I'm not exactly sure where I should post this but, since it's a 4Runner, I'll put it here. I'm floored. My brother's 2002 4Runner's engine failed at 64k miles. The piston rod came out the side of the engine and completely destroyed it. They've taken it to the dealer for every scheduled maintenance service. The dealer has admitted it was a defective part that caused the problem. The Toyota regional representative has agreed. The 800 Toyota customer service was called and the rep on the phone got the same info from the dealer and regional rep and agrees with the dealer's solution. The solution? My brother has to pay $4400 which is 50% of the cost for a new engine. No rebuilt engine. Only new. This for an admitted defective part that failed 4000 miles out of warranty on a vehicle maintained by Toyota.
I have personally owned the following vehicles:
'83 Toyota Pickup (195k miles, my daily driver)
'88 4Runner
'97 4Runner (my wife's current vehicle with 107k miles)
'00 Tacoma
'01 Tundra
'02 Camry
'03 Tundra (95k miles, my current travel, hunt truck)
My mother owns a Lexus. My father is on his second Lexus.
My wife wants to buy an '07 FJ Cruiser and I've been looking at an '07 Tundra. I called the 800 number and asked why we should continue to buy Toyota vehicles. The customer service rep only said that a failure like this is uncommon. We've owned all Toyota's based on experience and reputation. Both are being called into question here.
The customer service rep said they'd take that information (she was able to see my family's Toyota ownership in her database) and have them take a look at their decision but that I should not expect them to change it.
I must state that I fully understand that they are well within their rights to do this being that the vehicle was 4000 miles out of warranty. But, this is not something you do to create loyal customers which my family has been up until now.
I have personally owned the following vehicles:
'83 Toyota Pickup (195k miles, my daily driver)
'88 4Runner
'97 4Runner (my wife's current vehicle with 107k miles)
'00 Tacoma
'01 Tundra
'02 Camry
'03 Tundra (95k miles, my current travel, hunt truck)
My mother owns a Lexus. My father is on his second Lexus.
My wife wants to buy an '07 FJ Cruiser and I've been looking at an '07 Tundra. I called the 800 number and asked why we should continue to buy Toyota vehicles. The customer service rep only said that a failure like this is uncommon. We've owned all Toyota's based on experience and reputation. Both are being called into question here.
The customer service rep said they'd take that information (she was able to see my family's Toyota ownership in her database) and have them take a look at their decision but that I should not expect them to change it.
I must state that I fully understand that they are well within their rights to do this being that the vehicle was 4000 miles out of warranty. But, this is not something you do to create loyal customers which my family has been up until now.