What’s with all this PC crap? Technicians!!!??? They’re f_ckin’ mechanics (and I do use that term loosely). I’m proud to say I’m a machinist, not a f_ckin’ machine technician, or whatever they’re called now. Maybe if they served an apprenticeship, they could do more than R&R. And how about a little pride in the work done!

Have we heard back from the OP?

Ok, so I agree with all of you that this is not normal. They may have screwed up when they said they had to scan it, the proper procedure is to check the VIN. If the recall applies, the dealer should have ordered the parts. The inflators were on a MAC release for a long time which means they were ordered per VIN. We had some cases where they took two months to get the parts we needed.

In regards to how he needed to handle the dash issue: There is no need to call corporate or get the GM involved or flame Toyota. I hate over reactions! Over reacting will get you no where. He needs to calmly go back to the service department, explain that it didnt look this way before and shouldnt look this way now. The dealer should correct the issue. If they do not resolve the issue, then he has the right to get upset and push it up the chain.

People are human and I'm sure we all can admit we have made mistakes once in a while. Don't flame someone or be an A** just because someone made a mistake, give them a chance to fix it and make it right. Im betting they will do the right thing given the chance. Now, if they are a shady shi**y dealer, all bets are off and flame on!

If the manager thinks that's what it's supposed to look like then this dealership has some serious issues. What's the name of it so it can be avoided? This qualifies as utter incompetence.

He did raise it with a manager and was blown off. Accordingly, it wasn't a "simple mistake".

I recognize that people make mistakes and that is fine. How you handle it is important. Here, anybody that has ever seen a 4R would know that the repair was botched and for a manager to try to blow a customer off speaks volumes for that dealership.

The arrogance of that manager is astounding if he believes that this repair is correct.

This goes far beyond this particular repair - what other cars have been botched and what other owners are driving around in a potential death trap.

This car isn't safe to drive at this point and I'd challenge any tech to prove me wrong?

Mine is going in tomorrow. I'm hoping for a smooth transaction. What is the corporate number everybody is saying to call if there is an issue? I hope I don't have to use it.

That’s crazy

You'll find that number in your owner's manual.

"This car isn't safe to drive at this point and I'd challenge any tech to prove me wrong?"

How do you know this isnt safe? Are you an airbag engineer? Airbags don't just go off on their own. What specific knowledge do you possess that says this is unsafe? Remember, this is the passenger side and it will never go off if no one is in that seat when driving. It could still potentially deploy perfectly fine even in the case of an accident.

The dash is messed up and it is pushing up on the fracture point so I agree with the premise that it is a botched job, but unsafe is a stretch.

I'm not sure if any of you are aware but each dealership is a franchise. Toyota does have a very small bit of control over them, but it is very small. When you call "Toyota" you are going to a call center that essentially re-routes you back to the dealership to handle their business. Sure if you call enough you will be routed to a district manager, who will in turn call the dealer to resolve the issue!

Your absolute best course of action is to be a decent human being and try to work with the dealer. If you are unhappy with a dealer, your next best action is to find another dealer that wants your business and values you as a consumer and service customer. No dealer is perfect and some are a dumpster fire. Just like any franchise, some will be good and others not so good. Another dealer, along with Toyota can make sure the issues are corrected and the erroneous dealer will be charged back for the repair. Being a hot head will just cause you more grief in the long run.

I will and can assure you that a lump in your dash is not normal and needs to be addressed. I am assuming that dealer is trying to shortcut the repair and causing the damage. The repair pays the tech 3.0 hours to complete, It is a big job. I have seen several hundred of these done and none of them have a lump or crease in the dash when done properly. The car should be returned in like or better condition.

Has anyone pulled a dashboard before? Chances are one of the mounting points along the windshield is above it's designated bolt and it's just causing a pressure point along the ridge of the dash.

I highly doubt it's the actual airbag holding the dash, the airbags arent typically that far back against the windshield.

OK so it's just the normal Toyota service number. I thought there was a special one for issues that we knew about or a person in Toyota etc. Darn.

@Old Red has

Not quite, but close.

The repair was clearly not done properly. Accordingly, you CANNOT state that the system will function as intended.

Since you don't know what went wrong, you don't know if ANY of the airbags will deploy correctly if needed.

Are you willing to risk everything you own to pay damages to the OP if the airbag blows up in his face?

That's not quite correct. While the dealership is a separate entity, Toyota has a vested interest in assuring that repairs are done properly.

If the airbag blows up in a customer's face improperly, then the first lawsuit is going to be against Toyota, then against the dealership and finally against the tech and the manager. It'll always be the deepest pockets first.

Toyota knows that and will take this seriously.

Yes, Toyota will initially be the intermediary to the dealership, but that also puts the dealership on notice. In addition, Toyota is now aware that the recalls are not being completed properly at the dealership and may result in a significant safety issue.

Would you like to discuss Toyota floor mats next? Who got sued there? Everybody remembers that it was Toyota - anybody remember the name of the Lexus dealership?

I know you work at a dealership and I feel for the techs when they screw up. We all do, but in this case it seems more systemic at this dealership and the manager's answer cannot be excused.

It would have been far different had the manager said "Yeah, that doesn't look right. Let me put you in a loaner and we'll look at it in the morning". I could have even understood the "can you bring it back in the morning for us to look at?"

What he never should have said was "It is OK" - and that is the reason this needs to be escalated.