Did your Takata recall look like this?

[llDemonll]

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.

 

[Donovan1]

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

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.

 

[jrandom]

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.

[MENTION=150567]Old Red[/MENTION] has

 

[cb1111]

"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.

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?

 

[cb1111]

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.

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.