toyota

[rancher1913]

it seams that toyota quality has fallen by the wayside. we have a toyota prius, hate to admit it but the wife has to travel 75 miles one way to boulder for class so we figured having a vehicle that blends in there would be nice. have just over 50,000 miles on it, all highway, and the ac stopped working in it. thought no big deal, it probably just needs some Freon. nope pressure is good and no way to check the compressor with out special toyota computer. spent 60 bucks to get it checked out at the local dealer, which I thought was bad enough for 10 minutes work until they gave me the report.

the compressor and condenser are bad, ok so I figure should be under warranty but they say no, warranty is only good for 30,000 miles, ok how much to repair, expect to hear 5 or 6 hundred but they say 3 grand because it is a special compressor and uses a special refrigerant. trying to see if toyota will stand behind their **** parts and design but don't have much hope.

anybody got a phone number for a higher up in toyota that I can annoy until they stand behind their ****, not getting a very warm fuzzy feeling about toyotas right now.

[lavenatti]

I used to love Toyota, had a Tercel that made it to 207K miles and never went to the shop for a single repair, had to do a few minor repairs myself but nothing serious. It even still had it's original clutch.
My Tacoma (2006) is another story. After numerous complaints about rust that were met with a "gee that's to bad" attitude they were finally forced to perform frame inspections and found holes in the trucks frame.

After putting it off for six months they finally replaced my frame and rear leaf springs for free.

Had they acknowledged the problem right away my last few cars might have been Toyotas instead of a Hyundai (never again), a Nissan (ok) and a Subaru.

[NSB]

One of anything going wrong with your Toyota doesn't mean that their quality is falling by the wayside. News Flash.....all car manufacturers have defects. I worked in automotive climate control for almost forty years and the single biggest failure mode in all manufacturers is compressors. It was as high as 12% in some manufacturers a few years back, and only somewhat better now. Toyota compressors are considered the best in the world for a large auto company. Far better than any domestic manufacturer. Look in the back of your manual and you'll find a number you can call for dispute resolution. When you get far enough up the food chain you usually get pretty good results. Your local dealer will NEVER do anything beyond what the basic warranty calls out in the owners manual. NEVER. They simply don't have the authority. There are Zone Reps who come into dealerships and review each case like this and can get the ball rolling in getting something done. I worked as a quality engineer for GM for many years and had to take them to arbitration several times over the years to get things done that the dealer wouldn't cover...and I won every time. Good luck.

[jakharath]

Mid to late 2000's Toyota was in a push to become the worlds largest vehicle manufacturer. Quantity suffered during this period. There has been a push to restore quality. I'm on my third Tundra. Love the things. Would be on my second but a lady driving face down looking at her cell phone t-boned me. Totaled the truck.

My boss at work is a Ford fan. We've had a bunch of Fords over the years. Last round we bought 3 Dodge pickups. Between the three, I'll stick to my Tundra. The Fords were made in Canada, the Rams in Mexico. My first two Tundras were made in Indiana, the third in Texas.

[bangerjim]

We have 5 “T’s” with mileage anywhere from 20K to over 170K and no, zero, zip, nada problems at all. That is a Tundra, Avalon, Civic, and 2 Lexus hybrids.

Try owning a FORD (fix or repair daily) car! Been there...done that TWiCE in my lifetime! Never again.

Latest car industry report: “90% of all FORD cars built since 2008 are still on the road. The other 10% made it home”

My wife used to work for Toyota corporate and if there were serious problems, she would have definitely (!) heard about it from customers over the past 14 years.

I would not call a one-off problem a “serious issue” for a corporation.

Good luck getting your a/c fixed.

Bangerjim

[marlin39a]

I was in the service entrance at a Toyota dealership last week. An elderly man pulled in and stated his AC had just quit. A service writer escorted him inside. Later the service writer exited with a mechanic, telling him he had quoted the man $1800.00 to "tear down" the AC system to find the problem. The mechanic smiled and replied he could do it for $1500.00. They had not yet even put the car on a computer. Other than warranty work, I'll stay far from a dealer.

[Sam Casey]

I have had new 4R's since 2010. All were great, but my 2018 is best yet. Reliable, will go anywhere I want to, plenty of space for dogs and gear and great resale value. Have good area dealership.

[jmort]

The idiotic notion that all Fords are bad and all Toyotas are good makes no sense. I have a 1997 Ford F 150, replaced air conditioning compressor at 152,000 miles and an alternator at 163,000 miles. Runs perfectly with 188,000 miles. I will take that any day.

[ShooterAZ]

I'm on my 3rd Tacoma now. The only thing I have ever had to do to any of them is put in a new battery.

[bangerjim]

The idiotic notion that all Fords are bad and all Toyotas are good makes no sense. I have a 1997 Ford F 150, replaced air conditioning compressor at 152,000 miles and an alternator at 163,000 miles. Runs perfectly with 188,000 miles. I will take that any day.

Notice I said in my post "Ford CARS"...............NOT trucks. Ford F150's and other models in the brand are some of the best hardest-working trucks out there. I would have no problem owning a Ford TRUCK.

CARS are a totally different story. I and many others I know have had more than our fare share of technical and mechanical problems with there line of CARS.

A good test of reliability is to go the a big dealership at opening time and see how long the lines are! Ford - around the block. GMC - not so many. Toyota - normally at least 2 out of 4 open bays and I can drive right in. Just saying.....proof is in the puddin'.

ShooterAZ lives in AZ like I do.....where we "lease" batteries! He is not as hot up there, but down here in the desert it get HOT. Even a good quality 80 month heavy duty battery will need replaced after 18-20 or so months. I just keep the warranty slip and pay the difference each time. Not much!

bangerjim

banger

[NSB]

The idiotic notion that all Fords are bad and all Toyotas are good makes no sense. I have a 1997 Ford F 150, replaced air conditioning compressor at 152,000 miles and an alternator at 163,000 miles. Runs perfectly with 188,000 miles. I will take that any day.

I worked for Ford as well as GM. Ford's better than GM as far as quality goes, but it's far behind Toyota and that's a fact if you do the research. Some people get really good Fords (I had a couple good and a couple not so good. Never had a bad Jap car yet, and it's going on nineteen years with them).

[Smoke4320]

There are good and bad models of every Brand.. Doing your research before buying will help a lot but even that will not stop you from having a failure of a part .. It happens .. US maker cars have on average higher failure rates across the board over Honda and Toyota
and Never ever buy the first year of a new model car/truck you will be asking for trouble
YMMV

[brass410]

at our house we're switching over to the newest old technology for transport we're thinking 1/4 horse for summer and maybe percheron or Clydesdale for winter oh and just for short scoots around town probably a small dog team (not more than 12 dogs) I foresee a downturn in the quality of autos and electronics in particular, which both are heavily dependent on each other. Have never been called out to pull a horse out of the ditch or to jump start a dog (although I have been accused of something similar) Any suggestions or ideas are welcomed

[jmort]

The worst Toyota is the Tacoma, but I have no doubt it is above average when compared to most non-Toyotas in general. Interesting to see KIA sitting at #3 and Honda down to #9. Chevy/GMC looks like a train wreck. KIA has come a long way. Buick is the biggest surprise. So Toyota is the most reliable Brand and the Tacoma is the least reliable Toyota and the 86 is the most reliable Toyota. The 86 is a joint venture. Learn something new every day.


Click through the brand or model names below for more details. ( you have to click on link to click on brands and models.)

2018 RANK CHANGE FROM 2016 BRAND NO. OF MODELS LEAST RELIABLE MODEL AVERAGE RELIABILITY SCORE MOST RELIABLE MODEL
1 ↑1 Toyota 14 Tacoma 80 86
2 ↓1 Lexus 8 GX 77 ES
3 ↑2 Kia 7 Sportage 71 Niro
4 — Audi 7 A7 68 Q3
5 ↑4 BMW 6 i3 62 2 Series
6 ↑5 Subaru 6 Impreza 60 BRZ
7 ↑1 Infiniti 4 Q50 60 Q70
8 ↓5 Buick 4 LaCrosse 59 Encore
9 ↑1 Honda 6 Ridgeline 59 CR-V
10 ↓ 3 Hyundai 5 Tucson 59 Elantra
11 ↑2 Nissan 8 Sentra 53 Versa Note
12 ↓6 Mazda 6 CX-9 52 3
13 ↑ 3 Porsche 3 Cayenne 50 Macan
14 ↑3 Mercedes-Benz 6 GLC 47 E-Class
15 ↑3 Ford 12 Focus 45 Fusion
16 ↑ 6 Volkswagen 8 Golf 44 Passat
17 ↑ 10 Chrysler 2 300 41 Pacifica
18 ↓ 3 Chevrolet 15 Camaro 39 Bolt
19 ↓ 7 Acura 4 ILX 38 RDX
20 ↑ 3 Jeep 4 Renegade 38 Cherokee<
21 ↑ 4 Tesla 2 Model X 37 Model S
22 ↓ 2 Lincoln 3 MKX 33 MKZ
23 ↓ 4 Volvo 3 XC90 33 V60
24 ↑ 2 Dodge 5 Journey 32 Grand Caravan
25 ↑ 4 Ram 3 3500 30 1500
26 ↓ 2 GMC 7 Acadia 28 Sierra 2500HD
27 ↓ 6 Cadillac 5 Escalade 26 CTS<

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

[kingstrider]

My last Toyota was a 93 Tercel that had nearly 300k on the clock before it threw a crank rod. Haven't owned one since but my mom has had several. Hopefully they will stand behind you on the Prius.

[rancher1913]

I would not be so up set if this were a "one off" as a few posters have said but after doing some research on this problem, the internet is crawling with complaints of the ac compressors on the prius, most only have 60 or 70 thousand miles on them.

still need a few numbers to call, maybe some of you car industry insiders have a number that will get this taken care of before my wife has to drive 150 miles a day in 100 degree heat.

don't give a dang about this brand or that brand, but any brand should fix a known problem at this low a mileage count. we were thinking about a tocoma purchase later this year but I will wait and see how they handle this.

we knew about the possibility of the batteries going bad around 150,000 miles and planed to trade it before we got that far.

[skeettx]

http://pressroom.toyota.com/contacts/

[rancher1913]

thanks skeettx, but I am not interested in hyping their product, I want to reach someone that can take care of this rotten egg that they know they have a problem with.

[glockfan]

as said, the compressor for the ac unit is often the 1st part going cabong.

toyota has quite the best record for reliability. my wife drives a corolla,built like a tank, and surpisingly quiet inside the cab. much better vehicule than any comparable at hyundai ,mazda or nissan.

swapping an AC compressor is nothing, but yours seems overly expensive, probably not the ''regular''' compressor they put in their non electric cars.

[rancher1913]

your right, its an electric driven one, not a belt driven. even so 3 grand is way over the top. glad you guys are happy with your toyotas, we were too until this.

[Smoke4320]

Rancher1913 is there a chance the electric motor part is burnt up. If so tou could probably get a winding company to rewind
Just a thought

[rancher1913]

the way I understand it, the compressor locks up if it gets a whiff of any refrigerant other than the special toyota stuff, and takes the electric motor out as well as most of the dash components. we got lucky and cought it before it trashed the whole system. funny thing is nobody but toyota service people have touched the car.

[skeettx]

Not trying to get you to hype the product, but to ask them to stand by
what they said they stood for.
What other numbers to you have so far??
Give it a try
For customer inquiries, please contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331,

[Lloyd Smale]

yup maybe in the 70 and 80s Toyotas were more reliable then the big three. today the only thing I Toyota has that a chev or ford does is buyers willing to pay full price for them and higher repair bills for the same failure as the domestic brands. 200000 miles is routine today for about any manufacture. Bottom line is if your driving ANY car or truck with 150-200k on it and haven't had a lick of trouble. Havent had to put a starter, alternator, ball joint, tie rod end ect replaced I sure don't want to put my grandkids in it and head out across country tommarow. I guess you can either maintain it properly or run it into the ground to the point its unsafe. Kind of like the guy that was at the local repair shop when I was having my tires rotated. He had an old corolla that had a tie rod fall right off going down the road. He said it had 180k on it and that was the first time something broke! Got to wonder what else is about to fall off going down the road. Big difference in claiming your motor lasted 200k without a penny being spent then an entire car. Anyone that knows me knows I don't like Fords. But that is just a personal preference. There as good as any chev or ram or Toyota on the road.

Then we can look at it another way. Even if your Toyota pickup lasted 200k and my chev did the same and I had to spend 500 bucks on a starter you didn't. Factor in that my chev (or ford or ram) gets at least 3 mpg better fuel economy and id bet the gas savings would have paid for 3 starters. ME? I dump them at no more then a 100k. I let someone else deal with the NORMAL wear and tear parts that WILL fail no matter who made them. One thing is for sure. Anything mechanical can and will eventually wear out whether an American put it together or a jap. Like Smoke said. Doesn't matter what brand you buy things can fail. Id bet Toyota of late has had as many or more recalls for safety issues then any of the big three. If you like your Toyota, don't mind getting 3mpg less gas mileage and have 5-10k more to spend on a comparable new truck that's 2 or 3 years behind in technology then buy one. Me I see LOTS of rusty OLD American pickups still driving down the road.
The idiotic notion that all Fords are bad and all Toyotas are good makes no sense. I have a 1997 Ford F 150, replaced air conditioning compressor at 152,000 miles and an alternator at 163,000 miles. Runs perfectly with 188,000 miles. I will take that any day.

[Lloyd Smale]

total bs. I could probably find a chart that rates chev vegas or yugos as being reliable. heres one that rates chev at the top and Toyota at the bottom. http://www.jdpower.com/cars/articles/car-buyers-guides/most-reliable-2017-trucks?msclkid=7898f8e91d0f15dbe016a3df1aacdded&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Lists%20-%20Most%20Reliable%20-%20Phrase&utm_term=most%20reliable%20pickup%20truck&utm_content=Most%20Reliable%20Trucks
The worst Toyota is the Tacoma, but I have no doubt it is above average when compared to most non-Toyotas in general. Interesting to see KIA sitting at #3 and Honda down to #9. Chevy/GMC looks like a train wreck. KIA has come a long way. Buick is the biggest surprise. So Toyota is the most reliable Brand and the Tacoma is the least reliable Toyota and the 86 is the most reliable Toyota. The 86 is a joint venture. Learn something new every day.


Click through the brand or model names below for more details. ( you have to click on link to click on brands and models.)

2018 RANK CHANGE FROM 2016 BRAND NO. OF MODELS LEAST RELIABLE MODEL AVERAGE RELIABILITY SCORE MOST RELIABLE MODEL
1 ↑1 Toyota 14 Tacoma 80 86
2 ↓1 Lexus 8 GX 77 ES
3 ↑2 Kia 7 Sportage 71 Niro
4 — Audi 7 A7 68 Q3
5 ↑4 BMW 6 i3 62 2 Series
6 ↑5 Subaru 6 Impreza 60 BRZ
7 ↑1 Infiniti 4 Q50 60 Q70
8 ↓5 Buick 4 LaCrosse 59 Encore
9 ↑1 Honda 6 Ridgeline 59 CR-V
10 ↓ 3 Hyundai 5 Tucson 59 Elantra
11 ↑2 Nissan 8 Sentra 53 Versa Note
12 ↓6 Mazda 6 CX-9 52 3
13 ↑ 3 Porsche 3 Cayenne 50 Macan
14 ↑3 Mercedes-Benz 6 GLC 47 E-Class
15 ↑3 Ford 12 Focus 45 Fusion
16 ↑ 6 Volkswagen 8 Golf 44 Passat
17 ↑ 10 Chrysler 2 300 41 Pacifica
18 ↓ 3 Chevrolet 15 Camaro 39 Bolt
19 ↓ 7 Acura 4 ILX 38 RDX
20 ↑ 3 Jeep 4 Renegade 38 Cherokee<
21 ↑ 4 Tesla 2 Model X 37 Model S
22 ↓ 2 Lincoln 3 MKX 33 MKZ
23 ↓ 4 Volvo 3 XC90 33 V60
24 ↑ 2 Dodge 5 Journey 32 Grand Caravan
25 ↑ 4 Ram 3 3500 30 1500
26 ↓ 2 GMC 7 Acadia 28 Sierra 2500HD
27 ↓ 6 Cadillac 5 Escalade 26 CTS<

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/car-brands-reliability-how-they-stack-up/

[Ole Joe Clarke]

We drove the Toyota Sienna Van, purchased new, for 14 years. Now we drive a Rav4, purchased used. I have a 1995 Toyota T100 that I drive to the range and lake. Runs like a top.

I am not a fan of any of them, except those that crank and run when I want to go somewhere.

A lady that we know said her Grandfather said he would: "Rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy." Or, it could have been: "Push a Chevy that drive a Ford." That is so funny. :-)

Have a blessed day,

Leon

[jmort]

I changed the discussion from cars to trucks. That was on me. My list from Consumer Reports was for all vehicles, cars and trucks. I trust Consumer Reports over your list from JD Powers, but pick who you trust most. I will stick with Consumer Reports. As for starter motors, what is the manufacturer recommended replacement milage number? There is no such thing.

[rancher1913]

we have tried the low level phone numbers and get nothing but a sympathetic ear " sorry to hear that, nothing we can do" which is total bs.

I really need one of the hidden phone numbers for someone that can do something, because having to shell out 3 grand for a something that they know is a problem and should have been addressed just pissses me off.

[waksupi]

we have tried the low level phone numbers and get nothing but a sympathetic ear " sorry to hear that, nothing we can do" which is total bs.

I really need one of the hidden phone numbers for someone that can do something, because having to shell out 3 grand for a something that they know is a problem and should have been addressed just pissses me off.

Look into a current Thomas Catalog. It should have the home and office number for the president, CEO, and supervisor.

[Lloyd Smale]

pretty much common knowledge that consumer guide is biased toward the japs.
I changed the discussion from cars to trucks. That was on me. My list from Consumer Reports was for all vehicles, cars and trucks. I trust Consumer Reports over your list from JD Powers, but pick who you trust most. I will stick with Consumer Reports. As for starter motors, what is the manufacturer recommended replacement milage number? There is no such thing.

[jmort]

Are there any facts to support the notion that Consumer Reports is biased in any way, including cars/trucks????
I have been reading CR for almost 50 years.
A great non-profit that accepts no advertising and pays retail anonymously for every product tested. As unbiased as it gets.
I would say it is common knowledge that they are a Gold Standard for consumers.
Still want to know manufacturer recommendation on starter motor recommendations?

[bangerjim]

pretty much common knowledge that consumer guide is biased toward the japs.

Most Toyota's here in the states are made in the North America . NOT Japan:

http://toyota.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7660/~/where-are-toyota-vehicles-assembled-for-the-u.s.-market%3F

And they have build several USA plants since that info was published.

Ford, GM, and Chrysler cars/trucks have just as many if not MORE foreign-sourced parts and sub-assemblies as Toyota.

bangerjim

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

yup maybe in the 70 and 80s Toyotas were more reliable then the big three. today the only thing I Toyota has that a chev or ford does is buyers willing to pay full price for them and higher repair bills for the same failure as the domestic brands. 200000 miles is routine today for about any manufacture. Bottom line is if your driving ANY car or truck with 150-200k on it and haven't had a lick of trouble. Havent had to put a starter, alternator, ball joint, tie rod end ect replaced I sure don't want to put my grandkids in it and head out across country tommarow. I guess you can either maintain it properly or run it into the ground to the point its unsafe. Kind of like the guy that was at the local repair shop when I was having my tires rotated. He had an old corolla that had a tie rod fall right off going down the road. He said it had 180k on it and that was the first time something broke! Got to wonder what else is about to fall off going down the road. Big difference in claiming your motor lasted 200k without a penny being spent then an entire car. Anyone that knows me knows I don't like Fords. But that is just a personal preference. There as good as any chev or ram or Toyota on the road.

Then we can look at it another way. Even if your Toyota pickup lasted 200k and my chev did the same and I had to spend 500 bucks on a starter you didn't. Factor in that my chev (or ford or ram) gets at least 3 mpg better fuel economy and id bet the gas savings would have paid for 3 starters. ME? I dump them at no more then a 100k. I let someone else deal with the NORMAL wear and tear parts that WILL fail no matter who made them. One thing is for sure. Anything mechanical can and will eventually wear out whether an American put it together or a jap. Like Smoke said. Doesn't matter what brand you buy things can fail. Id bet Toyota of late has had as many or more recalls for safety issues then any of the big three. If you like your Toyota, don't mind getting 3mpg less gas mileage and have 5-10k more to spend on a comparable new truck that's 2 or 3 years behind in technology then buy one. Me I see LOTS of rusty OLD American pickups still driving down the road.

While I don't have the knowledge and intel that you have on the Big 3...I do have some anecdotal evidence that others who buy new cars don't have. I like cars and have a passion for changing up what I own ever few years...and I am thrifty/cheap whatever you want to call it, so I try to buy a used car cheaply enough to get that last 50K miles out of it, and consider the gamble of what repairs I have to make are hopfully less than monthly payments.

My current toyota and previous honda have had few repairs, both were bought with over 200Kmi. I sold the honda when it reached 254K and the rust was scarry...now my current car, the toyota has 245k.

American cars I've owned in the last two decades were, 98 Buick park ave, 3 different Jeeps from the 90s, dodge dakota, ford escort wagon, chev pickup, chev van...and they all needed more expensive repairs than the two japanese cars...and none of the American cars made it to 250k without being too scarry to drive on a daily basis.

Yep that is all anecdotal, so it is, what it is.
I may buy a American brand car again, but it has to 'speak' to me...if I'm just buying something to drive, it'll be a japanese brand...I've never owned a subaru...that may be next? But the current toyota I own ('05 matrix) is still in amazing shape, I expect it to hit 300K before I am too scarred to drive it.

[ShooterAZ]

My suggestion at this point is to contact a local mechanic regarding this. I live in a small town, but we do have a couple of mechanics here that specialize in import automobiles. I have had no issues to speak of with my Tacomas, but if I did, I would consult the local shop before going to the Toyota dealer. I think it's common knowledge that the dealerships charge FAR more than a regular mechanic normally would.

[Tenbender]

Notice I said in my post "Ford CARS"...............NOT trucks. Ford F150's and other models in the brand are some of the best hardest-working trucks out there. I would have no problem owning a Ford TRUCK.



bangerjim

banger
Banger,What about all those Crown Vics that were police cars then re-purposed as a taxi and run for half a million miles ? The only thing about Toyota's , if you keep them 5 years all you have left is the seat and steering wheel. The rest has rusted away ?

[RPRNY]

Don't indulge the population of the Trustafarian People's Socialistic Republic of Boulder! Dump the Prius :D

[NSB]

Get hold of your local BBB and see what arbitration processes they have in your state. Most states (NY does) has a process where you can go through binding arbitration with the auto company. I've done that several times and won each time. In one case I was working as a quality engineer for GM and my phone rang at work. It was someone from GM Zone that wanted to know if they were calling a GM number or not. I told them they were. They were a bit surprised that a "loyal" GM employee would be taking them to arbitration. I told them it wasn't the first time. In that case they took the SUV back for numerous problems and gave me another new vehicle at no out of pocket cost to me. I've consoled several other people on how to walk through the process and each one of them either won their case or got at least half from the manufacturer. You have nothing to lose by going after them. In most cases they lose but don't like to tell everyone that.

[Ford SD]

Banger,What about all those Crown Vics that were police cars then re-purposed as a taxi and run for half a million miles ? The only thing about Toyota's , if you keep them 5 years all you have left is the seat and steering wheel. The rest has rusted away ?


I have one of the last CV off the line a 04 (not a police car) that was my parents .. I got it when the doctors took my fathers licence away at 82

it has been in at least 2 axcidents hit in front end (my mother)

Most of my repairs have been rough road related Control arms replaced front and rear / ball joints/ struts / shocks

Canadian winters = brakes/ calipers

I had to rent a car for a week wifes ford focus tranny decided to end its life at 348000 km
motor was still good only down 1/2 a quart at a oil change which was good as wife did not check it

Rented a Dodge Journey SUV/Crossover (top of the line leather/ nav/ sunroof) for the week

wife drove the CV

was in the dodge less than 5 min and hated it ( brand new had not even had a oil change yet 2k)
it clunked -- it shifted badly 8 speed .. it groaned .. fuel... used more gas than the CV

Was very glad to be back in the CV at the end of the week

was not going to replace trans in the focus --- 11 year old car --- canadian winters

Replaced Focus with a 2018 Mazda CX5 very happy with it so far

[bangerjim]

Before getting all wrapped up with any BBB kerflullel, you might wanna read your Prius owner's manual. If I am not mistaken, you will find a statement in there that reads something like this: "Three (3) year or 30,000 mile (whichever comes 1st) warrant on all NON-DRIVE TRAIN components". You have exceeded that warranty. Most cars have that type of warranty, depending on the maker. Read your Prius book.

Now, specifically about your Prius A/C system: you have a hybrid drive in there, just like my Lexus 400H and 450H. And every other maker that "borrowed" the hybrid technology from Toyota. The gasoline engine starts and stops depending on where/how your are driving. The A/C compressor does NOT run off a belt off the gasoline engine like in standard cars/trucks. It runs off a high voltage DC electric motor. You would not want your A/C to stop when you were stuck in traffic!?! I can sit in a parking lot for 20-25 minutes, the gasoline engine shuts off almost immediately, but the A/C keeps cranking all the while. Once the big high voltage hybrid LiON batteries under the back seat reach a low point, the motor kicks back on and charges them up to a certain point and then shuts off again. I think the Prius system works exactly the same.

THAT is why your A/C repairs are so costly. You are not dealing with an old style belt driven compressor system that any local grease monkey repair shop can easily replace. Or a weekend all-thumbs home repairman can get at AutoZone or RockAuto.

Good luck on your adventure in the land of auto repairs! I leave all my auto repair work up to the Toyota and Lexus local dealers.

bangerjim

[rancher1913]

bangerjim, I know what the warranty says but can you honestly say that you would not be pissed and fight for a warranty on a major item that really should last for at least triple the warranty period.

thanks waksupi, I will look into that.

thanks nsb, I will explore that as well.

[bangerjim]

Do what you must. But here in AZ I would be glad to pay $3-4K to get my AC working again in the summer heat! ( and I have, in an American-made Dodge van I had years ago!) You do not get nearly as hot up there and can probably live without it for the possible 1-2 years it will take you to go thru arbitration and court proceedings.


Good luck.

Banger

[Traffer]

The Toyota part is not what is bad. It's the "hybrid" part and "computer" part and the "modern" part. Since they are making things so frikin complex with all parts interdependent by the feedback of computers, nobody but a Toyota dealer can fix them. AND WHAT IS worse, is that those guys don't know how to fix them either, since no one knows how the inner workings function...the whole expensive part has to be replaced. Like have a bad valve in an older car and having the dealer say you need a new engine. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. You might want to research your area to see if there is a Toyota dealer who is extremely highly praised that actually knows how to fix them a second opinion is not reserved for just doctors...
Good luck... let us know how it works out.

[Lloyd Smale]

buy what you want but don't compare a new Toyota to a 1990s or 1980s American car. Domestic brands have made big gains in quality and reliability. I don't much care how reliable your 1985 Toyota was or how unreliable your 1985 ford was. Im not buying either. Bottom line is todays domestic brands are every bit as reliable as imports. Like I said just look at Toyota. there the king of recalls in the 2010s. For every Toyota truck you can find me with 200k on it I can find you 10 domestic brands with just as many that have been just as reliable. Everyone talks money saved. I showed you in a previous post that between cost of parts and the fact they lag in fuel economy you save nothing and probably loose money. Its why about every fleet vehicle in the country is either a chev or ford. they factor in not only the cost of buying but fuel economy and maintenance. they care about profit not brand loyalty and if Toyotas saved them money in the long run its all you would see on a construction sight. In reality its rare to see them there. Its rare to see a utility company using them. It even rare to see a car rental place that uses more imports then domestics.
While I don't have the knowledge and intel that you have on the Big 3...I do have some anecdotal evidence that others who buy new cars don't have. I like cars and have a passion for changing up what I own ever few years...and I am thrifty/cheap whatever you want to call it, so I try to buy a used car cheaply enough to get that last 50K miles out of it, and consider the gamble of what repairs I have to make are hopfully less than monthly payments.

My current toyota and previous honda have had few repairs, both were bought with over 200Kmi. I sold the honda when it reached 254K and the rust was scarry...now my current car, the toyota has 245k.

American cars I've owned in the last two decades were, 98 Buick park ave, 3 different Jeeps from the 90s, dodge dakota, ford escort wagon, chev pickup, chev van...and they all needed more expensive repairs than the two japanese cars...and none of the American cars made it to 250k without being too scarry to drive on a daily basis.

Yep that is all anecdotal, so it is, what it is.
I may buy a American brand car again, but it has to 'speak' to me...if I'm just buying something to drive, it'll be a japanese brand...I've never owned a subaru...that may be next? But the current toyota I own ('05 matrix) is still in amazing shape, I expect it to hit 300K before I am too scarred to drive it.

[Lloyd Smale]

My dad had one of those bullet proof suburu outbacks. At 40k it cost him over 3k to fix that fancy one speed transmission. His neighbor had a forester. two head gaskets in 80k. Now that's not to say suburu's are junk. Far from it. But there not bullet proof either. He did say he was thankful for one thing. they hold the title of best resale value because his went right to the chev dealer and was traded on a traverse. He said its better riding has twice the power and gets just as good gas mileage.

[Lloyd Smale]

My dad had one of those bullet proof suburu outbacks. At 40k it cost him over 3k to fix that fancy one speed transmission. His neighbor had a forester. two head gaskets in 80k. Now that's not to say suburu's are junk. Far from it. But there not bullet proof either. He did say he was thankful for one thing. they hold the title of best resale value because his went right to the chev dealer and was traded on a Equinox . He said its better riding has twice the power and gets just as good gas mileage. Did he make a wise decision. Who knows. He wont be around to see it hit a 100k let alone 200. Like me he even if he did live long enough he will let someone else worry about keeping an old wore out vehicle on the road. Lifes to short. I worked all my life to be in a position that I don't have to drive beaters. So did he.

[snowwolfe]

I dont understand what the issue is. Toyota gave the car a warranty for what, 3 years or more and/or 36,000 miles ? After the warranty expires something broke. Toyota upheld their end of the deal. Quit whining and write a check.

[mold maker]

I find reliability to directly relate to the number of convenience add-on stuff installed. For instance, the driver window motor is usually the first problem.
Every vehicle I've owned equipped with power windows has had it die first and usually replaced about every 60K. My current 03 Dodge has no add in extras and except for normal maintenance has been trouble free. In over 50 years driving vehicles up to 30 years old, I have overhauled only one engine and two transmissions. Until the last couple years I've done all my own preventive maintenance. Right now I own four Dodges and a Chevy.
Vehicles, like women, require finesse and regular TLC.
BTW
I'm still with the first wife after 54 years. New isn't always better.

[rancher1913]

when you pay the kind of money you do for a new car, you should not have to "stop whining and pay the man" for a component that has a very high failure rate, they know this is a bad design and are trying to hide it, that won't fly with me. yah, nobody will get killed by this like the air bag scandal, but at some point somebody needs to not just "rollover and take it"

[andre3k]

Since you know what parts need to be purchased, I would start with Rock Auto and other places online to purchase the parts. Then find an independent shop with the proper equipment to do the install.

Most manufacturers bumper to bumper warranty ends at 3yrs or 36k miles. Powertrain warranty is usually good until 60k. A/C system components would fall under the bumper to bumper warranty unless you bought an extended warranty.

[snowwolfe]

When did the factory warranty expire?

[White Oak]

I have NEVER been to, driven past or seen a Automotive Dealership of any make that does not have a repair facility.
Automobiles are mechanical devices designed and manufactured by humans. If you think of the numbers of vehicles in service around world, an internet search of any problem will get multiple hits.

[Elkins45]

Auto brand loyalty is like a religion to some people.

I just sold my 2007 Corolla this winter. Bought it new for $14,400 on the road. Sold it with 178K miles on it. I replaced the intake manifold gasket because the factory ones that year weren’t springy enough and started letting in air. Cost me $7. That’s all I did besides fluids and filters. It still had the original rear brake shoes and they had plenty of lining left.

Sold it too cheap: $3K. Still, that means I got 178K miles for 11.4K dollars, or in other words I paid about 6.4 cents per mile for the car. It got 38mpg. So yeah, I’m a fan.

My brother still drives his 2000 Tacoma every day. I think it has about 250K miles. He’s a fan too.

[HangFireW8]

I would be torqued too if hit with a bill like that. But I would also seek a second opinion and Toyota's help too.

Fortunately my Toyota is unafraid to conform to Asian reliability stereotypes.

[Traffer]

I dont understand what the issue is. Toyota gave the car a warranty for what, 3 years or more and/or 36,000 miles ? After the warranty expires something broke. Toyota upheld their end of the deal. Quit whining and write a check.

Dude that was harsh.

[Traffer]

OK, folks here we go again:
It's not the brand that is the problem. It's the "modern technology". They are selling cars nowadays by "how much crazy computer stuff they do" Not good folks, Not good. So how reliable is your 6 or 8 year old computer? Nobody knows because they are all replaced every 5 years. That same mentality is governing the manufacture of automobiles now. Who cares if it runs past the warranty? They hope it dies the day after the warranty expires...after all you need new car by then, cuz there is some new camera angle or new auto pilot thingy on it.
That is the NEW paradigm in auto manufacture. Poorer people are out of the loop now. It used to be that a poor guy could buy an older car and keep it running himself. With a few hundred worth of Harbor Freight tools, a little know how, youtube videos and some "I don't care if I get my hands dirty" a guy could drive one of those older Honda's or Toyota's or whatever for another 100 or 200 thousand miles on the cheap.
Back in 1999 I had the opportunity to buy a Brand New Honda Civic. My only new car. I have had it now for 19 years and it is STILL THE BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. It has got 240k miles on it. I only drive about 4k mi per year now but I have seen that exact model have over 700K on it and still look and drive like a new car.
For a while in the early 3rd gen of ecu development (I think) they had the right idea...The ECU could be programmed with a laptop and the right program. Making them wonderfully flexible to "tuners". This kind of user friendly tech was what I had hoped would bring a new generation of modifiable/mechanic friendly vehicles. But NOPE. they did away with the concept of programmable ecu's.
Now there is one option...Like computers, if it goes bad, throw it away and get a new one.
I believe that eventually this new paradigm will fall but the industry is speculating that Electric cars will rule the future so the throw away car is an acceptable transition.
This is my OWN OPINION. It may be incorrect by as I always say. Everyone is entitled to MY own opinion.

[Elkins45]

^^^^ This is a common attitude, but it is emotional and not empirical. Cars today are better and more reliable than they have ever been in the past.

My old 67 Impala had a 327 and the sticker on the breather said “275 HP” There are a whole bunch of V6 engines that put out more HP than that today, including the one they put in the Toyota Camry. At 100K every system on that car was just about worn out and the paint was 80% gone.

When I was growing up if you got 100k out of a vehicle then it was pretty much at the end of its service life. Nowadays that’s still a good used car with plenty of life left. When you look at the longevity data, there’s never been a better time to buy a car. Yes, newer cars are more complex to work on, but they offset that by not needing work as often and by saving money on fuel.

The only way that older cars were better is in terms of collision repair and low speed damage. Today cars are so light you can’t even lean on them for fear of denting them. Older cars with heavier metal needed a good whack to show some damage. Now I don’t know if that translates into occupant survivability or not. It may well be that these newer cars that sacrifice themselves in a collision might be safer than the old heavy metal tanks were.

[Traffer]

^^^^ This is a common attitude, but it is emotional and not empirical. Cars today are better and more reliable than they have ever been in the past.

My old 67 Impala had a 327 and the sticker on the breather said “275 HP” There are a whole bunch of V6 engines that put out more HP than that today, including the one they put in the Toyota Camry. At 100K every system on that car was just about worn out and the paint was 80% gone.

When I was growing up if you got 100k out of a vehicle then it was pretty much at the end of its service life. Nowadays that’s still a good used car with plenty of life left. When you look at the longevity data, there’s never been a better time to buy a car. Yes, newer cars are more complex to work on, but they offset that by not needing work as often and by saving money on fuel.

The only way that older cars were better is in terms of collision repair and low speed damage. Today cars are so light you can’t even lean on them for fear of denting them. Older cars with heavier metal needed a good whack to show some damage. Now I don’t know if that translates into occupant survivability or not. It may well be that these newer cars that sacrifice themselves in a collision might be safer than the old heavy metal tanks were.

Are you kidding? I am not comparing these new cars to old american hunks of scrap metal from the 60's to the mid 80's. I am talking about the cars (and I mean Japanese cars) made from the mid 80's till the mid 2000's There have been no innovations in metallurgy, or basic design. the changes have been in applying technology...More computer control, more gadgets.
And yes you COULD keep them running but how many people really know how to service these new cars? The dealer's service people get by by changing the major part that dies instead of being able to fix individual parts.
To compare a 67 Chev to a 2000 Honda is like comparing axe to a milling machine. But again the paradigm has changed. the more recent cars are no longer serviceable within reason.
PS it's a cheap shot to say "emotional and empirical" argument. Did you learn that from your liberal teachers?

[Elkins45]

I don’t think my 2007 Corolla had any “gadgets” on it that my 1997 didn’t, other than variable valve timing.

[bangerjim]

New cars are far safer than older ones. With all the airbags, crumple-designed bodies and frames, you are more likely to survive a moderate to severe accident than in the old days.

Think of all the many people back in the 50’s and 60’s that were severely injured or killed by simply slamming into the METAL dash, steering wheel, or going thru the windshield!!!!!! And it did not take a very severe accident to cause those things.

Engines used to be shoved back into the front seat! Now they are designed to “dive low” and minimze intrusion into the passenger cabin.

Airbags, both front and side, save lives. I just witnessed a red-light running (45MPH) BIG SUV t-bone an Accura and ALL the bags went off right B4 my eyes!!!!! Amazing site. The car passengers survived. Doubt that would be the case 20+ years ago.

We all love hi-tech stuff. Same in our cars. My recent cars are MANY times smarter than the 60’s moon lander! They do everything INCLUDE talk. But that stuff will fail and a grease-monkey cannot fix it. I do not trust neighborhood grease-monkey shops around here to work on my modern, hi-tech cars.

One thing that was true with the Model T and is still true with current models: “A car is trouble looking for an inconvenient place to happen!”

[bangerjim]

I don’t think my 2007 Corolla had any “gadgets” on it that my 1997 didn’t, other than variable valve timing.

Your car operates on CAN-buss technology. Every modern car uses CAN-buss to do everthing about carburation, timing, emissions monitoring, etc. Your driving patters are even in there.

It’s there.....it just is transparent to you driving the car.

[Traffer]

I don’t think my 2007 Corolla had any “gadgets” on it that my 1997 didn’t, other than variable valve timing.

Both the 2007 and 1997 are in the same era. We are talking about cars built in like the 2012 and newer here.

[fatelk]

I've been following this thread with interest. My newest automobile is a 2001. Raising a family on a single income doesn't leave room in the budget for nice cars. A car with 100k on it would be a new car to us. The thought of buying a brand new car is a completely foreign concept to me.

Sooner or later one of our high mileage vehicles is going to need to be replaced, and we've been contemplating what type/brand of used vehicle to buy when the time comes.

[respiegel]

Without diving into the brand loyalty of who makes better whatever, i like Toyota and have owned three and i find them easy to work on and replacement OEM parts inexpensive.
Toyota only uses a few suppliers, have you looked for the OEM part numbers? It might be above the DIY level, but you could find a local shop to install new parts cheaper than the dealer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[glockfan]

I've been following this thread with interest. My newest automobile is a 2001. Raising a family on a single income doesn't leave room in the budget for nice cars. A car with 100k on it would be a new car to us. The thought of buying a brand new car is a completely foreign concept to me.

Sooner or later one of our high mileage vehicles is going to need to be replaced, and we've been contemplating what type/brand of used vehicle to buy when the time comes.

nothing beat a toyota or a honda when it comes to finding a used,but reliable car.

[john.k]

Landcruisers are still unbeatable for reliability and long life...........rarely see one with less than 400,000 on it.

[fatelk]

nothing beat a toyota or a honda when it comes to finding a used,but reliable car.

We currently have two Toyotas and a Saturn, all around two decades old with high miles. They've all been really reliable over the years. Coincidentally had starter issues on both my Tacoma and the Saturn earlier this year, but I did the work myself and both were cheap fixes. Knock on wood, we've never had any expensive repairs.

I have to say, that little Saturn, for a cheap GM car, has been a great little car. At a quarter million miles I suspect it's on its last legs, but it's still going strong, still gets great mileage on the open road. My wife bought it new before me met and we love that little car. If it dies tomorrow, it doesn't owe us a thing.

[Idaho45guy]

I've been wanting a new vehicle lately and narrowed it down to either a Jeep Wrangler unlimited or a Toyota 4Runner.

Both were around $35k, both met my needs, both had excellent resale value. The Jeep was better looking and more fun.

I visited forums for both the Jeep and the 4Runner. I was shocked at the difference in the number of threads regarding problems. Out of 40 threads on the first page of both forums, the Jeep forum had 20 threads about problems. The 4Runner forum had two.

Pretty obvious which vehicle is the more reliable one.

[Traffer]

When I bought my Honda Civic new in 1999 the salesman asked me if I wanted to extend the warranty. I told him, "If I needed a warranty I wouldn't have bought a Honda."
I still have the car. It is still the most reliable car I have ever owned. 240K miles and just broken in. It would last over 700K if i would drive it a lot but time itself tends to do damage to these units. Rubber dries out etc. So instead of miles now, I am just looking at another 6 years of service out of it till I get a different car. I wish I could find a low mileage small Toyota pickup from about 2005-ish. Then I would have my last car ever.

[Shawlerbrook]

Agree. My first little p/u was a 1980 before named them and it was mechanically bulletproof although the body rusted away. My 1995 Tacoma suffered from the rusted frame fatality and was bought back by Toyota in 2008 for 10x what it was worth. My 2008 Tundra has suffered from the same fate amongst other problems. My take is that US cars got better from the 70-80’s and Japanese cars got worse and they now met at mediocrity.

[Elkins45]

Both the 2007 and 1997 are in the same era. We are talking about cars built in like the 2012 and newer here.

My wife has a 2015 Corolla. It doesn't have any gizmos that the 2007 didn't other than a backup camera. If that dies then it's still drivable.


Agree. My first little p/u was a 1980 before named them and it was mechanically bulletproof although the body rusted away. My 1995 Tacoma suffered from the rusted frame fatality and was bought back by Toyota in 2008 for 10x what it was worth. My 2008 Tundra has suffered from the same fate amongst other problems. My take is that US cars got better from the 70-80’s and Japanese cars got worse and they now met at mediocrity.

Like I said, my 2007 Corolla went 178K trouble-free miles and was still in perfect mechanical condition when I sold it. If that's mediocrity then I'll take it. Of course it was made in Canada, so maybe it really wasn't a Japanese car?


Your car operates on CAN-buss technology. Every modern car uses CAN-buss to do everthing about carburation, timing, emissions monitoring, etc. Your driving patters are even in there.

It’s there.....it just is transparent to you driving the car.

That's not particularly new. Certainly not new since 2007.

[rancher1913]

Without diving into the brand loyalty of who makes better whatever, i like Toyota and have owned three and i find them easy to work on and replacement OEM parts inexpensive.
Toyota only uses a few suppliers, have you looked for the OEM part numbers? It might be above the DIY level, but you could find a local shop to install new parts cheaper than the dealer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

thats part of what is pissing me off, its a dealer only item and the refrigerant is also dealer only, otherwise this would probably be a 500 dollar fix.

[Lloyd Smale]

OK, folks here we go again:
It's not the brand that is the problem. It's the "modern technology". They are selling cars nowadays by "how much crazy computer stuff they do" Not good folks, Not good. So how reliable is your 6 or 8 year old computer? Nobody knows because they are all replaced every 5 years. brought to you by those wonderful japs. Used to be you bought a Curtis mathis or rca tv, a Westinghouse or General electric or norge fridge washer dryer ect it was bought with the intention it would last 10-20 years. We had appliance repair men that could actually come to your home and fix something broke. today you buy something and repairing it usually cost more then its worth and in 5 years you throw it in the landfill and buy another. But lucky us get all that space age technology. We bought a washing machine yesterday. Our old one was 6 years old and the bearings and the ring the tub rides on (front loader) were shot. that's with just my wife and I living here with no kids. Paid 600 bucks for it and the repair man said over the phone that I was looking at north of 300 bucks and a 75 dollar charge just for him to come over and look at it. Now this new one has more buttons then I can figure out. All I wanted to do was wash clothes not go to the moon.

THis thing can be started and stopped with your I phone (which I don't have) Who the heck would need to start there washer with there phone. That is the jap **** were paying for. I would have much rather they put that money and technology into better bearings but if they did that they wouldn't be able to sell you another one in 5 years that you can start and stop by just thinking it. But the yuppies love **** like that. I can see some wife intentionally not starting her washer at home so she can show the girls at work how lucky she is to have this technology.

Just a form of mind control that makes them richer and drains our wallets. Who the heck needs a Nissan cube?? the most but ugly car ever manufactured. Put a green sticker on them and every 18 year old yuppy thinks there saving the planet buying one. They've done more damage to our environment with there throw away electronics then they ever will with a smart car!! Ever wonder how many just smart phones and computers end up in a land fill every year when they brain wash you to think you need the lastest greatest when the last one blew you away with its capability's 2 years ago??????

40mpg to save energy. My sister had a chev chevette back in the 80s that got 35-40mpg with a carburetor. I guess it didn't have a back up camera and an info center or an ipod hook up. All things essential to have to go get grocerys. You think the American companys that have those technologys build it themselves? Nope its the japs and Chinese that brain washed us into thinking we cant live without it. I say build another wall! Build it on both coasts and keep our money here where it helps our economy. But nope they have us brain washed into actually believing your a stupid backwater hillbilly if you buy an American made car or truck. So much so that they can stay 3 years behind in technology and sell them for 5k more and still people believe there getting more for there money! Say a Toyota is made in America and I cant argue that. tell me where the majority of the profits selling one goes!! Some fat cat in Japan. Wonder how much of his money is used to buy American products???

I also have to wonder why so many liberals and yuppies drive them. They don't have a clue as to which one is better. they just know to be cool in there little liberal clicks they sure cant drive a ford truck. Even though it gets 4mpg better fuel mileage and using less fuel obviously put less pollution in the air and has less of an impact on the environment. But I guess being cool to there friends and starting wash machines for there desks at work REALLY mean more then that. Kind of like the newest craze, electric and hybrid cars and trucks. Are they so stupid that they think the electricity is created in that wall plug and don't realize that coal fired power plants are one of the biggest pollutions sources in the world. Buy something like a "leaf" and think there saying the world. Right up to the time they back into a fire hydrant and total that tiny ***. But there cool anyway!

[snowwolfe]

Maybe I missed it, but when did the warranty expire?

[bangerjim]

WOW! Glad you got that off your chest! Now tell us how you REALLY feel about modern up-to-date life in America.

Now I remember why I have you on my ignore list.

Bangerjim

[bangerjim]

Maybe I missed it, but when did the warranty expire?

The part about 30-36K miles on non-drivetrain items. He has over 50K on it.

[historicfirearms]

The last gm I bought was made in Mexico. The last three "jap" cars I bought were made in Ohio. The profits from a sale go to the corporation, who are really just investors. Most people with a pension or retirement account are invested in auto companies, foreign and domestic.

[snowwolfe]

The part about 30-36K miles on non-drivetrain items. He has over 50K on it.

I realize that. Was looking for a month and year.

[Elkins45]

Lloyd it sounds like you need to shop for appliances on Craigslist. Or maybe just get a tub and a washboard. I’m pretty sure it won’t talk to your phone. :D

[johnho]

I have a 2015 Highlander and have only had a few minor problems. When I bought the car I declined the coverage for 7 years or 100,000 miles. When I got in it to drive it off I noticed all the electronic stuff and went back in and got the coverage. yes it was not cheap, $1800 as I remember. But now I cruise along not caring if something goes wrong. I will drive it till it gets to the 100K mark, about 7 years, and get another car. Figure for roughly $260 a year it's worth it. Cars just cost too much to fix today.

GF just had to have her front headlamp replaced on her 2008 4Runner to pass inspection. Cost was $350 and that was not a T headlamp. Found a Youtube video on how to do it, figured how hard can that be, it's just a bulb. Ha. Remember when all you had to do was remove the little chrome trim around the bulb, take off two screws as I remember, buy a $10 bulb, put back in? then drive up to a wall and adjust it. But then again, the cars didn't last like they do today. I remember that if you got 100K on a car you were doing pretty good, today they're just broke in.

[alamogunr]

We are on our 3rd Toyota Avalon. Kept each of the first 2 for over ten years with very few problems. Have had the Tundra for 5 years and it will probably last longer than I will.

When we bought the '17 Avalon, we dicided to go for the top of the line since it may also be our last car. Knowing how many things on this car are computerized, we also bought an extended warranty on them. If we don't have a claim, we will be refunded over half of the original cost of the warranty. I've checked on the cost to fix some of the computer stuff and just one item can cost over half of the warranty cost.

None of the four Toyota's have given any trouble. The first Avalons and the Tundra did not have all the bells & whistles which probably contributed to the lack of problems. I know that all makes are much more reliable than they were 20+ years ago but Toyota has always been straight with me. Before the Tundra I had an F150 that I drove for 15 years. Granted it had less than 100K when I sold it, but it never gave any trouble either. Of course, being retired 12 years, I don't drive nearly as much as I did when I was younger, but even then, I was starting to slow down when I reached my sixty's. Reliability is of primary importance now. I do consider gas mileage but not very seriously.

[alamogunr]

WOW! Glad you got that off your chest! Now tell us how you REALLY feel about modern up-to-date life in America.

Now I remember why I have you on my ignore list.

Bangerjim

How did you know what he wrote?

[bangerjim]

How did you know what he wrote?

Anyone on your ignore list will still appear in a thread and you have to click on a read link there to read the hidden/ingored message. Standard ops for this forum.

I remove people from my ignore list after about 6 months. I figure that is enough time for ruffled feathers to settle back in place.


Bangerjim

[rancher1913]

johnho, I did buy the extended warranty because of the possible battery problem, it still does not cover this and I sure thought they said it would. I have serious doubts if it will cover the batteries like they said it would. this has been the hands down most expensive to keep running car I have ever owned. have fords, chevys, dodges all are still parked out back and usually had 300,000 plus miles on them before it cost more to fix than they were worth, now I got a 2 year old car that is going to cost a third of its value to make it worth anything in a trade.

[Big Boomer]

Bought a 2011 Avalon at the end of June in '11 for economy of mileage due to second retirement and plans to travel. Now has @ 116,000 miles on it and it still has the original wiper blades on it. Keep it in the garage when not in use. Have not done a thing to it except put on the second set of tires at 57,000 miles. Second set has 59,000 miles on them and had an alignment job done when the second set of tires was installed. Have only changed the oil in it once myself - have taken it back to the dealer all other times. The gas mileage is stuck on 30 except when the wife drives it. She has a heavy foot and does jack-rabbit take offs. Thinking about another Avalon. Have a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition that has 165,000 miles on it - 4.6 engine. Due to my wife's driving habits and the weight of the car (I'm supposing here), the rear main crankshaft seal gave out. Drips oil on the garage floor. Spent $ 1,000 on a defective heat-a/c control unit that was defective from the factory at 60,000. Then another $ 450 on a $ .50-cent nylon gear that controls the air mix from the outside and it's still not right. Now the a/c only arrives through the defroster and not the vents. And American auto manufacturers wonder why people are buying Jap cars. BTW, my Avalon was built in Georgetown, Ky. Big Boomer

[alamogunr]

Bought a 2011 Avalon at the end of June in '11 for economy of mileage due to second retirement and plans to travel. Now has @ 116,000 miles on it and it still has the original wiper blades on it. Keep it in the garage when not in use. Have not done a thing to it except put on the second set of tires at 57,000 miles. Second set has 59,000 miles on them and had an alignment job done when the second set of tires was installed. Have only changed the oil in it once myself - have taken it back to the dealer all other times. The gas mileage is stuck on 30 except when the wife drives it. She has a heavy foot and does jack-rabbit take offs. Thinking about another Avalon. Have a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition that has 165,000 miles on it - 4.6 engine. Due to my wife's driving habits and the weight of the car (I'm supposing here), the rear main crankshaft seal gave out. Drips oil on the garage floor. Spent $ 1,000 on a defective heat-a/c control unit that was defective from the factory at 60,000. Then another $ 450 on a $ .50-cent nylon gear that controls the air mix from the outside and it's still not right. Now the a/c only arrives through the defroster and not the vents. And American auto manufacturers wonder why people are buying Jap cars. BTW, my Avalon was built in Georgetown, Ky. Big Boomer

59,000 miles is good. I've never had original equipment tires last as much as 50,000 miles. Replacements do much better.

I sold the 1996 Avalon at 195,000 miles with the original brake pads. Not sure why they lasted so long. Replaced the pads on the 2006 Avalon at about 120,000 mi.

[Big Boomer]

alamogunr: The 2011 Avalon came with Michelins and I replaced with the same tire. This car still has the original brakes all around. At the dealership they asked me who replaced the brakes. I told them they had never been replaced. They tell me every time I take it back for an oil change (the last oil change is the only one I did) that the brakes are fine. They also told me that most drivers do not get the gas mileage I do nor do the brake pads last this long. The car still looks and drives like new due to keeping it in the garage. Big Boomer

[alamogunr]

The 2017 Avalon came with Michelins but the 2 previous Avalon's came with Bridgestone tires. Both previous cars got nothing but Michelins after the Bridgestones. The Tundra came with Michelins also but they aren't wearing as well. Size may have something to do with it. It certainly isn't from loading. That truck is 5 years old and only has just under 30,000 miles on it. Old age has curtailed my driving.

[Big Boomer]

alamogunr: I hear you about that old age stuff. I'm 78. Seems like the most miles I put on our cars is going to church and going to see the doctors. Big Boomer

[rockrat]

Don't know what model prius you have, but just guess at a prius three and saw the Toyota compressor was $1451 and looked at autozone and they compressors varied from $600 to $900. See if you can find a good independent shop that does A/C work and get a quote from them.

I had to have plugs changed on my '10 Highlander, you have to take the intake off and other stuff to get the back three. Cost me near $500 to get it done. Toyota dealer wanted $1,600. Dealers can be $$$$ Have a Jeep liberty that door regulator broke just after I got it used, cost about $250 to get it fixed. Broke other side last month. Ordered parts and did it myself for $65 and about 40 min. work. Think I could do the next one in about 20 min.

If you took it to the dealer in Boulder, I can see why it cost so much as I think there is lots of $$ there in Boulder ,and many wouldn't flinch at the price you were quoted

[Lloyd Smale]

I guess I could give in and join you guys who spend half your life tapping on your phone or asking seri to turn on my my lights instead of actually getting up and hitting a switch. But then id have to actually take my eyes off my phone. Kind of reminds me of that web site I saw a few years back that you can sit at home and control a gun with the internet and kill a deer out west and they butcher it and put it on dry ice and ship it to you all nicely packaged.

I guess im proud to call myself old school. I guess im a bit high tech too. I have one of those fancy new cordless phones that you actually talk into. tvs you talk to cause you cant push a button on a remote, cars that drive themselves so you can keep texting while going down the road, little machines that vaccum and sweep the floor for you, refridgerators with built in internet access so you can face book while getting some left over chicken you bought at KFC because cooking is work. Sorry but you can have it all! In my opinion it just makes lazy people lasier.
WOW! Glad you got that off your chest! Now tell us how you REALLY feel about modern up-to-date life in America.

Now I remember why I have you on my ignore list.

Bangerjim

[snowwolfe]

I have owned 5 or 6 Toyotas. None of them ever needed one repair. But the same goes for the Hondas we have owned as well.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

SNIP...

I guess im proud to call myself old school. I guess im a bit high tech too. I have one of those fancy new cordless phones that you actually talk into. tvs you talk to cause you cant push a button on a remote, cars that drive themselves so you can keep texting while going down the road, little machines that vaccum and sweep the floor for you, refridgerators with built in internet access so you can face book while getting some left over chicken you bought at KFC because cooking is work. Sorry but you can have it all! In my opinion it just makes lazy people lasier.
Lloyd,
you just described the 2008 movie "WALL-E"
Check it out sometime, you might enjoy it ;-)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0910970/

[rancher1913]

well finally some good news, toyota agreed the part was a defect and is going to supply the parts at no cost but won't cover labor, dealer we bought it from said they would cover labor at no cost, so maybe not just rolling over and taking a 3 grand shaft worked out. time will tell.

[jmort]

Well, there you go

[Big Boomer]

Good news! Hope it all works out without financial liability of any sort. Big Boomer

[Lloyd Smale]

good for you. Glad you found a good dealership too. there as rare as hens teeth!
well finally some good news, toyota agreed the part was a defect and is going to supply the parts at no cost but won't cover labor, dealer we bought it from said they would cover labor at no cost, so maybe not just rolling over and taking a 3 grand shaft worked out. time will tell.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

well finally some good news, toyota agreed the part was a defect and is going to supply the parts at no cost but won't cover labor, dealer we bought it from said they would cover labor at no cost, so maybe not just rolling over and taking a 3 grand shaft worked out. time will tell.

Wow, great news...it sure is rare when the stars align like that.

[DerekP Houston]

Well dang I just got a '17 Tacoma 4x4 and no issues yet....guess I'll keep an eye on it. I was really happy with my moms Toyota experience and my last honda was easy as heck on maintenance.

[DerekP Houston]

I realize that. Was looking for a month and year.

My warranty with the new truck was 3 yr 36000 mile, I purchased the additional year to get 48000. At this rate it might last a year with all the driving and towing I've been doing.

[10x]

Bought a used 1980 4 runner with 350k miles on it for my son. He couldn't kill it Toyotas are almost un breakable

[alamogunr]

About 15 years ago, I was helping the youngest son look for a used car. We were shopping at a Toyota dealership in Nashville. While we were looking around there was an almost new Land Cruiser in a featured place on the lot. I asked about it out of curiosity and the salesman said it had been brought in for service and the technician had either forgot to add oil or some other mistake. Either way the engine was destroyed. The customer held out for a new vehicle and the dealer was trying to sell the car with a new engine. I think the price was $60K or something like that. Not sure the dealership had to disclose these things back then.