Bought NEW 2018 4Runner April 2018. Didnt notice until day of delivery that there was a high frequency vibration in the steering wheel. The vibration happens ALL THE TIME, whether driving or idling. Brought back to dealer 4 times.
First time they said: "we dont feel any vibration".
2nd time they said: "we dont feel any ABNORMAL vibration and it is characteristic of the vehicle.
3rd time the Toyota Field Technician said: "I dont feel any vibration".
4th time they ignored it all together.
Filed arbitration claim. Arbitration said: "we find there is a NON CONFORMING DEFECT that impairs the use of the vehicle"...however, "the dealer and Toyota hasnt had sufficient number of attempts at repairing the defect".
Upon application to arbitration, I clearly explained that the dealer had deliberately not "attempted to repair" the problem since that was their way of sidestepping the Magnuson Moss Lemon Law act. Magnuson Moss states "4 ATTEMPTS" at repair before you can get a buyback.
Arbitration outfit, NCDS, accepted my application for that precise reason, presumably, they accepted my 4 ATTEMPTS to get it fixed, and they realized that Toyota was displaying the very tactics that Magnuson Moss is there to protect consumers from in the first place, DECEPTIVE WARRANTY PRACTICES.
Apparently not however, since they ruled against me for a buyback for the VERY REASON I thought they had accepted the complaint in the first place!!
Toyotas ONLY defense was "we havent had sufficient attempts at repairing the defect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So the 4 times I brought it to them and they lied and intimidated me and generally obfuscated the truth wasnt enough attempts at repairing it !!!!
I am developing carpel tunnel like symptoms in my hands, fingers and wrists etc..The vibration has been measured by an independent mechanic and the strength of the vibrations surpass safe NIOSH recommended vibration levels for any type of machine that produces vibrations. It was the independent mechanics report that established and proved the defect for which I paid $90.00 an hour mechanic fee.
The Toyota field tech and the dealer both REFUSED to analyze the vibration with NVH Vibration Software that they have access to. In fact, you can download NVH Vibration Software to your smart phone these days so you dont even need the sophisticated, more expensive vibration analyzing equipment of yesteryear. But that doesnt matter because they already have possession of the older equipment, and more than likely the Field Tech has access to more modern very precise and sensitive equipment through Toyota.
The simple truth is that they did not want to QUANTIFY the vibration by measuring and analyzing it since that would prove the existence of the vibration and would further prove the strength is in excess of safe levels. By not analyzing it they can simply claim ignorance and not have to worry about lawsuits.
I have paid the same independent mechanic for a more in depth study, at the same rate, $90.00 an hour, and I am awaiting that report. However, he did tell me that the vibration was NOT coming from the power steering, which he wanted to rule out originally, and that the vibration is THROUGHOUT the entire vehicle! In the frame, the trans, the steering rack, the seats, everywhere.
He suspects an engineering defect in relation to the engine either producing too much vibration from an unbalanced crank shaft, or something else mechanical in the engine, and so the usual methods of controlling vibration (engine mounts, harmonic balance etc) are not effective OR the engine is ok but the usual methods of controlling vibration are defective themselves.
The important thing to take from this, if you have read this far, is that despite my complaints of physical pain, discomfort, loss of sleep, directly attributable to the abnormally strong vibrations in the steering wheel, Toyota REFUSED to even attempt to identify the problem, let alone try to fix it!!!!
I have scheduled a 5th trip to the dealer, in fact the vehicle is there right now, a different dealer, 25 miles from my house, and I await their diagnosis/prognosis.
I spoke to the actual technician at this Toyota dealer last night when I dropped the vehicle for todays appointment. He said exactly what I thought he would say and then some.......He indicated and confirmed everything I have said in this complaint and added "if its something inside the engine, I probably wont get permission from Toyota to do a vibration analysis of that complexity" !!!
So, the arbitration panel ruled the vehicle is defective and that defect impairs the use of the vehicle". But it looks like they arent going to fix it! So now what?
A little tip for anyone reading this. After the arbitration panel sent their decision I requested all documents related to the decision. The very last document is a DISCLAIMER that states the arbitration panel DOES NOT necessarily adhere to the rules and statutes of Magnuson Moss Lemon Laws!!! In other words, they are not bound to give justice to consumers and they can be as impartial as they want. It is no wonder the manufacturers choose arbitration!!! Then they tell you after arbitration "you are free to investigate other legal remedies such as small claims court"! Small claims maximum is $5000.00. Shall I let them buy my car back for $5000.00?
Arbitration is a deliberate impediment, an obstacle placed there by the manufacturers, fully sanctioned by state authorities. Never accept arbitration. Never buy a TOYOTA. NEVER!!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Bought NEW 2018 4Runner April 2018. Didnt notice until day of delivery that there was a high frequency vibration in the steering wheel. The vibration happens ALL THE TIME, whether driving or idling. Brought back to dealer 4 times.
First time they said: "we dont feel any vibration".
2nd time they said: "we dont feel any ABNORMAL vibration and it is characteristic of the vehicle.
3rd time the Toyota Field Technician said: "I dont feel any vibration".
4th time they ignored it all together.
Filed arbitration claim. Arbitration said: "we find there is a NON CONFORMING DEFECT that impairs the use of the vehicle"...however, "the dealer and Toyota hasnt had sufficient number of attempts at repairing the defect".
Upon application to arbitration, I clearly explained that the dealer had deliberately not "attempted to repair" the problem since that was their way of sidestepping the Magnuson Moss Lemon Law act. Magnuson Moss states "4 ATTEMPTS" at repair before you can get a buyback.
Arbitration outfit, NCDS, accepted my application for that precise reason, presumably, they accepted my 4 ATTEMPTS to get it fixed, and they realized that Toyota was displaying the very tactics that Magnuson Moss is there to protect consumers from in the first place, DECEPTIVE WARRANTY PRACTICES.
Apparently not however, since they ruled against me for a buyback for the VERY REASON I thought they had accepted the complaint in the first place!!
Toyotas ONLY defense was "we havent had sufficient attempts at repairing the defect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So the 4 times I brought it to them and they lied and intimidated me and generally obfuscated the truth wasnt enough attempts at repairing it !!!!
I am developing carpel tunnel like symptoms in my hands, fingers and wrists etc..The vibration has been measured by an independent mechanic and the strength of the vibrations surpass safe NIOSH recommended vibration levels for any type of machine that produces vibrations. It was the independent mechanics report that established and proved the defect for which I paid $90.00 an hour mechanic fee.
The Toyota field tech and the dealer both REFUSED to analyze the vibration with NVH Vibration Software that they have access to. In fact, you can download NVH Vibration Software to your smart phone these days so you dont even need the sophisticated, more expensive vibration analyzing equipment of yesteryear. But that doesnt matter because they already have possession of the older equipment, and more than likely the Field Tech has access to more modern very precise and sensitive equipment through Toyota.
The simple truth is that they did not want to QUANTIFY the vibration by measuring and analyzing it since that would prove the existence of the vibration and would further prove the strength is in excess of safe levels. By not analyzing it they can simply claim ignorance and not have to worry about lawsuits.
I have paid the same independent mechanic for a more in depth study, at the same rate, $90.00 an hour, and I am awaiting that report. However, he did tell me that the vibration was NOT coming from the power steering, which he wanted to rule out originally, and that the vibration is THROUGHOUT the entire vehicle! In the frame, the trans, the steering rack, the seats, everywhere.
He suspects an engineering defect in relation to the engine either producing too much vibration from an unbalanced crank shaft, or something else mechanical in the engine, and so the usual methods of controlling vibration (engine mounts, harmonic balance etc) are not effective OR the engine is ok but the usual methods of controlling vibration are defective themselves.
The important thing to take from this, if you have read this far, is that despite my complaints of physical pain, discomfort, loss of sleep, directly attributable to the abnormally strong vibrations in the steering wheel, Toyota REFUSED to even attempt to identify the problem, let alone try to fix it!!!!
I have scheduled a 5th trip to the dealer, in fact the vehicle is there right now, a different dealer, 25 miles from my house, and I await their diagnosis/prognosis.
I spoke to the actual technician at this Toyota dealer last night when I dropped the vehicle for todays appointment. He said exactly what I thought he would say and then some.......He indicated and confirmed everything I have said in this complaint and added "if its something inside the engine, I probably wont get permission from Toyota to do a vibration analysis of that complexity" !!!
So, the arbitration panel ruled the vehicle is defective and that defect impairs the use of the vehicle". But it looks like they arent going to fix it! So now what?
A little tip for anyone reading this. After the arbitration panel sent their decision I requested all documents related to the decision. The very last document is a DISCLAIMER that states the arbitration panel DOES NOT necessarily adhere to the rules and statutes of Magnuson Moss Lemon Laws!!! In other words, they are not bound to give justice to consumers and they can be as impartial as they want. It is no wonder the manufacturers choose arbitration!!! Then they tell you after arbitration "you are free to investigate other legal remedies such as small claims court"! Small claims maximum is $5000.00. Shall I let them buy my car back for $5000.00?
Arbitration is a deliberate impediment, an obstacle placed there by the manufacturers, fully sanctioned by state authorities. Never accept arbitration. Never buy a TOYOTA. NEVER!!!!!
- Frank D., Hamburg, US