Warranty issues with “mods” + fresh new recall woes

[JustAnotherDingus]

Hey y’all!


how do you guys interface with Toyota over warranty claims? if they’re giving you crap about “mods”

I’m dealing with an internal computer freakout on my trailhunter rn (anybody who has a fourth gen Tacoma needs to look up the new recall ASAP because I’m pretty sure that’s what befell me.) basically it’s a giant stinky computer glitch involving whatever ECU is controlling the digital cluster. I’ve lost headlight functionality, windshield wiper functionality, I can’t open my tailgate, my fuel gauge isn’t updating, I can’t see my RPMs , and my digital rearview camera is flickering like it’s at a rave. It also is giving me warnings about whatever the safety sense start up thing is, but I can’t remember what Toyota’s official name for that is on the top of my head

*EDIT* I just remember. It’s the drive control malfunction. That’s the one.

But

the service advisors at this dealership are giving me some shit about “mods” that I don’t think they’re allowed to do, but I’m not entirely sure. They’re refusing to look at my rearview camera for the digital mirror because I relocated it… ages ago. So I could see behind my shell.

But the software glitch that freaked it out freaked out my entire computer… So the issue is probably in the cab of the truck not at the end of the basically extension cord I plugged it into? I’m just curious how you guys have dealt with this with Toyota before….? Surely they’re allowed/obligated to look at all the cables buried in the headliner for that and make sure they’re OK right? My understanding is they can only deny warranty related work if they can prove your modification caused it? But also, I understand why they wouldn’t want to physically touch the camera and its new location, but that shouldn’t prevent them from running diagnostics on the rest of it…?

I’m trying to figure out if my dealership just sucks and I need to go somewhere else or if they actually aren’t allowed to touch that?

They’re also giving me shit because allegedly “carpet in my bed is blocking my tailgate sensor” which makes zero sense because that also malfunctioned when the computer glitched. And idk how a trunk sensor can be blocked if the tailgate is closed properly? I have some drawers back there but again HOW would they cause that? When I asked for a photo or explanation over the phone, they genuinely provided me with neither and just repeated themselves, which was very unhelpful.

They seem to be working on fixing the actual gauge cluster, but they’re giving me crap about everything else and I’m trying to figure out what my rights are basically.

So fun.

I’m near LA if that helps?

thx in advance! And holy crap go get this recall checked out guys because it appears to be a DOOZY.

I will say I’m still absolutely loving the bejesus out of this truck otherwise. It’s been mechanically flawless. I literally picked a trailhunter trim to not mod it (sigh) so I could get a warranty for software stuff like this and they’re still giving me guff. Gah.

Sponsored

 

[maxx075]

Hey y’all!


how do you guys interface with Toyota over warranty claims? if they’re giving you crap about “mods”

I’m dealing with an internal computer freakout on my trailhunter rn (anybody who has a fourth gen Tacoma needs to look up the new recall ASAP because I’m pretty sure that’s what befell me.) basically it’s a giant stinky computer glitch involving whatever ECU is controlling the digital cluster. I’ve lost headlight functionality, windshield wiper functionality, I can’t open my tailgate, my fuel gauge isn’t updating, I can’t see my RPMs , and my digital rearview camera is flickering like it’s at a rave. It also is giving me warnings about whatever the safety sense start up thing is, but I can’t remember what Toyota’s official name for that is on the top of my head

*EDIT* I just remember. It’s the drive control malfunction. That’s the one.

But

the service advisors at this dealership are giving me some shit about “mods” that I don’t think they’re allowed to do, but I’m not entirely sure. They’re refusing to look at my rearview camera for the digital mirror because I relocated it… ages ago. So I could see behind my shell.

But the software glitch that freaked it out freaked out my entire computer… So the issue is probably in the cab of the truck not at the end of the basically extension cord I plugged it into? I’m just curious how you guys have dealt with this with Toyota before….? Surely they’re allowed/obligated to look at all the cables buried in the headliner for that and make sure they’re OK right? My understanding is they can only deny warranty related work if they can prove your modification caused it? But also, I understand why they wouldn’t want to physically touch the camera and its new location, but that shouldn’t prevent them from running diagnostics on the rest of it…?

I’m trying to figure out if my dealership just sucks and I need to go somewhere else or if they actually aren’t allowed to touch that?

They’re also giving me shit because allegedly “carpet in my bed is blocking my tailgate sensor” which makes zero sense because that also malfunctioned when the computer glitched. And idk how a trunk sensor can be blocked if the tailgate is closed properly? I have some drawers back there but again HOW would they cause that? When I asked for a photo or explanation over the phone, they genuinely provided me with neither and just repeated themselves, which was very unhelpful.

They seem to be working on fixing the actual gauge cluster, but they’re giving me crap about everything else and I’m trying to figure out what my rights are basically.

So fun.

I’m near LA if that helps?

thx in advance! And holy crap go get this recall checked out guys because it appears to be a DOOZY.

I will say I’m still absolutely loving the bejesus out of this truck otherwise. It’s been mechanically flawless. I literally picked a trailhunter trim to not mod it (sigh) so I could get a warranty for software stuff like this and they’re still giving me guff. Gah.

Despite all the bad information out there, it is pretty cut and dry because there is federal law on the matter. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)) regulates warranties and protects the consumer. This legislation was enacted in 1975 in response to widespread deceptive warranty practices in many industries. Here is how SEMA summarizes things:

The essence of the law concerning aftermarket auto parts is that a vehicle manufacturer may not condition a written or implied warranty on the consumers using parts or services which are identified by brand, trade, or corporate name (such as the vehicle maker's brand) unless the parts or service are provided free of charge. The law means that the use of an aftermarket part alone is not cause for denying the warranty. However, the law's protection does not extend to aftermarket parts in situations where such parts actually caused the damage being claimed under the warranty. Further, consumers are advised to be aware of any specific terms or conditions stated in the warranty which may result in its being voided. The law states in relevant part: No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade or corporate name... (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)).

 

[JustAnotherDingus]

Despite all the bad information out there, it is pretty cut and dry because there is federal law on the matter. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C)) regulates warranties and protects the consumer. This legislation was enacted in 1975 in response to widespread deceptive warranty practices in many industries. Here is how SEMA summarizes things:

Thank you this is very helpful! I couldn’t remember the name of the law.

I guess I can show up later today and just read this to them lol. That’ll be fun. But this does validate that they definitely should check and make sure all my cables for my camera are properly insulated in the cab and haven’t shorted out, at least I think so. Same with the tailgate thing.

Anyone have any good dealer recs near LA (east side) that uh… are easier to work with?

 

[gasgasman]

The diag will be on your dime. The dealership has no clue what type of wiring you used and how it was ran.

 

[JustAnotherDingus]

The diag will be on your dime. The dealership has no clue what type of wiring you used and how it was ran.

That’s totally okay honestly. I’d still like them to check it out. I’m happy to explain it to them and everything (it’s literally one cable acting like an extension cord so it’s really simple!) but they’re kind of just holding up their hands and saying no which is unfortunate. I guess for that one, fair.

They’re now trying to imply that my headlights broke because of “outside influence” because I guess water got in during the rain storm and they shorted out? Idk. Apparently there is “impact” on them but when I asked for details I got nothing :/ I think theyre going to get a pic for me because I’d like that explained in detail. Hopefully I get some more info soon. I don’t know what I possibly could’ve done to crack my headlights that are less than a year old? This seems like the plastic housing had a factory defect and cracked because of the pressure and temperature changes, but who knows. Ugh. This is not fun

Sponsored