TOYOTA DEALERS IN NYC-LONG ISLAND AREA REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL ON MY 2003 TUNDRA

Hi There:
I'm a vet with a 2003 Tundra Off Road package- 2WD. Been dealing with health issues from 9/11, but even so kept my vehicle in tiptop shape. But here is the problem that I hope you guys can offer some help. I have just moved to a warmer climate to continue treatments and have an easier time. I am trying to sell my Tundra in NY City/Long Island area and only learned there are two outstanding recalls from the carfax the potential buyer pulled and sent to me. I did not have a clue there was a recall. I can say from the start Toyota is underhanded and deliberately deceptive on several things, on how it dealt with me in the pass and is dealing with me now.

I bought my truck in 2008 from a Toyota dealership that assured me there was only one previous owner, that carfax also showed they lied and there were actually two owners before me. Just establishing all the deception. Through the years 2009 to 2014 the vehicle was serviced by Toyota. Atlantic Toyota of Amytyville L.I. serviced the truck through 2009 as confirmed by the carfax, This was the year of the recall I now gather. Then Westbury Toyota provided service from 2010 to 2013. Then it was back to Atlantic Toyota in 2017. That is a period of nine years altogether. ALL DURING THIS TIME NO DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE RECALL which is still open even now.

I've been getting the run-around with having the recall done, and my friend who is NY completing the sale is fedup. Dealerships in NY area have told me they will perform an inspection and make a decision whether to do the recall. They have also told me, a part is needed they don't have. The biggest thing is that basically all the dealerships keep making excuses that they don't have the equipment, and cannot perform the service for the recalls at their dealership. The potential buyer called Toyota corporate who said, a recall is not optional and it HAS TO BE DONE on all vehicles in the class of those recalled. But I keep getting excuses from Toyota dealerships in New York. They each referred me to another. One hung up the phone on the call after referring the vehicle back to Atlantic and Westbury due to the fact I got service done there in the past, that one was Advantage Toyota in Valley Stream L.I. who said they did not have the equipment. Before that Star Toyota said they were moving and did not have the equipment set up to perform the service. I can go down the list of dealerships in the area, ALL HAVE EXCUSES.

I took the Truck to Atlantic Toyota per an appointment end of September. The recall was not done, and they sent me to Toyota of Massapequa, in Seaford Long Island. Did that a few days ago, they backed out, said there was no rust they did not have the equipment and referred me back to Atlantic Toyota. You have to understand I took it there per the appointment they made with me for the recall service, yet they backed out and said only the Toyota in Nesconsett Long Island is equipped to do it. That's one hour plus from where my friend who is handling the sale for me lives.

They all say there is no rust on the underside of the truck, but none will perform the recall which remains outstanding on the carfax. The potential buyer like me has tried to get Toyota dealerships to do the recall before completing the sale. Obviously, noone wants to take on a truck where they will get this kind of underhanded tactics from the truck's dealerships. All the recent miles on the vehicle, about 370, have solely been driving the truck to Toyota dealerships for appointments for service they won't do, and then going to pick it back up. They don't give me back my money wasted in gas, or cannot compensate for the time wasted.

This type of subversion and shirking of responsibility would make any buyer suspicious of what is really under the truck. But without the recall being performed ahead of the sale by any of the dealerships, it puts a real damper on trust about what is really going on with the truck. I can understand the buyer thinking that Toyota is trying to force the sale without doing the recall as a means of wriggling out of any legal responsibility they may have if something is not right under the truck. They will blame the previous owner for NOT having the recall done and use that to say it is too late. If everything is OK with the truck ( I ask for pics and none would give me any of the underside of the truck) why back out of the service appointments to do the recall? One even said they didn't lift it up when I pressed for answers, yet they insisted there is no rust. I ask how they knew there was no rust if they did not have the equipment to service the truck.

I'm not looking to find rust, just to make certain that everything is in order. We do have lemon laws in New York. Just trying to do what is honorable and right. Any suggestions or ideas on how I can proceed with the dealerships would be appreciated. I agree with the person who said a class action suit is in order. I have NEVER heard of any recall mandated where dealerships can skirt their responsibility to perform the recall, and where NO NOTIFICATIONS were sent out to inform truck owners, They made this recall a joke, and owners the butt of their underhanded tactics. Toyota is running rings around customers. THIS IS A RECALL BY TOYOTA THAT DID NOT, DOES NOT AND NEVER CONFORMED TO PROTOCOL OF HOW A RECALL IS DONE.

Only God knows how many lives have been lost because of it. Countless customers have lost money and their trucks. The lives though are priceless. Where is our protection from scams like this? We need more REAL oversight of these "settlements" by corperations, their buddy lawyers who earn multimillions and courts that drop the ball because a paper is signed. Any recall going through the courts should be kept open where consumers have a recourse to force heavy penalties and market value buy backs by car manufacturers when they fail to perform agreed upon terms. This recall was designed not to be executed due to costs, only lip service in most cases.

Thanks for reading.

 

What are the 2 recalls listed? I assume one is based on the frame recall. Is the other related to the transmission crossmember? Unsure why they wouldn't want to get done. Are you saying there is a law in your state that you can't sell it without getting recalls done?

 

Liked but don't actually like what this guy has gone through...

 

Call Toyota Corporate and let them know what’s going on to get it resolved.

 

Welcome from NY.

Sorry to hear about your health issues and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

Like Bill said above, contact Toyota Corporate and get them involved.

 

I never had a 1st Gen, but didn’t the frame recall have an expiration date? Seems I remember reading where someone said they waited too long and couldn’t get the recall done. I wouldn’t expect Toyota to keep frames in stock forever in case someone decides to do the recall 20 years from now.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/early-1st-gen-2000-2003-tundra-frame-replacement-faq.54331/

Just read another article that said it’s 15 years from date of manufacture for the frame replacement.

 

The intro post was well written, but this really should have been sent to Toyota Corporate. This recall is still being done, but it sounds like the "Greater New York Toyota Dealers Association" doesn't want to play ball....

Hope you get it squared away soon.

 

Thanks to all who have responded. Toyota corporate was contacted, they are the ones who confirmed that all the trucks should have the recall work performed and all dealerships in NY are equipped to perform the work. It is a lot of talk, but no action. They kept asking, "What is the reasons they are giving you for not doing the work?" They contacted two of the dealerships, and reported back one said they were moving and not set up to do it, and the other was short staffed. I suspect that they are willing to accept any excuse the dealership gives them.
This way they can say they took action. If the dealerships felt or knew they would be punitive action from Corporate, they would not be doing this.

With regard those who point to the expiration date of 15 years etc. I clearly wrote that during 9 years Toyota dealerships were servicing my truck yet never performed the recall work. They also never really informed me, and they even now only talk of an inspection but not of the mandate that on a recall the work is supposed to be done.

Responding to those who ask if there is a law preventing me from selling with an open recall. All I will say is, I guess I still believe in honor. There are also lemon laws, as I wrote. But let me ask you, would you purchase a vehicle known to fall apart from rust and rot to the frame where there is an open recall for that work not having been completed on the truck?

I am curious if people who are taking the approach to this issue, quoting a 15-year expiration date, and that Toyota cannot keep a recall open indefinitely understand the following:
1. Did you read that my truck was continually serviced by Toyota dealerships who not only failed to inform of the recall, but in all that time did not perform the recall work for nine (9) years?
2. Did Toyota have a responsibility to inform truck owners of the recall by individually alerting them?
3. Did Toyota dealerships have a responsibility to perform the work when servicing the vehicle for other issues?
4. Which of you in my position would think that the attitude of the dealerships indicate everything is fine with the truck? Just curious.
5. And just consider, when people/dealerships and corporations lie, delay, procrastinate and obfuscate, is that usually because they are covering up something good or bad? Just asking.
6. Lastly, would you as a truck owner, or even just an ordinary human being with average common sense trust anything a dealer tells you ( not put in writing) when they behave in this manner? Would you trust this behavior in any other context?

 

Limited Service Campaign does not equal a recall.

If there is no noticable rust on your frame there isn't really a need to do the service. This may in fact help you out in the future. Let's say they inspect for the rear cross member recall, it passes, and the recall is marked complete, 2 years later the spare tire falls out and you're out of luck. If it's not completed because there's not really a reason to look at the time you could get it repaired for free under the recall. For the LSC they'd have slapped some goop on the frame and called it good, no guarantee it actually does anything.

Should you have been informed? Yup.
Should Toyota have mailed you notices? Yup.
Could you have registered with Toyota to verify the status? Yup
Could you have searched your VIN on NHTSA to see open recalls? Yup

Long story short, the LSC expired and they aren't going to do shit about it and it'll cost you more in time and lawyer fees than a new truck would cost. If it's the recall that's open it's at best an inspection and at worst a frame replacement.

 

Yeah I said I read an article that mentioned a 15 year expiration. I never said any of the other things you assumed nor did I say it was ok. I also never defended any of the dealerships actions. If you are this hysterical when posting here, I can only imagine how you acted at the dealership and why they won’t help you.

As said above, did you ever check you VIN or make sure Toyota had your correct address? I still get notices for things that don’t even affect my truck.

You said they inspected and didn’t see any rust. Why would they replace the frame then? Have you gotten another mechanic to look at it and confirm it needs to be replaced and the rust has been there since the time of your services? Seems you only want it replaced now to sell it, not cause you are having issues.

BTW, I am also a vet with multiple deployments, but I don’t lead with that nor make it my username in hopes of getting more sympathy.

 

I remember I was mailed a notice about the recall and getting an inspection. So I went to the dealership and got it inspected. All good.

 

Responding to timsp8 et al.
Seems you are offended by my user name and take my comments personally.
My user name helps me deal with my reality, and let's people know that they are still after effects of 9-11 occurring today affecting many people from all walks of life. My statements in no way speak about anything specific with my situation. I mentioned my health circumstance to explain why I was not at hand to sell the vehicle myself. Many persons are going through far worse than me coming out of that situation.

I am not the person taking the vehicle to the dealerships as I duly noted, a buddy is handling this for me, so obviously there is no hysteria on my part dealing with them. Further, I did not accuse you of anything, just made general comments and asked questions, sad you took it personal, that was not intended. BTW sympathy does nothing for me or anyone who has to deal with health issues at any level, physical, mental or otherwise. It is a fact and a reality and no amount of sympathy from strangers eases anything for me or others like me. Rather surprise that background information could be so misconstrued. I asked for help figuring out an issue, not a fight with anyone. I have no time to waste punching under the belt or sparring with anyone, I meant no offense.

It is unwise to attack one another "a country divided among itself cannot stand". We are in a time when unity for the common good is one of our most powerful weapons for our Nation, and the world.

Just want to add, Carfax calls it a 'recall' and Toyota Corporate calls it a "recall". Yes, I plan to have an outside inspection done. Nonetheless, there is a clear demarcation between what is right and what is wrong, and how corporate America and Toyota regard individual customers and what their responsibilities are. I read the head of Toyota confessed he KNOWINGLY used poor quality steel in these and other vehicles. Speaking out about Toyota is not hysteria, it puts it on record for all consumers. We all have to very carefully self examine to know where we stand, and the motives behind what people do.

 

I really hope they (Toyota and the dealers) take ownership of their mistake and fix it for you. If the 2 dealers had excuses, maybe see if there is an another dealer in the area that won’t have the same stance. I know you posted the dealers, but maybe post the city the truck is in and someone on here might know of a good dealer or know a service manager personally and can help out. If those 2 dealers already had an attitude about doing the work, you’ll probably be better off not having them do it anyway since they could half a$$ it and finding another dealer that cares.

 

You should at the very least be able to get the ball joint recall done. That’s pretty serious if they don’t replace it and you crash as a result. Not sure why they’d reject you on that one.

They’re only supposed to replace the frame under the recall if a new rear cross member cannot be reattached to the frame safely according to the recall and you need one. If they do perform it, make sure the tire carrier is replaced for fear of it letting go and your spare tire killing someone behind you on the highway.

With regard to pics, I’d just ask a family relative. Nephew for example to crawl under and take some pics. Even better if you have a creeper board to roll around on underneath. I’m assuming you cannot because of your injuries.

 

Ok so from what I'm gathering here, These recalls don't have to be performed in order to sell by law but you just hate to sell it when it has recalls not completed which I can understand. Can you upload pictures of what exact recalls you have open? You can go to toyota.com/owners and make an account and put in your VIN to see service history/open recalls. Some of us are trying to determine the severity of these recalls and how important they may be. If you'd rather I'd be happy to look up your truck for you if you send me a private message with the VIN. Just let me know.

As far as the point of why wasn't this done before and why weren't you notified of the recalls I say that by now it probably doesn't matter. They aren't going to look at it as something that should have been done previously but whether it's something they will still complete today as if this was the first time it ever made it to a dealer.

 

@VET-9-11_GOTME
Is the frame rusted through at any spot?