TOYOTA Complaints

2003 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD CREW CAB PICKUP I WOULD LIKE TO RELATE A RECENT EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA PICKUP. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK THROUGH A PARKING LOT IN LARGO, MARYLAND ON JANUARY 29, 2009. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN IN THE FRONT END AND I CAME TO A STOP. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HAD DROPPED DOWN INTO THE WHEEL WELL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BY BOSWELL AUTO SERVICE OF WALDORF, MARYLAND NEAR WHERE I LIVE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE CASTLE NUT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY HAD COME OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT. THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY SEPARATED AND AS A CONSEQUENCE FRONT AXLE WAS BROKEN AS WELL. IN REVIEWING MY RECORDS I SAW THE RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT FOR MY TOYOTA. I HAD THIS RECALL WORK COMPLETED AT WALDORF TOYOTA ON DECEMBER 29, 2005. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MECHANIC WHO FIXED MY TRUCK. HE TOLD ME I SHOULD MAKE THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT. IN HIS OPINION, THIS EVENT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IF THE BALL JOINT CASTLE NUT IS INSTALLED CORRECTLY. I TOOK THE INFORMATION TO WALDORF TOYOTA ON FEBRUARY 3, 2009. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER (MICHAEL PAVAN, 301-843-3700, [email protected]) AND A MAN I BELIEVE WAS A MECHANIC OR SERVICE SUPERVISOR. I SHOWED THEM PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE BROKEN BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REMNANTS OF THE COTTER PIN WERE STILL IN SO THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY HAD INSTALLED THE CASTLE NUT CORRECTLY. I LEFT THE BROKEN BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WITH THEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD REPORT IT TO HIS REGIONAL MANAGER. *TR

I THINK BECAUSE I AM A WOMEN AND REPAIR COMPANIES DO THIS TYPE. I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA AVALON. IT HAS NOT BEING 6 MONTHS YET. I PURCHASED IT FROM CARMAX. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK AT LIST 5 TIME ARE MORE FOR MINER REPAIRS . NOW I HAD NEW FRONT DISC BRAKES PUT ON THIS MONTH AND THEY ARE SCRUBBING AND THE FRONT TIRES ARE BLACK BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE VERY LOW END PRODUCT AND THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO SCRUB THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS ASAP. *TR

WHILE NORMAL CONDITIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED A MAJOR BRAKE MALFUNCTION, BOTH THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. THE VEHICLE BARELY HAS BRAKES, THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE 6 TIMES TO HAVE TO IT FIXED, AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. BRAKES REPEATEDLY FAIL ON A REGULAR BASES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR, BRAKE COMPUTER, RESET THE BRAKE PISTON CALPALTORS, AND THE RELAY THAT CONTROL THE BRAKES, AND THE 12 VOLT BATTERY. NONE OF THESE REPAIRS HAVE WORKED. BRAKES STILL FAIL REGULARLY. COMPLAINT LODGE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CENTER. *TR

IN THE LAST MONTH THE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2007 TOURING PRIUS HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT OUTAGES. ONE HEADLAMP OR THE OTHER MIGHT FAIL TO COME ON, OR STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. EVERY SO OFTEN, BOTH HEADLIGHT STOP WORKING WHILE DRIVING. AND ONCE, IN THE FOG, WHEN I TURNED ON MY FOGLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. IF I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, AND BACK ON, BOTH LAMPS MIGHT WORK, OR ONE OR THE OTHER REMAIN OFF... THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA SERVICE OFFERED TO CHANGE THE FAILED HEADLAMP AT $400, BUT SINCE I COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR LAMP, WOULD DO BUT AT DOUBLE THE COST, BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX IT. AND FROM THE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS PRIUS FORUMS, CHANGING THE BULBS OUT WILL NOT SOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

FAIL STATE CAR INSPECTION DUE TO ILLEGAL INSTALLATION OF HEADLIGHTS BY A COMPANY DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF CHESAPEAKE. PREMIER SOUND WHO INSTALLED A $400.00 PLUS HEADLIGHTS ON MY 97 TOYOTA 4RUNNER DID NOT TELL ME THAT THIS HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. NOW TO REPLACE THE HARNESS ON THIS VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PASS THE STATE INSPECTION WOULD COST ME $900.00 PLUS . IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE WOULD REGULATE AND SAY YOU MUST TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT WHAT I'M INSTALLING IN YOUR VEHICLE IS ILLEGAL? THIS KIND OF PEOPLE ARE DEAD ON THE MONEY TO RIP YOU OFF BY NOT TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS NOT LEGAL. PREMIER SOUND IS JUST IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AIN'T THAT SOMETHING. WHAT CAN I DO NOW. THE LAW MUST BE CHANGE TO MAKE THEM HONEST TO THE COMMUNITY THEY DO BUSINESS WITH. PLEASE HELP CONGRESSMAN OUT THERE AND BE SYMPATHETIC TO THE CITIZEN LIKE ME WHO LIVE IN CHESAPEAKE, VA. SINCERELY, F.I. CANTADA *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA ACCESS CAB. I RECENTLY WAS PUTTING MY 5 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER INTO THEIR BACK SEAT AND SHE PUT HER HAND UP TO STABILIZE HERSELF AND THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY BELT HARNESS AND CASING WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME CAME COMPLETE OFF OF THE FRAME. THERE WAS NO UNDUE STRESS PUT ON THE HARNESS OR CASING AND NO PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THERE IS NOW A HOLE WHERE THE BOLT WAS ONCE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAKE OF CONVENIENCE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 12-12-08 AT 8:30 AM. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR. I TOOK IT IN AND THE SERVICE GUY WAS VERY KERT AND SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE A MINIMUM OF 3 HOURS AND COST $104.00. FINDING THIS UNACCEPTABLE, I TOLD HIM I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE A BASIC PART OF THE CAR'S SAFETY LOOKED AT. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT IS A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. BUT IT IS A SAFETY BELT! MY OTHER SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CREEKS WHICH MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT ONE AS WELL. I AM GLAD I DID NOT FIND OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY BELT WAS DEFECTIVE DURING THE COURSE OF AN ACCIDENT. ANY ASSISTANCE AND/OR GUIDANCE YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AS WELL WHO TOLD ME THAT IT IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

AFTER HAVING DRIVEN MY PRIUS NEARLY 15,000 MILES IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER (EXCEPT SNOW) AND ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS AS WELL AS INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WITH NO STEERING PROBLEMS, ON A SINGLE DAY ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AT 20 TO 25 MPH AND GENTLE RAIN, IT HYDROPLANED TWICE WITH DAMAGES EACH TIME TO THE CAR AND TO A FIRE HYDRANT ONCE. EACH EVENT WAS WHILE GOING AROUND A GENTLE LEFT CURVE AT REASONABLE SPEED. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT AND SPIN OUT 360 DEGREES WITH THE LEFT QUARTER-PANEL HITTING A ROADSIDE GARBAGE CONTAINER. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY STEERING MANEUVERS NOR THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED. THE CAR STOPPED ONLY AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE FIRE HYDRANT. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED IN EACH COLLISION. I HAVE TRAVELED THIS STREET SEVERAL TIMES DAILY, OFTEN ON RAINY DAYS, AND NEVER BEFORE HAD ANY STEERING PROBLEMS. IT WAS AS THOUGH SOMETHING HAD CHANGED IN THE STEERING CONTROL ON THIS DAY. I WAS SOBER AND UNIMPAIRED. *TR

IN MARCH, 2007, I HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. I THOUGHT IT WAS TOTALED. SAFECO HAD IT REPAIRED. THE TRUNK DOES NOT STAY SECURE, I AM CONTINUOUSLY TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS TO THE BODY. THE BODY PARTS JUST POP IN (PLASTIC) AND THE TRUNK LID DOES NOT STAY SHUT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED, AS WELL AS IT BEING VERY DANGEROUS WHEN I AM RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRUNK'S LID FLOPS OPEN, CAUSING BLIND VISIBILITY . *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2007 PRIUS TURN OFF BY THEM SELF. IF YOU TURN THEM OFF AND BACK ON THEY WILL BE BACK ON AND TURN OFF AGAIN, THIS IS HOW I KNOW IT IS NOT A LOSE WIRE. I WORKED WITH A FLEET OF PRIUS AND LEXUS HYBRID CARS. THE PRIUS HAS HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE 2006. MULTIPLE CARS WIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHARGES YOU UP TO $ 1,700 + TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE FORUMS ALL OVER THE NET DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE AND MANY CONCERN DRIVERS ON THE ROAD THAT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UTILIZE THE POWER OF THE INTERNET. THIS IS NO LONGER A MONEY ISSUE, IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE NOW. POLICE HAVE TICKETED ME OVER 5 TIMES AND I HAVE GONE TO TOYOTA AND THEY CHARGE ME THOUSANDS. LAST WEEK I ALMOST RAN OVER A LITTLE GIRL ON A BIKE AT DUSK ...WHEN I STOPPED AND ASKED IF SHE WAS OK SHE REPLIED " I DIDN'T SEE YOUR LIGHTS SIR, I AM SORRY" . *TR

L SHAPED CRACK ON WINDSHIELD OF MY 2006 SCION XB. HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AND ONE WEEK LATER THE NEW WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE WITH THE SAME SHAPE. IT ALSO HAPPENED OVERNIGHT WHEN NOT DRIVEN. *TR