Airbag recall mess

[Hamburgerpimp]

Brought my 4Runner in for the airbag recall yesterday. I had been apprehensive about having this done as work performed at Dealers these days is usually pretty poor.

Dropped car off picked up a few hours later, inspected the work before I left, found knee airbag trim not popped on all the way and lower trim on both sides of radio loose, not a big deal, popped them back on and went home.
Took a better look around when I got home, removed passenger floor mat and found a 10MM bolt hanging out from under center stack trim, and two screws laying on the carpet. Also noticed the knobs for heater control and radio were all scratched.
Called service writer explained what I found and he contacted the Tech. Tech said he dropped a few screws in the dash but he assured me he replaced them.
Not trusting them at this point I removed the radio and glove box, found 10MM bolt missing from radio mounting bracket and the screws were missing out of airbag itself where it mounts to the dash! Also, Knee airbag bolts finger tight.

Reinstalled everything properly shaking my head as this was left in a dangerous condition.

This is why I do my own work!!

Trying to upload some additional pics, but keeps failing.
Heres two that worked.

Good luck to all of you that are getting this done, and it is worth taking some time and rechecking their work.

 

[Mutant138]

Exactly why once I realized the 5th gen was a keeper I opted out of my maint. contract and got it refunded.

Did you end up calling them out on the tech's lie?

 

[DougR]

Second Time For Me

I took my 2011 Trail to the dealer for an airbag recall/replacement. After 2 hours of sitting in the lobby browsing the internet, I was told I would have to come back next week to have the airbag replaced. Dealer has to special order a part related to the airbag. Service writer couldn't tell me anything about the extra part. I'll eat the complimentary breakfast items again next week. :barf:

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I hope you go ballistic with that dealership, ugh

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Exactly why once I realized the 5th gen was a keeper I opted out of my maint. contract and got it refunded.

Did you end up calling them out on the tech's lie?

Emailed SM this morning, we'll see what they say.

 

[brtnstrns]

Wow. The whole point is to make the airbag safer and they basically made it potentially even more harmful by leaving that fastener off.

 

[<<<<]

Can the airbag be ordered for independent shop or home for DIY? I had my other 4Runner's (2004) dash replaced and now something inside of it rattles like crazy. Toyota service can not be trusted to put everything back together right. When removing and reinstalling dash components one has to be methodical and follow service manual to the letter. Seems that Toyota techs just go by memory because it is faster. No one opens Techstream even though they have great reference guide.

 

[kso818]

Can the airbag be ordered for independent shop or home for DIY? I had my other 4Runner's (2004) dash replaced and now something inside of it rattles like crazy. Toyota service can not be trusted to put everything back together right. When removing and reinstalling dash components one has to be methodical and follow service manual to the letter. Seems that Toyota techs just go by memory because it is faster. No one opens Techstream even though they have great reference guide.

I could be completely wrong, but I believe it has to be a certified dealership that performs recalls.

 

[FrenchToasty]

My replacement experience was pretty close to this in terms of quality

 

[CF_Machete]

great... can;t wait to take mine in. goo to know what to look for though

 

[Xetabur]

I received the letter and was told by my dealer that it Kiel be a June before they could perform the recall.

 

[DKFTPNYC]

geez, this is exactly why im so reluctant to get it done. hopefully the dealership makes right with you. GL!

 

[catrains]

Emailed SM this morning, we'll see what they say.

your issue with the air bag work is helpful .. what is better is to reveal the dealership name address..

is the tech a new hire ? certified ? I would ask those questions and help members avoid that dealership.

I am waiting for my 2016 runner to have this work done but NO way I will live in your city..

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

your issue with the air bag work is helpful .. what is better is to reveal the dealership name address..

is the tech a new hire ? certified ? I would ask those questions and help members avoid that dealership.

I am waiting for my 2016 runner to have this work done but NO way I will live in your city..

Still trying to get answers to those questions, not going to call out a whole Dealership if this is an isolated incident and they make it right.

 

[calcrc]

Monday I will be going to the dealer for the 3rd Frucking time ..... they cannot put the damn dash back how it was before. I have a major curve on the passenger side.

I told them go LOOK at the white 2019 4Runner outside on the lot and put the dash back the same way as its supposed to be.

3 mondays in a row really sux balls,I dont even want to ask for a free oil change from them lol !

 

[xyzzy]

If you want to play hardball, or if you really do have this situation, then...

A friend of mine got the Takata air bag recall notice (but not a Toyota), brought the vehicle into the dealer. Dealer said the allotment they get would place them at 3-5 months out.

They stated that they car pool a vehicle load of students to grade and middle schools. The dealer fit them into the schedule the following week...

There is some wiggle room, but the dealers have extremely limited supply of replacements for the Takata air bag recall.

Just sayin....

 

[catrains]

Monday I will be going to the dealer for the 3rd Frucking time ..... they cannot put the damn dash back how it was before. I have a major curve on the passenger side.

I told them go LOOK at the white 2019 4Runner outside on the lot and put the dash back the same way as its supposed to be.

3 mondays in a row really sux balls,I dont even want to ask for a free oil change from them lol !

3 times and not happy that is not the place to service your ride.

if you can do the oil change less time and better work for the engine. the oil changes when I do them takes 45 min for all the eng oil to drain out ..... now some have posted 6.6qts is the oil to add.. well when I got my runner new it was over the full mark.. when I did the oil change I put in 6qts then checked stick ,, was slightly below the full mark then added 1/4 qt and its at the full mark.. do not want too much oil in it..
rust belt area put some anti seize on the pan bolts. check the gear boxes also dealership will not do this rear diff may require fluid change @3-5K miles.. break in period ..follow the drive shaft lube procedure .. another rust belt maint work..

 

[kenwilliams0803]

My local dealer scheduled me a week out, job was done in 2 hours and they even gave me a loaner while they did it.

I am kind of OCD about vehicles and I do not notice a single difference after the work.

 

[Lester Lugnut]

Recall work and Warranty work are often times done incorrectly because the tech does not receive the same pay as he does for regular Customer pay. They work all day for a half days pay if they're stuck doing recall/warranty work. In some cases, newbies are assigned this type of work. In order to make any money, the tech has to FLY thru the job. The sooner he finishes that one, the sooner he can start another.

3 different Toyota techs in my area told me this. I've seen this same thing posted as well on web yack sites.

Toyota dealership service mgrs. will deny this, but as I just mentioned, their techs have told me otherwise.

Who do you think I believe?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Recall work and Warranty work are often times done incorrectly because the tech does not receive the same pay as he does for regular Customer pay. They work all day for a half days pay if they're stuck doing recall/warranty work. In some cases, newbies are assigned this type of work. In order to make any money, the tech has to FLY thru the job. The sooner he finishes that one, the sooner he can start another.

3 different Toyota techs in my area told me this. I've seen this same thing posted as well on web yack sites.

Toyota dealership service mgrs. will deny this, but as I just mentioned, their techs have told me otherwise.

Who do you think I believe?

I was a Toyota Flat Rate Tech for 15 years, what the Tech told you is absolutely true. This was the main reason I got out of the business. The antiquated flat rate pay system causes 90% of the issues we all encounter at dealerships today.