What should I do - dealer botched oil change

[DanD]

I recently purchased a Calvary blue trd pro a few months ago, brought it in Saturday for the 25k service and the technician forgot to refill oil after draining it. The dealership has been responsible and has offered a few options to fix the damage:

1) the dealer says that Toyota doesn’t sell a assembled engine so they would essentially buy the rebuild kit, new heads, cams, etc. they would also provide an extended warranty

2) the dealer said they could purchase a used engine, likely from an accident with less miles and replace that and add a warranty. He said they’d make sure it wasn’t on a roll over, attached to a VIN to get service history, etc.

3) possibly replacing the vehicle with a new car. I am trying to get more information on this as there seems to be many moving pieces. He said they’d make it as close price wise as possible.

I was originally going to just buy an off road premium as I plan to add suspension, wheels and tires, but ended up with the pro as I found a decent price and Calvary blue is one color I really liked. I feel that the dealer is really trying to make things right and really am just hoping for feedback on the options available from the dealer. I sold my 4th gen after nearly 250,000 miles and the plan was to keep this car for for the same reason. My wife is worried about reliability now and doesn’t want any worries driving the family around.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Tuco S.]

That is sickening. Very sorry to hear it.

I would ask them to replace it with a brand new vehicle if it was me. Unfortunately, as you probably know cavalry blue isn't offered in the 4Runner for 2019. But it sounds like you would be fine with a different trim.

Absolutely no way would I be on board with these guys doing an engine rebuild, or a drop in replacement with a used engine. They couldn't even handle a simple oil change.

Good luck!

 

[MaD HuNGaRIaN]

Yikes, which dealer?

I'd opt for new truck or rebuild kit with extended warranty over a used one that you have no idea where it's been.

 

[Jetboy]

That is sickening. Very sorry to hear it.

I would ask them to replace it with a brand new vehicle if it was me. Unfortunately, as you probably know cavalry blue isn't offered in the 4Runner for 2019. But it sounds like you would be fine with a different trim.

Absolutely no way would I be on board with these guys doing an engine rebuild, or a drop in replacement with a used engine. They couldn't even handle a simple oil change.

Good luck!

I would second this. Not a chance I'd take a rebuilt engine. I'd take a 200k mile factory engine over a rebuild. I've been there. No one, and I mean no one anywhere in any facility can build a Toyota OEM quality engine. Not BMW in its own factory. Not Ferrari. Certainly not a chance your dealer can do it.

Your vin will always show engine replacement on the car fax and any dealer service review. So your resale is now going to be much lower.

The only engine I would accept would be a factory long block. I believe they do sell them. If not the dealer can remove a factory long block from any 5th gen on its lot. And it can put whatever engine it wishes back into that new carcass.

It's likely that you will have a variety of issues down the road related to exhaust leaks, wiring, or other issues that they do not get correct when installing. Assembling in an engine bay is a lot different from doing so on a production like before the body is installed. You can get it all done correctly - but not often.

I would not trade your TRD Pro for a Premium TRD OR without a check for the difference between the price of a current model year TRD Pro and OR Premium based on that dealer's current advertised price on both vehicles. They can't argue with the value difference if that's what they are currently asking for the two models.

Or a new TRD Pro.

I think those are the only options I would consider. New 4Runner, or new factory engine and diminished value money.

 

[Seymore Butts]

See if your insurance covers this.

Those who think the dealer owes you a new truck or brand new engine are dreaming. Technically, all they owe you a used engine wirh 25,000 miles on it and a rental car.

It is extremely disappointing, but that is the reality of this situation. It is amazing how often this happens.

 

[Jetboy]

See if your insurance covers this.

Those who think the dealer owes you a new truck or brand new engine are dreaming. Technically, all they owe you a used engine wirh 25,000 miles on it and a rental car.

It is extremely disappointing, but that is the reality of this situation. It is amazing how often this happens.

It's bailment for hire. They owe him more than that. Specifically to be put in as good of position as he would have had he left with a proper oil change.

Whether he can collect on it? Might be time to talk to a lawyer.

 

[Seymore Butts]

That's exactly what I said. An engine with 25,000 miles.

 

[Jetboy]

That's exactly what I said. An engine with 25,000 miles.

Any engine with 25k miles? Any 4Runner with 25k miles? Any toyota with 25k miles? Any car with 25k miles?

He's owed a 4runner of the same value as he brought in. His with a replaced engine is not the same value. So he's owed that plus the difference in market value.

 

[J.F. Sebastian]

I can't believe I'm seeing another botched-oil-change-from-a-dealership thread.

I'm with Tuco S. and Jetboy here. New vehicle or lawyer-up. Don't even think about letting those asshats tear your front end apart to put in a used engine.

Oh and by the way, isn't there a light on the dash that should be lit with an empty crankcase?

 

[Tuco S.]

Any engine with 25k miles? Any 4Runner with 25k miles? Any toyota with 25k miles? Any car with 25k miles?

He's owed a 4runner of the same value as he brought in. His with a replaced engine is not the same value. So he's owed that plus the difference in market value.

Replacement value - my thoughts exactly. His car cannot be replaced, unless they have an undamaged 2018 TRD Pro in cavalry blue with 25k miles on the clock that they can trade him for his damaged one. Otherwise, to make him whole they will have to provide a different vehicle of the same value that he would accept in its place. A new TRD ORP would likely be in the ballpark of replacement value.

Plus, according to the OP, the dealer already floated the option of a new car replacement.

 

[Mudballz]

Go new and have no more worries
Mike

 

[Dillusion]

This just reinforces my decision to drive 0 seconds so I can change my own oil.

 

[jcalvert86]

Mine has 23k on it if they want it to replace his.

:laugh:

Replacement value - my thoughts exactly. His car cannot be replaced, unless they have an undamaged 2018 TRD Pro in cavalry blue with 25k miles on the clock that they can trade him for his damaged one. Otherwise, to make him whole they will have to provide a different vehicle of the same value that he would accept in its place. A new TRD ORP would likely be in the ballpark of replacement value.

Plus, according to the OP, the dealer already floated the option of a new car replacement.

 

[AuSeeker]

The dealer is wholly responsible for all he can get from them and I hope he gets a lot, I want to feel bad for the Tech but I can't, he made his bed now he has to lie in it.

Also the OP didn't state if he drove it without oil or the TECH did and that's what did the damage.

I do all my own work on my vehicles....BUT if I ever had to use someone else to change my oil or any other work I would never think about driving it without looking at everything for any damage, and the work performed correctly and in this case checking the oil and for any leaks and I would advise anyone else to do the same!!

That being said, I'm not excusing the dealer for causing this damage, just saying when you trust someone else to work on a very expensive vehicle (which now-a-days is most any vehicle new or used) the owner should inspect the work.

 

[williamlv282]

I'm honestly shocked that a replacement vehicle is actually an option and that is absolutely the route that I would take.

In any other situation, I would be satisfied with a new block re-dressed with my current engine components.

 

[Fern]

Ouch, they owe you a NEW engine and the loss of value due to having a replacement engine in mods.

 

[rmbertoldi]

I recently purchased a Calvary blue trd pro a few months ago, brought it in Saturday for the 25k service and the technician forgot to refill oil after draining it. The dealership has been responsible and has offered a few options to fix the damage:

1) the dealer says that Toyota doesn’t sell a assembled engine so they would essentially buy the rebuild kit, new heads, cams, etc. they would also provide an extended warranty

2) the dealer said they could purchase a used engine, likely from an accident with less miles and replace that and add a warranty. He said they’d make sure it wasn’t on a roll over, attached to a VIN to get service history, etc.

3) possibly replacing the vehicle with a new car. I am trying to get more information on this as there seems to be many moving pieces. He said they’d make it as close price wise as possible.

I was originally going to just buy an off road premium as I plan to add suspension, wheels and tires, but ended up with the pro as I found a decent price and Calvary blue is one color I really liked. I feel that the dealer is really trying to make things right and really am just hoping for feedback on the options available from the dealer. I sold my 4th gen after nearly 250,000 miles and the plan was to keep this car for for the same reason. My wife is worried about reliability now and doesn’t want any worries driving the family around.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

All these options, legally speaking, aside from a direct replacement of the entire vehicle, are going to hurt you in the long run financially..whether through the new title status, or just the fact that the truck no longer is "clean" technically, to anyone, no matter how detailed or recorded your story..and that's the really sad part. I would even consider possibly involving an attorney, if it turns into a pissing match with the dealer, even though I would think they'd do absolutely anything at this point to fix this. The fact is that the forseeable value of your truck now is going to be a few thousand dollars lower.
Sickening to think though that Toyota techs and dealers have gotten to the point of forgetting to put oil back in your truck..I mean, holy hell..this is why I will never take it back for anything other than warranty work.

 

[mteolus]

Get an attorney and get them to give you a brand new 4Runner. Get attorney fees paid in addition to a new vehicle. Extreme negligence.

Rebuilding or putting in a new engine is not an option. Would lover the value by at least 20% or more.

 

[BleednBlue]

I would take option 3 + taxes and title fees.


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[Tuco S.]

I would take option 3 + taxes and title fees.

That's a great point about the taxes, although I think Colorado allows a tax credit on a dealer trade-in, assuming the dealer were to structure the replacement deal as a trade-in.

If the OP lived in California, sales taxes would be owed on the full value of the replacement vehicle since they don't allow a trade-in tax credit.