Any advice for dealing with manufacturers/dealers?

[paperfist]

My 2010 Prius just had ABS/accumulator/brake booster failure.

The dealer wants $4600 to fix it. I had an independent shop scan the codes before bringing it into the dealer and he did a little research saying the vehicle has the same issue as one of the recalls that was done on the 2010 Prius cars, but mine was a month out of the production date to be covered.

So before bringing it to the dealer I called the Toyota hot line and they said it would have to go to a dealer to be diagnosed before they would even consider covering under any shape or form. They also said that it was recalled already for a similar issue and that the dealer already fixed it. I pointed that out to the dealer and they said all they did was a software update pertaining to the accumulator and no 'hardware' fixes were done.

Just wondering if you guys had any advice for when I call Toyota again tomorrow.

 

[NutBucket]

Did you take it to the dealer yet? Like the person on the phone said, you can't ask for goodwill if it hasn't been diagnosed at a dealer.

 

[paperfist]

Did you take it to the dealer yet? Like the person on the phone said, you can't ask for goodwill if it hasn't been diagnosed at a dealer.

Yes, it's there now. They called a little while ago with that $4600 price. It's too late to call Toyota, so I'll do it tomorrow.

I never dealt with a manufacturer before so before I call I wanted to see if you guys could give me a heads up.

 

[NutBucket]

Just stay calm and explain the situation. That's about all I can suggest. If they give you trouble you can start jumping up and down

 

[Raizinman]

It will help if you have been a loyal customer to Toyota over the years. It appears you tend to favor independent repair shops. When a Zone Representative looks at your situation, they consider heavily if you have been a regular customer for service and not just for the freebee or no profit stuff (recalls and oil changes).

 

[paperfist]

Just stay calm and explain the situation. That's about all I can suggest. If they give you trouble you can start jumping up and down

Well I don't think they are going to see me jumping up and down, maybe hear though

I was hoping you'd say something like tell them if they don't fix my little problem, they'll be "swimming with the fishes" or "fit for some cement boots", or maybe I should just ask them, "don't you know who I am?"

 

[paperfist]

It will help if you have been a loyal customer to Toyota over the years. It appears you tend to favor independent repair shops. When a Zone Representative looks at your situation, they consider heavily if you have been a regular customer for service and not just for the freebee or no profit stuff (recalls and oil changes).

This is my first Toyota and after initially buying from a Toyota dealer and getting the shaft and then going to another Toyota dealer and getting the shaft I have been avoiding them like the plague. The trouble is most independent repair shops around here won't touch hybrids so I've had to use the dealer here and there. That said about the only work I have done to the car where a Toyota dealer didn't touch it was for oil changes. I haven't had to get the brakes serviced yet or had any major work done outside routine maintenance.

 

[HitAnyKey]

Do you have any Warranty on the car? Was there any Warranty available for purchase when you bought it?

$4600 is a crazy amount to pay. I had no idea Prius could be that expensive to fix. I will definitely think twice about buying a used Hybrid after reading this.

Previous advice is the best advice.Stay calm but be firm. Insist this is a manufacturing defect and you are looking for help not a freebie.

Good luck I hope it works out.

 

[paperfist]

Do you have any Warranty on the car? Was there any Warranty available for purchase when you bought it?

$4600 is a crazy amount to pay. I had no idea Prius could be that expensive to fix. I will definitely think twice about buying a used Hybrid after reading this.

Previous advice is the best advice.Stay calm but be firm. Insist this is a manufacturing defect and you are looking for help not a freebie.

Good luck I hope it works out.

No I bought it with high mileage, I think 80k allegedly all highway miles, but no warranty offered even when I asked.

Went through 2 wheel bearings already at $900 pop. I'm pretty certain I wouldn't purchase another hybrid again. Sure I'm getting 44 MPG tops, but there's cars that will get in the 30s without the hybrid parts. No one outside of the dealer will touch this thing (outside of the one guy I just found for the brakes) even for 4 little spark plugs.

Yeah the part I need can be had for $400 used off a 2012 Prius, but obviously the dealer won't touch that.

I'll call in a little while and see what happens. I wasn't looking for a freebie, just consideration since a month after my model was produced the very same issue I have was recalled.

 

[NutBucket]

Maybe it's more a function of where you live? I'm sure there are plenty of independent shops in SoCal that would be happy to service your Prius.

 

[tortillasoup]

My 2010 Prius just had ABS/accumulator/brake booster failure.

The dealer wants $4600 to fix it. I had an independent shop scan the codes before bringing it into the dealer and he did a little research saying the vehicle has the same issue as one of the recalls that was done on the 2010 Prius cars, but mine was a month out of the production date to be covered.

So before bringing it to the dealer I called the Toyota hot line and they said it would have to go to a dealer to be diagnosed before they would even consider covering under any shape or form. They also said that it was recalled already for a similar issue and that the dealer already fixed it. I pointed that out to the dealer and they said all they did was a software update pertaining to the accumulator and no 'hardware' fixes were done.

Just wondering if you guys had any advice for when I call Toyota again tomorrow.

Yeah you just have to pay for the "diagnostic fee" then you ask for the goodwill. It's just standard operating procedure. I wouldn't worry TOO much about the diagnostic fee as it's a bet between like $150 vs. saving $4000K+ on the repair by getting a "good will" repair or whatever. If I remember correctly, if it's a recall, the diagnostic fee ends up getting refunded in the end anyway.

 

[gus6464]

So you bought a used high mileage Prius in which you probably have no clue what it's been through and it's breaking on you so now all hybrids are bad. Seriously?

 

[paperfist]

So you bought a used high mileage Prius in which you probably have no clue what it's been through and it's breaking on you so now all hybrids are bad. Seriously?

I didn't say all hybrids were bad. Like NutBucket said it's probably a function of where I live where no one but the dealer wants to fix it. The vehicle I bought was serviced at the Toyota dealership I bought it at. I looked at all the service records. The interior had absolutely no wear and hadn't been cleaned yet. Not an exact science, but it looked like a car that hadn't been beaten at all.

It's a Toyota, I thought they were good for 300,000 miles?

An 80,000 mile car shouldn't need the wheel bearing replaced once, let alone twice. That's the only problem I've had till now with the brakes. You think $4600 is reasonable to repair a brake accumulator when the part can be had used for $400? The part new is probably $1000.

Anyway, called Toyota. Didn't get anywhere with the first customer service lady so I politely asked if I could speak with a supervisor. She checked and there weren't any available so she said she could transfer me to HQ. The guy I spoke there gave me the same speech. I said listen I'm not looking for a hand out, but $4600 is unreasonable amount to fix a brake part and a month after my vehicle was made there was a recall issued for the same brake failure description that mine has.

He called the dealership for me and said he spoke to the manager but the techs already went home and he would call me back Monday to let me know if he could work something out on the part and cost.