On July 30th, our Toyota Tacoma was in for the NYS annual inspection. We passed with flying colors (just needed windshield wipers). While we were there at the Toyota dealership, we had them inspect the underframe due to a recall they had. No problem there either.
My sister who normally drives the truck, noticed a slight squeak coming from the truck somewhere in the front on Sunday, August 3rd. I looked around the tires, but found nothing. We figured if it got worse, we'll bring it back for repairs.
On Monday, August 4th, as my sister headed for home, she called me. "The truck is shaking when I'm driving". I told her to go very slow and try to make it home. If not, call me again. 10 minutes later, she calls back, extremely upset, in tears. The passenger side front tire fell off.
I ran into town to see if she was ok, then I got a good look at the truck. Not one lug nut to be found. One of the studs on the hub was snapped off. The fender was crushed, the door jammed shut. It was a mess.
Thank God, a very capable town police officer directed traffic around us as I attempted to put the wheel back on. He suggested we take one lug nut off the remaining tires, use them and drive the truck to our regular mechanic who was about 100 feet away. The plan worked, the shop was closed, our mechanic knows the truck.
That very night my sister called our insurance company. The first question out of his mouth was, who touched the vehicle last? She told him we had in for inspection the previous Wednesday. They set a date for the adjuster to come 8/6 directly to our mechanic.
On Tuesday 8/5. I called the Toyota Dealership to apprise them of the situation and my anger. I was put on hold 4 times while the service coordinator spoke to the service manager. They had the gall to tell me that after they changed locking lug nuts out for regular ones for my deceased father in 4, someone must have used a lug nut that was incorrect!
I told them that THEY were the ones who put the last group of lug nuts on the truck in 2004. I also reminded them that if they were the wrong ones, how did we pass inspection or at least told they were the wrong ones. I said that I wanted them to check further.
No return phone call for the remainder of Tuesday. Nothing again on Wednesday morning.
As a family, we decided to rent a car for my sister, so I was a literal hop, skip & jump from Toyota. After securing a PT Cruiser for sis, I headed over.
I walked in and flustered the coordinator. I said, I was in the neighborhood RENTING a car for my sister. Since I did not hear back from them, I thought I stop by for an update.
"I told you yesterday, they were the wrong lug nuts and besides, we took off the left front tire (i.E. The driver's side)" I told them I was giving all this information to our insurance company and that we were not finished.
So here we are. The adjuster came by the garage today. They have to replace the ball joints, knuckles, hub, brake pads, calipers, etc. Also the fender and door. All I can say is that I know we are in for a hell of a fight, but Toyota is wrong in this. My sister could have been killed.
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