Toyota Care (Walser Bloomington)

[ClownColor]

Here's one for you...let me know what you think. I brought my Brand new 2012 Tundra in for its 1st service (5k miles) just the other day. I had two concerns that I just wanted them to look at and to let me know if anything was wrong.

1st being the trasnmission. Never owed a Toyota before so I wasen't sure on the shifting. It seems like it goes into 1st gear when approching a stop so as soon as you give it gas (around 10 mph) is jolts the car hard then shifts to second right away. Kind of annoying so just wanted them to see if there were any issues with that.

2nd were the breaks. The squeek LOUD the first few (maybe five times) times after the vehicles sat for a few hours. Again, Very annoying and the wife can even hear it when I leave in the mornings for work as she's in the house.

Here's my beef with them. "IF" they find nothing wrong, they will charge me $135 PER ITEM they look at! This vehicle is fully warrantied with only 5k miles! Really? who's to say nothings wrong? This can't be exceptable can it? so basically unless I "know" somehting is wrong I should let them Know? Love the truck...But would NEVER recommned this kind of service for anyone who just blew $40k on a new vehicle! I hope I'm missing something here or I'd NEVER recommned this company to anyone.

[Macgyver55]

I guess the way I would approach it, is to ask them if it is normal for your brakes to squeal for any reason. If they say "no" (which I believe they should) then they should have no problem addressing the issue.

Ask if if it is "normal" for the transmission to "jolt the car hard then shift to second right away". If they avoid answering, or are evasive about it, tell them you would like to accompany the service writer on a test drive to determine if he feels it is a normal shift or not, and that you want to be sure he experiences it in case it is an intermittent problem.

I've personally not heard of a warranty that makes you pay for a verifying that a problem doesnt exist, but then I havent had a car with a warranty for a LONG time.

[ClownColor]

good idea about the test drive. I did explain the tires and tranny just like you would have but they had excuses about the breaks (dust or "that can sometimes happen) and nobody had an answer about they tranny. Breaks do it EVERY time from a long sit-explained that to them. I'm supposed to call a certain service tech named...to see how HIS tundra shifts.

I'm not "as concerned" about the problems...Heck there both under warranty so If they won't look at them- mine as well burn them both out right? then they fix it! JK... But heck-if thats how both the breaks and tranny perform then I'm okay with that...Just don't charge me $270 to verify that!

But yeah-pay money to verify if a problem DOESN't exists is poor practice in my book.

[CJH]

Doesn't sound like a very good experience. I'd balk at the money too. If they are going to charge me, then I'd tell them its broken and let them "fix" it under warranty.

Not a good start to the service life of your truck!!

Hope it works out!

[fishing tech]

Go for a ride with your salesman. Techs don't get paid if there is nothing wrong. Them wanting to charge you is not right either. I would ask for the service manager to go for a ride with you and verify your complaints. If that doesn't work call your 1-800 # for toyota service and complain to them. That will get you help.

[ted4887]

I'd take it to another Toyota dealership. I've had nothing but problems with them in the past on both service and sales.

[MJ1657]

That does not sound right to me. Not saying you aren't telling the truth.

It is not that way with GM and Chrysler. You bring in a vehicle for a complaint and you are not charged even if your issue is found to be how the vehicle normally operates.

[Scott K]

I would ask the shop manager to go for a ride with you.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I just brought mine in in December to have several things addressed. There was no charge to check out the items. Some where found to be faulty, some replaced as customer satisfaction without the problem being present at the time of service, and others where NPF'D or determined to be normal. All at no charge to me.

I also dropped it off and told them they had it for at least a weak. One of the problems was a p/s whine with cold weather and there wasn't any cold weather forecasted for at least three days. When we did get the cold weather they test drove it, verified the noise, and then drove two other tundras and they both made the same noise. I am disapointed that the noise is there but I guess if I owned a Chevy I would be hearing the same noise so no big deal .

[ClownColor]

I just brought mine in in December to have several things addressed. There was no charge to check out the items. Some where found to be faulty, some replaced as customer satisfaction without the problem being present at the time of service, and others where NPF'D or determined to be normal. All at no charge to me.

I also dropped it off and told them they had it for at least a weak. One of the problems was a p/s whine with cold weather and there wasn't any cold weather forecasted for at least three days. When we did get the cold weather they test drove it, verified the noise, and then drove two other tundras and they both made the same noise. I am disapointed that the noise is there but I guess if I owned a Chevy I would be hearing the same noise so no big deal .

Who did you talk too? I talked with serveral techs and was told the same by all in the shop. They wanted me to talk with a Jermery and I "thought" (wild whim) it may have been you (they told me he owned a Tundra and may now how it ran cause nobody there did).

I will follow-up on this and call them today a share my findings. I hope it is all a big miss-understanding but it sounds like thats how they do buisness...VERY POOR!

[SkunkedAgain]

The Bloomington Honda dealer charges $125 or something as a flat service charge. If they end up doing a repair, the apply it towards the bill. I don't know about warrantied vehicles, but the policies sound similar.

As for brakes, my '07 Ranger had a similar squealing brake issue. The dealership kept trying to tell me it was normal too, but I knew that they were blowing smoke. They changed pads, turned the rotors, replaced clips, put on ceramics, turned the rotors, blah blah blah, I got fed up after 8 months of owning a new truck that squeaked. I went to a different Ford dealer. They noted how badly the rotors were ground down and put on a new set. 78,000 miles later and not a squeak.

I don't know if you're having a rotor problem too, but I told the story to highlight the go-to-a-different-dealer solution.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I agree on the brake squeal. It wouldn't kill them to at least try a new set of pads.

[ClownColor]

That does not sound right to me. Not saying you aren't telling the truth.

It is not that way with GM and Chrysler. You bring in a vehicle for a complaint and you are not charged even if your issue is found to be how the vehicle normally operates.

Well just talked to the service tech manager and that IS how they run their buisness. It's $135 for each item that you address that DOESN'T need to be fixed. So basically if you are unsure/or they don't believe anything is wrong-plan on paying $135 per thing they looked at.

On a slightly good note, their service manager was very helpfull in explaining what was going on with my truck on the above issues. I'll be keeping an eye on those but it seems like everything is fine. Plenty of warranty left so if not-there's still time for them to replace them. And you can bet I'll never pay $135 for them to "look" at something thats covered under warranty....Plain and simple

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

That is craziness. They have an opportunity to address something as a small problem, or they can let it go until it potentially becomes a BIG problem. It surprises me that Toyota would allow that practice, as I bet most people aren't going to pay the $135. I sure as heck wouldn't.

[Macgyver55]

On a slightly good note, their service manager was very helpfull in explaining what was going on with my truck on the above issues. I'll be keeping an eye on those but it seems like everything is fine. Plenty of warranty left so if not-there's still time for them to replace them. And you can bet I'll never pay $135 for them to "look" at something thats covered under warranty....Plain and simple

On that note I'd get a chuckle out of hearing a straight faced explanation of why he believes brakes should squeal on a regular basis. Make sure you document mileage and dates of your concerns so they cant tell you down the road that its a wear item and not covered by warranty.

[fishhuntwork]

Brakes do squeak because most of the auto makers use a semi metallic pad. It should go away after driven for a few minutes.

[jmd1]

i would check the owners manual warranty info and find out if it indicates a charge for taking your truck in for issues. I would be calling them and letting them know that i am not happy and if they want the keys give me my old vehicle back and come get it. I just took my chrysler town and country in for several issues that a couple of them could not be duplicated. no charge. just said thanks for your continued business.

[ottertailguy]

Brakes do squeak because most of the auto makers use a semi metallic pad. It should go away after driven for a few minutes.

I think he hit the nail on the head. Semi metallic pads are part metal which means metal on metal equal noise. My wife 2007 Tahoe squeaks but my 2011 tundra is quiet. They must of made a change in 2012. Also, my company step van is so loud customers know when I put up. I bought my Tundra in Brooklyn Park and will continue all service after the free Toyota care is finished. Ruff shifting is not normal, my is the smoothing of any vehicle I've had.

[Macgyver55]

Brakes do squeak because most of the auto makers use a semi metallic pad. It should go away after driven for a few minutes.

That doesnt mean it should do it! The only brake squeal that I'd classify as "normal" would be that of a wear indicator telling me its time for a brake job.

[ClownColor]

Quote:

I think he hit the nail on the head. Semi metallic pads are part metal which means metal on metal equal noise. My wife 2007 Tahoe squeaks but my 2011 tundra is quiet. They must of made a change in 2012. Also, my company step van is so loud customers know when I put up. I bought my Tundra in Brooklyn Park and will continue all service after the free Toyota care is finished. Ruff shifting is not normal, my is the smoothing of any vehicle I've had.

See-now what the service manager was saying was that the hard shifting at lower speeds was "normal." He said his tundra does the same. Do you have the 5.7? He said the 4's had a shift enhancement that solved that but the 5.7's don't have a fix yet...hmmmmmmmm. So if yours isen't and mine is-somethings not right here. Please let me know what size engine you have.

As for the breaks, he told me almost what some are saying-that the breaks are cast iron and with any moisture, it builds a small amount of rust (with 20 minutes) so when you apply the brakes the next few times they squeak. Again-he said his does this as well.

I wouldn't "think" he'd lied as he's have nothing to gain but who knows. And I agree with Macgyver-why should brand new brakes be squeaking-so loud that people know you're coming?

Ah-the joys of buying new right? But just to be fair, I'm more upset about how they handle there warranty service claims then the actual problem. These can get fixed...the B.s. trying to get them fixed is a whole nother issue.

[ottertailguy]

I have a 5.7 with 20,000 miles. I have notice rust on the rotors way more on the Tundra then the Chevy I had previous when it's wet out. But the Chevy had drum brakes on the back though.

[Dozer]

Why dont you just take it to a different Toyota dealer? You are odvously not happy with Walser. Why continue to due business with them? When Im not happy with something I take my business elsewhere!

[Jeremy airjer W]

I have a 5.7 with 20,000 miles. I have notice rust on the rotors way more on the Tundra then the Chevy I had previous when it's wet out. But the Chevy had drum brakes on the back though.

I try not to take mine out in the rain!

[Jeremy airjer W]

On a side note you should see how bad those rear rotors on the Chevies rot up on the insides. The outsides will usually look pretty good but the insides will be trashed. Usually the backing plates are ready to fall off if they haven't already as well.

[ClownColor]

Why dont you just take it to a different Toyota dealer? You are odvously not happy with Walser. Why continue to due business with them? When Im not happy with something I take my business elsewhere!

I'm will! Point is/was that this was my first (and Only) service with this new vehicle. you can bet I won't be going there again. (I had to google reviews of their service center after my experience and it wasen't looking good.

This was also my first "NEW" vehicle I ever bought and wanted to make sure this wasen't a common practice before I started to jump the gun.