Oh that part I wouldn't even agree with. I didn't start the change.org petition so that was written by someone else. I think a more reasonable request is to replace it while it's under a bumper to bumper warranty.
change.org-Steering Wheel Peeling
- Thread starter socal410
- Start date
Oh that part I wouldn't even agree with. I didn't start the change.org petition so that was written by someone else. I think a more reasonable request is to replace it while it's under a bumper to bumper warranty.
cb1111
Member
Kinda-sorta.
If you have a safety related issue, then you can - and should - file a complaint with NHTSA. After enough complaints (usually several hundred unless there are accidents) then they will open an investigation. An alternative is to petition for an investigation citing multiple complaints. One recent petition that led to the preliminaries for an investigation was a stalling issue on 2019 manual transmission VW GTI and Jetta models. The petitioner waited until about a 150 people had submitted complaints with NHTSA and wrote a very compelling petition.
This started the preliminary process where NHTSA contacted VW and said "give us all the data you have on complaints about this and we'll decide if this warrants an investigation". VW requested an extension to submit the required information citing the need to translate some documents from German.
Meanwhile, VW engineers appear to have diagnosed the issue and came up with a "service action" that was sent to all affected owners to have a software reflash done. It looks like the software fix actually resolves the problem, but customers were beating their heads against the brick wall of VW for months before NHTSA got vW's attention.
That said, this was a documented safety complaint and I'd be hard pressed to turn a peeling steering wheel cover into a safety defect - but owners can certainly try. I've seen far more foolish things in the NHTSA database.
The link above goes directly to the complaint form at NHTSA for filing safety complaints.
If you are under warranty and a repair is denied by the dealer, then I'd open a case with Toyota, possibly by a letter, requesting a repair. I'd cite the multitude of complaints here and I think that you will get it fixed.
This is good info and I appreciate the constructive feedback. I have already written a letter to Toyota and mentioned the number of complaints that I have seen. The problem is they are forum complaints which fell on deaf ears, something I understood. I think if I had actual names/vin numbers of other 4runners/owners that have had issues I would probably have a more compelling case. At this point, I think the last resort is to file a small claims suit. I've PM'd several members who have experienced this issue to see if they are willing to chat with me about this. I think if I have their names and info of the complaints they are having that this will create the best scenario for Toyota to honor what I perceive as their obligation to address this under warranty.
BadTrainDriver
New member
I agree with that 100%.
To all,
I am filing paperwork with small claims here in San Diego against Toyota in reference to the steering wheel peeling. I believe that this is more of a product defect than it is outside influence. If it was in fact outside influence, I do not feel that there would be this many owners(I understand this is a small forum) complaining about the same issue. Furthermore, it is clear that Toyota isn't supporting their owners in a consistent manner. I have gone through the Toyota process of working with my local dealer, opening a case twice with Toyota corporate, writing a letter, and threatening legal action. The time has come to follow through and I think what I am doing will be a good reference for anyone interested in getting their steering wheel replaced by Toyota with the same issues I am having.
I do however need some assistance. As with many things with large corporations, there is power in numbers when it comes to getting something like this done. I am asking that any owner that has had their steering wheel peeling to write a letter(maybe 2 paragraphs) detailing when the steering wheel started peeling, Toyota's response, and how you take care of your car along with you signing off on the letter. I will use this as my witness testimony if it even makes it to court. I think a judge might look at me and say that it might just be me. However, I think that a judge seeing myself and letters from 10 other owners with the same issue will show that this is not just negligence from the owner but possibly a defect.
It would also be very beneficial for any owners who have successfully had their steering wheel replaced to write a letter as well. This would show that there are inconsistencies from Toyota in how they honor their warranty with respect to the steering wheel.
This could either be a very successful case or a complete waste of my time. The bottom line is this is wrong and I want to exhaust all options before I give up on this. I think it will be challenging on my own but entirely plausible that this can be won with additional witness testimony via a letter. I will keep everyone updated on the forum as things move along and then you can do the same thing in your local jurisdiction if I/we are successful.
Please PM me with contact info so we can chat if interested.
For reference: Basic Warranty-This warranty covers repairs and adjustments needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship of any part supplied by Toyota, subject to the exceptions indicated under “What Is Not Covered” on pages 14–15.Coverage is for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first, with the exception of wheel alignment and wheel balancing, which are covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
In my view, this is poor materials and is thus a defect from the manufacturer.
I am filing paperwork with small claims here in San Diego against Toyota in reference to the steering wheel peeling. I believe that this is more of a product defect than it is outside influence. If it was in fact outside influence, I do not feel that there would be this many owners(I understand this is a small forum) complaining about the same issue. Furthermore, it is clear that Toyota isn't supporting their owners in a consistent manner. I have gone through the Toyota process of working with my local dealer, opening a case twice with Toyota corporate, writing a letter, and threatening legal action. The time has come to follow through and I think what I am doing will be a good reference for anyone interested in getting their steering wheel replaced by Toyota with the same issues I am having.
I do however need some assistance. As with many things with large corporations, there is power in numbers when it comes to getting something like this done. I am asking that any owner that has had their steering wheel peeling to write a letter(maybe 2 paragraphs) detailing when the steering wheel started peeling, Toyota's response, and how you take care of your car along with you signing off on the letter. I will use this as my witness testimony if it even makes it to court. I think a judge might look at me and say that it might just be me. However, I think that a judge seeing myself and letters from 10 other owners with the same issue will show that this is not just negligence from the owner but possibly a defect.
It would also be very beneficial for any owners who have successfully had their steering wheel replaced to write a letter as well. This would show that there are inconsistencies from Toyota in how they honor their warranty with respect to the steering wheel.
This could either be a very successful case or a complete waste of my time. The bottom line is this is wrong and I want to exhaust all options before I give up on this. I think it will be challenging on my own but entirely plausible that this can be won with additional witness testimony via a letter. I will keep everyone updated on the forum as things move along and then you can do the same thing in your local jurisdiction if I/we are successful.
Please PM me with contact info so we can chat if interested.
For reference: Basic Warranty-This warranty covers repairs and adjustments needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship of any part supplied by Toyota, subject to the exceptions indicated under “What Is Not Covered” on pages 14–15.Coverage is for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first, with the exception of wheel alignment and wheel balancing, which are covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
In my view, this is poor materials and is thus a defect from the manufacturer.
