Lemon Law:
Under Rhode Island Lemon Law, within one year after the delivery date of the vehicle or 15,000 miles on the odometer (whichever comes first), you must notify the manufacturer in writing of the problem. After four repair attempts, you must give the manufacturer one final attempt to repair the vehicle (even if the repair attempt occurs after the one year/15,000 mile period).

• Does not conform to the manufacturer's express warranty
• Has substantial defects affecting the use, safety, or value of the vehicle
• Has manufacturer's defects that occurred during the first year from the delivery date or 15,000 miles on the odometer (whichever period ends first)
• Has been taken in four times for the same problem or has been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 calendar days for a series of problems
• The manufacturer has been notified in writing of the defect within one year from the delivery date or 15,000 miles on the odometer (whichever period ends first) and has one final opportunity to repair the problem
• You have participated in the manufacturer's informal arbitration program, if one exists, or the Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board

 

[Luna2]

I may have missed it but I didn't see anything about an alignment. The factory alignment was off on mine, corrected at 18,000 miles by a dealer in Indiana, and reported the cupping tires. I replaced all 4 tires at 24,000 miles, just 200 miles after a VB Toyota dealer said there was nothing wrong with the tires and they were "flat" across the tread. Some service departments just need a factory trained service tech.

 

[Sharonne]

Vibration Problems

KayKay....

I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE! Among other things with the 2011 Camry. I am using your story to file a lemon law suit!

 

[gdanaher]

I don't see it so I'll ask---does it have standard steel wheel rims or are they alloy, and if alloy, are they genuine Toyota or a third party, even if installed by the dealer? The wheel itself might be out of balance due to porosity of the casting.

Has anyone tried to remove both drive wheels and while on a lift spin the engine up to speed to see if the vibration is unrelated to the wheels?

 

[Kaykay]

Gdanaher- It has toyota alloys, turanza el400s..Toyota corp spoke with the service manager, they will put a new set of tires on so the factory rep can do a "full" inspection. I would assume he would assess with and without.. but ive learned to not assume anything with this car.

The only things done were alignment, wheel balancing, resurfaced rotors, new set of tires.

Sharonne- send me your story as well, im not getting very warm and fuzzy vibes from the dealer.. I may be going down the same road. Also, there is a complaint on NTHSA site, so I filed one as well...enough complaints becomes a trend

Sent from my SGH-T959 using AutoGuide.Com Free App

 

[gdanaher]

Have them bolt on a set of stock steel wheels and tires from a used car on the lot and test it with a totally different set of wheels. The problem is non-standard and that means a non-standard problem--something they would never imagine. This would include an alloy wheel with a casting void that would result in an out of balance and impossible to balance wheel.

Also, have you had any luck in changing or improving the problem by rotating the wheels from front to back? If it was tried and had no affect, then the wheels may not be the source of the problem.

I still think the idea of removing both front wheels, placing the front of the car on jack stands, and then running it up to the problem speed, should result in no vibration, and smooth operation. Replacing the wheels should result in the problem returning. and swapping out different wheels should tell you if the problem is the tire or wheel. There just seems that this is a no brainer problem that can be isolated and resolved and not take 2 years to do it.

 

[Kaykay]

The tires have been rotated as part of the regualr maintance...

I agree... 21 month is tooooo long to deal with this. But, I was doing what they told me to do. Drive it until the problem presents its self to a point where someone else (ah-hem the dealer) can feel it. I did that now its well there are bad tires... :ugh3:

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm still waiting for the service manager to contact me to schedule an appointment to see the factory rep as Toyota Corp advised.. I'm bringing this thread along with me !

 

[chuckoff]

The flat spot from sitting too long is pure BS. Radial tires do not flat spot from sitting. Bias-Ply tires were prone to his but, it took more than just a few months. What kind of tires are being put on the car? Swap out ALL tires and wheels with known good ones and drive to confirm whether or not it is a tire/wheel issue or something else. Axles? Wheel bearings? Possible engine or, transmission issue? How bad a vibration is it? Can be a hard thing to pin down. Good Luck.

 

[jmf66]

Warranty or not.. stop going back to the dealer that doesn't help you! You need to find someone that's interested in finding the problem. Ask around.. maybe start at some tire shops.

 

[Kaykay]

Update

I spent a good hour-hour and a half with the service manager yesterday. As soon as he saw the tires as Bridgestone Turanza EL400s he shook his head and said he hated them as they were just such poor quality. We jumped in the car for a joy ride. He quickly notice the lower speed complaint and immediately identified it as the tires. The car handled fine at speeds from 25-50 ( I know it would). He was able to open her up to speeds 70+ and within 10 minutes the vibration began.. so Im not f'n crazy..finally an acknowledgement.. what a relief! He believes as the tires warm up they are loosing their shape causing the vibrations. OK..so I feel so relieved for all of 10 minutes, here comes the stab... its a tire issue. Toyota does not warranty tires, there's also no proof that the vibration felt was the same vibration felt the previously. The tires at 24k miles, nearing end of life so regardless of what transpired over the last months I have to buy tires being the car is just due for tires.. They did agree to keep the car while I was on vacation and try different rim/tires to to make sure. I voiced my disgust that it took til now to identify the problem putting all my faith (live * learn) in the dealership, did what I was instructed, there is documented history right down to the MPH in which I "claimed" there was a vibration, all along they are just defective tires, oh but wait...they may not be defective, tires that loose shape, while will give a poor quality ride, are not neccessarily defective, once again they are at their end of life so there really is no way of telling now. I again voiced louder that I felt like I was being dupe, that this appears to have been ignored to a point that they knew the responsibility would fall on me. If there is a known issue with these tires this care should have been look at and the complaint taken more seriously ! I advised that I would not be purchasing a Toyota again nor any car from his dealership for that matter and will be social mediaing my experience every chance I get as well as filing complaints with the RI Attorney general, Secretary of State's office, the BBB. I sat there for a half hour debating back and forth eventually it ended with an agreement he would call the Toyota rep and see if there is anything toyota could do as a good faith gesture because this is poor taste, and documentation proves it..... stay tuned!

Kay
:headbang:

 

[gdanaher]

Find a tire dealer in town that can sell you a set of Michelin Hydroedge and just be done with it. With those tires nobody can say they are losing their shape. They have a wear rating of 800 and ride nice.

 

[leakyseals]

If you threaten them prior to getting the work done, they are less inclined to help you out. Because you dont have the money to sue them, and they know it. Always be cordial to the end. After its fixed if you want to throw them the middle finger, thats the appropriate time.

EDIT: When I said don't have the money I meant they have millions set aside for litigation. They could easily tie you up for years till your broke. Attorneys that claim pro bono because it could be a big score know it wont be. States are on a tight budget, they won't spend much defending you either.

 

[Kaykay]

OK.... wanted to give you all an update. The car spent last Friday with a Toyota factory rep. After a complete assessment he determine the issue was tire as they supposedly swamped rims/tires, road force testing, computerized blah blah. Anyway after reviewing and discussing the car's history and my experience, thus far, the factory rep, dealer and Toyota Corp decided to replace my tires free of charge. They put a set of Michelin Energy MXV4 S8, did an alignment, road force Balance(or something like that, I don't have the paper handy). They came to this conclusion because the car, accident in all, has only been touched by the dealership. I was meticulous with the maintenance, specific with my concern, right down to the MPH and everything is well documented. They felt that they needed to make it right. That I should have never had such a poor experience and were very much concerned with living their brand. While I agree with this statement I wonder how much official fix now notice had to do with it.

So now I no longer have a lingering vibration feeling in my hands after my 40 minute commute to work. The reduction in the vibration is prob 95%. I still think something just doesn't feel right. I just don't think this car drive as smooth as it should; but after all these months, I'm sure I don't even know how this car is supposed to drive. Its very possible that I/car are just very sensitive to road conditions. Since I had such a poor experience so far It may just actually "be in my head" now, looking for every imperfection. I figure the best thing to do is spend my Saturday morning visiting some deanships test driving other cars in its class and another LE model just to confirms what I feel is normal.

Thanks all for the advice and comments..
K

:thanks: