Anyone know if Toyota is covering this beyond reg warranty period?
You know, i was a little upset that this thing melts ! Seeing that this was assembled in the same lexus plant(one of the reasons i bought this) where they make the GX 460 i am curious if this also happens to the GX.
Anyways, i called Toyota headquarters and told them nicely that even though i am out of warranty, i think this is still a defective part. I said that a handle melting by itself isnt because of wear and tear, but due to a defective part/quality.
Toyota then asked me who my dealer was and... then the dirt came out.
I used to go to the dealer ever since i bought my vehicle and i seemed happy(but was always wondering what oil they used, as even after the oil change i didnt notice much difference).So it was time for a 30,000 mile service and of course i left the vehicle with them for one whole day, asking my friend to pick me up and drop me after work... etc.I picked up the vehicle after the service and i wondered if the oil ever got changed as there was no difference. After a couple of days, i got really curious and checked the dipstick and lo and behold, the oil was dark black !!!
I immediately went to the castrol oil place, changed the oil and took a sample of the old oil in a glass bottle and went to the dealer.
When i confronted him he said, its been a few days so it can get that black. I placed the bottle in his desk and asked does it get this black? Then i looked at the 30k service reciept and saw that thet had charged me labour for the oil change but not the oil.
The dealer went into a acting course, explaining to me how they were filled up for the day and had asked a mechanic to take the vehicle out and get the oil changed from the local castrol oil change place. And that the "minimum wage" making mechanic had just gone for a joy ride in my car and didn't change the oil.
I then asked him if the rest of the work on the car was done? Because it was the 30k service and i had got the bill for around $500.00.
The stealer then offered me free service.. blah blah blah...
I got my money back from the oil change and cussed him out and told him point blank that they were cheating. And most importantly, after i changed the oil with castrol, i couldnt believe how smooth it runs !!!!! So for 30k i have used cruddy oil from the dealer and i regret it.
Now back to the rear hatch melting...
So when Toyota asked me why i didnt go to the dealer.. i told them the whole story. Toyota said the are making a note about that dealer and that i still need to go to the dealer so they can inspect it and file a case number for toyota to note the issue and also replace it irrespective of warranty.They even called the dealer and told them i will be visiting shortly.
So i go visit my Stealer about this. The service manager there is mad at me for not coming to them anymore (and plunking down money for work they never do) and of course for pointing out their stealing techniques. He replies very casually.. "My technician needs to analyse the handle and file a report, so bring it on monday and leave it here for a day"
I told him that, its a matter of looking and touching the handle which takes like 5 minutes and not a day. He insisted that i leave the vehicle.I am really scared as i dont want him touching my car anymore, that too when i am not there.There is a good change he will screw something else out of anger. So i have to call toyota back and ask them to fix me up with another dealer with whom i have no no such quibble.
Sometimes i wonder if i can just order the part, put it on and be done with it. But i was curious to see how Toyota handled the issue. They did good, but the frigging stealers are spoiling the show for them !
Thought i would share another one of those "Stealership" stories.
