- Report: #1251764
Complaint Review: Toyota Motor Company - Nationwide
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Toyota Motor Company
Nationwide, USA
Phone:
1 (800) 331-4331
Web:
www.toyota.com
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Toyota Motor Company Toyota of North America Design Problem Lemon Law Alternator Problems Failure Torrance california
I currently own several Toyota Tundras. I have loved Toyota trucks and have bought several of them in my lifetime. I bought them (past tense) because they seemed to be more reliable over the years than the American trucks that I have owned (Ford/GMC). However, recently, my faith in Toyota has been shaken due to the amount of recalls I receive, as well as one very particular design problem. Toyota designed their engine block with a serious design flaw (in my opinion) that is costing me thousands and they have been unwilling to help me out with it.
I bought my Tundra with 3,000 miles, certified from a local Toyota Delearship (Thompson Toyota in Doylestown, PA). Well, a couple years in, the alternator failed. Most alternators are located in an easy to access location where you can pop out the bad and pop in the new. Toyota designed the Tundra engine in a way that the alternator is in a very difficult, tight location. You must dismantle the underneath of the truck to get to it and can hardly get your tools into the spaces to get it out. You also have to remove the power steering to get to it. This design and its proximity to water splash from tires assures a visit to your local dealership (the kind of tactics that American car companies pulled decades ago). Just to get the old one out took 7+ hours from an experienced professional mechanic. I must give Toyota credit for the first time this happened. My vehicle was one month out of warranty and they covered the replacement. However, this has happened again and they will not cover it. I am very upset. The replacement cost as per the delearship (Thompson Toyota) was stated at "beginning at $2,000 but it could go over". This is normally a $300 to $500 (or simply at cost of part for DIY'ers) cost on a standard easy to pop out and replace alternator (including part cost). But this should not be happening to a truck that is garage kept and only has 55,000 miles. I am certain there are others out there like me. In defense of Thompson Toyota, my vehicle is NOT under warranty and I did not end up hiring them to do the job. However, I feel that I have been sold a defective product that has been costly and problematic to maintain. I have now reconsidered buying a new Tundra or the Tacoma 2016 model and will be entertaining other options. Thompson and Toyota Care ultimately decided would not assist and for that reason I would not consider them for a new vehicle purchase.
