problems at service departments - am I the only one?!

I can honestly say that I've had just about all I can take from these MORONS that work in the Toyota service departments around here. Every single time I take my 4Runner in for any kind of service, something gets damaged, dirty, or destroyed.

The first experience was when I had my '04 4Runner and I took it in for an alignment and an oil change. They (Cobb County Toyota) managed to dent the front fender during the alignment, and then they also somehow sprayed oil all over the interior and exterior of the 4Runner and gave it back to me hoping I wouldn't notice it! I had to go directly to the GM in order to get anything done about it. After all of the problems there, I knew I'd never go back.

So I've been going to a different dealership since then, Marietta Toyota. The one thing I hate about their service department is that the pull through area is SO narrow that you can't even open your door all the way after pulling into the lane. Well, the last time I went there for an oil change and tire rotation they scratched my drivers door and rear fender and got black grease all over the floormats. I went straight to the service manager and he gave me a card for a free oil change, WTF?!?! Once again, I'm never going back to those morons.

So as a last resort I took it to Cherokee Toyota for an oil change, rattle in the drivers door, and tire rotation. This time they scratched two of my wheels while doing the tire rotation, and the idiot technician that was trying to fix the door rattle tried to pry the small tweeter speaker cover off with a screw driver EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART OF THE DOOR PANEL! So now I have even more damage. And to top it all off, on the paperwork the tech wrote that he inflated all 4 tires to 53 PSI so I had to check all of them to make sure they were actually at 32-33 PSI which they were which only means he's a retard or he didn't check the pressure at all.

I've had about all I can take at this point. I have no other dealerships to go to for service. Luckily my g/f works for a body shop at a Dodge dealership and they have offered to fix the paint damage free of charge because they feel bad about what I've had to put up with. Am I the ONLY one that has to deal with this?!?! Do service techs really have NO respect for other people's vehicles?! :bash:

No, you're not the only one...And no, techs could care less about our cars. It's truly sad, but if you want something done right, you really have to do it yourself.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21339&highlight=oil+filter+synthetic

when i had my tacoma, the dealer i used to go to smashed the front end. The Porter was a young kid and floored it to hear my exaust on it, and hit a new Camry.

I have never had anything like that happen to me at my dealer. Sometimes I question their pricing but they have caused any type of damage to my truck.

Do NOT go to the service department on a Monday or a Friday! I try to take my truck into my local Toyota service department on a Wednesday or Thursday. There seems to be less vehicles in need of repair floating around the service bay area therefore reducing the chance for technican mishaps from overwork and/or stress.

If your signature didn't indicate that you are in GA I would have said that you must have gone to LONGO Toyota.

Metro Atlanta Dealers??

I'm near you and am about to take my T4R to service but I haven't decided where to go. I was not considering any of the places you mention. First choice will likely be Sandy Springs. Second choice is Roswell. Do you (or anybody else) know anything about either one?

I thought that the dealer I purchased my truck from was reliable. Since they switched their name and some of the managers, they are just awful! When I bring my truck in for a few little noises that are bugging me, I see "cannot duplicate, everything working correctly" all over my work order. When I show it to the GM, he said it is a "normal" noise. I noticed that on some oil changes, they put 8 quarts of oil in and some they put 7 in. The attitudes of the service writers/managers are terrible. I don't expect them to bow down to me, but at least be polite and listen to my what I say. For example, I am still trying teach them how to read a VIN number. There is a TSB on the radio in my parents 2006 4Runner. I am trying to explain to them that the 7th number in the VIN is NOT part of the production number, when in reality it is the trim. The manager told me "You think you are right, but you are not!" Oh, and two weeks ago, I found out they raised the labor rate by $10 an hour. Let's just say I am switching dealers! I think Toyota has some issues with customer relations.

Not exactly something to be proud of, but I think I have everyones dealer service department bad experiences beat. It started on Friday of Memorial Day weekend. It may have been better to postphone the oil change for another 20,000 miles instead of taking it in that day:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=22397

It seems to be running good now, with the possible exception of engine vibration that I can feel through the seat when sitting at stop lights with the AC off. Does anybody else feel that with a V6? Is it possible to increase the engine idle speed?

Poor guy - I feel for ya! You sound dangerously stressed (and who can blame you!) Now, sit down, close your eyes, take a deep breath, slowly let it out. Repeat several times. Relax!

Next, resolve that you're going to learn to do basic maintenance yourself. Community colleges typically have evening programs that'll teach you the basics of vehicle maintenance. You'll need a fairly modest investment in tools to be able to do this stuff:

-Large floor jack & 4 jackstands
-Basic socket and ratchet wrench set
-Screwdriver set
-Oil filter wrench
-Grease gun (if your vehicle is 4WD)
-Oil drain pan and storage container,

Probably $200 or less total if you shop carefully (i.e., go to www.harborfreight.com).

Toyotas are so reliable and durable that you should be able to go many miles with only basic maintenance. Doing it yourself you will:

-Save money (should pay for your tools in 3-4 oil changes)
-Know that the work is done right, with the quality materials (such as synthetic oil) that you've purchased
-Have the satisfaction and peace of mind of being independent of dealers for most of your needs.

I've done my own maintenance my whole life, and it has paid dividends over and over in $$ and satisfaction. Empower yourself! Do the same.

Best regards.

I've been around this board for the past few years now, and it just blows my mind to read some of the dealership horror stories.

I've worked for a Toyota dealership for almost 7 years now. All I can say is it's too bad all of you can't come in for service here. Not to sit here and toot our horn (I'm actually a manager in the sales department), but we hover right around 3rd to 4th in the nation in service customer satisfaction (out of 1,200 or so dealers). All of our staff has been here for quite a while, and I rarely hear of any issues in the service department. A ton of our customers have told us our service dept. is the reason they continue to come back and buy from us again and again.

Anway, I just wanted to post a quick "I'm sorry" to all of you who deal with bad service departments. It shouldn't be like that, and trust me, it isn't at all of them. If any of you are in the area and need any service, just look me up. I'll even buy you a soda!

Grant

Thumbs up to everyone at the service and parts department at ToyotaTown here in London.....those guys have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the few times I've had to go in for anything.....

Granth77 said:

I've been around this board for the past few years now, and it just blows my mind to read some of the dealership horror stories.

I've worked for a Toyota dealership for almost 7 years now. All I can say is it's too bad all of you can't come in for service here. Not to sit here and toot our horn (I'm actually a manager in the sales department), but we hover right around 3rd to 4th in the nation in service customer satisfaction (out of 1,200 or so dealers). All of our staff has been here for quite a while, and I rarely hear of any issues in the service department. A ton of our customers have told us our service dept. is the reason they continue to come back and buy from us again and again.

Anway, I just wanted to post a quick "I'm sorry" to all of you who deal with bad service departments. It shouldn't be like that, and trust me, it isn't at all of them. If any of you are in the area and need any service, just look me up. I'll even buy you a soda!

Grant

Click to expand...

Is there any way for you to post the listing of dealers so that we can all see where our local dealership ranks? That would great to see...considering I love dealing with the guys at Harr Toyota in Worcester, MA.

We thought our Toyota dealership was the most awesome car dealer we'd ever been to. Everyone was always polite and friendly from buying the 4Runner to taking it to them for oil changes. They even give a courtesy wash with oil changes if you don't take it in too close to closing time. It was a pleasant experience to take our 4Runner there for scheduled maintenance and oil changes. Comfortable chairs with multiple televisions, and a deli on site. Then one day somebody screwed up and forgot to put oil in it. People work at dealerships and people make mistakes. Who knows what was going through that persons mind when he forgot to put oil in it. I haven't mentioned the dealerships name since I hope mine was an isolated case and that person doesn't work there anymore.:bash:

We actually don't get the actual names of the dealerships and their ranks in customer satisfaction. All they give us are the basic statistics and what number we are out of the district, region, and nationally. Even if we did get a name list, I still couldn't (and wouldn't) post it on the internet. Even dealers have confidentiality rights. :

Grant

and I am sure everyone on this board respects your professionalism on the matter. I appreciate your concern. Thankfully everyone at Wilmington Toyota has been extremely nice.

I use to have the stealership service my T4R where I purchased it.

Well no more, they dented the rear door while it was open, so the right bottom of the door curled in.

They scratched the paint on the passenger front side console.

They got black grimey grease on the rear floor.

They also broke a custom billet iron cross tow hitch cover w/flames from J&P
cycles.

The service manager promised to replace the tow hitch cover.
My neighbor owns a body shop who fixed the rear door and removed the grease for nothing, well alomost nothing I do serve
cold cocktails in the summer.

I got the cold shoulder form the service manager whos name
is Babe the blue Oxs owner.
He promised me the moon and stars and all I got was a royal shafting. Who also never returned any phone calls. He needed a good reallity beating.

He told me to drive vehicle down and blah blah blah blah.
My response was the next time I drive my vehicle there, Im goin to drive it through your front f*cking window.

I wrote Toyotas offices in Ca a beautiful warm letter and sent pictures along with it.
Within 4 days I recieved a phone call an apology and a reference complaint number.

Ca offices were very professional and told me the tow hitch which cost me $80 would be replaced. Well when I called the service manager after filing the complaint, wow, the manager had a totally different attitude with me, but I didnt with him. lol

Its really amazing how a professional place could treat peoples
property. I feel your pain bro.........

The pen is mightier then the sword.


THE NEXT TIME ANYONE DOES WORK ON YOUR CAR, LOOK AT EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY. IF THEY WORKED ON THE GLOVE BOX, CHECK YOUR SPARE, ETC.....................................


Sincerely

Bones of the NYFC

:bigok: :bigok:

It the dealers are that bad, write to Toyota like bones.


Or you can try a Lexus dealer for service.



My truck has never been serviced at the dealer. They probably won't see it until I need a timing belt.

Going to Lexus for service does not guarantee great service. Just an option to consider if all the Toyota dealers are bad.