Dealer Recommending New Brake Booster (Recall)

They're seeing evidence of brake booster failure, are offering to replace it under the recall campaign? For free?

I'd jump on it.

Are you hearing any odd noises when braking btw?

 

If you're not hearing anything, noticing any odd behaviour, maybe ask them what prompted them to suggest it? Does seem a little odd.

 

One of the items, the lower on the sidewall component, originally involved dropping the main cross beam for access. Which is just nuts. Toyota worked up an instruction and some special tools to avoid this.

Still, strange that the dealership just volunteered to do this...

 

I don't think it is strange at all.
Sounds like good customer service to me.

But I will admit that actually finding good customer service these days is so rare that it could be considered strange.

 

I wouldn’t, unless you’ve seen the ABS or BRAKE warning lights or some other signs of a brake malfunction. Consider that the replacement is a major repair job (5.3 labor hours), with many chances for mistakes.

There is no such recall, and the service advisor should know better. Toyota has announced Customer Support Program ZJB, which provides extended coverage for replacement of the brake booster assembly, when necessary. As the dealer letter (PDF) and policy bulletin (PDF) for this program explain, Toyota covers the repair costs only if the car has stored one or more of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) C1391, C1252, C1256, or C1253. If your car doesn’t have one of those DTCs stored, Toyota is likely to reject the dealer’s warranty claim, and depending on your agreement with the dealer and your state’s laws, you might get stuck with the bill.

There is also no hurry. For model years 2011–2015, the program is valid through August 31, 2021, regardless of mileage, and then until the earlier of 10 years from the date of first use or 150,000 miles. I suppose the service advisor might have been thinking of the situation for model year 2010 cars, for which the unlimited-mileage coverage does end in a week, on November 30, 2019.

You’re right to be suspicious. The dealer seems to be engaging in a practice called “warranty solicitation,” prohibited by Toyota’s agreements with dealers, since it artificially inflates the warranty costs absorbed by Toyota. (See Policy 5.21 in the Toyota Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual.)

 

Or is the dealer urging the OP to get this done, then later will say, "Sorry, Toyota wouldn't cover that at all; that will be $nnnn, thank you very much."

 

A verbal contract is (almost) as enforceable as a written one is.

IF.....they tell you there will be no charge, then it is on their head and subsequently trying to charge you for it would be a breach of contract........and against the law.

But being sure you understand the terms would be a really good idea.

 

Enough of that kind of talk, now. Get hold of yourself.

 

Since the dealer is soliciting warranty work, tell him you can use a new hybrid battery

 

The reality is these devices do go out by the hundreds and its worth checking if your system has a stored code. C1391, C1252, C1256, or C1253. Its also useful to identify the brake booster sound which usually happens when you first open the door. It will often repeat when you press the brake. It is masked by road noise when driving but can be heard while stopped. Without it you lose your power brakes and have dramatically increased stopping distances especially problematic if it happens on a panic stop at speed. Some systems that are failing may recycle the booster several times a minute even when the brake is not engaged.

The replacement involves two parts, the pump with accumulator and the abs master cylinder which also includes the brake/skid control ecu. These are expensive parts, usually $900 for the pump and $1400 for the master cylinder. Plus lots of labor.

 

Unsolicited work, no lights, no codes (they charge a buck just to scan)...and this came from the Service Advisor?

 

I wonder what proof a dealer has to offer Toyota for warranty work?

I mean what awesome scam could there be if they can reap all that labor charge from someone
other than customer/owner that say no nowadays to needing something?

did @NutzAboutBolts work at a toyota dealer before?
Im sure it isnt the norm, but wonder if some out there are doing this.
Any light shed to say it isnt possible? could there be work arounds?

 

Don't quote me on this, but from what I've known, all recalls and warranties are covered by the dealership, so you're not at a lost cause here. If the dealerships willing to do it for free then I don't see a harm in it. Just make sure its documented and you have a copy of the paperwork so in case in the future if something were to happen to your vehicle, you can refer it back to the recall and "they should" repair the parts for free since they've worked on it last.

 

This is explained at length in the Toyota Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com. Basically, dealers have to keep, and allow Toyota to audit, copies of warranty repair orders, invoices, technicians’ time tickets and payroll records, and importantly here, measurements and readings, including diagnostic trouble codes. Dealers also have to keep the parts removed from vehicles available for Toyota’s inspection, and then scrap or return them as Toyota instructs.

When used in dealers, the Health Check feature of the Toyota Techstream diagnostic system sends the results, including DTCs, to Toyota. I imagine if Toyota were to receive too many CSP ZJB claims from a dealer, for cars for which the prerequisite DTCs were never reported, their warranty auditors would go to work, contacting customers to confirm whether they saw brake-related warning lights before bringing the cars in for service.

Dealers advance the parts and labor costs, just as for other warranty repairs, and are reimbursed by the automaker. Depending on the warranty labor rate (negotiated in advance with the automaker) and the labor time allowance for a specific repair, the dealer might or might not make a profit.

 

The dealer is not screwing you. And it's way more then $2k. The warranty depends on which way the sticker faces on the pump. If They need business they may fib on their claim form. They may be screwing mother Toyota since you don't throw the code needed for the TSB, but not you.

Sounds like mother Toyota doesn't mind if dealers replace the booster/accumulator and abs valve body while it still works/may be one unaffected.

 

I'm all for having a good working relationship with the Service Dept...but...there has to be a fault before warranty work is authorized, performed and paid for. This is not a blanket recall or we would all be lined up. No lights, no codes, no customer complaint (or request)...something stinks with this Advisor. No Dealership just randomly scans a car with 75K miles for free...and ask any one of them how much profit they don't make doing warranty work.

 

I smell some loopholes.

But who knows, possibly the dealer may be saying they will replace, but will not.
But will also find a whee lil bit more issues while doing the "warranty" repair,
but in the end wont actually be replacing the brake booster?

I would look through the reviews with a fine tooth comb, might find something. maybe