As one of the RW's in 2RW I feel it is my duty to influence as many people as i can through this blog. Particularly in tonights topic. I feel that i am the minority that has bought a lemon, but this happened to me and i am still upset about it.
The Beginning.....
2 years ago I graduated college and got a great job. To reward myself i bought my dream truck. A 2006 Toyota Tundra, 4x4 TRD off road package. 300 horsepower V8, 5 speed transmission, 4 door in charcoal grey. As if that wasn't sweet enough I added the TRD exhaust and a Ranch Hand grille guard. I bought it used with 55,000 miles on it. "Barely broken in" says everyone. This truck should last you for at least 300,000 miles w/out skipping a beat. I paid top dollar for it because it was exactly what i wanted down to the seat color.
I drove it to work and got tons of compliments. In my line of work there is an image to maintain and this truck was fulfilling its intended purpose.
6,000 miles after i bought it the check engine light comes on and i think nothing of it. I know it is under warranty till 1000,000 miles so i take it in to Toyota of Boerne to get it checked out. First they give me the run around about how i bought it at cavender toyota in San Antonio and should get it warranted there. I remind them that the "used certified" warranty doesn't stipulate that i have to take it there and that one of the selling points was that you could get it serviced anywhere. Long story short, they take it in and tell me that the engine has to be replaced. Thats right, not repaired, not rebuilt, replaced. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A TOYOTA!!!! THE 4.6 L V-8 IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TANK!!! They then proceed to put the blame on me, saying that i didn't change the oil and that is what made the back piston break. I did change the oil, but did the work myself and had no proof. If i couldn't prove it i would have to pay the $8,000 to fix it. After stewing over how i am going to pay for this for a few nights, miraculously i wake from a deep nights sleep to the realization that i can prove i changed the oil. When i got the truck it was serviced by Toyota, meaning that they installed a Toyota oil filter. I got my supplies from Wal-Mart where i installed a Fram oil filter. After informing them of this, they replaced the engine with a brand new engine. P.S. This process took a whole month. As they are fixing my truck they decide to replace the timing belt and radiator and charge me for it b/c it isn't under warranty, for whatever reason.
Now i am thinking it is a smooth sail from here. i have my dream truck with a brand new engine. my mind thinks 360,000 miles w/out breaking a sweat.
2 months ago the fan belt started squeaking and i took it in again. they repaired it w/out questions.
3 weeks ago there was a loud rattling coming from the engine compartment. Long story short i was left stranded on the side of the road because the linkage between the torque converter and the transmission broke. Really!!!! could this possibly be the company that everyone believes is so great and will last forever. To top it off. I just surpassed the 100,000 mile mark where the warranty is over. In the end it is warrantied because it is so close to 100,000 miles and i had been in so often.
If you are counting (I am), that is 3 times in the shop in 2 years for over $12,000 worth of work. Luck for me i had the warranty.
I now am left with a terrible decision to either keep my truck or sell it and get something else. what else though? anything else would be a downgrade.
If you have read this far you are obviously bored and influencable. let me take one more moment to influence you out of buying a toyota. Unless you want to buy one from me. i have one for sale. it is basically brand new!
~Rocky
