Has anyone here Lemon Law'd a Gen 3 Tundra yet?

It’s not a fuel leak. It’s a risk of fire. There’s a difference. See the other thread.

 

So the biggest negative experience you have with your truck is it was difficult to obtain, and yours is only at the dealership because you are uncomfortable driving it due to a recall that was issued out of an overabundance of caution?

 

Not true. The fix wasn't offered. If it was, it'd be sitting in my driveway. Since I've been waiting for the fix since early August, it's sitting at a dealer.

I would further point out if the temporary fix was a decent solution, there wouldn't be a permanent fix coming in 2024.

 

Like I said, I'm looking into this. Never said it was a gurantee.

 

Let me start over. I got the notice via the app in early August that there was a recall on the truck because of risk of fire. My wife said she wasn't comfortable with me driving my kid if there's a risk of fire. I said fine. I went to the dealer to get it fixed. They told me the temporary fix would come some time in October. They offered me a Corolla. My kids carseat wouldn't fit. They had to rent me something. The only vehicle they had available for the amount Toyota was willing to pay was a Pacifica. Now they're saying a temporary fix will come in November and a permanent fix will come some time in 2024. When specifically? Nobody knows.

Buyers remorse aside, I'd be driving the truck if the dealer would do the temporary fix. I probably just wouldn't transport my kid in the car. They won't do the fix. I'm not the only one. There's 6 Tundra owners alone at my dealer whos trucks are parked. They want to wait until some time in November. Am I comfortable driving my kid in a vehicle that has the temporary fix? Honestly, no. Did I decline the temporary fix? No.

If you guys had spent as long as I did for your truck, only to have it out of commission for months at a time, you'd be a little annoyed too.

 

One important detail about Toyota and Lemon Law. The government (NHTSA) keeps statistics of all cars that are "lemoned". They get the information directly from the states' DAs. Toyota hates being reported to NHTSA. So if you start Lemon Law proceedings with your state's DA office and you have reasonable grounds to succeed, Toyota will typically try to settle with you directly before the DA office issues a verdict. Toyota does it to artificially keep their statistics good. DA offices tend to side with consumers, so even if the case isn't a slam dunk, Toyota prefers to settle just to avoid the risk of having a car officially "lemoned". Other manufacturers tend to fight Lemon Law cases vigorously, but Toyota is so obsessed with (artificially) pushing the image of quality and reliability that they will settle (buy the car back or replace it) just to prevent having a "lemon" officially declared by the DA and being reported to NHTSA.
Toyota had a long history of "sweeping issues under the carpet" to save face, and avoiding Lemon Law cases is one of them.

 

You do need to start over, its a safety recall. A plastic tube could rub up against a brake line and develope a fuel leak. That's in the description of the problem.

They will replace the fuel tube with an improved part and additional clamps. As a temporary measure until final remedy dealers will install a temporary measure. They will install protective materials and a clamp.
So if there is a risk of a fuel leak then there would be a greater risk of a fire hazard.

I don't feel uncomfortable driving the vehicle and when the fix comes out, I will have it addressed.
If I smell or see a fuel leak prior to that, then I will deal with the dealership on that.

Every recall, advisory etc gives notifications out first, if there is something to be fixed with a part then it takes time to develop a fix, make the part, test, approve it and then mass produce it for the masses.

All I can say is that your dealership is very accomidating. It not their choice to not use the vehicle, its yours.
Toyota engineering team developed a temporary fix that they can roll out immediately. You dont like it or approve it... um ok

Now you feel a lemon law is needed? Good luck with that one.

 

I want to see what the final fix is on this. I know that the headlight fire hazard for the 2.5 gen fix is a spaghetti mix of wires and some relays. Kinda interesting Toyota has had 2 fire issues with in 2 years. Who's making these trucks nowadays, Fire Marshall Bill.

 

Respectfully, sounds like the OP doesn't want his kids to burn up in a vehicle. Same thing happened with the fire issue on the 2.5gen headlight issue. Took Toyota forever to come up with a solution, but hey keep driving your truck. If it burns, you have insurance and the your premium will go up. All because , what seems to me, Toyota cheapened out on the headlight harness. No manuf is perfect but when your talking about a potential fire risk, it shouldn't take this long. You can't tell me a multi-billion company can't come up with a solution quickly.

 

If they lemon lawed every car with a fire risk there would be no cars on the road. A very common occurrence for many OEMs. Kia and Hyundai Theta engines seem to be the only ones that actually follow thru with the fire threat with any regularity. Many recalls like medications list life threatening complications or outcomes. Does not mean they are more likely than a lightning strike. Can happen does not equate to will happen

 

Proudly Made in the USA quality.

 

OP’s concern is legit. The way the dealer is handling it is not. Toyota outlined a simple fix for a simple problem. Two parts make contact that shouldn’t. Gotta keep ‘em separated. I’ve seen the pictures, not that complicated of an issue, unless you ignore it and your truck burns down.

 

Sad to see all those cars on fire....

I see a bit more into the OP concerns. He had a tough time getting the vehicle and is annoyed how Toyota is handling a repair.
Not for nothing, we should all hand in our trucks for a rental and leave the vehicle at the dealer.
When Toyota starts footing the bill for all those rentals, maybe just maybe they'll get expedite a fix.

 

I’m sure you worded this poorly. You do care enough about your family to not want them to burn to death in a vehicle fire. To dismiss the OP and his initial actions as over the top is just as extreme as you being cavalier about it. Fact is there is a recall issued for potential fire risk due to the fuel line rubbing through. I don’t think not caring about the Takata airbag recall was wise either. Not a problem, till it’s a problem. Then you car is burning up or your getting pelted with potentially lethal shrapnel in your face from faulty airbag inflators. Wise to heed the risk. But the solution isn’t park the truck. It’s keep the fuel line from rubbing, which is a simple fix, temporary or otherwise.

 

Funny - I have been to my dealership twice for oil change, post this recall was announced, and they did not suggest to keep the truck until the fix came out ... I dont think they are holding any trucks at all for this recall.

 

As much as I don’t give a shit about most things, I would at least take a peak with my inspection camera to see if my fuel line was rubbing on the brake line.

 

Don't ever get a Tesla, or electric scooter. Might want to reconsider cell phones too......

 

As a side note, my sons mustang was part of the Takata airbag recall. We had the drivers side done, passenger wasn’t available. Had to take it back a few months later when it came in. Part of me didn’t want it to be a big deal, but the idea of the repercussions of not doing the fix didn’t sit well with me. 6 months later he rear ends someone and his (newly replaced) airbag goes off in his face. He’s fine and suffered no real injury other than the punch in the face. Very thankful we took that recall serious despite it being a pain in the ass twice to complete it.

 

-They've done the bare minimum outlined in the terms of my warranty.

-So my option is driving a truck with an increased risk of fire or parking it. You're correct. I chose to park it.

-Immediately? Then why have they had my truck since August 9th?

-Thanks for the well wishes.

 

Like what?

 

I think the location of the problem has been identified and pics were posted on other "Fire Risk" threads. I also think Toyota has corrected the problem on recent builds. My truck was a June 2023 build, and I have not received a notification for this recall.

Out of curiosity, I decided to crawl under my truck with my cell phone. I recorded video as I slowly waved my phone around in the general area, which is about 18" in front of the rear axle on the driver's side of the fuel tank. It's very close to where the fuel filler tube connects to the tank.

What I found was my truck has a protective sleeve over one of the lines that is not present on earlier builds that are subject to this recall. I suspect Toyota is dragging their feet because adding this sleeve, and perhaps extra clamps, will require dropping the fuel tank, which will be labor intensive.

Here's a still pic I captured from the video. The white sleeve is not on earlier builds. Unless it's coincidence (not likely), I'm confident this is the location in question, and it shows the fix that is being implemented on new builds. Sorry about the dust, but it's unavoidable where I live.

 

The photo came from the other thread on the issue. I believe it was taken from facebook where someone's truck blew up due to the issue.

 

Sold my last of 4 motorcycles when I found out I was going to be a dad. Done bike trips around the country and in Europe. I think it's funny that you guys assume I'm someone who's completely and totally risk averse.

 

Like I just said, I'm not a risk averse person. Spent most of my adult life putting more miles on motorcycles than cars.

Why is the assumption that I'm someone who doesn't know how to have a good time? My freshman year I was usually so drunk I couldn't find my seat.

 

She appreciates that.

 

I wish your pic was from a little further away. It's difficult to tell if it's the same location as my pic. For me, the purple/pink fitting on the right side of my pic was the indicator that I was in the right area, because I recognized it from other member's pics that showed no protective sleeve.

Edit: Here's a pic of the same area on an earlier build that clearly shows the lack of the sleeve that is present on my truck.

 

Whatever you do, do not fix the fuel line yourself. By doing that, you absolve the dealer and Toyota of any responsibility for issues that may arise, when there's clearly and open recall/TSB.

 

Truthfully, Ive never done the job before and I didn't think now was the time. I also I haven't because I paid for a 125k miles/10 year warranty and I was worried it'd be voided.