Does Toyota really replace some things for free?

[MuddyButt]

Just saw that Toyota has lifetime warranties on a few things. I really doubt they do this. Anyone know if this is true?

 

[MuddyButt]

awwwww

This won't apply to me since I bought my car used but. It does appear I have a relatively new muffler maybe the original owner took advantage of this warranty before selling.

 

[T4R2014]

Define "lifetime". Their newer transmissions often use "lifetime" fluids, but are you really going to keep the same crap in there for 15 years? Shocks, mufflers, and springs wear out and they are not going to be replacing old suspension components for free.

 

[Unner]

The way that reads to me is that there is a lifetime guarantee on the replacement parts. So if you would bring your truck in with 150k miles and pay them to replace the shocks and then at 300k miles if they are blown again they would then replace them for "free". I doubt most dealers would do this though, they'd probably just claim there is nothing wrong with your part. Also, they are banking on most people not keeping their vehicles long enough to take advantage of this.

 

[Do-boy]

the part is free, the labour is not.

 

[02SE]

Sure it's true.

Go to a Toyota dealer and pay through the nose to buy and have a specifically covered 'Genuine Toyota Part' installed, say a muffler, and if that specific part fails again, they'll replace that part labor included (according to their written warranty). Of course you aren't likely to keep the vehicle long enough for the part to fail again, putting them on the spot to honor their warranty.


Bottom line: You'll pay a stiff premium for a part that isn't likely to ever need to be replaced again as long as you own the vehicle.

 

[02SE]

the part is free, the labour is not.

From the written warranty:

This includes coverage for parts and labor.

 

[MK1Power]

I work for a GM dealership, and we offer the same thing. Even in this ad, it reads that it's a replacement part. So you'd have to buy the part, have it installed and then you are covered by the warranty. So it really isn't for free as the warranty is factored in by corporate/dealership management to the price.

At the dealership I work at, we get a lot of people who do go through this, and often times it's on parts that won't really be needing to be replaced again. Also there are of course limitations on the warranty, which means they won't replace it due to wear and tear, and if you're in the rust belt the muffler might not be covered against rust damage etc.

 

[AZ4Running]

Im a mechanic for a local family owned auto repair chain. A lot of parts we sell and install are lifetime warranty, KYB shocks and struts is one off the top of my head, brake pads and shoes, alternators, ac compressors.

 

[Nelsonmd]

If they ever tell you that you HAVE to use Toyota parts or else your warranty is voided, then they are required by law to provide the replacement part for free. Doesn't directly apply here, but if we're talking about dealer BS, that might come up.

I also suspect that this is dependent on the parts being replaced on the schedule they state, or they are warrantied against workmanship defect and not normal wear.

 

[amalik]

Im a mechanic for a local family owned auto repair chain. A lot of parts we sell and install are lifetime warranty, KYB shocks and struts is one off the top of my head, brake pads and shoes, alternators, ac compressors.

what alternator is lifetime warranty?

 

[Do-boy]

From the written warranty:

i stand corrected!