Imagine using your Constitutional right to peacefully picket at the Toyota Center dealership and being bullied—even threatened—by the Toyota dealership staff! That's just what happened to Parris Boyd in West Columbia, S.C. Today... And previously as well!
All Parris wanted was FAIR TREATMENT in his engine oil sludge matter. He had already spent thousands in the repair of his MR2 Spyder engine. He asked to be reimbursed for his engine repair and to be given some assurance that the problem was properly resolved and would not recur.
As owners indicate is typical, Toyota offered that he take the bulk of the financial responsibility for his failed engine repair. It could not offer or refused to offer any assurance about the patency of his engine.
Parris noted that he was among the thousands (see how many have signed the "Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution: Engine Oil Sludge" online petition) who have experienced this problem and cared to report it online.
He decided to let others know what he had uncovered in his internet research. He used a large sign to do this. On this sign, he made reference to the Toyota owner petition that has almost 3,000 signatories. His Toyota dealership was NOT happy.
Go to Parris Boyd's blog site to read the details.in a nutshell, his dealership staff came extremely close to running him down (via vehicle!) on the street corner! Various expletives were levied at him about the sign.in fact, the dealership indicated that they will come after him (and inflict bodily harm?) if he didn't hand over the sign!
In the meantime, Parris has gotten good reception from passers-by. Supporters honk their horns in support of his actions! One of his Toyota dealership's employees told him that this "wasn't worth dyin' over." Hmmmm... Is that a death threat or what?!?
Soooo... Why is this Toyota dealership so touchy about the engine oil sludge issue and an online petition that Toyota vehicle owners can sign?!? Why is it so important to the Toyota Center in this South Carolina city to SILENCE this very concerned MR2 Spyder owner?
More questions... Is Toyota engine oil sludge a bigger problem than Toyota Motor Corporation is letting the pubic know? Are more vehicle owners experiencing similar treatment when they ask Toyota for fair treatment?
Toyota's Customer Support Program for Engine Oil Gelation was initiated only after a near vehicle owner revolt in 2002. According to countless Toyota owners, Toyota is NOT following through on this self-proclaimed generous program&and hasn't been since its initiation. Owners report being denied their claims as Toyota comes up with excuses. Apparently, no entity is monitoring Toyota's program implementation. Does Toyota do the right thing when not monitored?
The Toyota engine oil sludge problem is alive and well, it seems. Some very vocal vehicle owners believe that Toyota is trying very hard to keep this information from public consumption.
How far will Toyota go to silence those who are speaking out? Does it actively monitor and/or manipulate internet dialogue? Does it support complaint removal or search engine manipulation in order to preserve its brand image? Talk to some current Toyota vehicle owners and the answers to these questions is a resounding, "YES!"
Just how deep is this engine oil sludge problem and how many "layers" are there? Are sludgemobiles being resold to unsuspecting buyers at Toyota dealerships—even on ebay? Are bogus extended warranties being pushed when the sellers know that engine sludge will automatically void them?
These are the tough questions that Toyota Motor Corporation needs to answer. We don't believe that bullying and making bodily-harm threats is the appropriate Toyota response!
What do YOU think?
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