Update: Air suspension blow out!

Yeah, new model with new suspension design with new aftermarket lift. You are beta testing it. Actually using the truck as a truck will put stress on the components. Toyota stress tested these. Doubt the aftermarket lift manufacturers have.

 

Hopefully the dealership and installer can get something figured out for you. While I don't care for heavy towing with a lifted vehicle, I know plenty of guys that do it without issue. $3400 is some serious coin for the repair. I believe the part is less than $1100 through dealerships online, part # 4808034030 . If they make you foot part of the bill, I'd politely show them what the parts cost is compared to what they want to charge you. But don't take dealership advice form me - I only know how to get blacklisted by the service manager for showing him what a maintenance schedule is in the manual...

I couldn't believe that you blew a bag when you originally posted about it. I though for sure there was some defect or something else going on. My Ride Rite bags have taken some weight. Make sense now. Still a bummer of a situation.

 

Apologies, but this is a long summary...sooooo, been a long time since I updated this and that was due to a long and emotional journey through this situation. I'll try to be as succinct as possible and capture the highlights (but there are tons of other tiny details involved).

1. First of all @Coal Dragger was partially correct in this case...due respect.
2. Dealership came back to me after initial assessment and said they were wrong with $3400 estimate...it'll be $10,700 because a small support bracket on the axel tube was bent during the collapse and its not a replaceable part, so axel housing now needs to be replaced if its to be warrantied moving forward.
3. I went to the dealership, did a thorough inspection while the truck was on the lift and they told me that the collapse wasn't due to a failure in the air suspension, but due to the lift. I disagreed, but they suggest calling ReadyLift, to discuss compensation...which I did.
4. ReadyLift says their designs are vigorously tested to out-perform Toyota specs and they I needed to get proof of lift-failure from Toyota in the form of an engineering report "they are legally obligated to provide it". They assured me that it wasn't the lift that failed and upon my personal inspection...I still believe they were right. They told me to quote the "Magunson/Moss Warranty Act" of 1974 that requires the manufacturer to prove that an aftermarket alteration was the cause of the declined warranty coverage.
5. I went back to the dealer and to Toyota North America and ask them for this engineering report, to which they just shut down communication. After being very friendly and willing to help in the begining, Toyota-corporate then completely went dark and told me that all decisions were made by the dealer and considered final. **As a reminder: The dealer sells brand new 24's with this exact lift installed on air-suspension trucks with full warranty.
6. The only report I ever received from Toyota was a cell-phone picture of their warranty manual that says a lift is a potential conflict for air suspension trucks. That's it. In several other areas, it states that different things (wheels/tires, etc) could void the warranty, but lifting the truck is never mentioned as a warranty concern.
7. Readylift and Toyota both decided that it was the other's fault (or mine), but nobody could prove it nor did they want to try. Too much liability I guess.

After 2 months of getting nowhere and the truck sitting at the dealer, I decided to call my insurance (Mercury commercial) and report it.

They agreed with me that this appears to be a manufacturing issue, not a lift issue, paid for the repair (after my deductible of course) and are now pursuing reimbursement from Toyota.

Long story is that I still don't know what caused it...who to blame (maybe me?)..and I have no confidence in this truck now. I thought I bought the right vehicle that would serve my personal and work needs. I sought out the air-suspension because I tow trailers and thought it would be more functional, but clearly I was wrong.

To cap it off...2 weeks after I got the truck back...the starter caught on fire and left me stranded. I had to pay another $250 to have it towed to the dealer.

So, now...I've spent $60K for the truck, $1800 for the lift, $800 in towing and $1000 deductible on this truck so far and I'm scared to use it as a truck.

This truck has now had a motor replaced at 18,000mi, new rear suspension at 31,000mi and a new starter at 32,000mi. Multiple small repairs and software updates so far as well. It's left me stranded twice.... So much for Tundra reliability.

I'll have to own this situation, but I have 3 take aways from this experience and from just generally owning this truck:

1. I've owned 10 Toyotas over the years (currently own 3). Toyota of yesteryear, is no longer alive...the quality and the service has diminished significantly in recent years. This truck is a prime example.
2. I would not recommend lifting an air-suspension truck...as much as I like the look and ride, neither @Toyota or @ReadyLift is willing to stand behind their product regardless of their claims and advertising.
3. Be very cautious with any after-market add on's. Toyota has now proven that they will void a warranty given a sliver of option.

I hope my misfortune will give some pause or guidance here for the next person. Best of luck!

 

I have voiced my opinion about air suspension here and before on the Trailblazer SS site. To me, I have no idea why air suspension is still a thing. All the air suspensions I have come across or owned are garbage. I had 3 TBSS that come factory with air bags, garbage. All had issues. Lincoln always had issues, etc. This is one of those things that manufs decide to add and make it seem like it's gods gift to the suspension world. Just like with Apple/Android connectivity, they still choose to add nav, which sucks and charge ridiculous prices, to today's vehicles. Then you have to pay to update the nav if you want the latest updates, ridiculous. Just like GM has or had Magnetic ride, but as you would guess it, there are delete kits for it, wonder why.

Sucks for the OP and the whole Magunson Act is a joke considering the manuf has deeeep pockets and knows that the majority of consumers aren't going to go up against them. I also had Toyota Corp shut me down over a recall I fixed and they wouldn't reimburse me for. Now the OP has to go through his insurance, which will make his rate go up because of a claim and neither multi-million/billion dollar company is willing to stand behind their products.

As for reliability, well I believe this is across the board. Everyone is out to get richer the easiest way possible, i.e. cut quality down.

 

Agree on all parts. I had never owned air suspension until this one. I learned my lesson for sure. I just want to get out of it without completely losing my shirt, but may be hard to do.

 

Man I’m really sorry to hear it worked out that badly for you.

In instances like this I don’t like being even partially correct.

I used to work for a BMW dealership, I have witnessed similar blame dodging before by manufacturers and aftermarket accessory manufacturers and installers. Ultimately the vehicle owner is often left holding a bag full of dog poo, and an expensive one at that.

 

The dealer has air ride trucks with that lift for sale? If so go take pictures of it while they do

 

I did and actually walked the lot and showed them.
Their response was “we’re willing to take the risk and cover any repercussions because we build it into the cost of the new vehicle”. Since I didn’t buy my truck or the lift there, they said I was excluded in those considerations.
Seems totally unethical and sketch to me, but I talked to a consumer lawyer and he said he wouldn’t touch it. Not enough money involved to make it worth his time. Said take it to small claims court.

No help for the little guy.

 

That’s a serious shit sammich you’ve had to eat. Not just the air bag issue. Very sorry brutha!

 

More dissapointed about it all than anything. Obviously the money was part of the equation, but I feel like I duped. I've been a long term Toyota enthusiast (as mentioned previously) and to have a $62K truck that wears the Toyota badge, be such a pain and lack the durability that I'm used to....its just disappointing.

On a brighter note...I got the recall notice in the mail yesterday...you better believe I'm getting the new motor and everything else I can squeeze out of this deal from Toyota.

 

I thought about this thread last night, toyota is running a tv commercial with a lifted tundra on what looks like 37s…..amazing

 

When they installed the lift were all the bolts marked with the marking pens they use? Just curious to see what the failed area looks like if it was marked.

 

Having owned two Lincoln Mark VII I'll never drive anything with air ride unless it's designed for road tractor application.

 

I’d go the small claims court route. You seem like a patient guy. Educated. Even if Toyota
showed up with heavy lawyers, the company that made the lift would also have to attend.
I suspect you’d be more successful than not. I don’t think small claims can make you pay
their legal fees can they? That bit of concern I don’t know. If not at least you get a legal
sight glass on this.
Toyotas are still pretty good, but my ‘new’ Tundra is a 2010. I also have 2 more Toyotas
from the last century. They are solid.
I do also know there are thousands of Range Rovers that cost wayyyy more than a Tundra
and they are garbage because of that crappy factory airbag ride. Can be bought for
penny’s on the dollar from new.