Re a terrible experience with one of your dealers

Did you talk to the dealer? Did you get any sort of warranty?

The dealer has been very problematic & defensive. Upon purchasing the car, May 30th, which he had assured us had been checked & everything was in good working order, we signed a 48 hour warranty because I wanted to take it to my mechanic. On June 1st, Our mechanic found, after doing a diagnostic that there was a code for pending failure of the battery. I returned the car immediately with assurances from the dealer, they would fix it. Picked up the car a day & a half later from dealer and he presented me with a One page diagnostic printout from Culver City Toyota that said there was no problem, no pending code. I told him I was taking the car back to my mechanic for one more check. He became very defensive and told me not to "harass" him. Went to mechanic for ANOTHER diagnostic, this time there was no code. My mechanic was very concerned, said he believed that the codes/battery had been reset. But he couldn't confirm. Four days later the "check hybrid system" light came on. Fortunately I was just a couple of blocks from my mechanic and they confirmed my fears, failing battery.. I contacted the dealer, he told me Culver City Toyota would call me. They did and I told them what happened. They said to bring it to them and they would replace the battery and charge the dealer. I said I'd bring it right to them. When I called to notify the dealer to tell him that Culver City Toyota wanted me to bring it in, he screamed at me and said I could only bring it to him, that I couldn't take it be serviced myself and when I asked why, he screamed at me & hung up on me. I opted to take it back to my mechanic to get another full diagnostic report, same code as had originally come up and the estimate was $4277. I also went to North Hollywood Toyota to get a second estimate just exercise due diligence. The serviceman there contacted Culver City Toyota and then became aware that the car had been checked on May 16 and although there was a pending code that there was NO WORK ORDER ISSUED...and that the other "diagnostic" test supposedly done on June 1st was not recorded in their system. I have asked to just return the car and get my money back. The dealer said no but that they would "fix" the car. I do not want them to touch it because clearly they are doing something covert. I said I would tow the car directly to Culver City Toyota, north hollywood Toyota and get the battery replaced. I have not heard from them since. I'm out $10,000...have a car that needs $4300 worth of work & am now driving a rental car. Do I have any recourse other than getting an atty?? They have kept reports of damage Secret and utilized fraudulent methods to secure the sale of a car with a huge deficit. Thank you for your help.

Suggestion...contact Toyota directly and tell them this sad story. The number should be in the Owners Manual for this vehicle. Also...check your State laws concerning the sale of used cars . Most states require Car Dealerships to warrenty used cars for 30 days. Good luck and keep us up to date.

Use their documentation against them. They said it was good yet is was not. Make them explain that. Why you would buy it when your mechanic warned you is beyond me.

I will punish myself for that decision for a long time. I had no immediate evidence that the battery was bad after dealers diagnostic & my mechanics readout of no pending code. Only their concern that the battery was reset, but no evidence that they had done that.

By chance did you check the history on it before purchase? Just out of caution..... Far as recourses go there are a few, try the attorney general's office and secretary of state. Hope this helps.

T9X.....any updates concerning the issue with this vehicle?