Need Advise on Toyota Denting My Car!!!

[mirconrice]

Hi everyone, oh man I'm so pissed right now. I was just on the phone with the customer relation manager of Modesto Toyota. Well first off, let me tell you what happen. I brought in my car about 3 weeks ago for a bad alternator, they fixed it and what not. Spented 650 bucks for it. Well when I got my car back, I drove home and when I got home, I noticed that there was a dented on the back of my car. Here is a picture of it.

http://63.192.187.131/nc/dent4.JPG

Okay back to why I'm pissed. The lady was like maybe I didn't notice the dent before I took it in. And that it was on the passenger side and that you didn't notice it cause you don't go to the passenger side. I was like what the fuk. Well here is the conversation:

lady: about the dent, maybe you didn't noticed the dent because it was on the passenger side. I know myself I wouldn't notice it until I wash my car every month.

me: well I would have noticed it even though it was on the passenger side, I go to the passsenger side everyday to put my laptop and bag so I would have noticed it before I brought it into you guys. And I wash my car every week so I would have noticed it when I'm washing and drying my car

lady: well soemtimes you overlook things and you might not notice it.

me: i don't think you can overlook the dent, its very noticable. I sented you the pics of the dents, did you recieve it.

lady: yes we did recieve it, we took it to a bodyshop and they told us that there is no way to tell when the dent occur.

me: well when I took it in, there wasn't a dent on the passenger side. The dent happened on your lot so its your responsiblities to look after my car. It was there for 5 days.

lady: I don't know the policy on that, I have to look into it. Are you sure you didn't notice it before or after you picked up the car.

me: yes I'm sure the dent wasn't there before I took it to you guys. And it couldn't happen when I picked up the car and drove home. I was on the road and no way I can get it.

it goes on and on and on....at the end I asked her to transfer me to her boss and to give me toyota corp number so I can make a complaint about them. She mention one thing though, they might be able to have a dent removal place to take it out under "good-will" but the dealership is an hour and half away and the guy comes on tuesday-thursday. I work M-F so I was like I'm not going to take off work and waste my time and money to drive over there when its your fault. I requested that they find a shop over here or reinburst me for it but they sayed no and that I have to drive over there if I want it fix. So guys, what action can I take?? help me out. Thanks and much appreciated for any comments.

[CelicaDetective]

Nothing you can do. Pay to have it fixed or have your insurance pay for it and watch your rates go up. How long from when you dropped your car off for the alternator to when you noticed the dent? Looks like a parking lot dent to me, some a** slammed his door into your car in a parking lot.

I doubt it is Toyota's fault, why would they leave such a big dent and then not say anything? That's not like Toyota at all. I think you are blaming the wrong person.

[Phil C]

It may not be like your dealer but it sounds just like my dealer experiences. Metro Toyota "fixed" the rattle in the sunroof sunshade using duct tape which was clearly visible from outside the car and Brunswick Toyota dented the roof from the inside out when they fixed that problem. After initially trying to deny responsibility I was able to drive down there and show the dent to the general manager who agreed that there was no possible way that could have happened except for while they had the headliner out to work on the sunshade. "We've never paid to fix dents in anyone's car before, this is the first time anyone could prove we did it." Notice how that's worded, not the first time we did it, the first time anyone could prove we did it.

It's tough to tell from your picture, is the paint cracked at all? If it isn't what I'd suggest is that you get one of the paintless dent removal places to come to your work during your lunch break and just send the bill to the dealer. Try to do one phone call where you suggest this calmly and don't raise a stink at all on that call. If that gets you no where then go back to raising a stink about it.

Good luck with Toyota of America, I had to fight for two and half months sending three registered letters before they would agree that I didn't have to take my car back to the dealer that used duct tape as a fix. Registered letters will eventually get people's attention but be prepared for being flat out lied to by Toyota of America. The "Regional Service Manager" who called me to discuss my problem was a very unhelpful woman. The ACTUAL regional service manager turned out to be named Rick.

Last piece of un-helpful advice... from now on stay away from a dealer that has regularly scheduled twice weekly visits from the paintless dent removal company.

[mirconrice]

well when I dropped off my car, it was on a saturday. And I'm 110 percent sure that there wasn't a dent on that side when I dropped it off. I picked up the car on wednesday around 5:30. I drove home which is about 15 minutes drive, I got out of the car and inspected the alternator and then as I was walking torward the house, I glanced back and blam, there it was. So I know for sure that toyota did it or someone over there did it cause it was on their lot for that time period. I mean I wouldn't accuse them if I noticed it after a week or so but I noticed it as 20 minutes after I got my car back and I didn't go anywhere from the time I picked it up and the time I drove it home.

[outhouse]

I took my corolla to Roseville toyota and they sent it to the body shop for repairs on the paint that were factory defects got the car back and it had a scratch in the bumper I complained loudly about it to the service guy after explaing I was a loyal toyota owner and they sent it back to be fixed. As far as your dent Dent Magic will not help with that ding because of the sharp edges they can do really good things with other type od dents but from here what i see its a little to deep, they could make it look better but not what you want and thats cherry like it was before the bozo's got a hold of it. Making phonecalls on this doesnt work near as good as going in to complain in person. They dont want you to get loud and scare of potential customer's so there more apt to work with you. You have to use tacked on this or they'll blow you out with nothing. Dont fold I told them my wife had picket sign's alredy made up and I was doing my best to calm her down.

Oh Ya one of these night's I'd like to run with ya at Sac speedway and get some driving lesson's :)

[mirconrice]

Originally posted by Phil C


Last piece of un-helpful advice... from now on stay away from a dealer that has regularly scheduled twice weekly visits from the paintless dent removal company.

yeah no kidding huh, well I'm just fed up with toyota. I love my car and all but the service sux major azz. I swear I thought they would have given me better service. They didn't even wash my car and it was really dirty. I told the lady that and she apolozied. I mean if they forgot about washing my car, they could have forgotten to tell someone that they accidentally hit my car. In any case, I'm gonna call toyota corp and put in a complaint about this dealership, I know it won't help any but it will make them look bad and get them into a little trouble. Thanks for replying.

[mirconrice]

Originally posted by outhouse
I took my corolla to Roseville toyota and they sent it to the body shop for repairs on the paint that were factory defects got the car back and it had a scratch in the bumper I complained loudly about it to the service guy after explaing I was a loyal toyota owner and they sent it back to be fixed. As far as your dent Dent Magic will not help with that ding because of the sharp edges they can do really good things with other type od dents but from here what i see its a little to deep, they could make it look better but not what you want and thats cherry like it was before the bozo's got a hold of it. Making phonecalls on this doesnt work near as good as going in to complain in person. They dont want you to get loud and scare of potential customer's so there more apt to work with you. You have to use tacked on this or they'll blow you out with nothing. Dont fold I told them my wife had picket sign's alredy made up and I was doing my best to calm her down.

Oh Ya one of these night's I'd like to run with ya at Sac speedway and get some driving lesson's :)

wus up man, yeah I'll go with ya to Sacramento when it gets cooler...I haven't gone in a long ass time but I'm always down to go. The only problem is that I'm in fresno so it takes about 2 hours and something to get there but I'm down to going if you give me some dates and what not. One of my friend went there last wednesday and he didn't do too well from what he told me. I'll put on a clinic or something, hehe, just kidding. What color is your car? lates

[outhouse]

2002 white.aem cai\trd ex My only problem is my tires are justa hair bigger then stock 16's so i have two things working against me, 2002 and oversized tires. 215\45 17" but it would be a blast just to see how I can do. I'm looking into getting the knock sensor and ecu then I may get into the 14's LOL When it cool's down and your ready I'll meet up with ya

good luck on your dent bro

[Hungster]

here is the thing, my friend works at a dealership. and he tells me all the scams they pull all the time. He has dented cars b4 noticable ones even and you know what his boss told him. dont worry about it only worry if the person notices it. They are hella shadey and will save money any way they can. i would call a lawyer and see who else they have done this too. Cant lie on trial either. but its your choice if you want to go through the hassle for a dent. But they do pull a lot of crap at dealerships.

[outhouse]

at the lot the boys could ding it and they would not tell anyone its like oop's oh @#it i hope no saw me i want to keep this lousy job and 3 months later uh oh oooop's again [looking around for a witness.

sorry bro make it clear you knew it was fine before you brought it in 100% sure it went in clean and came out bogus.

[BRAK]

Go to paintless dent removal PAY 40 to 60 bucks .... No more dent!
End of story ........ I have had MANY dings on my car ... all majically dissapered with the service.

[milleniunthug]

not to be negative, but the fact that you noticed it after you got home, gives them the upper hand, they could say it happened somewhere else and you are trying to blame them. I always check my car before I leave the dealership, that way there is no excuses on their part...good luck

[Cubador]

i took my car for service and when i got home i washed it and noticed a dent on my driver side front fender, I immediately called my service rep and told him about it. It took forever to get it actually fixed but i didnt have to pull teeth to get it done,


Always and I mean always check your car before you leave the dealership, Last time I took my car in they broke on of my neons in my footwell for the second time, they are for the second time covering it. But you have to be tactful and stand your ground w/o yelling or causing hell. People dont repsond well to that.

Efren

[RedNOSceli]

when you take it, make sure you go over the car with your service guy, dont be a ****, just have him walk around the car, show him that there are not dents/dammage, etc, then when you pick it up, if there is dammage, there will be no question whos fault it is...

[mirconrice]

yeah from now on i'm always checking my car...i learn a valuable leason from this. Damn toyota but I'm still gonna cause some hell, at least give them a bad name. I don't mind paying for the 100 bucks to get it repair, i just want some justice. I mean if I let them get away with this, they might do it again and again...get where I'm going with this. Oh well, thanks for you guys comment.

[LBCelica2KI]

When I bring my car to the dealer, they always walk around and mark off on the work sheet where they see dents, dings or scratches before i sign off and give the car to them.

[TRD-GT]

mirconrice:i am sorry to hear that and toyota dealers suck ball...bug they are fixing it....take it to the place or have someone do it....and thats that...get on with youre life...
at least they are paying fot it.....like 100 dollars worth of work..or so...if they can fix it...cause i think u have permanent damage there....the paint looks scratched

[J2KGTS6]

i know what your dealing with.. but in my case it was fixed. I had already had problems with the dealer before that i had gone to so they didn't give me lip about it. Hayward Toyota somehow dented my drivers side pillar that goes along the window. Thats obviously not a place that a door ding could be, and there is no way in hell i did it because i'm very careful with my car and around my car. I noticed it after i had gotten home, i had to take it back in for more warranty work since the first time i was in which is when they dented it they had ordered the wrong parts and had made me wait 2 hours in the lobby before they figured that out.

So when i took it in next i pointed it out to them and told them it wasn't there before i brought it in and that i wouldn't be blaming them for something i knew was there before because i already had other door dings and such so it would be pointless for me to blame them for this one if it wasn't their fault. One of the guys made a comment kind of jokingly saying "you probably did it and want us to fix it".. i just kind smirked and said "i'm not like that, and i know ever ding and dent on this car.. and i know that one was not there before i brought it in to you guys". Needless to say they sent it to a body shop and had it fixed.

I say give them hell about it, make them feel bad. Tell them how much the car means to you and that you know for a fact that dent wasn't there before you brought it in. Its a very noticeable dent. If they still give you problems with it make it clear you will be sending a complaint to corporate toyota, along with letting tons of others know about their shady service, and threaten legal action on them. I think if you do that without even taking those actions they will give in and fix it. I think also by law you can chose where your car gets fixed. Explain you work monday through friday and CAN NOT take a whole day off to take it to them for paintless removal. Tell them you can have the paintless removal done locally and will bring them the receipt for reimbursment of the cost, that is if the paintless dent removal guy can fix it. If not work something out to drop the car off at a body shop at their expense, even if they pick the body shop at least it will be getting fixed and most likely you can drop it off on a saturday.

Just be firm with them, they will eventually give in because they won't want to deal with you anymore on the matter.

[ringthree]

They did the same to me. The dented my huge on the wednesday before thanksgiving, I didn't notice it until sunday because I hadn't driven my car at all until then. I took it back and said WTF. They tried to blame me and I was like no way didn't drive it noone touched it. They ultimate offered to pay for the deductable on my insurance. It pissed me off with how much they ****ed me around I will never go back. I now go to a much bigger and nicer Toyota dealer in Alexandria.

[pokgai]

What if your insurance deductable was $2000? Would they still have offered to pay it? Haha

[outhouse]

The fact that they said they would fix it on good term's will makes them liably ah guilty. Admitting wrong doing and that they would take care of it that far. from that point you needed the work slip that's all and your covered to get it done rite. Your paint is beyond dent magic but they did say hey we would try and take care of it. There wrong! good luck though the world of money pray's on the innocent and weak.

[outhouse]

Originally posted by outhouse
The fact that they said they would fix it on good term's will make them liably ah guilty. Admitting wrong doing and that they would take care of it that far. from that point you needed the work slip that's all and your covered to get it done rite. Your paint is beyond dent magic but they did say hey we would try and take care of it. good luck though the world of money pray's on the innocent and weak.

not saying your that just dont let em roll on ya