My Tundra nightmare

[Guit_fishN]

Hey folks. I've been lurking for about a month gathering information, which has been extremely helpful.

This is a long story so I'm going to be as brief as possible by just stating some facts as opposed to an in-detail narrative:

I live in Atlanta. On Oct 3rd, I drove to Asheville, NC to pick up a new '08 5.7L DC X-SP that I picked out and purchased via phone and e-mails during the previous week from Jim Barkley Toyota. I had not seen this truck before my arrival. I did not test drive it there (my Dad has the same truck, just not an X-SP).

My wife went with me to drive the truck to my parent's house in VA. I drive my previous vehicle. I left my previous vehicle with them to sell. I did not drive the truck until late that evening after our arrival in VA.

When I opened the driver's side door to get in, I heard a metal creaking/bark of a noise. "What was that?" I shut the door, open it again...<bark>. I finally see the problem: When I open the door, the door rubs against the fender causing the metal on metal bark.

The next day (Oct, 4th, Sat), I call the person I'd been dealing with and she didn't seem too concerned about the problem. It would be covered under warranty and that I should bring it in. I was driving back to Atlanta from VA on Sunday, but JBT isn't open on Sunday.

I have to wait another two weeks before I can get back to Asheville. I call the Monday before the Sat. of my arrival to let them know I'm coming (10/25). I was told over the phone that it should be an easy fix...just an adjustment on the door. When I get to the service department, they have no idea I'm coming, nor the problem. When I tell them the cause for my visit, the service tech calls the person I'd previously been talking with and from the conversation, I get the feeling they had thought *I* had damaged the vehicle because the tech opened the hood to look for damage, and looked around the fender and bumper for damage. Finally, after it was settled that I had not damaged the vehicle, the tech gave me some very bad news. "We can't fix this here....we don't have a body shop, <salesperson> should've told you this." <sigh> "If you want us to fix it, you'll have to leave it here." Fine I say, it's your car, you fix it. They give me a loaner car.

I get a call first thing Monday morning from the service tech (who was extremely nice throughout this whole ordeal) that they had given me a car that they had not cleaned out and that the previous occupant had left all of their belongings in the trunk including purse and laptop. Marvelous I think...now I'm responsible for this stuff--the cloud over my head just gets darker. The service tech is *very* eager to get that car back. I did not give her a lecture on the sign above her desk "We are not responsible for items left in vehicles." I tell her I can't get back up there until Sat...that was the deal we had made when I left a few days before. "OK" she said..."see you then."

I get a call back on Wed, the body-shop they send their cars to (a Cadillac dealership) has finished the repairs and they are going to deliver my truck to me the next day. Super! Things are looking up...I miss my truck and I really didn't want to spend another Sat. driving back and forth to Asheville.

The next day, the driver arrives with my truck. I look at the repairs...hmmm, not good. The door doesn't bark anymore, but they had not touched up the paint where the rubbing was going on and now the door and fender panels did not sit flush and the gap between the two got narrower towards the ground. I'm in a bit of shock...I don't like when panels don't line up...you see that on the Big 3 cars a lot.

I call the service tech and tell her I'm not happy with the repairs. She tells the driver to turn around (about 15min has passed since he left) and to drive my truck back. Do something right the first time and you won't have to do it twice...I learned that as a kid.

I took photos with my phone before the driver came back. Here is what I sent to JBT the next day: http://home.comcast.net/~jmiller1807/ssd/truck.html

I get a call during the 1st week of Nov. that my truck is finally fixed. The body shop took the fender off and painted it, then re-installed it. Several people have looked at the panels and they look perfect, so it's ready for me to pick up. Great. I will be there on Sat. (11/8).

During this time, I go to another dealership and look at the doors. 25 trucks and they ALL had perfectly flush door panels with even gaps.

I get to JBT, look at the door...it is *not* perfect. It doesn't look much different than before regarding flushness and the imperfect gap, but the paint is flawless, unless you look inside the door panel. There is a piece of black plastic in there that has white paint all over it.

At this point, what can I do? I guess I have to live with it...a tough pill to swallow for me (I hate it when things aren't symmetrical). I know, some of you are thinking I'm getting bent our of shape over nothing and I'm hard to please. For me, it's a matter of principle. It is a new truck and should be like every other new truck...after they "fixed it" the first time, the panels didn't line up. To me, that's not fixing something.

Things get worse:

On my way back, I notice 3 things that would cause David Banner to bust his pants. I'm now out of alignment (pulls to the right), I get a strong vibration in the steering wheel from 65-70mph. Before, I was amazed at how smooth that truck drove...I told everyone about it. It drove like a sport's car. For topping on the cake, there is a 1" ink mark on my leather console where someone left an inkpen in their pocket. This, I haven't been able to get completely off, but I did manage to rub a shiny spot there that calls a lot more attention to the area.

I read a lot on this site about pulling to one side (thanks to all). I take to my local dealership (Stone Mtn. Toyota) on Tues (11/11). For me not having bought the truck there, they are extremely helpful and want to fix the issue. I wish I had taken it there in the first place.

I'm there 6 hours (until they close). Still not fixed. They don't know what the problem is so they're going to have to call Toyota. They had their Master-level mechanic working on it the last few hours and he saw nothing wrong. I check all their Tundra doors too while I'm waiting...all perfect.

I take it back last night to leave it so they can put stock tires on it the next day (today) to see if that solves the problem (Corp Toyota's recommendation). If so, they'll know it's those big 20" that come on the X-SP.

Today, I get a call stating that it was fixed that the problem was actually their alignment machine. It need to be re-calibrated. I asked about the wobble from 65-70..."We can't fix that, we can't balance any tire larger than 19." Nice, I'm out $80 to fix it at a tire place.

Before I drive off, I ask them if they had done a zero point calibration and disconnect the battery. "Probably," they say..."I'm sure the guy followed all the protocols." I hand them the TSB..."are you sure?" "Yes."

I get in my truck and all the radio stations are still in order....damn, no zero point calibration. I don't know what that does, but according the TSB, it should be done after an alignment.

I get back out and tell them. "I'll have to ask tomorrow...call me in the morning."

I drive off....in my truck....that STILL pulls to the right. If I hold the steering wheel exactly straight, I'm headed to the guardrail. If I let the steering wheel go, it tilts a little to the left if I adjust it to go straight.

The service tech calls me on my way home to see (very helpful crew...even if it's not fixed) and I tell him the bad news. He can't believe it...he had two mechanics drive it and they said it was fine.

I guess my main problem is that I knew what it drove like before, and it drives different now. I'm at a constant tug-o-war while driving.

Analysis:

So, what did the Cadillac body shop do to knock me out of alignment AND to cause a balance issue...if anything? I think they've rotated my tires while doing the alignment and there's still a vibration at 65-70mph.

This truck has been nothing but a pain since I got it. It drove like a dream until I took it to get it "fixed." Smooth as silk.... There were two trucks on the lot that were exactly the same...lucky me, I picked the one with a problem.

If Stone Mtn can't fix my truck, what alternatives do I have? Who do I write a letter to at Toyota. I bought a $37k new truck and it has issues. I want it fixed to the way a new truck should be...that's it. I don't want to be compensated for my time, free oil changes...nothing, just my truck fixed. This is becoming a thing that I'm dwelling on affecting my focus at work and at home.

I've read other's stories on here about some of these issues and share your pain...I've never gotten a bum new car before and I'm not happy about it. It probably sounds whinny, but I just don't see how a brand new truck can get like this.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Here are the alignment specs for you guys who can read tire-ese:

Left front: -0.4 camber / 2.4 caster / 0.08 toe
Right front: -0.1 camber / 2.8 caster / 0.09 toe
Total toe (front): 0.17in 0.10in - 0.23in
Steer ahead: -0.01 -0.05 - 0.05

Left rear camber: -0.2 Right rear camber: -0.1
Left rear toe: 0.12 Right rear toe: -0.03
Total toe: 0.09
Thrust angle: 0.15

[JRE56]

I guess it's too late to return it for another new truck. That's what I would try to do but I know that's a tough sell.Man they have jacked your new truck up.I know how you feel, I don't want a scratch on a new box if I can help it let alone a new vehicle.Can't you take your truck to another toyota shop for repairs? I would insist on that since the previous repairs aren't up to par.

[1keepitup]

Sorry I didn't read your entire thread cause I have to go to work, but from what I did already read I'm hell-of-upset and mad!

You need to hire a attorney! That door damage exceeds $500.00 and here in Cali. If a new Vehicle has more than $500.00 lot damage, it has to be disclosed in writing to the potential buyer.

Call a Attorney and get a consultation its worth looking into.

Please keep us posted.

Good luck and take good care

[chuckystoy]

I would like to think i myself would call the original seller, and crawl thier a$$. Then i would insist on a diffrent truck. I suggest, since they do not seem able to fix it, to call them, toyota, and get all involved you can if the dealership is unable to help you.

I would like to think i am not able to pay 37k and just think, it's close enough?? I don't have that kind of money to throw aimlessly around?

but then again i am kinda weak at times, so.... take it as you will, it is 37k and it is your money.

[d-lo]

I would definitely be pissed and take it to whatever level you need to (including legal action) to get it fixed. Otherwise the truck will be a constant reminder of your bad experience.
oh... and a TEST DRIVE probably would have avoided all of your problems.

[Guit_fishN]

Originally Posted by d-lo

Otherwise the truck will be a constant reminder of your bad experience. oh... and a TEST DRIVE probably would have avoided all of your problems.

Trust me...I remind myself "Never again buy a car sight unseen again."

But, the frosting side of me says "Hey, it's a new car and it's a Toyota." There are not supposed to be issues like this...that's why I won't buy American Big 3 cars: poor quality. How many times have you been behind a Pontiac or Chrysler and noticed the trunk is a little higher on one side than the other or the door trim doesn't line up. Not me...I buy Toyotas!!

This has definitely been a good life experience for me...like all the things I know now that I wish I'd known before I bought my first house.

The point is though, it is a NEW car. There should be no problems. Don't they do a Q/A check before it leaves the plant? You can test-drive a car, but you might be in it for 10-15 minutes tops...you're not going to get to know it. You're only going to catch big things on a test drive.

What if that door had been the passenger door? You would never have known until you got an observant passanger or detailed it.

Some way or another, I'm going to get this resolved to my satisfaction. I have to....I can't sleep at night and I'm sure my bp has been elevated since day 1 of having this truck.

[maisano]

have you called the GM of the dealership. you might get some good luck.

[1keepitup]

Buyer beware! The dreaded reality here is this truck did not come off the assembly line this way. This truck had some sort of lot damage or could have had something happen to it while being transported to the dealership by the transportation co. or even worst could have happened on a test drive. Being in the automotive industry i have heard of and seen this type of thing happen more than I'm comfortable with.

[NickBrewer]

It sounds like this vehicle was in some kind of accident and was shoddily repaired prior to your purchase. In my state dealers are required to disclose any damage repaired to the purchaser. I would push the Manager to replace your truck with another one, if that doesn't work have an attorney give them a call....

[bamadoc]

The truck has to be replaced. Thats all there is to it. Tundras are generally great trucks and this is going to sour you on Toyotas completely. Look into lemon laws or have your lawyer get involved. That thing has got to go back. In the Navy we called those "hangar queens" that were always being worked on and never got quite right. You deserve more out a new toyota.
Good Luck-Bamadoc

[Blaqk Tundra 67]

im having the same problem with my alignment, have them take a look at your steering wheel and see if its not off, mine looked straight but it was actually off 30 degrees.

also do you have any frame damage or anything like that?

[CL&RR]

Call the BBB, tell them what you typed up here. Getting a negative letter from the BBB usually gets a GM's attention. After that check with lemon laws and get an attorney. I had an 07 dblcab 4.7 and had to take it over the course of 6months to get the same problem fixed 4 times, it was something electrical, where my time would get reset. The dealer just kept changing the clock unit and claimed Toyota was aware of the problem and there was a new part for that unit every time I went in. The fourth time I went in with it, I told service manager I had it, and wanted to talk to the owners of the dealership. I talked to them told them I was going to file a lemon law suite, and they bought back my truck and got me into an 08 5.7. I wouldn't settle, push, push and push some more. New truck is suppose to be exactly that.

[Algava]

I would have not taken delivery of a new a truck if less than perfect.
You should have asked for another truck or your check back at that time.
Once it's off the lot and you've taken delivery it's your problem, especially body work.
I would try to get everything patched up as best as you can but it will be at dealer discretion, I doubt they will exchange the truck for you.
Unless you can prove that there was body damage and was fixed prior to you buying it.
Best of luck, i feel for you

[zpaul]

Hey man!
Sorry to hear about all the trouble. Especially with long driving to get the stuff fixed.
About alignment, I had it bad on all 4 Toyotas that we had. Do not know what's up with that. All that stuff was fixed by Toyota dealer. On my Camry I had to visit them 3 times (the last 2 times tech was riding with me, they did not believe it was pulling, were blaming the road), before they got it right, that was in 2000.
After I bought this one in 2007. It was the same story all over again. Went there with my 20' limited wheels and it was fixed. At 12K started pulling to the right, no problem fixed again. At around 18k vibration when applying brakes. Went to the dealer, they fixed it. First they tried to resurface my rotors, did not help, so they put the brand new ones under the warranty.
The only advice from me is insist on fixing it, if they can't let them take it to the place where they can, they can take it to any tire shop or other dealer, let them pay for it.
Anyhow you made the right choice, Good truck just a little hassle at the beginning. And trust me I know what it takes to go to the dealer with stupid face 3 times and ask them to fix it.

[Guit_fishN]

Originally Posted by NickBrewer

It sounds like this vehicle was in some kind of accident and was shoddily repaired prior to your purchase.

I guess anything is possible, but, I don't think so. The truck had less than 5 miles on it when I picked it up. It drove perfectly until I took it to get it fixed. The pulling occured after that.

I just don't see why it's so hard to get panels to line up IF everything else is correct. Because they don't line up would indicate to me that something somewhere else is off.

I'm going to write a letter to Jim Barkley himself. I met him the day I picked the truck up. If I had noticed that problem before he walked up to me, this post wouldn't exist...well, until someone bought that truck at a later time.