What would you do?

[silversurfer220]

Looking for some suggestions here. I have a 04 Solara SLE v6 that has been giving me a load of trouble. Since I got it in October, it has at times not been starting. You turn the key and get nothing at all- no lights, chimes, radio, etc... I have had it in a multitude of times at the dealership for this problem and many others and most of the time, they say that they can't find a problem. I seriously have my doubts as to if they are even looking at the car, but thats another story. I have had it to a few other toyota dealerships and I get hit with the "You didnt buy it here, why should we work on it" line- because apparantly this problem is a hard problem to solve. If my car was yours, what would you guys do with it? Its currently sitting at the shop right now. Have owned it for almost 9 months, car has 6,800 miles on it.

[RichD978]

get rid of it and buy a camry

[Hunter_alexander]

I belive that there is a TSB for that problem. If I were you, I would take it to a different dealership, TSB in hand, and say, I dont care if I didnt buy it here. FIX IT.

[RichD978]

I belive that there is a TSB for that problem. If I were you, I would take it to a different dealership, TSB in hand, and say, I dont care if I didnt buy it here. FIX IT.

if only the world was that simple

[Paladin06Greg]

I would lodge a formal complaint with TMC. I've done it once before and they were very responsive.

Looking for some suggestions here. I have a 04 Solara SLE v6 that has been giving me a load of trouble. Since I got it in October, it has at times not been starting. You turn the key and get nothing at all- no lights, chimes, radio, etc... I have had it in a multitude of times at the dealership for this problem and many others and most of the time, they say that they can't find a problem. I seriously have my doubts as to if they are even looking at the car, but thats another story. I have had it to a few other toyota dealerships and I get hit with the "You didnt buy it here, why should we work on it" line- because apparantly this problem is a hard problem to solve. If my car was yours, what would you guys do with it? Its currently sitting at the shop right now. Have owned it for almost 9 months, car has 6,800 miles on it.

[MrMikeL]

Speak with the Service Manager at the dealership where you bought the vehicle. Show him all the service tickets that show that the problem is still not resolved (assuming you saved all of them). Ask his/her permission to take the vehicle to an independent shop at their expense. I did this once and it worked.

[PhreakdOut]

Looking for some suggestions here. I have a 04 Solara SLE v6 that has been giving me a load of trouble. Since I got it in October, it has at times not been starting. You turn the key and get nothing at all- no lights, chimes, radio, etc... I have had it in a multitude of times at the dealership for this problem and many others and most of the time, they say that they can't find a problem. I seriously have my doubts as to if they are even looking at the car, but thats another story. I have had it to a few other toyota dealerships and I get hit with the "You didnt buy it here, why should we work on it" line- because apparantly this problem is a hard problem to solve. If my car was yours, what would you guys do with it? Its currently sitting at the shop right now. Have owned it for almost 9 months, car has 6,800 miles on it.

Ask the dealer for the area's service rep's phone number. If this person can not help, then ask for a phone number to Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance CA. Provide as much documentation as possible regarding your dealer experiences. (Include names, dates and times. - Preparation is key. If it looks like everything is very well documented, then they will be concerned about your consulting an attorney.) Explain to each person that you've got a VOR (Vehicle Off Road) due to a warranty problem. Ask for a quick resolution or you would like to start the process to apply for a buy-back of your Solara.

Toyota does take these situations seriously. It's a shame that the dealers are jerking you around.

Good luck and post up the status from time to time.

(I'll see if I can dig up some phone numbers as well.)

[silversurfer220]

Thanks for all of the info. Up to this point, I have been in full contact with the service manager of the dealership, and he is a complete tool. He thinks I am "fabricating" a problem because "I dont like the car" to make it go away. This line was from his last message that was left with me- "Hi- Your solara is complete, we would really appreciate it if when you bring your car in for service that the problem actually exists, not ficticiously in your head. It is a big waste of our time to constantly look at your car when there are no problems present in your vehicle. We would be happy to take care of any other problems, but please dont bring it back for this problem as we can no longer service it. SMART TOYOTA MADISON WISCONSIN"

Hunter_alexander- I have asked them about the TSB and they say that no problem exists so they arent going to fix it.

Paladin06Greg- I have done this too and they seem very un-receptive. They call the delaership and side with the dealership. grr

Chewbocca- I could only hope that they would buy it back. They said they were going to do it months ago and havent done it yet and wont.

PhreakdOut- I am going to call Toyota tomorrow and find out the zone rep's name- if he can't help, I am going much higher. I have all documentation for the car. Here's the kicker- I was told by a service manager that the car had a starting problem before I bought the car, but they supposedly fixed it. I bet they regret telling me that, since they wont admit to it now. I have done the lemon law before and will do it again if need be. I am planning on making a call to Cali and getting something going. The car has been to many Toyota dealerships in Wisconsin and most all dont want to mess around with it. I'm hoping that they go for a quick resolution, but if they dont, i'm prepared to fight with them. If you have any phone numbers, they would be much appreciated.

As of now, they just called me and told me the car is done and that no problem could be found and to please pick up my car right away. I asked the service lady what she would do and she said complain to Toyota and then hung up the phone. GRRRR

[Paladin06Greg]

Does your state support the federal lemon law??

Thanks for all of the info. Up to this point, I have been in full contact with the service manager of the dealership, and he is a complete tool. He thinks I am "fabricating" a problem because "I dont like the car" to make it go away. This line was from his last message that was left with me- "Hi- Your solara is complete, we would really appreciate it if when you bring your car in for service that the problem actually exists, not ficticiously in your head. It is a big waste of our time to constantly look at your car when there are no problems present in your vehicle. We would be happy to take care of any other problems, but please dont bring it back for this problem as we can no longer service it. SMART TOYOTA MADISON WISCONSIN"

Hunter_alexander- I have asked them about the TSB and they say that no problem exists so they arent going to fix it.

Paladin06Greg- I have done this too and they seem very un-receptive. They call the delaership and side with the dealership. grr

Chewbocca- I could only hope that they would buy it back. They said they were going to do it months ago and havent done it yet and wont.

PhreakdOut- I am going to call Toyota tomorrow and find out the zone rep's name- if he can't help, I am going much higher. I have all documentation for the car. Here's the kicker- I was told by a service manager that the car had a starting problem before I bought the car, but they supposedly fixed it. I bet they regret telling me that, since they wont admit to it now. I have done the lemon law before and will do it again if need be. I am planning on making a call to Cali and getting something going. The car has been to many Toyota dealerships in Wisconsin and most all dont want to mess around with it. I'm hoping that they go for a quick resolution, but if they dont, i'm prepared to fight with them. If you have any phone numbers, they would be much appreciated.

As of now, they just called me and told me the car is done and that no problem could be found and to please pick up my car right away. I asked the service lady what she would do and she said complain to Toyota and then hung up the phone. GRRRR

[MrMikeL]

If the problem is intermittent, ask the service manager to swap cars with you for a week. Hopefully the problem will present itself to him as he's trying to get home for the day!

[silversurfer220]

If the problem is intermittent, ask the service manager to swap cars with you for a week. Hopefully the problem will present itself to him as he's trying to get home for the day!

Or when he is in the middle of an interstate with a semi truck behind him- it could just kill like it has been doing lately. What would he do then?? I refuse to pick it up until I am 100% sure it is fixed, so it may sit there for awhile.

[Mandarinsolara]

I have a 04 Solara SLE v6.

you answered your own question

[mmcdonald]

I love my car a lot, and I couldn't even get my dealer / service writers to answer the phone or return messages when I mentioned TSB's. So I took the car to a private auto service shop (very good long relationship) and they have been working through the left drift TSB.

Sure, it costs cash, but I want my car fixed without f-ing around, and I want to keep my car.

The big reason Toyota doesn't want to get involved in the left drift TSB, for example, is that the FIRST step is to replace the stock crappy Turanzas with unidirectional tires. How often do you think they are going to do that!!!

So I bought new tires after one year (30K) and then took it to this shop. Only a couple hundred for the bolts and front end alignment, but the problem is coming back, so I am going to do the springs soon. I am contemplating just having it lowered while I am at it.

I reeeeeally like this car.