Complaint Review: Findlay Toyota Henderson NV

Dear Sir or Madam:

I sent a similar letter to the BBB of Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm awaiting a response from them. And I emailed this letter to you yesterday I missed the file a report button. I'm not trying to be redundant.

Thank you for posting it on the web.

Byron Baldwin

February 18, 2002

Dear Sir or Madam:

These are some ills I found in my Toyota Four Runner after Findlay Toyota replaced the motor and I suppose the clutch at a cost of $4579.39. The time it took Findlay to replace the motor was excessive and unprofessional. The original quote that I had to ask and insist to be written down was for $3498.00 to replace the engine and clutch.

I'd like to request money back for problems resulting from unfinished work due to the service manager (Brooklyn Joe Saponaro) driving the truck out of the shop to collect monies. I do have estimates and receipts for hourly wages and parts. The truck has had to be done which has cost me money in my own business due to down time. After seeing them drive and let me take the truck with so many loose bolts I did not and will not trust Findlay Toyota to work on my vehicle any longer.

Seven total out of fourteen, engine-mounting bolts were found to be loose or missing. Of the four engine mounting bolts that were not installed, three were missing on the driver's side after Findlay Toyota replaced the engine. They did replace and tighten the missing engine-mounting bolts upon my return to their service dept. with the truck.

These things happened after I returned the Toyota 4 Runner to the service dept and complained about many bolts missing and loose.

My mechanics found one top bell housing bolt missing. Another top bell housing bolt completely loose, in other words, half of the bolt was out. The transmission started making a consistent loud hum/hiss noise upon returning to California. A bearing is being replaced.

They did not clean out the engine compartment.

The truck actually ran quieter and more smoothly when I drove the truck into Findlay Toyota. The valves were very noisy on the replacement engine. A valve adjustment quieted them down.

Since they returned the truck to me the oil pressure gauge does not work. It worked well, before I took into Findlay Toyota to have the work done correctly.

The starter went bad within 100 miles after driving out of the Findlay parking lot. I found the bolts to be loose all around the starter; this is probably why the starter went bad.

The alternator also went out in the first 100 miles after they gave the truck back to me.

I purchased a new battery and alternator in Las Vegas.

I've read that there are people that train service managers to get more money out of the customers when they are stranded without their vehicle. Findlay must have passed that training with flying colors at a loss for public opinion in Henderson, NV. My neighbors in Henderson, NV and Los Angeles, CA and Northern California do not have a high opinion of Findlay Toyota because of how they treated me and their work performance on my truck.

Now I've had much down time on repairing these things that Findlay Toyota could have and should have completed before driving it out of the garage to give to me so they could receive payment. I've also hired mechanics to help me finish the repairs.

I'd like a payment from Findlay for the mechanic hours and parts that have had to be found and replaced from all the missing and loose bolts.

I'd also appreciate an apology from Findlay Toyota for doing such poor work on my truck after I trusted the dealer to do excellent work on my truck.

Sincerely,

Byron Baldwin

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... click here to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! When there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!