Dealership smashed my 4R!

[G.I.G.]

I went into the dealership today to have them do the Auxiliary line TSB for my stereo. Instead of fixing my car, they did this!....

:bash: :bash: :bash:

One of their techs backed my 4R into a hydraulic lift arm and smashed the hell out of my bumper and bent the bottom left corner of my rear lift hatch. I'm so pissed off! I know accidents happen, but this is precisely why I don't have anyone work on my car. Unfortunately, warranty work is sometimes unavoidable.

They are going to get my car fixed, and I know that body shops do good work, but my car is barely a year old and didn't have a scratch on it. I hope it looks as good as new when they're done. We'll see....

Now I'm rock'n a Prius until I get my 4R back. At least I'll get good gas mileage.

 

[icantsee]

Sorry to hear this...stuff like this sucks.

Good thing it's on replacable parts.

Let's hope it returns back just like new.

 

[dingo]

Ouch. Damn dude that sucks, especially on a less than 1-year old vehicle. I hope it gets fixed and all works out for you.

I'm just curious, how did they approach you when this happened? It's not like they can hide or deny it. Did the tech even personally apologize to you? I would have ripped him a new one.

 

[d_clark]

Ouch. That is a shame. Hope when you get it back, it looks like new.

 

[G.I.G.]

I'm just curious, how did they approach you when this happened? It's not like they can hide or deny it. Did the tech even personally apologize to you? I would have ripped him a new one.

The service writer I was working with pulled me aside and showed me what happened. When I was looking at my car the service manager came up and introduced himself and let me know what they were going to do to fix it. Basically, just take it to their body shop and give me a rental car until it is done. I never met the tech who did it, he probably crawled into a hole somewhere.

I'm not going to try to dwell on it, but how in the F do you back into something like the lift arms? My car shouldn't have been on a lift to begin with, and they told me that the lift wasn't all the way up, but not all the way down either. Apparently they don't have much situational awareness. We used to have to tow C-130's with a 132' wing span in and out of a hanger with a foot of clearance on either side of the wings. Never once did someone smash a wing into a hanger door or wall. Oh well.

Another thing that pisses me off is how they have to test drive your car for EVERYTHING you bring it in for. I was also having them check the rear hatch because it start rattling. Well, couldn't they just take my word for it and adjust the hatch?!?!?

I was even thinking when I bought my car that Galactic Grey wouldn't be an easy color to match. Hopefully it looks good when they're done.

 

[jharris2]

I'm not going to try to dwell on it, but how in the F do you back into something like the lift arms?

The tech probably got distracted with something else. Not an excuse, but it happens all the time -- even caused a train crash in the last week.

Well, couldn't they just take my word for it and adjust the hatch?!?!?

Think about how many people come in and describe a noise, so they need to hear it for themselves. The dealership where I bought mine test drives everything except routine maintenance so they can try to better diagnose the complaint.

More importantly, painful as the accident is, at least they owned up to the problem and are fixing it. Think about how many places could have tried to get you off the lot without telling you about the accident, then would try to deny any responsibility if you brought the truck back after you discovered the problem.

 

[G.I.G.]

The tech probably got distracted with something else. Not an excuse, but it happens all the time -- even caused a train crash in the last week.
Think about how many people come in and describe a noise, so they need to hear it for themselves. The dealership where I bought mine test drives everything except routine maintenance so they can try to better diagnose the complaint.

More importantly, painful as the accident is, at least they owned up to the problem and are fixing it. Think about how many places could have tried to get you off the lot without telling you about the accident, then would try to deny any responsibility if you brought the truck back after you discovered the problem.

Agreed. The dealership is handling it well so I don't want to sling mud. Although, they couldn't easily pull off saying that something like that was already there. I'd still take it back there (nervously, of course).

I'm just fume'n because this is the first brand new vehicle that I have ever owned (I'm 31 now) and I have done everything in my power to keep it in pristine shape. Heck, my fiancee has only driven it once. The third time I hand the keys over to a stranger, this happens.

Maybe I should just turn it into a beater, rock crawler now.

 

[<<<<]

Prius? Ouch, did that come with puppy? But, if seriously, i'd get them to pay for pain and suffering by trowing some free accessories in ( skid plate, wood trim upgrade or gift card to a local bar).

 

[XJeepguy]

Ya you and me both ! I dont like ANYONE even sitting in my drivers seat , let alone a stranger driving it . Just for reasons what happened to you . Feel for ya Bud .

Another thing that pisses me off is how they have to test drive your car for EVERYTHING you bring it in for.

 

[legokcen]

If someone else had done that, their insurance would also have paid you a "diminished value" amount. This is the amount that the resale is down due to having had an accident. Ask them about it. It should be more than just fixing it.

 

[Uneek]

Glad to hear the dealer is trying to make things right.

The dealer damaged the bumper on my friend's RL and they couldn't get the paint right. They pulled the bumper off another one on the lot, the VIN sticker off the bumper doesn't match his car. I'd be pissed if I was buying a brand new car and the bumper wasn't factory. But I hear these things are more common than not, bumpers are replaced and repainted because employees screw them up.

 

[Abduvo]

That's very awful to look at and definitely very nasty to hear. You can't just really rely with these dealership services that's very disappointing.
____________________________
Ford ranger parts or chevrolet parts?

 

[G.I.G.]

If someone else had done that, their insurance would also have paid you a "diminished value" amount. This is the amount that the resale is down due to having had an accident. Ask them about it. It should be more than just fixing it.

I have heard of diminished value or an "allowance", but not for something they fully fix. For example, my old GC got broken into a few years ago and when they broke the glass, it scratched the leather on the passenger side seat a little. They said they couldn't replace the whole leather seat for just a few small scratches, so they gave me about an extra $100 for the depreciated value.

That same GC I owned was hit by another car, and when I talked to his insurance company, they said they couldn't pay out more than what it costs to fix the car so they didn't include diminished value.

I'm going to try to negotiate something into the deal....

 

[Ulfr]

This blows... I feel very sorry for you and I wish they'll fix as new!

Reminds me of my fellow 4runner owner who took his 'runner to a cleanin' shop... few hours later when he came to pick it up. They had rolled it over!!!

And the best or the worst part... (depends on how you look at it...) He got it out of the garage only a week before, after half year of "maintainance". Body was rust cleaned and it got a new paint job (professionally done), SAS and rear axle move... with loads of extra lights and all that good stuff....

The worst part was that he never got it paid back... Insurance and sh**ty companies do b**w....
6months and loads of money gone with the wind.

 

[MikesToy]

That sucks. Sucks again that it "MIGHT" show on your vehicle's Carfax report as an accident. Plus if i were you, i'd go back over there and ask for a 4Runner to drive around and not a Prius. But that's upto you.

 

[G.I.G.]

That sucks. Sucks again that it "MIGHT" show on your vehicle's Carfax report as an accident. Plus if i were you, i'd go back over there and ask for a 4Runner to drive around and not a Prius. But that's upto you.

I'm going to look into the carfax thing, but I don't think minor body damage will show up on something like that.

I thought about asking for a 4runner (or even the 5.7L Tundra ) but I figure I'll just save some gas money over the next week. I'm trying to get the worst mileage possible in the Prius by staying on the gas and doing jack rabbit starts (or as close as a Prius can do), but the worst I can do i 43.5mpg

 

[Mark86]

That is terrible. Hopefully your 4Runner will be as good as new. You should try getting the dealer to give you more compensation for your inconvenience.

 

[MikesToy]

You should try getting the dealer to give you more compensation for your inconvenience.

I agree. And if they don't, (if i were in your shoes) i'd go back in the next two days and test drive one of their brand new ones and do the same. But that's just me.

 

[Uneek]

I have heard of diminished value or an "allowance", but not for something they fully fix. For example, my old GC got broken into a few years ago and when they broke the glass, it scratched the leather on the passenger side seat a little. They said they couldn't replace the whole leather seat for just a few small scratches, so they gave me about an extra $100 for the depreciated value.

And the flip side, my insurance company popped me a $100 for the AC fan on my other car because it's a wear item and due to an accident they're replacing what would've normally needed replacing for a 10 year old vehicle. They called it "betterment", otherwise I would've gotten a "free replacement". :bash:

Insurance... can't live them, certainly can't live without them. It's one of things that you're happy to have but hope you'll never need.

 

[leftyguns21]

man thats awful. id be throwing chairs if that happened.

what dealership was it? i go to mountain states and they seem to be good on taking care of the cars, even despite their funky setup. the new one they build across the turnpike looks pretty nice though